Monday, April 15, 2013

Daily Thoughts - 04/15/2013

Daily Thoughts: Today’s readings are preludes to tomorrow stories, the martyrdom of Stephen and Jesus’ discourse on the “Bread of Life.” In some ways we can say that today’s readings are about seeing and hearing and we learn that some people only see and hear what they want to see and hear. When we live life this way we open ourselves to the possibility of missing the gift, the presence of God in our life.

The religious leaders surrounding Stephen today only see and hear what they want to see and hear. They miss the very gift from God that Stephen brings to them, the very gift of God that Stephen is. They miss a chance to grow, to see and hear thing differently. They have already decided who and what Stephen is thus God has no chance.

The people following after Jesus in today’s Gospel are caught up in the miracles that Jesus has performed. They are not listening to his words, they are not open to the presence of God, they want more miraculous things. Jesus reminds them that in order for good things to happen they have to be open to the gift and presence of God in their lives. That they have to believe not in what they see and hear but in the presence of Jesus in their lives!

Often we only see and hear what we want. God can be speaking to us, calling us down a new path but we miss it. Today let us open our eyes, our ears and our hearts to the many different ways that God can be present in our lives especially those ways beyond what we want to see and hear!

Daily Prayer: Loving God open our minds and hearts to the gift of your presence. Helps us to see you and hear you in every person we encounter, every experience we have, every moment we live today. Grace us with eyes and ears that don’t just see and hear the obvious but that are open to every way you come into our lives. Enable us to be your Easter people of faith, hope and love today and always. Amen!

Runner’s Thought: As we run today let us look are our run this way that everywhere we put our foot today we will feel the presence of God. God is our friend and our closeness to our friend God is in the placement of our foot with each stride we take during our run. We run today knowing that God is underneath us, beside us, within us!

Happy Patriots Day and Happy Tax Day everyone! Especially all the runner’s currently running the Boston Marathon. A special shout out to a friend, Mark who is running today…my prayers are with him and all the runners, may their run be a good run and safe run!

I hope everyone is having a good start to this new week. I find myself in Mount Holly, New Jersey where I began a mission this weekend. Sacred Heart is a prayerful parish with a lot of spirit and enthusiasm. We had a great weekend together and this morning’s opening mission service was well attended and spirit filled. Please keep the faith community here at Sacred Heart and their preacher in your prayers these days.

Blessings upon everyone this week have a great Monday and a great week. You can be assured of my prayers and those of the faith community here at Sacred Hearts as you journey through this week. I hope your weather is warming up and that you will have a rich and faith filled week! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Joy in the Risen Christ…Fr. Paul

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