Daily Thoughts: I found it
interesting this morning as I was preparing for mass that in the first reading
(James 1: 11) James begins his letter by tell the community to be patient and
persevere in their faith. There are many struggles and trials in living a life
of faith and the only way to overcome doubt is through patient perseverance.
Then we get to the Gospel (Mark 8:11-13)
and Jesus gives us an example of patient perseverance. He is once again tested
and challenged by the religious leaders. They want a sign. Now Jesus could have
engaged the Pharisees in a heated argument. He could have performed a miracle
for them, but he didn’t. Jesus just asked them a question. Why do you need a
sign? Why can’t you just believe? Why can’t you recognize God in your midst?
Throughout Jesus’ ministry he was
challenged, frustrated and questioned. Each time he confronted the situation
differently drawing upon a wide range of human emotions. In today’s story it is
the emotion of patience. He feels sorrow for the Pharisees. He is frustrated,
but he takes a deep breath and simply asked them to think for a moment.
Perhaps today’s challenge in both the Letter
of James and the Gospel of being patient and persevering is good food for
thought for us. Can we be patient with those around us, with ourselves and with
God? Can we persevere in this journey of life?
Have a great Monday everyone!
Daily Prayer: Loving God,
teach us to have patient hearts and give us the grace to open our hearts to you
so that we may persevere in our journey of faith today and always. Be our
protector, our stronghold and guide us with your love. Amen!
Runner’s Thoughts: Remember the
little miracles of God that we encounter during a run are not because we finish
but are because we find the courage to begin!
Daily Blessing: I send Monday
greetings to everyone! I hope your day has started off well and that you are
not fighting nasty weather again. Hopefully you are getting to enjoy this
holiday of Presidents Day. If not and you are at work I hope the day is going
smoothly.
I am in Inverness, FL at Our Lady of
Fatima Parish. My preaching at all the masses over the weekend to introduce the
mission went well and our opening session this morning was great. Inverness is
an interesting place. It is near Ocala and has a much different feel than Punta
Gorda. I have to say I miss the water but there is a very nice trail for
walking, running and biking here and I ran 7.5 miles on it yesterday. It was a
beautiful run past a couple of lakes and through the sun drenched countryside.
There are benefits to every place I visit and I am enjoying the ones I have
found here.
Please keep the faith community at Our
Lady of Fatima in your prayers this week and if you can add an extra one for
their preacher I would appreciate it.
My prayer of blessing for you today is
that your day will be rich in what matters to God. That every encounter, every
journey, every experience and every person you meet will be blessed with God’s
presence. I pray that you will have moments of peace that will help you to
hear, feel and know that presence of God that is within you. Travel safe, smile
often and know that you are a gift today and always! May you have many blessings
throughout the day. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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