Daily Thoughts - 01/04/2014

Daily Thoughts: There is a very important question asked in today's Gospel, "What are you looking for?" Jesus asks this question of the two disciples of John who are following him, one of whom we learn later is Andrew, Peter's brother. However, back to the question, "What are you looking for?" It is a question that perhaps each of us should ask ourselves each and every morning before our day begins.

What are we looking for today? Some might answer this question very quickly and confidently, peace, security, love, relationships, family, wealth, power, forgiveness, etc. while for others the answer might be difficult; I don't know; I am not sure; I will never find it!. There are many things we want, some are simple and obtainable while other things are more complex and they often seem out of reach. For the two disciples in the Gospel the answer was simple they want to see where Jesus was staying. perhaps the question and answer for us is equally as simple, deep down all of us want to see God in our life. We want to be in the presence of God as we live our life each day.

With John's recommendation the two disciples sensed something special about Jesus. As people of faith directed by Mary, John, Peter, Paul and many others we sense something special about Jesus, we want to know where he stays. We want to be in his presence.  We might say that is what this New Evangelization, this Year of Faith is all about. It is about putting ourselves in the presence of God as we live each day of our life!

So let's answer the question as we begin this day, "What are we looking for?" Hopefully the answer is Christ, finding the presence of Christ in our lives!

Have a great Saturday everyone and stay warm!

Daily Prayer: O God of the present moment, help us to look for you today in every person we meet, in every place we go, in every situation we encounter and within ourselves. Once we find your presence give us the grace to remain there and the courage to bring others into your presence to meet you.  With your presence bless us with a sincere faith, a lasting hope and a welcoming love...for we are the generation that seeks the face of you our God!  Amen!

Runner's Thought: Running is a lot like life, sometimes it is energizing and sometimes it isn't but it always has meaning!

Daily Blessing: Friends it is a beautiful sunny day here in Pelham the only problem is that it is very cold. While I know there are many other much colder places it is still hard to head out today even though it looks so nice from the TV room window!

I hope all of you are staying warm and enjoying this Saturday morning. The holidays are now just about over. You might say that this is the last weekend in this year’s Christmas/New Year’s season. I think all in all it has been a pretty good one but I have to admit it will be nice to get back into the normal flow of life. This coming week I will be at our retreat house in Jamaica Queens giving a Day of Recollection, Thursday January 9^th from 10 – 2. My topic will be “Living With Purpose: a Way to Follow Jesus.”  If you are in the area call the retreat house and make a reservation to join us. It certainly will be nice to go back to the place where I started my ministry many years ago and perhaps I will see some of you there!

Many blessings to get you through the weekend and may you find God in all that you encounter today. I am going to adapt an old Irish Blessing and it is my prayer of blessing for all of you today – “Deep peace of the running wave to you.  Deep peace of the cold and flowing air to you.  Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.  Deep peace of the bright snow to you. Deep peace of the warming sun to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you.  Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.” Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 01/03/2014

Daily Thoughts: Today we celebrate the feast of The Most Holy Name of Jesus and our scriptures, especially our Gospel, once again focus us on our relationship with Jesus. What might we take always from the celebration of this feast and our scriptures today?

For me the focus today is on the Name of Jesus. I have always found a name to be important. I am very proud to be named after my father and I think one of my sadness's of life is that I never had the chance to continue the tradition and name a son, Paul Raymond. I also struggle with names, especially remembering the names of people that I have met. I am in awe of people who can and do remember names. Names identify people, names honor people, names define people and place people in the context of history and life.

I have always wondered why over the centuries Jesus' name became such a focal point of disrespect. Often when I lead young people in an examination of conscience before the Sacrament of Reconciliation I will talk about how our words often hurt. I ask those present this, "How would we like it if every time something went wrong, every time someone got angry, every time someone expressed anger, they would use our name?" The answer is always a universal, "I would not like it at all!" Yet, isn't that what we do with Jesus, with God? Why is that? What causes us to say "God dammit!" or "Jesus Christ!" with anger and disrespect?

As I said yesterday if we know ourselves we have a better chance of knowing God. If we respect ourselves we have a much better chance of respecting God and others! I am sure all of us value our name. It is important to us to be respected for who we are. It is important for us to be known by our name. It is important for our name not to be disrespected. Likewise it is important for God, for Jesus to be respected too! As we live this day let's make a conscious effort to honor, respect and cherish The Name of Jesus! When we use it let us use it to grace life with hope and love – not fill it with anger!

Every morning and evening I begin prayer in the Passionist tradition by praying, "At the name of Jesus every knee must bend in heaven, on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God, the Father." It keeps me focused, perhaps it can for you too!

In the words of Irving Berlin - Snow, Snow, Snow – Snow! Just envision Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vern Ellen singing... Have a great day everyone!

Daily Prayer: Eternal God, we pray this day that at the name of your loving Son Jesus every knee must bend in heaven, on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of you our God, and Father. Help us always to honor your names and in speaking them bring your grace, hope, love and not anger to our world! In the name of Jesus we continue to pray 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! That one day we will all be called God's children...Amen!

Runner's Thought: In the Northeast and Midwest it is very cold today so the treadmill might be the best place to run if you have access to one. However, if you run in the cold today think of it as not an obstacle but as an energy, a grace enlivening you and sending you forward!

Daily Blessing: The snow has stopped here in Pelham, it is now just the cold and the wind. I hope wherever you are the snow has stopped and maybe even the sun is shining.

I would ask your prayers in a special way for a young man who it seems took his own life this past Monday. He was from Bangladesh and he was going to school here in the United States. He was on Christmas break visiting relatives here in New York when for some reason he went to Central Park and it seem took his own life. Sadly I would not have paid much attention to this story except for the fact that it has a family connection and so I remember the Carters today in a special way as they grieve. Let us pray for this young man’s family and friends as they try to make sense out of this tragedy. Let us pray for all the lives he touched in such a good way. Let us pray for this young man that whatever the reason God now understands, forgives and has welcomed him home!

Once again we are made aware that life is very fragile and unpredictable. That choices are often made by people we don’t know and people we know that we have a hard time understanding. The mystery of life can be a struggle, sad, frustrating and even devastating but it can also be joyous, wonderful and life giving. Today, I pray for God’s blessing upon all of us that God’s blessing will help you navigate through the snow, wind, cold – through life. That it will help you navigate through the struggles, disappointments and sadness of life. That it will help you find the joy, the grace, the wonderfulness and the gift of God’s presence this day wherever we travel to, in whomever we meet, in whatever we need to do and most importantly with ourselves so that we will never give up! Loving God, bless us each this day with the wisdom, the understanding, the knowledge, the courage, the good judgment, the reverence and the wonder and awe to trust, have faith that you are alive within us, that you love us and that you will never leave us alone in the midst of the perils of life. Amen – Blessings to all, be safe, be warm! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul

Happy New Year - Daily Thoughts - 01/01/2014

Daily Thoughts: All throughout Advent and now into the Christmas season we have been reminded of the story of Mary, a simple woman, blessed, graced by God who when confronted with an opportunity to make a difference in the world did, not just once but over and over again. At every turn of life Mary took the opportunity not just to live through but to make a difference, not to waste time but to bring about the loving presence of God. She did it as the Mother of God, she did it as wife to Joseph, she it as mother to the beloved disciple and she does it as Mother of the Church for us today.

Perhaps today is a good day to think about the gift that all mothers give and through the intersession of Mary ask God to bless, protect all mothers… Here are a few thoughts from others about mothers...

 “When you look into your mother’s eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this earth.” (Mitch Albom)

“Parents rarely let go of their children, so children let go of them. They move on. They move away. The moments that used to define them - a mother's approval, a father's nod - are covered by moments of their own accomplishments. It is not until much later, as the skin sags and the heart weakens, that children understand; their stories, and all their accomplishments, sit atop the stories of their mothers and fathers, stones upon stones, beneath the waters of their lives.” (Mitch Albom)

“The truth is, when our mothers held us, rocked us, stroked our heads -none of us ever got enough of that. We all yearn in some way to return to those days when we were completely taken care of - unconditional love, unconditional attention. Most of us didn't get enough.” (Mitch Albom)

“There's a story behind everything…but behind all your stories is always your mother's story…because hers is where yours begins.” (Mitch Albom)

“I don't know what it is about food your mother makes for you, especially when it's something that anyone can make - pancakes, meat loaf, tuna salad - but it carries a certain taste of memory.” (Mitch Albom)

“Being a mother is an attitude, not a biological relation.” (Robert A. Heinlein)

“When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,

speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,

speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be. (Paul McCartney)

My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Mary, mother of Jesus)

“In a child's eyes, a mother is a goddess. She can be glorious or terrible, benevolent or filled with wrath, but she commands love either way. I am convinced that this is the greatest power in the universe.”  ( N.K. Jemisin)

“Mothers and their children are in a category all their own. There's no bond so strong in the entire world. No love so instantaneous and forgiving.”  (Gail Tsukiyama)

Happy Feast Day to all mothers, especially to expectant mothers! May we also remember all mothers who have passed from us. Happy New Year everyone and have a blessed and joyous 2014!

Daily Prayer: O God of wonder and mystery, author of all life, enliven us with your grace to see each moment in life as an opportunity, an opportunity to have faith, to hope, to love and make a difference. Bless us with the spirit of Mary, whom we celebrate this day as the Mother of Christ that we might always respond to life with hope alive in our hearts!  As we have been we continue though out this Christmas Season to pray for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for firefighters who risk their lives; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! May you always bless us in your mercy...Amen!

Runner's Thoughts: Happy New Year runners, may the wind always be at your back and may you run each day with purpose, meaning and the presence of God!

Daily Blessing: New Year's blessings to all! I hope your celebration last night was fun and safe. I saw the ball drop in Times Square from the comfort of our TV room here in Pelham and I did it alone as everyone else was either away or in bed.

It appears we are in for a major snow storm tomorrow and Friday, we can only wait and see if all the predictions are right. It seems we will start off 2014 in an interesting way!

My blessing prayer today comes from the words of Mother Teresa.  As we enter this New Year we ask God blessing upon us so that we embrace life and live it because life is…

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.”

May all your hopes, dreams and plans for the New Year find blessing and life in God's love. May 2014 be a year of faith, of peace and of much grace for all of you! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 12/31/2013

Daily Thoughts: Some things to ponder as we prepare to welcome a New Year…

“For last year's words belong to last year's language

And next year's words await another voice.” (T.S. Eliot)

“Keeping a journal has taught me that there is not so much new in your life as you sometimes think. When you re-read your journal you find out that your latest discovery is something you already found out five years ago. Still, it is true that one penetrates deeper and deeper into the same ideas and the same experiences.”  (Thomas Merton)

“The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.” (G.K. Chesterton)

“Faith is why I'm here today and faith is why I made it through.” (Jonathan Anthony Burkett)

“If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for.” (Thomas Merton)

“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

“Do not forget that the value and interest of life is not so much to do conspicuous things...as to do ordinary things with the perception of their enormous value.”  (Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ)

“As long as we continue to live as if we are what we do, what we have, and what other people think about us, we will remain filled with judgments, opinions, evaluations, and condemnations. We will remain addicted to putting people and things in their "right" place.”  (Fr. Henri J.M. Nouwen)

“Faith is not for overcoming obstacles; it is for experiencing them—all the way through!”  (Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM)

Whoever you are, you are human. Wherever you are, you live in the world, which is just waiting for you to notice the holiness in it.” (Barbara Brown Taylor)

According to the Talmud, every blade of grass has its own angel bending over it, whispering, “Grow, grow.”  (Barbara Brown Taylor)

If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”  (Meister Eckhart)

Have a great December 31^st everyone and a Happy 2014!

Daily Prayer: I thought Thomas Merton’s prayer would be a good end of the year prayer for all of us today –

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. (Thomas Merton - Thoughts in Solitude)

Runner’s Thoughts: Run with the wind today into a New Year blessed by God!

Daily Blessing: Greetings family and friends, on this last day of 2013. I begin this day thankful for the year that has passed but happy and excited to bring in a New Year. I pray all of you are where you need and want to be and that you will get a chance to celebrate with family and/or friends tonight. If you need to travel please travel safe. If you are going to be out and about at, around or after midnight, please be safe!

I offer a simple blessing on this last day of 2013 -  O Loving God, hear our prayers today as we pray in thanksgiving for the year that has just past and with hope for the year we are about to begin. Bless us with the grace if wisdom that we have gathered over this last year and help us during the coming year to soften the hearts of all so that we may always know your friendship. Grant peace and prosperity to your people bless each of today and always with your love. Amen! May all of us encounter peace, hope and many new dreams in 2014. See you next year! Peace in the Christ Child...Fr. Paul