Now some might say it was because of his
resurrected body but I think it was because Mary did not expect to see Jesus
alive. Have you ever been in a situation
when you did not expect to see someone? When the person surprises us with their
presence there always seems to be a moment when we don’t recognize them. They
haven’t changes, they are the same person but our eyes and brain just were not
expecting them. It doesn’t make sense once we realize our mistake and we wonder
how we did not recognize her or him but yet it happened.
The element of surprise catches us off
guard. Perhaps today that is a good way to think about the presence of God in
our life. We have a God of surprises and at any moment of our day God can walk
into our midst. Are we ready? Or will we miss the moment because we are not
expecting God to be there?
Through the intersession of St. Mary Magdalene
may we be open today to be surprised by God!
Daily Prayer: God of
surprises, we thank you for the gift of your presence in our life today. We
thank you for the way you bring us to new life in ways that surprise us, liberate
us, celebrate us and give us hope.
We ask you to be presence in our life today;
helping us to show that here and now, you are at work bringing healing,
wholeness, and justice and that by the grace of your Holy Spirit of love, we
your people may share in the surprising work of your presence today.
God surprise us today with your hope and
love that we may be your faith filled people who proclaim the Good News to a
world that does expect to encounter your love. Surprise us today, God! Amen!
Runner’s Thought: Remember
running is an opportunity to search for God amid the commonplace, humdrum and
ordinary activities that most often occupy our life. That is ultimately the
point of meditative running – we are trying to find a way to mix the mundane
with the mystical, to blend the sacred with the profane, to find heaven on
earth. If running is sacred time to us then we have the opportunity to
encounter the gift of God while we run! (Adapted
from Roger Joslin – Running the Spiritual Path)
Happy Monday everyone! It was a busy
weekend for me. The novena here at St. Ann’s is in high gear. Please know that
I have brought all of the intentions that you have sent to me to my prayers at
the novena each day. If there are any new intentions that you would like to add
please let me know.
The days are long and I make them a
little long by running in the evening after the last service and so my day
doesn’t end until around 10 pm. I don’t often run at night so this is quite a
different experience for me. I was glad the heat broke yesterday last night’s
run was so much more enjoyable. I didn’t even mind the brief rain shower near
the end of the run. It felt good and I was wet with sweat anyway.
I hope you had a good weekend and that
it afforded you a little rest and relaxation. I hope the heat broke where you
are too. May this new week be one of many graces and blessings for you and
those you love. May God surprise you today so that you will know you are always
loved and that you always make the world a better place by the gift of your
presence! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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