It
was interesting early this morning as I reflected on the scripture preparing
for this new day that the story of St. Stephen’s death made me think of Boston.
Here was Stephen just being a good and faith filled person and a crazy mob
comes along and stones him to death. A mob of people not thinking about life,
about goodness, about being positive but a mob of people only thinking about themselves.
A mob of people focused on selfishness, on fear, on evil. Stephen remain the “bigger person” Stephen
remained the faith filled person, Stephen remained the person of life not
death.
In
Boston yesterday many people were about life, were about hope, were about joy,
were about all that is good in our culture and our society and like Stephen
they paid the price. Some with their lives, some with their injuries and all
with what a brief moment took away from their, bodies, their spirits and their
souls. It perhaps was not a mob, it might have been one person or a small group
of people but they were people about death, about negativity, about fear, about
evil. If any of the ones who carried out this selfish, evil act claim that God
is happy with them they are sick and more evil than I thought. Perhaps they are misguided, perhaps they are
just evil and unfortunately as good people we are often reminded by the
misguided of how much evil is still present in our world.
But
like Stephen I think the people of Boston, the runners, the spectators, all good
people need to remain the “bigger person,” we need to remain faith filled
people, we need to remain the people of life and not death. We need to remain
the people of light not darkness. We need to remain people of trust and freedom
not fear. We need to remain people of hope not despair.
My
thoughts and prayer continue for all in Boston, those who lost their lives and
their families, those who were injured physically, those who were injured
emotionally, those who were injured spiritually. I pray in thanksgiving for all
who responded and helped, for all who cared, for all who cried, for all who
comforted. I pray for the people of Boston. I pray for peace!
Daily
Prayer: Once
again I would like to adapt Thomas Merton’s prayer and make it my prayer, our
prayer for all today! - My Lord God, we have no idea where we are going. We do
not see the road ahead of us. We cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor
do we really know ourselves, and the fact that we think we am following your
will does not mean that we are actually doing so. But we believe that the
desire to please you does in fact please you. And we hope we have that desire
in all that we are doing. We hope that we will never do anything apart for that
desire. And we know that if we do this you will lead us by the right road
though we may know nothing about it. Therefore we will trust you always though
we may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. We will not fear, for you
are ever with us, and you will never leave us to face our perils alone. Amen! (Adapted from a prayer by Thomas Merton)
- I
pray, we pray this for all in Boston, for all of the good people in the world,
and like Stephen we pray for all people today!
Runner’s
Thought: Let
us dedicate our run today to the people of Boston. Let us dedicate our run today
to those who lost their lives and their families and friends who grieve their
loss. Let us dedicate our run today to all those injured in body, mind and
spirit. Let us dedicate our run today to all who responded with courage, compassion
and care. Let us dedicate our run today to all who did not get a chance to
finish their run yesterday. Let us dedicate our run today to the city and
people of Boston. Let us dedicate our run today to peace in our world that we
may one day run free in faith, hope and love! Let us dedicate our run today and
every day!
Greetings
everyone on the Tuesday! I hope you are all well and finding a way to cope with
the events of yesterday. As I mentioned at the beginning of my daily thoughts I
am a runner and I have run the Boston Marathon twice in my life. It was truly a
great experience and the events of yesterday touched me deeply. I am giving a
Parish Mission here in Mount Holly, NJ at Sacred Heart Parish and I want the
people of Boston to know that we are holding you in our prayers.
I
also want to thank the many people who have contacted me in some way over these
last 24 hours with concern and care. Some thinking I might be in Boston running
the marathon other knowing that I wasn’t but thought of me because I run. Thank
you so much for your care and concern! It really touched me. One of my nieces
sent me a beautiful texted this morning it truly made my day but then I have
always known that is what nieces, nephews, family and friends do that is why I
am so blessed!
I
am praying that we all have a better day than yesterday. May you all truly be
safe. May you all find peace today. May you all be held closely by God today
and may you all truly know that you are loved today! Peace in Christ’s Passion
and Hope in the Risen Lord…Fr. Paul
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