Daily Thoughts - 10/04/2013

Daily Thoughts: Some of the thoughts and wisdom of and about St. Francis of Assisi.

“Blessed is the servant who loves his [or her] brother [or sister] as much when he [or she] is sick and useless as when he [or she] is well and maybe of service to him [or her]. And blessed is he [or she] who loves his [or her] brother [or sister] as well when he [or she] is far off as when he [or she] is by his [or her] side, and who would say nothing behind his [or her] back he [or she] might not, in love, say before his [or her] face.”  (St. Francis of Assisi)

“The good Bishop of Assisi expressed a sort of horror at the hard life which the Little Brothers lived at the Portiuncula, without comforts, without possessions, eating anything they could get and sleeping anyhow on the ground. St. Francis answered him with that curious and almost stunning shrewdness which the unworldly can sometimes wield like a club of stone. He said, 'If we had any possessions, we should need weapons and laws to defend them.” (G.K. Chesterton, Saint Francis of Assisi)

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of one single candle - St. Francis of Assisi.” (G.A. Zanni)

“It is not fitting, when one is in God's service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look.” (St. Francis of Assisi)

“Always tell of God's love. If necessary, use words.”  (St. Francis of Assisi)

St. Francis of Assisi is truly a man, a saint for all seasons! Have a blessed and peaceful Feast of St. Francis of Assisi!

Daily Prayer:

Lord, make us an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek

 to be consoled as to console,
 to be understood as to understand,
 to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
(Adapted from the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi)

Runner’s Thoughts: “Running is a thing worth doing not because of the future rewards it bestows, but because of how it feeds our bodies and minds and souls in the present.” (Kevin Nelson) Feed your soul today!

Daily Blessing: Happy Feast of St. Francis of Assisi everyone! May the gentle, loving and peaceful spirit of Francis be with you today! May the richness and beauty of God’s creation that Francis so loved, touch you as you walk through this day. May the grace of God’s loving presence that Francis so lived be present to you as you journey through this day. And may the gentleness of God’s peace that Francis gave to the world, guide you through this day.

Have a wonderful day everyone! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 10/02/2013

Daily Thoughts: I have always had a special affection for our feast today, the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. Perhaps it goes back to my childhood, when in the first and second grade we always had to save room at our desk for our guardian angel. It was a way that the good Felician Sisters could teach us about the spiritual life but it also helped them keep distance and order in class, especially between those sitting side by side in our rows desks. I have to say, sometimes it worked but most of the time it didn't!

But then last night another childhood memory came to mind. One of my favorite movies as a kid was Angels in the Outfield, (the original 1951 version with Paul Douglas, Janet Leigh, Keenan Wynn, the voice of James Whitmore and cameo appearances by Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio and Bing Crosby, just to name a few. I loved the movie because it took place in Pittsburgh and centered around the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates and how the Pirates overcome their last place woes with the help of Heavenly Choir Nine, a celestial team of deceased ballplayers, who begin bestowing "miracles" upon the Pirates—but only on the condition that their loud mouth manager Guffy McGovern put a moratorium on swearing and fighting. It is a wonder and funny story. Perhaps it came to mind last night as I watched the once woeful Pirates win their first playoff game in 21 years. Maybe there were a few angels in the outfield and infield last night helping them too.

The point of my walk down memory lane is that the spirits of God's presence that we honor and celebrate today, Guardian Angels, play an important role in our life. Whether we acknowledge them by saving a seat for them at our desk as a kid, or laugh and cry with them as Hollywood brings them to life in movies like Angels in the Outfield or It's a Wonderful Life, we all have had moments and experiences in life when we sense that God has sent someone to help us. It might be a person who walks into our life at the right moment to help us overcome a struggle, an obstacle, and a difficult moment. Someone who gives us a good word that sends us on our way in the right direction. Someone just lets us know that we are not alone, we are loved, we are important, we are special and that makes all the difference at that moment in our life.

Throughout the scriptures God send his spirit, his messengers, to help people on their journey of faith. Why should this moment in time be any different? I can remember a special time when my guardian angel kept me going. It was the second time I ran the Boston Marathon. I was at mile 25 and out of gas. I could barely walk and just trying with any strength that I could find to keep moving forward. A young woman stepped off the sidewalk and began to walk along side me. I didn’t know her. She asked me my name and then put her hand on my shoulder and said, “You can do this! Let’s run!” She began to run and I began to run. She asked me if this was my first marathon and I said “no.” She said, “Then you know that you can do this so let’s run!” And we began to run faster. In the next moment as I seemed to get new energy I looked to my side and she was gone. I never got a chance to ask her name or to say thanks! I am sure though it was my guardian angel just making sure I kept going and she has done now for almost 60 years. You might say I have gotten her, her wings, many time over!

So as you journey through today remember to save a little space for your guardian angel and take a moment to thank her or him for the journey so far!

Daily Prayer:

Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

Runner’s Thoughts: “Your body will argue that there is no justifiable reason to continue. Your only recourse is to call on your spirit…” (Tim Noakes, Lore of Running) Perhaps it forces you to call upon your guardian angel!

Daily Blessing: Happy Wednesday afternoon everyone! I hope the day is going well for you, if not hang in there, home and rest will come soon! It was a late night for me as I was into baseball last night. It has been a morning and early afternoon in front of my computer working on a project for our 160^th Anniversary Mass that will take place on October 20^th.  But all you have not been far from my thoughts and prayers and so I am taking these few moments away from work to ask God’s blessing upon you as you continue your journey of faith and life!

May love and laughter touch you afternoon and evening, and warm your heart and bring you home to those you love. May good and faith filled people touch your life, wherever you go.  May love and peace bless your world with joy that long endures. May the closing of this day bring you rest and comfort in the company of those you most love and may God bless you this day and always!

Friends let us keep in our prayers those who are finding it hard to encounter God’s blessing and grace today. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 10/01/2013

Daily Thoughts: Happy Feast of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus! St. Thérèse of Lisieux is one of the most wonder saints we have. She has much to tell us about living a life that reflects the presence of God. I am looking forward to my journey to France in August of 2014 and having a chance to visit Lisieux. I still have plenty of spots open on the pilgrimage so if you are interested just drop me a line and I will send you a brochure. Now one to a few thoughts for today!

 “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” As I read this sentence from the Gospel (Luke 9:51-56) today I thought of Congress. I wish we could call down fire to consume them and start all over again and I am thinking Jesus might give the request just a little more thought this time! But in the end we would get with the disciples got a rebuke.

Jesus never confronted violence with violence, for him there was always another way, a better way. It isn’t always the easy way but in the end it is better than violence, anger, negativity and abuse of power. It is the way that will invite, welcome and make God present to the people around us and to the world. Are there risks to Jesus’ way? Absolutely! But the risks are worth it.

Jesus shows us in the Gospel today that meeting rejection with rejection, or hate with hate, or violence with violence is not the way. When we are treated poorly, when we are disappointed, when we are attacked, violence, anger, hate are not the way forward. Jesus’ suggestion is to take a deep breath, and then take our next step in faith. This is the way all disciple can complete their journey of faith.

In living life this way we can give meaning to the words we find in first reading for today from Zechariah (Zechariah 8:20-23). If we live as people of faith, then others will grab hold of us and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” Isn’t this Pope Francis’ message on how to be a Christian, a person of faith? It is our action, our treatment of others. It is our making God present so others can see and experience God that will change the world.

But Jesus couldn’t you make just one exception and call down fire to consume Congress! Have a nice day everyone…

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus we do believe, help our unbelief! Amen!

Runner’s Thought: “Run in places you love with people you like. Enjoying your surroundings and training partners will strengthen your commitment to running and bring out the best in you.” (Deena Kastor) This is especially true if you run with God!

I’m Back! Happy Tuesday everyone! Yes, I am back! Did you miss me? In many ways it was a great weekend. I got to spend some quality time with family. And let me say I am very grateful to all the family that made it to Columbus, IN this weekend. It was great to be with you and I am very grateful to my niece and nephew Mindy and Paul for hosting the weekend. They provide a wonderful place to gather, great food and a welcoming home. I am also grateful to all the family who traveled and took time out of their busy schedules just to stand around and watch people running especially when it took over four and a half hours for one of the people to make it across the finish line. When family makes that commitment you know you have an awesome family! So many thanks, Mindy and Paul Hengesbach, Sarah and Dominick Saguto, Bernadette and John Hengesbach, Rosemarie, Jim, Bridget and James Fagan! I am truly blessed!

Now as for the runners, Sarah and Dominick did great in the half marathon and 5k respectively but this old runner had a very bad day. It was the worst marathon I have ever run time wise (4 hours 41 minutes 55 seconds). And I had to do it with my family there. It was depressing to say the least! But in many ways that is life. You are not always at your best but the important thing is that you push on, you finish and live to run another day!  I cannot tell you what went wrong. I just had a bad day. It was a beautiful marathon course for the most part, the weather was great though a little on the warm side for runners and a very smoothly run race with a lot of support. So now I need to let this one go and move on to the next marathon in Scranton, PA on October 13^th.

I hope you all had a good weekend that you got to enjoy a little rest, relaxation and family/friends time. I did pray for all of you during my run and I had a little more time at prayer than I thought I was going to have so you got some extra prayers!

Daily Blessing: Have a great Tuesday everyone and let all say a prayer that our politicians in Washington get their act together and do some things that help rather than hinder. There are many people affected by this shutdown and as often happens the people affected can least afford it. Doesn’t seem fair or right!

And so I pray today for all affected by the arrogance and stupidity of Congress that their loss of work and pay will be short lived. I pray for all of you that you will have a great day filled with many blesses, much love and feelings of peace. May you all be rich in faith, hope and love which God has planted with in you. And may the wonderful spirit of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus guide you through the day! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul