Daily Thoughts: "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you..." Probably some of the hardest words of the Gospel to put into practice. Perhaps on an intellectual level some of us might understand them. Maybe when we heard them proclaimed at mass we might give them some thought. However when it comes to living, the vast majority of the time, these words do not find their way into how we look at life.
Enemies are not people to invest love in. People who persecute us do not find their way into our prayers. Most of the time these days we trash them on Facebook or Twitter, we gossip about them and find any way we can to discredit them, to demonize them. The 24 hour news stations like FOX, MSNBC and the like will give you all the ammunition that you need! Living Jesus' words is leaving one's self open to all kinds of bad things. It reflects weakness in a world built on strength, power and being number one. We can point to many examples were others tried to be nice, try to follow Jesus' advice and were persecuted, hurt, overrun, sent into slavery, exiled, lost all they had and end up worse than they started off. We can point to wars and conflicts that escalated into world problems because people didn't act with strength, force and might.
Living by Jesus' words seems to make us vulnerable and weak in the eyes of the people around us and the eyes of the world and to be honest with you I cannot dispute it. However, if we read a little further in the Gospel we might say in some ways Jesus is not talking about world problems and issues between nations or complex situations. Jesus is talking about our daily lives, greeting people, caring about people around us, treating people with honor and respect as we encounter them in the living of life.
Perhaps the point that Jesus is getting at is if we do the little things well, if we respect, honor and care about people in our one on one encounters. If we see a person who has hurt us or who does not value our point of view, our beliefs with love and respect and hold them in prayer, then perhaps our world problems would not be such a challenge. In other words if we live the words of Jesus in our everyday lives then our world might have the chance of being a better place. If we do the little things with faith the big things might be easier to overcome!
Daily Lenten Prayer: Loving God, help us to live by your words. Guide us in the way of compassion, respect, caring, forgiving and love. Keep us focused on Jesus' way of disarming the evil in our life. Do not let us give in to a world view of power, might and right. Grace us so we can forgive when forgiveness is needed. Grace us with the humility to seek forgiveness when we have hurt others. Renew in us the Spirit of your love so that we might see today as the acceptable time to live by your words! Amen!
Runner's Thought: Let us today run in the present moment, not from something and not to something. Let's strive for a grace-filled and well and as a graceful run. Do not run for time but run for form, run for grace, run for God!
Blessings to all on this Saturday morning! I hope you had a restful night, one that has allowed you to rise refreshed and ready to begin a new day.
I find myself in Bismarck, ND this morning. It was a long but successful journey across the Midwest yesterday. I have settled into my new home the Kelly Inn for the next six days. I have the morning and part of the afternoon to prepare before things begin to get busy. Once again I ask for your prayers, prayers for the community of faith at Corpus Christi Parish and for the preacher who will be leading them in this time of mission. I was here about a year and a half ago and they invited me back. They must be gluttons for punishment or just doing extra penance for Lent!
Well friends have a great weekend with time for rest and relaxation where ever you are. Be well, be safe and be faith filled! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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