The leadership seems to be drawing upon tradition and Jesus seems focuses on the moment, the work that needs to be done. The leadership seems to be living out the words that we hear in the reading from the Book Wisdom today about the wicked ones. They don't like what Jesus is saying. His words are challenging and demanding in a way that is difficult for people who have settled into a routine of life. Who have found a comfort zone that they do not want disturbed.
Are not we all like these religious leaders at times. We find a comfort zone, a routine to life and then we become angry when someone or something comes along and disturbs us, challenges us. It is particularly difficult when we somehow know that the person, the challenge, is right but we just do not want to change. We want to stay in our comfort zone and so we begin to find things wrong with the person, the place or the situation. If we can convince ourselves that we are right and they are wrong then all will be well.
The religious leaders try to do that today in the Gospel, the wicked ones try to do that in the Book of Wisdom and certainly from time to time we try to do it in our own lives. We cannot change the religious leaders of Jesus' time; we cannot change the wicked ones from the Book of Wisdom. These examples are history and told to us today so that we might not repeat their actions. Yes, our challenge is always to recognize God in our midst even if it means letting go of our comfort zone, even if it means changing our perspective, even if it means finding the truth in another.
We pray today Lord Jesus, be close to us because we do not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from your mouth! We live on the gift of your presence and the hope that it brings to life.
Daily Lenten Prayer: St. Augustine tells us that understanding is the reward given by faith so we should not try to understand in order to believe, but we should believe in order to understand. So we pray to you our loving God for the grace that will help us to always believe. Enliven us when we are weak with the strength to believe in your healing way and so that we may always live a holy way of life. Grant us the wisdom to recognize your presence in our lives that comes from within us and others. Be always near to us that when necessary we may take comfort in your love! Amen!
Runner's Thought: Remember the little miracles of God that we encounter during a run are not because we finish but are because we find the courage to begin!
Happy Friday everyone! Sorry if you came looking for my thoughts and prayers yesterday and found none, to be honest I took the day off. I guess you could say I was mentally tired. It is not that I didn't pray or have a few thoughts but I just couldn't sit down and put them on paper. I needed a day just to relax, I hope you didn't mind.
My mission in Stony Point, NY ended very nicely on Wednesday evening. We had a good crowd for the closing and we ended with a good spirit that hopefully will help us to continue our journey of faith. I stayed the night in Stony Point and then came home yesterday morning. I will be gathering my things together today once again so that I can head out again tomorrow for a mission at Good Shepherd Parish in Brooklyn, NY. If you are in the Brooklyn area near Marine Park why not stop in and join us. I will be preaching all the masses Saturday and Sunday and then the mission will be Monday through Wednesday in the morning at 11:00 am and in the evening at 7:30 pm.
I hope everyone has had a good week. If not I hope you will have an easy Friday that will lead you into a relaxing and restful weekend. We are entering the final two weeks of Lent which will bring us to the wonderful days of the Triduum and Easter. I will truly be praying for all of you during these days. May this year's Holy Week and Easter be filled with many graces and blessings for you and those you love. Have a peaceful Friday and a restful weekend. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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