Daily Thoughts: Who shall know the mind of God? No one really, God's thoughts are not our thoughts; God's ways are not our ways. I find the reading from Isaiah rather interesting today. It confirms for me something about my faith that I have struggled with for many years, the idea of doing things to be seen rather than doing things to make a difference.
In recent years there has been a movement among some to kneel down or bow profoundly when receiving communion. There are those in high places who commend this practice and there are others who think all should be doing this. However, if we apply Isaiah's words to the situation it might sound something like this, "Do you call receiving communion in this way what I want? This rather, is the receiving communion that I want, I want you to receive and then take me into the world, help others, be the presence of God everywhere you go!
However we receive communion is not the point or the importance it is what we do once we receive the Lord. It is how we treat people that makes all the difference. God does not put a lot of importance in the "show" of things, in the "how" we do it, in the "what" we look like when doing it, in how many people see it, in the how reverent it is. God puts value in the way we live our faith, the way we interact with the world, the way we treat others, the way in which we bring God's compassion to the world.
In The Gospel, the religious leaders are once again hung up on the rules, regulations and rituals but Jesus in about the living of life. Jesus is about recognizing God in our midst. Lent keeps reminding us that our thoughts are not God's thoughts and our ways are not God's way, yet we have the opportunity to recognize the presence of God in our life and change the way we think and the way we act so that we are about God and not ourselves.
Lenten Daily Prayer: O God, help us to walk in your ways. May our lives be about the gifts of your love and may our words, actions and works bring life to others and ourselves. May we never do anything for show but for the honor and glory of the kingdom. May what we do always reflect a concern for others. Be with us always and when we struggle may we always hear your voice say "Do not fear, here I am!" Amen!
Runner's Thought: As we run today let us think of our breathing as inhaling God and exhaling extraneous thoughts, ideas and struggles. Let us allow all those thoughts that are buzzing about in our heads to move through our bodies and be expelled through our breath so that God has more space to be within us!
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have had a good week. I hope you have had a good beginning of Lent, because it is going to be a long journey. Blessings on everyone today, may it be a good end to the work week, may it be the beginning of a restful and relaxing weekend. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
PS I ask your prayers for me and the many faith communities I will visit as I head out on the road until Easter Sunday. I will be in place like, Peekskill, NY, Bismarck, ND, Bethesda, MD, Stony Point, NY, Brooklyn, NY, Marboro, NJ and The Bronx, so if you are near one of these place come and join in the faith journey. This weekend I begin a mission at Assumption Parish in Peekskill, NY. If you want to know where I am just check in at my web site preacherman.org and you can track my journey through Lent!
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