Daily Thoughts - 01/15/2014

Daily Thoughts: There are two things that I draw from today’s readings, (Gospel Mark 1: 29-29 and First Reading 1 Samuel 3: 1-10, 19-20).

The first is that we never know when we will be called. At first we run to an obvious person, place or situation thinking that is where the call came from but if we really stop and listen often the call comes from God.

The second thought is about the need for healing. Healing and casting out demons, seem to be the work of the day for Jesus. I was thinking of another line in the Gospel as I read this Gospel passage at mass this morning. The line I thought of was, "The poor you will always have with you." (Matthew 26:11 and Mark 14:7) I thought Jesus could have easily said, "The sick and demons you will always have with you!"

There is always healing that needs to be done, people struggling physically, emotionally and spiritually. Sometimes when I am day dreaming I wish Jesus would walk into our midst and begin to heal or that he would give me the temporary power to heal because there are some many people who could use it!

And demons, they seem to be everywhere these days, if only Jesus were here to cast them out what a different place the world could be. It amazes me that the demons always seem to know Jesus and yet often the people in his presence don't.

Yet, there is another Gospel passage that also comes to mind, "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him." (Mark 11:23) In other words the power to heal and cast out demons is here we have just got to believe and not doubt.

So remember as you go through this day, God just might be calling so be listening and the "force," the power, the presence of Jesus is always with us to heal and to cast out demons we just have to believe!

I have a great Wednesday everyone!

Daily Prayer: O God, we are a struggling people, we want to believe, we want to hear and respond to your call. Help us to be your servant who listens and grace us with faith so that in our moments of unbelief we might truly bring your healing presence to all who need it in this world. Amen!

Runner's Thought: As you run today remember that running is something that only you can do, no one can do it for you.  So make it part of your faith take God with you!

Daily Blessing: Happy Hump Day everyone! I hope you have settled into the journey of this week and that things are going well. For me today is not so much “Hump Day” but “Fast Day” as I am fasting every Wednesday this year to keep me more aware of the people in our world that go without food each day. My “Fast Day” is a choice but many in our world have no choice and they suffer from and struggle with the pains of hunger. May we someday be a world who provides for all!

My simple prayer of blessing today is that God will bless all our endeavors, all our interactions, all of our challenges, all of our travels, all of our meetings, all of our ordinary tasks, all of our relationship, all whom we love and us. May we bring the gift of God to our world today! Have a great day everyone! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul