Daily Thoughts - 12/21/2013

Daily Thoughts: “How does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Words uttered by Elizabeth in today’s Gospel (Luke 1:39-45). Yet I think they are also words uttered by us at times when we recognize Mary’s presence in our life.

Yes, I firmly believe that I have been visited by Mary at moments in my life. Mary has come to me at times when I needed a mother’s presence either to comfort me or put me back on the straight and narrow. Times when I needed that hug or when I needed a stern but loving word to set me straight. Mary has come at times when the gift of family was strong and ever present and when I was alone and need to know that family was still there.

Mary walks into our lives often and like Elizabeth we often recognize her presence and God’s presence at once because something inside us leaps for joy. However, there are other times when it takes us a little longer to recognize her presence and the presence of God. Sometimes it is long after they have visited us that we are able to acknowledge their presence.

Mary reminds us today that mothers are so important. They not only give us life. They carry us until we can face the world. They protect us. They nurture us. They teach us and they make Mary and Christ present to us throughout our lives!

Perhaps like Elizabeth today as we think of our own mothers, as we think about pregnant mothers, as we think about all mothers we should remember how gifted we are that the mother of our Lord should come to us. We celebrate this day in gratitude for all the mothers!

Have a great day everyone.

Daily Prayer: Loving God, like Elizabeth in today’s Gospel we pause in gratitude for the many visits that Mary has made to our lives. We give thanks for those visits as they were made present by our own mothers. With the gift of life, our mothers carried us in their wombs and gave me life. Like Mary and Elizabeth they tenderly, patiently cared for us and taught us to walk and talk. They read to us and made us laugh. No one delighted in our successes more; no one could comfort us better in our failures. We are grateful as we remember the gift of Mary during our journey to Christmas, for how our mothers, nurtured us and mentored me, and even disciplined me.

In the spirit of Mary and Elizabeth, please bless our mothers and all mothers, Lord, whether they are living or deceased. Comfort them, help them to have loving hearts and to continue to love and give of themselves to others. Strengthen them when they are down and give them hope when they are discouraged.

Most of all, God, during the seasons of Advent and Christmas, give all mothers the graces they most need and desire.  We pray this, grateful for the gifts of Mary and Elizabeth and all mothers in the name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen!

Runner’s Thoughts: “As every runner knows, running is about more than just putting one foot in front of the other; it is about our lifestyle and who we are.”

(Joan Benoit Samuelson) Again someone who reflects on running also tells us about faith too. Faith is more than putting one foot in front of another, more than just going to mass. It is about a lifestyle, a way of seeing the world, not through just our own eyes but through the eyes of God. Faith is who we are. It is as a part of our life as taking a breath.

Daily Blessing: Happy Saturday everyone! Yes, the last weekend before Christmas. I hope this finds you not too busy with last minute shopping or preparations. For those who will be traveling during these next few days please be safe and if you can give yourselves a little extra time. I know that part of the country will be hit with bad weather.  We here in Pelham are awaiting a couple of days of rain before the cold returns. I hope you all will be able to get where you are going and settle in for a blessed and holy Christmas celebration with people you love.

As for today’s Daily Blessing I call upon spirits Mary and Elizabeth to focus us and remind us throughout this day that God is always with us. Loving God bless us all this day with the echoes of Elizabeth’s words to Mary, “How does it happen that the mother of my Lord, should come to me?” Make these words our own today God for by your blessing of creation we all carry around in us the gift of your presence. May the story of Mary and Elizabeth remind us of your presence in our lives and give us the strength to give your gift to everyone we encounter today and always. May God bless us all today. Have a great Saturday everyone! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 12/20/2013

Daily Thoughts: In these last days until Christmas we are reminded over and over how the Christmas story came to be. We hear about Joseph’s dream and today the Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel. Each story is a snap shot of the greater story of God’s human presence in the world. In today’s Gospel (Luke 1:26-38) we are reminded that Mary was truly a believer. Even though she did not know the full extent of her “yes” she proclaimed it anyway. She trusted in God. She had faith and she staked her life in the promise of God something Ahaz, in our first reading (Isaiah 7:10-14) was unwilling to do.

Not having a clear vision of the road ahead is not always an easy way to live. It demands trust, it demands faith, and it demands a sense of hope in all that one does. Mary certain defines this way of living. She did not know the implications of her “yes” but she had trust, faith and lived by an unrelenting hope.

Several times this Advent I have used this quote by Calvin Miller. It is from his book The Christ of Christmas: Readings for Advent. I find it a wonderful way to think of the gift of Mary in our life and so I share it with you again today – “We must look to Mary's example to know how to deal with the glorious impossibilities of God. Look how she turned the world upside down by making one simple statement.”

Mary’s one simple statement was “yes” to God. Today we remember another moment from the Christmas story. It is a moment that reminds us that if we trust, if we believe, if we live by hope we will encounter God most often when we least expect it but always when we are most in need!

Have a great day everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, in the spirit of your handmaid, our mother Mary, we pray - Behold your servants, O God – May what you ask of us be lived out by us according to your word, your invitation, your will. Today God, we say “yes” to you! Amen. (Adapted from Mary’s Prayer to the angel Gabriel)

Runner’s Thoughts:  “I run because it's my passion, and not just a sport. Every time I walk out the door, I know why I'm going where I'm going and I'm already focused on that special place where I find my peace and solitude. Running, to me, is more than just a physical exercise... it's a consistent reward for victory!” (Sasha Azevedo, actress) I think this quote from Sasha Azevedo not only helps us to understand running but also faith. We believe not because we were born into a religion, a faith community but because we have a passion for our relationship with God. When we wake up in the morning we might not know where we are going or what the day will bring but because we believe, because we have faith we are ready to face the day. Throughout our journey we look for places of solitude and peace, perhaps when we run. We also look for places of love and community. Faith is more than just an obligation…it is our breath, our way of life!

Daily Blessing: TGIF everyone! It has been a busy week with snow, sleet, cold temperatures, a mission, two funerals, Christmas cards, countless trips to the post office, lots of traffic and long lines. I hope you are surviving this last week until Christmas. I hope today finds you not too stressed and enjoying a day gifted by the sun, with warming temperatures, though I know that things are not so good in the upper Midwest!

Most of my ministry responsibilities are done for the year except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and anything else that might come up in the next 10 days or so. I am looking forward to Christmas at home for the first time in over 30 years. I hope that this weekend will give you a chance to get things done and thus be ready to celebrate the gift of Christmas at home or wherever you will travel to. May this Christmas truly be a blessed and holy one for all!

It is in the spirit of Mary’s “yes” that is proclaimed in the Gospel today I offer my daily blessing – Loving God, bless us this day with the confidence, the faith, the trust and the hope to always respond with a “yes” to your invitation to live life. Help us to be people of joy, of peace and of commitment. Grace us with the strength to move beyond negativity of this world and see the possible in the impossible. Protected us today, in our travels, our endeavors, in our busyness and gifted us with many experiences of your love. Loving God, bless us all this day and always. Amen. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 12/18/2013

Daily Thoughts: The point of Advent and of Christmas in many ways comes down to being reminded that “God is with us!”  Sure we might say that is the point of every day, but during Advent and Christmas – Emmanuel – become a special focus, a special refrain. The great Dominican mystic Meister Eckhart gave a Christmas homily in which he said that Christ is born three times. Christ was first born over 2, 000 years ago. Second, Christ will be born at some point in the future when he comes again and thirdly Christ is born every day in our hearts.

Yes, each day we have the opportunity to give birth to Christ. We have opportunity to bring to the world like Mary and Joseph, Emmanuel, God with us! We do it by following in Mary and Joseph’s footsteps, by say yes to God’s invitation to be part of this journey of faith called life. We do it by living our lives to the fullest, by sharing the image and likeness of God in which we have been created with the world. We do it by trusting in God’s love and by living in hope.

My friends today is a new day so let us give birth to Emmanuel today through the hopeful living of our lives. Have a great day everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving Jesus, you often held up a child and told us that children are worthy of blessing in your Kingdom and an example to us of how to grow in wonder and awe of people, places and things. Help us to return to the heart of a child so that we might proclaim your Kingdom with minds and hearts full of wonder and awe! Amen. (Adapted from a prayer by Fr. Michael Greene, C.P.)

Runner’s Thoughts: “If you always put limits on what you can do, physical or anything else, it'll spread over into the rest of your life. It'll spread into your work, into your morality, into your entire being. There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.”  (Bruce Lee) For Mary and Joseph there were no limits. Like running there are no limits in our faith. We must always remember nothing is impossible with God. Perhaps in life, in our journey of faith and in running we need to always remember this.

Daily Blessing: Happy Wednesday, Hump Day everyone! We might say that today is “Hump Day” for December in a week we will be celebrating Christmas So today we begin the downhill roll to Christmas and the New Year!

The snow seems to be over here in Pelham. The sun is out and they say the temperatures will slowly warn into the 50’s over the next few days that will probably mean that the snow will be gone by Christmas – I want to speak to the person in charge here!

I hope you day has begun well and that it will be a good day throughout. My mission at Nativity of Our Blessed Lady continues to go well. Despite the ugly weather yesterday we had a nice and spirited group last night as we celebrate our second evening. The mission closes tonight with mass so please keep the faith community of Nativity of Our Blessed Lady in your prayers and also the preacher. If you are in the area of East 233^rd Street in the Bronx come and celebrate with us tonight!

In the spirit of our readings today I pray that God will bless us with a spirit of wisdom today so that we can understand the “dream” that God us for us and that we be blessed with the grace to live out that dream! May God gift us with compassion and generosity today so that we might bring Emmanuel, God with us, wherever we go and to whomever we meet. May we always be a family, a Church, a faith community bound together by a dream of justice, forgiveness, reconciliation and love. Blessing to all today and always – especially to my niece and goddaughter Alice who celebrates the gift of life today! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 12/17/2013

Daily Thoughts: In today’s Gospel (Matthew 1: 1-17), we are reminded that Jesus was part of the great human family. A family made up of saints and sinners and everything in between. It might seem tedious to read this long list of names many of whom we know nothing about and some that seem very familiar. I use to get so nervous when Matthew’s or Luke’s genealogy would appear as the Gospel, but over the years I began to feel comfortable with it and now I even look forward to proclaiming this Gospel. I guess I have grown familiar with the case of characters!

Isn’t that what life is about growing accustom to life. See people and things differently. Telling the stories that reminds us who we are and from where we have come. Remembering the characters good and bad that have made up our life and molded us into the people we are today.

When we read or hear the genealogy of Christ whether from Matthew or Luke we are reminded that even though Jesus his God, he is also human, also part of this great human family and the characters, the women and men, who believed, who struggled, said yes and sometimes no, who embraced a relationship with God and sometimes didn’t, who lived life made it possible for Jesus to come into this world to embrace us with his love.

Here’s to the characters in all of our lives. Here’s to the characters of the human family. Here’s to Joseph and Mary the last in the story today who said yes that we might celebrate Jesus the Christ!

Have a great afternoon and evenings everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, creator of all the times and seasons of our lives. Grace us with a faith this day that is grounded in the characters of our lives who have made it possible for us to be the women and men we are today. Gift us with the wisdom to remember the stories of our life and help us to life the story of today and make you presence once again. Amen!

Runner’s Thought: “Your body will argue that there is no justifiable reason to continue. Your only recourse is to call on your spirit, which fortunately functions independently of logic.” (Tim Noakes) Thankfully our spirits run on faith, hope and the presence of God!

Daily Blessing: Happy Tuesday everyone! Sorry my posting are a little late today but I had an early morning dentist appointment and a funeral, thankfully not my own! I had the great privilege of celebrating the funeral of a Sister of Charity today who over the years reminded me of my mother. They had a certain physical resemblance but it was more about their mannerisms and expressions. I did not know Sr. Mary very well but when I use to celebrate mass at Mount St. Vincent Convent I would look out and see her and she reminded me of Mom in better times. I never told her but I was always grateful to Sr. Mary for helping me remember Mom at her best especially when she struggled in the closing years of her life.

I hope all of you are having a good day. We are encountering another blast of snow here in Pelham and the NY area today. Right now as 2:00 pm approaches the snow doesn’t seem to be letting up – and it is not even winter yet! I have this feeling it is going to be a long one.

Our mission at Nativity of Our Blessed Lady in the Bronx is going well. We had a nice little community of faith last night with a lot of spirit and energy. I look forward to our time tonight – I just hope the snow stops so people can make it out. Please continue to keep the faith community of Nativity of Our Blessed Lady in your prayers and also the preacher.

I pray for God’s blessing on all of us today. May God enliven our spirits and enable us to bring the Good News in word and deed wherever we go and to whomever we meet. May we travel safe, live this day in God presence and rest this night in God’s peace. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 12/16/2013

Daily Thoughts: In the book, Thoughts in Solitude, Thomas Merton writes, “If our life is poured out in useless words, we will never hear anything, never become anything, and in the end, because we have said everything before we had anything to say, we shall be left speechless at the moment of our greatest decision.”

Merton’s words remind me of the chief priests and elders in the Gospel today. They always had a lot to say to and about Jesus. They constantly questioned him, trying to catch him in a “slip of the tongue.” Yet, in today’s Gospel they were left speechless.

I have always thought these religious leaders were not bad people. They were just fearful people. They were people afraid to stop long enough to listen, to hear and to recognize God’s gift in their midst because it might mean they would have to change.

Perhaps our reflection today might be to ask ourselves if we are willing to stop and listen. Each day we encounter God in many ways. Are we like the chief priests and elders afraid to listen to, and acknowledge God’s presence? Are we afraid that if we do we might have to change?

Advent can be a busy time, lots of things to do before Christmas. Do we dare stop the rush and take some time to listen, to hear, to recognize God’s presence? Let’s hope so because if we do this just might be one of the greatest moments in our life!

Have a great day everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, teach us to take the time listen today. Help us to recognize your presence in our life. Guide us in your way of truth and love always. Amen!

Runner’s Thoughts: “If we push on, we begin to feel a vague, tingling sense of who, or what, we really are. It's a powerful feeling, strong enough to have us coming back for more, again and again.” (Adharanand Finn) Doesn’t this quote speak about life and faith also? Doesn't speak to God’s presence in our life?

Daily Blessing: I hope this finds you all well and energized for a new day. If not hang in there and I will pray that things get better as the day goes on. I began an Advent Mission yesterday at Nativity of Our Blessed Lady Parish in the Bronx. It is a small parish but one of spirit. I ask that you pray for the faith community at Nativity over these next three days that their wonderful spirit might be renewed and strengthen. I would also ask you to remember their preacher that he will be able to proclaim to them the Good News! By the way if you are in the area of the northeast Bronx come and join us tonight at 7:00 pm.

At mass this morning I was struck by the closing prayer and so I will adapt it as our blessing today – Loving God, through the gift of your presence during this new day in our lives help us as we walk amid passing things to always love the things of heaven and hold fast to what endures. Bless us all with your gift of hope that we may bring your presence to whomever we meet and to every place we go! Amen! Blessings to all today, travel safely and enjoy the gift of this day. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - Sunday December 15, 2013

Daily Thoughts: "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice. Indeed the Lord is near. So be patient and rejoice!" (Words from both Paul and James) The anticipation of Christmas is probably getting to us by now. We have been in and out of stores, fought the crowds, looked for bargains, yet not all the shopping or preparation is done. The tree is up the decorations are out and we have caught the Christmas spirit. However, we must be patient, Christmas is coming but not quite yet!

There is a joy and happiness to the fact that Christmas is coming but we still have to deal with everyday life. There is still work to be done. The Third Sunday of Advent always seems to bring these two feeling together, the joy, the rejoicing and the anticipation of what is coming - Christmas and the patients and investment in everyday life that is needed because Christmas is not here yet.

The mixing of emotions can be difficult and stressful. We can sometimes let on emotion overcome to other. Yet patience and joy are the essence of what makes life livable! In the Gospel today, (Matthew 11: 2-11), Jesus asks the questions, what are we looking for and what do we expect? he asks these question in reference to John the Baptist but also in reference to the living of life. If we believe, if we have faith, then what is it we are looking for out of life? What do we expect from our relationship with God? Can we find joy in it? Can we be patient and let the story, let the journey play out?

Yes, Christmas is coming it will be here in ten days. Can we be patient, can we keep the joy alive, can we live in the moment? Can we rejoice in the hope the God is always near?

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, help us take on the Advent work of restoring our lives to the meaning and joy for which we were created. Lead by the spirit of the Eternal Shepherd grace us with the strength of renewing our lives by focusing on compassion, forgiveness and justice the foundation on which your Kingdom is built. Amen!

Runner's Thought: “Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.”  (Dean Karnazes) Always live by faith and have hope!

Daily Blessing: I am off in a few moments to celebrate mass at Nativity of Our Blessed Lady Parish in the Bronx. I am beginning a mission there and will preach both English masses today and celebrate the mission Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm. So if you are in the area come and join us, if not please pray for the faith community at Nativity of Our Blessed Lady and their preacher!

On this Third Sunday of Advent I ask God to bless you with the joy and hope of this wonderful season. Have a great day and remember to give God a little of your time today! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul

"Rejoice always, I will say it again, rejoice! God is always near!"