Daily Thoughts: "Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord!" The response for the Responsorial Psalm from today's scripture. It seems to reflect the feeling found in the Gospel today. I have often found this Gospel story a strange story. There are many layers to it: Jesus in foreign territory; the man who lives among the tombs; the unclean spirits named legion that are sent into the swine; the swine that throw themselves into the sea; the fear for the people so much so that they ask Jesus to leave and finally the man once possessed becoming a preacher of the Good News.
It seems that the possessed man in the story is the only one who can take comfort in Jesus. He has struggled all his life. He has been chained and broken out of the chains only to find little peace. It is only Jesus who can finally free him totally. I think we all have parts of ourselves that get possessed by the demons of life. Things that we cannot let go of that hurt us in a personal way and sometimes even hurt the people around us. We sometimes free ourselves only to be caught by them again. Perhaps like the man in the story it is only through Jesus that we can find comfort and hope.
Often as we live life we tell Jesus to move on, to leave, we do not want our life disrupted even if it not going so well. We likes things the way they are even if our life a awash with struggles, chains, tombs and a lack of peace. Yet all of us have the opportunity to recognize Jesus in our life and become free of the things that possess us but first we need to over come our fears and trust in God's presence. Trust that change can be good.
May this day be one when we recognize Jesus passing by and allow our hearts to find comfort and hope in his presence!
Daily Prayer: O God creator of all good things, you are our light and our salvation, whom should we fear. Loving God, you are the stronghold, the rock of our life, of whom should we be afraid? Help us as we live this day to discern what is right, to take comfort and to always hope in you. Guide us along your right path knowing that you are always with us and you will never leave us to face life alone. Amen!
Runner's Thought: Let us try to make our run a spiritual one today, remembering as we run God is our strength, God is the breath we take, God is our footpath, and God is our finish line!
Welcome to Monday everyone! I am told this is the day when the most people take a sick day or a personal day because of a Super Bowl. In fact there are some that want to make it a National Holiday. Not sure I agree with that, couldn't we just play the Super Bowl on Saturday evening. I think just as many people would watch it!
I have to say I didn't party last night and I didn't watch the game so I am up and ready to go! If you are home or at work I hope you will have a good day! If you are hung but happy may the pain in your head leave soon so you can enjoy being happy. If you are still crying in your beer may today ultimately end in you finding some peace remember there is always next year. I also hope that today will be the beginning of a great week for everyone! As you journey through this week take comfort and hope in God and let God cast out the demons that might try to possess you!
If you have a chance please offer a prayer for the faith community here at Holy Family in Orlando as they enter into a time of Mission/Retreat and also say a prayer for me that I will do my best! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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