Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Daily Thoughts - 07/23/2013

Daily Thoughts: At first hearing we might be taken aback by today’s Gospel (Matt.12:46-50), how could Jesus be so rude to his family? Why would he not go out and at least speak to Mary?  It seems disrespectful. It seems to go against everything Jesus teaches. What about the commandment, “Honor your father and mother?”

We can look at this Gospel story through these questions or we can see it another way. Perhaps Jesus was not being rude or disrespectful; perhaps he was just taking the opportunity to expand our understanding of family. Perhaps he was taking the opportunity to help us understand better what it means to be community, to be church, to be family, to be the Body of Christ!

As people who believe we are not in this journey alone, we traveling as community, as church, as family, as the Body of Christ. Jesus is just reminding us that we are connected and we can draw upon the strength of the many to help us in those moments of doubt, struggle and challenge. Believing in, valuing and living out our relationship with God makes us part of a great family of believers and in our first reading (Exodus 14:21-15:1) we see how well God takes care of his family.

As we journey through this day let us trust in the presence of a family of faith that means we are never alone, that we are always loved by God.

Daily Prayer: Loving God we have often abandoned you but you never abandon us. Your loving hands are always outstretched toward us, even when we stubbornly look the other way and your gentle voice constantly calls us, even when we persistently fuse to listen. Touch us today, call us today, bless us today and be with us today so that we may know that we are never alone, that you are always with us and you will never leave us. Help us to walk by faith and proclaim it by the life we live. Amen!


Runner’s Thought: As we let us imagine that God is at our side, running along with us. Imagine how God might look with kindness into the faces of all whom the two of us might meet as we run. Imagine how God would find good in everyone we encountered. Let’s us look for good in everyone we meet today. Let us look for good in ourselves today. Have a great run!

Tuesday greetings from Scranton, Pa to everyone! I hope your day has started off well. Mine got an early start, 5:15 am to be exact. One of my Passionist brothers who is staying across the street entered the residence here at St. Ann’s before 5:30 am when the security alarm deactivates and then could not turn it off so you might say the whole house got an early start this morning!

We had a rainy day yesterday which moved the evening masses and service inside. Today looks like it will be hit and miss with the rain, lots of clouds and some sun we will keep our fingers crossed.

Wherever you are I hope your day goes well. I will pray during my duties at the novena here at St. Ann’s today that your day will be touch by God’s presence through the things you do and the people you meet. May you be blessed with the grace of God’s love and may you share it with everyone you meet. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

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