Daily Thoughts: When I read the
accounts in today first reading from the Acts of the Apostles about the things
that happened after St. Stephen’s death. I am always caught by the fact that
even though Saul was hell bent on destroying the Church God was able to change
his heart and lead him to become the great Apostle Paul. It gives me hope that
someone so focused on the negative, so wanting to destroy, so against the
presence of some people in the world was able to become a person of joy, of
peace, of love and of hope.
God did not fight Saul’s attack on his
Church with vengeance, with force, with power, with war. God did not seek to
destroy Saul. God did not seek to judge Saul. No God dealt with Saul’s attack
through truth, compassion, love and with an invitation to be part of the
community. Somehow with words of kindness, with words of compassion, with words
and gestures of love God turned Saul’s heart and created someone new Paul.
Often as we encounter our world and all
its problems we think we must fight, we think that we must eliminate our
enemies. We think that making fun of them, that degrading them with our words,
that attacking them with half-truths, cartoons and witty jokes we will overcome
them. We think that pointing to their faults and failings, that being hurtful
we are doing God’s will and that we will win the battle and the war.
Yet, God has always showed us that
power, vengeance and war never works. These are not the solutions to our
problems or the avenues to peace. In Saul’s case God invited him to become part
of the community. God invited Saul to see God in his life in a different way.
God invited Saul to choose life not death. God invited Saul to a change of
heart. God invited Saul to be a man of hope and love. God turn Saul’s energy of
violence and hate into an energy of love, compassion, hope, joy and peace.
If we truly want our world, our culture,
our society to change then perhaps rather than waging war, rather than fearing
those we see as enemies, rather than attacking, rather than dismissing or making
fun of those we don’t like, we should invite them into the conversation. We
should extend the hand of friendship. We should invite them to be part of the
community. We should show them the value of faith, hope and love. We should
help them to see the light of life!
Have a great day everyone and don’t
forget to make a joyful noise with your life today!
Daily Prayer: O God, the
Eternal Runner, bless us this day with a faith that can move mole hills and
mountains, that has an unseen healing touch, that lives everyday stories,
celebrates simple suppers and helps us carry the crosses of life so that they
turn into hope filled resurrections. Help us to see the goodness in ourselves
and others. Grace us with your loving presence and enliven us with hope so that
we can share your presence with everyone we meet. Keep us ever mindful today of
those who are in need of prayer because they are struggle with life in some way.
Help us to live this day alive in joy, faith, hope and love for all who
struggle, for all who carry crosses, for all who seek peace! Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: Let us run with
God, the Eternal Runner, beside us and within us. If we can’t run, let us walk with
God the Eternal Walker, beside us and within us. Whatever we can do today let us do it as a
prayer so that the joy of God may be encounter in the world today through us!
Daily Blessing: Greetings on
this Wednesday, this “Hump Day” everyone! I hope and pray you are having a good
day. I just returned from the doctor’s office where I had my annual physical
today. As far as the doctor could determine of am ok, now remember this was
only dealing with my physical side. I will await the results from my tests in
the hope that I have the all clear for another year. I will be adding the
dietary supplement Coenzyme Q10 to my daily routine because my Lipitor seems to
be making my muscles a bit sore.
I pray for blessings upon all of you
today were ever you are, upon whatever you are doing and upon whomever you
meet. May all of you be gifted with a blessed, holy and faith filled day rich in
the presence and grace of God and with this richness may you all make a joyful
noise today! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Hope in the Risen Christ…Fr. Paul
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