Daily Thoughts: I have always been struck by the last line in today's Gospel, "He must increase; I must decrease." What a meditation on faith! When you think about it are not John the Baptist's words our everyday challenge and perhaps our hardest challenge?
The world around us tells us everyday to increase. Increase what we have, what we want, what we desire, what we need, who we are! Our economy is build on increasing, increase spending so we can increase building, producing, creating and thus increase profits. When we finally leave home all we want to do is increase because the world tells us we are defined by what we have, what we have achieved, what we own, what we have accumulated. As is often quoted, "The one with the most toys wins!"
Yet, what John is telling us in the Gospel today is that for us to be people of faith, we must decrease so that Jesus, so that God can increase in our lives. It is not about being the greatest, the best, the biggest, the most powerful, the most important. It is about God. John had it all. He was liked, he was loved, he was important, he was powerful, he had all the attention. However, for him, all of this was not as important as his relationship with God. He knew what he was about. He knew his mission and it was time for God to be the most important focus and all John could do was rejoice!
Sometimes we think God is not present, God is always present, at home, at school, at work, in the government, everywhere, the problem is not where is God but that we have made ourselves too big so we and others cannot see God!
Can we let go of the world, let go of what the world says is important and let God? Can we recognize our mission, our ministry, our relationship and let God be the focus. Can we decrease and let God increase in our life and in the world? Tough questions for tough times, but if we are willing the end result is great joy!
Daily Prayer: O God, take delight in us this day! Each day you make us a new creation and so we pray that with the grace you freely offer us each day we may always be found in the likeness of Christ, a likeness that increases within us as we let go and let you guide our life. Help us to rejoice in a life that is focused on your presence, your grace, your mercy, your truth and your love! Amen!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Amen!
Runner's Thought: Run today recognizing the motion of life and flow with it, let go of all your preconceptions of God, be open to the vast, unlimited opportunities to connect with God in new and evolving ways as you run.
A couple of SHOUT OUTS this morning. My first SHOUT OUT goes to my sister Bernadette, who celebrates her birthday today, Happy Birthday Bernadette! We will not mention your age but you are my older sister,,, Many blessings today and I hope you will be celebrating a little! My second SHOUT OUT goes to one of my goddaughters, Alexis, who ran the Disney Half Marathon this morning, her first half marathon. I don't know the exact time but I hear she did it in under three hours. I know she was nervous, but she did great! Now I hope she enjoy the glow of a great run!
Enjoy your Saturday everyone, have a great day with many blessings, a little rest and much peace! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
January 11th Daily Thoughts - 01/11/2013
Daily Thoughts: "Lord if you wish, you can make me clean. Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him and said, I do will it. Be made clean. And the leprosy left him immediately." I think the key elements of this story are the person's faith in Jesus, the willingness of Jesus to heal and Jesus' touch. Maybe the most important element is Jesus' touch, his willingness to be connected with someone who is unclean by the standards of culture, society and religion.
Today whether we are talking about our culture, society or even our church the usual response is to disconnect ourselves from someone defined as unclean. Yet, Jesus sought to be connected. He did not want to push them away from the community but to bring them into the community.
The Feast of the Epiphany which we celebrated last Sunday was about the universal nature of Christ's presence in the world. Jesus confirms that nature today by reaching out to one who has been pushed out of the community. It is a profound moment it is a challenge to all of us who proclaim we believe. Do we wish, do we will that all belong to the community no matter what? Jesus does and he was willing to step across a boundary to make sure that it happens. Are we?
Perhaps like Jesus it is a commitment to prayer that will help us to, wish it and will it. It is through prayer, our conversation with God, that we will find the strength to walk with Jesus across the boundaries imposed and bring others to the community, to friendship with God!
Daily Prayer: Loving God, we know that you wish your community of faith to include everyone. Help us to break down the barriers, to across the boundaries that our world, our culture, our society, our institutions create to bring healing to all your people. Help us to be committed to prayer, to our conversation with you, so that we will always have the strength share with others the healing power of your love! Amen!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Amen!
Runner's Thought: Run in a new place today, for new places can stretch our capacity for finding the presence of God as we run!
Greetings to all on this Friday morning. May you have a day filled with blessing where ever you find yourself and may you return home safely this evening to begin a restful weekend! If your schedule for today and the weekend calls for busyness may you find some quiet, restful and peaceful time during the busyness! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
Today whether we are talking about our culture, society or even our church the usual response is to disconnect ourselves from someone defined as unclean. Yet, Jesus sought to be connected. He did not want to push them away from the community but to bring them into the community.
The Feast of the Epiphany which we celebrated last Sunday was about the universal nature of Christ's presence in the world. Jesus confirms that nature today by reaching out to one who has been pushed out of the community. It is a profound moment it is a challenge to all of us who proclaim we believe. Do we wish, do we will that all belong to the community no matter what? Jesus does and he was willing to step across a boundary to make sure that it happens. Are we?
Perhaps like Jesus it is a commitment to prayer that will help us to, wish it and will it. It is through prayer, our conversation with God, that we will find the strength to walk with Jesus across the boundaries imposed and bring others to the community, to friendship with God!
Daily Prayer: Loving God, we know that you wish your community of faith to include everyone. Help us to break down the barriers, to across the boundaries that our world, our culture, our society, our institutions create to bring healing to all your people. Help us to be committed to prayer, to our conversation with you, so that we will always have the strength share with others the healing power of your love! Amen!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Amen!
Runner's Thought: Run in a new place today, for new places can stretch our capacity for finding the presence of God as we run!
Greetings to all on this Friday morning. May you have a day filled with blessing where ever you find yourself and may you return home safely this evening to begin a restful weekend! If your schedule for today and the weekend calls for busyness may you find some quiet, restful and peaceful time during the busyness! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
Thursday, January 10, 2013
January 10th Afternoon Thoughts - 01/10/2013
Daily Thoughts: First let me say I had a wonderful day at the Bishop Molloy Passionist Retreat House. I saw a number for friends from my days at Bishop Molloy and also my days at the Passionist Spiritual Center in Riverdale. It was a great group of about 70 people, the sun was out and I think, I hope, it was a good day of faith building during this Year of Faith!
In my homily today I talked about the story in the Gospel, that moment in Jesus' early ministry when he returns home perhaps for a weekend visit. I said the story always paints two pictures for me, one of a moment in the life of Jesus and the other a moment in our own lives.
The moment in Jesus' life is pretty straight forward, he returns home and like a good young man honors his faith by going to the synagogue on the sabbath. He is now a wise young man with a reputation as a preacher so he is honor by being asked to do the reading. So he stand up and is handed the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah and proceeds to read the passage where Isaiah says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me..." A very familiar passage to us and the community gather for prayer that day. After the reading Jesus just sits down but everyone there is in awe and all eyes turn to Jesus. After what probably was a few moments of awkward silence, Jesus simple says, "Today this Scripture passage if fulfilled in your hearing." Perhaps in other words, "Folks, this is what my life is going to be about, today my ministry starts!" After with those words everyone is even more amazed! A pretty straightforward picture wouldn't you say?
Now as for the second picture of us. Everyone of us have had a moment like Jesus. We have been in our own parish church perhaps for a sacrament, baptism, confirmation, first communion, marriage and a community has gathered. At some point during that sacrament all eyes are on us, watching us receive baptism, receive communion, take our vows, be anointed with oil. After the mass or the service people have come up to us and congratulated us and spoken highly of us because of this special moment in our lives.
The difference between Jesus' picture and ours is that we know the end of Jesus' story. We know he did fulfill the words of Isaiah by the way he lived, died and rose for the death. However, we don't know the end of our story! Will we fulfill the words of our baptism, our confirmation, our marriage, our priesthood, our religious life, our Eucharist?
Today we are asked once again to love and in doing so to live that love as best we can by bringing the gift and presence of God to the world. We are asked to stand up and proclaim the Good News with our life and let that proclamation be fulfilled in the way we live our faith! So my friends, stand tall, love richly and live fully today and always!
Daily Prayer: O God, help us to live life to its fullest, loving richly, acting justly and walking humbly with you our loving God. Help us to bring life to the Good News that we proclaim by our lives so that all who hear and see will know the gift of your love. Amen!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Amen!
Runner's Thoughts: Always run open to discovering the strength that you did not know you had, let that strength be the very Spirit of God's presence in your life!
Again, thanks to all who came to Bishop Molloy Passionist Retreat House today. Have a restful and peaceful evening everyone. Again sorry my reflections were late today but perhaps they will make for some evening prayer! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
In my homily today I talked about the story in the Gospel, that moment in Jesus' early ministry when he returns home perhaps for a weekend visit. I said the story always paints two pictures for me, one of a moment in the life of Jesus and the other a moment in our own lives.
The moment in Jesus' life is pretty straight forward, he returns home and like a good young man honors his faith by going to the synagogue on the sabbath. He is now a wise young man with a reputation as a preacher so he is honor by being asked to do the reading. So he stand up and is handed the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah and proceeds to read the passage where Isaiah says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me..." A very familiar passage to us and the community gather for prayer that day. After the reading Jesus just sits down but everyone there is in awe and all eyes turn to Jesus. After what probably was a few moments of awkward silence, Jesus simple says, "Today this Scripture passage if fulfilled in your hearing." Perhaps in other words, "Folks, this is what my life is going to be about, today my ministry starts!" After with those words everyone is even more amazed! A pretty straightforward picture wouldn't you say?
Now as for the second picture of us. Everyone of us have had a moment like Jesus. We have been in our own parish church perhaps for a sacrament, baptism, confirmation, first communion, marriage and a community has gathered. At some point during that sacrament all eyes are on us, watching us receive baptism, receive communion, take our vows, be anointed with oil. After the mass or the service people have come up to us and congratulated us and spoken highly of us because of this special moment in our lives.
The difference between Jesus' picture and ours is that we know the end of Jesus' story. We know he did fulfill the words of Isaiah by the way he lived, died and rose for the death. However, we don't know the end of our story! Will we fulfill the words of our baptism, our confirmation, our marriage, our priesthood, our religious life, our Eucharist?
Today we are asked once again to love and in doing so to live that love as best we can by bringing the gift and presence of God to the world. We are asked to stand up and proclaim the Good News with our life and let that proclamation be fulfilled in the way we live our faith! So my friends, stand tall, love richly and live fully today and always!
Daily Prayer: O God, help us to live life to its fullest, loving richly, acting justly and walking humbly with you our loving God. Help us to bring life to the Good News that we proclaim by our lives so that all who hear and see will know the gift of your love. Amen!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Amen!
Runner's Thoughts: Always run open to discovering the strength that you did not know you had, let that strength be the very Spirit of God's presence in your life!
Again, thanks to all who came to Bishop Molloy Passionist Retreat House today. Have a restful and peaceful evening everyone. Again sorry my reflections were late today but perhaps they will make for some evening prayer! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
January 10th Daily Thoughts - 01/10/2013
I am giving a Day of Recollection at the Bishop Molloy Passionist Retreat House in Jamaica Queens, New York today so my daily thoughts will not come out until later today. Sorry for the delay I did not get moving as early as I would have like to this morning. I hope everyone will have a good day and I will connect with you a little bit later!
Blessing to all today, may you enounter the grace and the presence of God in all you do and in all you meet. Special shout out to Alexis, my goddaughter who heads out to Florida today where she will be running her first half marathon. Blessings upon her! Alexis trust in all the miles you have put in, run, enjoy, you will do great! Have a great day everyone...Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
Blessing to all today, may you enounter the grace and the presence of God in all you do and in all you meet. Special shout out to Alexis, my goddaughter who heads out to Florida today where she will be running her first half marathon. Blessings upon her! Alexis trust in all the miles you have put in, run, enjoy, you will do great! Have a great day everyone...Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
January 9th Daily Thoughts - 01/09/2013
Daily Thoughts: At our community Eucharist this morning the celebrant opened his reflections by asking the question, "What do we most fear?" He offered a few examples of things that we might fear because of the state of religious life, the church, the world, what has taken place in our lives but basically he asked us to consider what we most fear at this moment. His question was based on the readings today, they both deal with fear. In the first reading John talks about perfect love casting out fear. In the Gospel Jesus tells the disciples to have courage and not fear. Yet fear always seems to be a part of our life doesn't it?
I know for myself fear has always raised its ugly head. I remember my mother talking about the time in her life when she was carrying me as being a time when she was most afraid. She, my father and my sister had just move back to the Pittsburgh area into a new home. It was in a new subdivision just outside of Pittsburgh, only a few homes were built and there were very few people in the neighborhood. She had not phone for a while, no car and spent a good portion of the day lone with my sister who was about 5 years old. Mother always said it was a fearful time in her life. I have often wondered if, I the baby in her womb, was affected by that time of fear in her life. For once I came into the world it seemed I was afraid of everything including my own shadow!
However, the question at this mornings mass gave me cause to pause and think, "What am I most afraid of?" There are many things I am afraid of but I have come, over the last few years, to realize that I am most afraid of love, not being loved, not finding love. I think it is because I realize that with love fear would not be a problem, yet fear is a problem for me. I think it is because I struggle with love.
Both Jesus and John tell us that today, if we love, if we allow ourselves to be loved, especially by God then fear will never hurt us, because love casts out fear. With love there is no room for fear without love fear takes up all the room!
No matter what life throws at us, no matter what changes take place in religious life, the church, culture, society, no matter what we loose or struggle with in life, if we let love in, if we value the presence of love, if we let ourselves love and be loved fear has no chance, no room!
Daily Prayer: O God, giver of all good gifts, pour into our hearts the brilliant light of your perfect love so that we my see, feel, embrace and welcome the gift of love into our lives as it comes to us from you and others. Helps us to have hearts that are open so that we are always ready and willing to love and be loved. Grant us a lasting peace made possible by your love which casts out all fear. Amen!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Amen!
Runner's Thoughts: Run without fear today, breathe, run and permit the spirit of God's loving presence to be in each stride you take!
I would like to say Happy Birthday, to my Passionist brother and classmate, Christopher, today. May your day be truly blessed with many puns! (It's a long story!) To everyone else have a day blessed without fear because it is touch by much love! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
I know for myself fear has always raised its ugly head. I remember my mother talking about the time in her life when she was carrying me as being a time when she was most afraid. She, my father and my sister had just move back to the Pittsburgh area into a new home. It was in a new subdivision just outside of Pittsburgh, only a few homes were built and there were very few people in the neighborhood. She had not phone for a while, no car and spent a good portion of the day lone with my sister who was about 5 years old. Mother always said it was a fearful time in her life. I have often wondered if, I the baby in her womb, was affected by that time of fear in her life. For once I came into the world it seemed I was afraid of everything including my own shadow!
However, the question at this mornings mass gave me cause to pause and think, "What am I most afraid of?" There are many things I am afraid of but I have come, over the last few years, to realize that I am most afraid of love, not being loved, not finding love. I think it is because I realize that with love fear would not be a problem, yet fear is a problem for me. I think it is because I struggle with love.
Both Jesus and John tell us that today, if we love, if we allow ourselves to be loved, especially by God then fear will never hurt us, because love casts out fear. With love there is no room for fear without love fear takes up all the room!
No matter what life throws at us, no matter what changes take place in religious life, the church, culture, society, no matter what we loose or struggle with in life, if we let love in, if we value the presence of love, if we let ourselves love and be loved fear has no chance, no room!
Daily Prayer: O God, giver of all good gifts, pour into our hearts the brilliant light of your perfect love so that we my see, feel, embrace and welcome the gift of love into our lives as it comes to us from you and others. Helps us to have hearts that are open so that we are always ready and willing to love and be loved. Grant us a lasting peace made possible by your love which casts out all fear. Amen!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Amen!
Runner's Thoughts: Run without fear today, breathe, run and permit the spirit of God's loving presence to be in each stride you take!
I would like to say Happy Birthday, to my Passionist brother and classmate, Christopher, today. May your day be truly blessed with many puns! (It's a long story!) To everyone else have a day blessed without fear because it is touch by much love! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
January 8th Daily Thoughts - 01/08/2013
Daily Thoughts: It was suggested to me earlier this morning that my daily thoughts should in some way address the sadness and struggles this morning of all the Notre Dame supporters and their disappointment from last night's game...well I will draw my opening reflection from the opening lines of today's Gospel...as I look out over the vast crowd of Notre Dame supports this morning my heart is moved with pity they are like football fans without a quarterback, a defense, a running back, a referee! I know it is not much comfort because unlike Jesus in the Gospel I have no miracle to follow up with but only to say, "wait until next year!"
In an interesting way, our readings speak about the same thing and offer us a challenge. In the first reading John continues his emphasis on love as the key element for knowing God. Without love we are lost. The way we find love, experience love is through God, because God so loved us that he gave us his only son, God teaches us about love.
The Gospel echoes John's reflections but in a different way. Jesus challenges us to focus beyond ourselves, to have love for others. He is moved with pity at the vast crowd, he wants to help them spiritually but also physically. They need to eat, they need to be nourished. The disciples want Jesus to send them home, to get rid of them. Let them take care of themselves! Not Jesus, he cares not just about himself, his disciples, but about everyone. God so loves all of us.
Now for me the interesting part of the Gospel is how Jesus goes about teaching here. Now before I go any further I need to say that I truly believe a miracle took place here. Jesus did take the five loaves and the two fish and feed the five thousand. It was a miracle, but he also taught his disciples and us a valuable lesson, he taught us to sharing. If we look around at what we have we can make it work for ourselves and others. Yes, a miracle feed the five thousand but a teaching about sharing what we have out of love for the other was the main objestive. Jesus did feed the five thousand from nothing he aksed what was available and from what people had he feed the crowd. It was not magic it was a miracle!
Sometimes we get caught up in what we need and we forget the person beside us. All of us have more than we need and sometimes what we have can help another. What we have put together with what others have brings about a miracle. Love needs to be share for its true value to be experienced! We might say this morning that Notre Dame certainly shared the love last night!
Daily Prayer: Loving God, teach us today to look beyond ourselves, to see the needs of others and respond to those needs out of the gifts, talents and abilities we have. Help us to bring about a miracle that feeds the many in need of God's love today. Transform us into people alive in your love! Amen!
PS God, comfort all Notre Dame fans today, ease their pain, dry their tears, comfort their sorrow and help them to let go of last night and celebrate the great season they had!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Amen!
Runner's Thought: Transform an ordinary run into a sacred run by bringing to the run a sense of God presence in you!
Again my prayers go out to all Notre Dame fans today may you find comfort in this new day! To all blessings today upon all you do, in everyone you meet and in the gift of yourself. Remember to share your gifts today and always. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
In an interesting way, our readings speak about the same thing and offer us a challenge. In the first reading John continues his emphasis on love as the key element for knowing God. Without love we are lost. The way we find love, experience love is through God, because God so loved us that he gave us his only son, God teaches us about love.
The Gospel echoes John's reflections but in a different way. Jesus challenges us to focus beyond ourselves, to have love for others. He is moved with pity at the vast crowd, he wants to help them spiritually but also physically. They need to eat, they need to be nourished. The disciples want Jesus to send them home, to get rid of them. Let them take care of themselves! Not Jesus, he cares not just about himself, his disciples, but about everyone. God so loves all of us.
Now for me the interesting part of the Gospel is how Jesus goes about teaching here. Now before I go any further I need to say that I truly believe a miracle took place here. Jesus did take the five loaves and the two fish and feed the five thousand. It was a miracle, but he also taught his disciples and us a valuable lesson, he taught us to sharing. If we look around at what we have we can make it work for ourselves and others. Yes, a miracle feed the five thousand but a teaching about sharing what we have out of love for the other was the main objestive. Jesus did feed the five thousand from nothing he aksed what was available and from what people had he feed the crowd. It was not magic it was a miracle!
Sometimes we get caught up in what we need and we forget the person beside us. All of us have more than we need and sometimes what we have can help another. What we have put together with what others have brings about a miracle. Love needs to be share for its true value to be experienced! We might say this morning that Notre Dame certainly shared the love last night!
Daily Prayer: Loving God, teach us today to look beyond ourselves, to see the needs of others and respond to those needs out of the gifts, talents and abilities we have. Help us to bring about a miracle that feeds the many in need of God's love today. Transform us into people alive in your love! Amen!
PS God, comfort all Notre Dame fans today, ease their pain, dry their tears, comfort their sorrow and help them to let go of last night and celebrate the great season they had!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Amen!
Runner's Thought: Transform an ordinary run into a sacred run by bringing to the run a sense of God presence in you!
Again my prayers go out to all Notre Dame fans today may you find comfort in this new day! To all blessings today upon all you do, in everyone you meet and in the gift of yourself. Remember to share your gifts today and always. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
Monday, January 7, 2013
January 7th Daily Thoughts - 01/07/2013
Daily Thoughts: St. John in the first reading today makes it sound so simple. If we believe we will know what is of God and what is not. Sure when someone speaks against Jesus it is a sure sign that we should not follow in that direction, however there are many voices, many spirits out there that claim to be followers of Jesus yet I am not always sure their way is the way to go.
John reminds us we need to believe in the name of Jesus and love one another, yet often the very people who ask us to believe in the name of Jesus do not seem to love others. What should we think? What should we believe? It doesn't always seem clear cut. Certainly John did not live in this age of mass communication, of social media. The challenge of today is how to believe, how do we test the spirits to see whether they belong to God?
To be honest with you I do not have an answer, for me it is a work in progress. I listen, I digest, I compare and I pray and hope that I make the right choice, the right decision. I pray and hope that I am walking with God. One of my criteria for testing the spirits of today comes from the Gospel today, from the life of Jesus. The criteria that I place on today's spirits is how compassionate are they. Jesus' life was about compassion for others. I test the spirits of today with a sense of how compassionate are they? How caring for others are they? How willing are they to provide hope in a troubled world? How willing are they to unite not divide people? It is not always easy to make the call, to know for sure, but the spirits of today must past the Jesus test, they must be spirits that proclaim the "Good News!"
Daily Prayer: Loving God, help us to become images of your light for all, especially those caught in the darkness of injustice and violence. May we always live in your spirit so that we too, like Jesus, might bring compassion, healing and hope to a world caught in the grip of the spirits of fear, hatred, anger, violence and injustice! Amen!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Amen!
Runner's Thought: As you run look for good in the world that you pass by, look for good in the people you encounter, sense the good in you and know you do not run alone!
To all my Dominican friend happy feast day as you celebrate the feast of St. Raymond of Penyafort, my middle name is Raymond, so I am celebrating with you today! To all have a blessed and holy day and may you encounter only the Spirit of God in your work, your travels and your living of life! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
PS On Thursday this week I will be giving a Day of Recollection at the Bishop Molloy Passionist Retreat House in Jamaica, New York. The day runs from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm with a Talk, Time for Reconciliation, Lunch and Mass all for only $30 and you get me too! What a deal! If you are interested please contact the Retreat House and make a reservation (718-739-1229) or go to their web site www.bishopmolloy.org. Hope to see you there if you are in the area!
John reminds us we need to believe in the name of Jesus and love one another, yet often the very people who ask us to believe in the name of Jesus do not seem to love others. What should we think? What should we believe? It doesn't always seem clear cut. Certainly John did not live in this age of mass communication, of social media. The challenge of today is how to believe, how do we test the spirits to see whether they belong to God?
To be honest with you I do not have an answer, for me it is a work in progress. I listen, I digest, I compare and I pray and hope that I make the right choice, the right decision. I pray and hope that I am walking with God. One of my criteria for testing the spirits of today comes from the Gospel today, from the life of Jesus. The criteria that I place on today's spirits is how compassionate are they. Jesus' life was about compassion for others. I test the spirits of today with a sense of how compassionate are they? How caring for others are they? How willing are they to provide hope in a troubled world? How willing are they to unite not divide people? It is not always easy to make the call, to know for sure, but the spirits of today must past the Jesus test, they must be spirits that proclaim the "Good News!"
Daily Prayer: Loving God, help us to become images of your light for all, especially those caught in the darkness of injustice and violence. May we always live in your spirit so that we too, like Jesus, might bring compassion, healing and hope to a world caught in the grip of the spirits of fear, hatred, anger, violence and injustice! Amen!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Amen!
Runner's Thought: As you run look for good in the world that you pass by, look for good in the people you encounter, sense the good in you and know you do not run alone!
To all my Dominican friend happy feast day as you celebrate the feast of St. Raymond of Penyafort, my middle name is Raymond, so I am celebrating with you today! To all have a blessed and holy day and may you encounter only the Spirit of God in your work, your travels and your living of life! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
PS On Thursday this week I will be giving a Day of Recollection at the Bishop Molloy Passionist Retreat House in Jamaica, New York. The day runs from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm with a Talk, Time for Reconciliation, Lunch and Mass all for only $30 and you get me too! What a deal! If you are interested please contact the Retreat House and make a reservation (718-739-1229) or go to their web site www.bishopmolloy.org. Hope to see you there if you are in the area!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Epiphany Sunday Thoughts - 01/06/2013
Daily Thoughts: I have always liked the short story by Henry van Dyke call The Other Wise Man. It was made into a movie staring Martin Sheen called The Fourth Wise Man. The bases of the story is that there were not three wise men, magi, from the east but four. The fourth one's name was Artaban and he was a late to the meeting point from which the magi started their journey following the star so he was always playing catch-up with the other magi. He never catches up to them and so he does not meet Jesus in Bethlehem. By the time he gets there the others are gone and so is the Holy Family.
Artaban is determined to meet the Christ so from Bethlehem he sets out on a journey to catch up, to meet the Christ. He wants to give him some rare stones, jewels, that he has brought along however Artaban is late for every opportunity to meet Jesus because he is always stopping to help someone in need. He finally ends his journey after many, many years in Jerusalem. He is old and tired and he has given all his precious stones away to help others. He is dejected because he now has nothing to give Jesus if he meets him.
Artaban finally does meet Jesus as Jesus is carrying his Cross to Calvary. Jesus tells Artaban that he is thankful for his many gifts. Artaban doesn't understand because he thinks he has no gift to give. Jesus tells Artaban thst his life has been his gift. Every time he stopped to help someone it was a gift and Jesus is very pleased with the gift, it is the best gift!
I always think of this story of the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, because I think Artaban represents all of us. At birth we all begin a journey to meet the Lord it is called life. We have many opportunities to encounter Jesus. Sometimes we miss him and sometimes we don't. Our gift is our life and how we live it. Each time we help others we add to our gift, each time we help others encounter Jesus we add to our gift, each time we live life to the best of our ability we add to our gift!
The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord reminds us that Christ's presence and message is universal, Jesus came for all. Our challenge is to bring that message to the world for Jesus by not holding on to our gift but by giving it to whom ever we meet! Let's continue our journey to find the Christ today let's give our gift!
Daily Prayer: Loving God, grant us a faith that is willing to make the journey of life, that is willing to share our gifts from with everyone we meet. Grace us with a trust that enables to know that in sharing we are truly bringing the gift of your presence to the world so that everyone on earth my come to know your love! Amen!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Amen!
Runner's Thought: Remember every run had the potential to become a quest for life's meaning in the midst of the unexciting!
Happy Little Christmas everyone! May you have a blessed day and may it be filled with many encounters of God presence in your life! Remember give the gift today that keeps on giving your life which has many gifts! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
Artaban is determined to meet the Christ so from Bethlehem he sets out on a journey to catch up, to meet the Christ. He wants to give him some rare stones, jewels, that he has brought along however Artaban is late for every opportunity to meet Jesus because he is always stopping to help someone in need. He finally ends his journey after many, many years in Jerusalem. He is old and tired and he has given all his precious stones away to help others. He is dejected because he now has nothing to give Jesus if he meets him.
Artaban finally does meet Jesus as Jesus is carrying his Cross to Calvary. Jesus tells Artaban that he is thankful for his many gifts. Artaban doesn't understand because he thinks he has no gift to give. Jesus tells Artaban thst his life has been his gift. Every time he stopped to help someone it was a gift and Jesus is very pleased with the gift, it is the best gift!
I always think of this story of the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, because I think Artaban represents all of us. At birth we all begin a journey to meet the Lord it is called life. We have many opportunities to encounter Jesus. Sometimes we miss him and sometimes we don't. Our gift is our life and how we live it. Each time we help others we add to our gift, each time we help others encounter Jesus we add to our gift, each time we live life to the best of our ability we add to our gift!
The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord reminds us that Christ's presence and message is universal, Jesus came for all. Our challenge is to bring that message to the world for Jesus by not holding on to our gift but by giving it to whom ever we meet! Let's continue our journey to find the Christ today let's give our gift!
Daily Prayer: Loving God, grant us a faith that is willing to make the journey of life, that is willing to share our gifts from with everyone we meet. Grace us with a trust that enables to know that in sharing we are truly bringing the gift of your presence to the world so that everyone on earth my come to know your love! Amen!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Amen!
Runner's Thought: Remember every run had the potential to become a quest for life's meaning in the midst of the unexciting!
Happy Little Christmas everyone! May you have a blessed day and may it be filled with many encounters of God presence in your life! Remember give the gift today that keeps on giving your life which has many gifts! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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