Daily Thoughts: “In the world
you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” The last
sentence of today’s Gospel from John (John 16:29-33). It reminds us that being
a person of faith is not easy, that we will find ourselves struggling with many
things in our world, culture and society. In fact we will struggle with many
things even within our own faith community because as an institution it is part
of the world and run by human beings who are imperfect. Living this life will
give us trouble from all sides.
However, we are not to fear because
Jesus has conquered the world. He has made this life only part of the journey.
There is more to life than this world; there is more to life than what we face
each day. There is an eternal life where there is no more pain, no more sorrow,
no more death just the eternal presence of God. As people of faith that is
where we are headed but there is still this life, this world to navigate
through.
Each day we need to look for the Spirit.
We need to look for those people like St. Paul who can help us connect with the
Spirit, because it is the Holy Spirit who will guide us through the troubles of
this world. It is the Holy Spirit who will bring to life the gift of God within
us.
So be on the lookout today for the gift
of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can come to us in many different ways,
through creation, through the people we meet, through the people we love and
yes, the Holy Spirit can even come to us through ourselves. Let us be the
breath, the life, the Spirit of God today!
Have a great Monday and don’t forget to make
a joyful noise with your life today!
Daily Prayer: Come, O Holy Spirit of Life and help us in
our weaknesses, in our troubles and in our struggles. We do not always know how to pray as we
should, so we ask you to intercede for us. Grace our prayers with your
groanings too deep for words and set our hearts on fire with your love. Help us
to be re-created in your love so that we might renew your hope throughout the
face of the earth this day and always. Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: When you finish
your run today or any day, take a moment to reflect on the sense of balance,
the sense of energy, the sense of renewal that results from your run. Think of
the moment when you felt God’s presence. Think of the ways you felt God
presence. Now take that energy, that balance, that presence with you throughout
the day!
Daily Blessing: Happy Monday and
June blessings to everyone! I hope you had a great weekend and feel refreshed
and ready for a new week! If not I will offer a prayer for you this morning that
you will find the energy today that will take you through this week and make a
it a good one.
I have found summer! Here in West Texas
the temperatures have been in the 90s during the day since I arrived and the
forecast is for 100s before I leave on Saturday. So hello summer! That is one
thing about traveling you often go from one kind of weather to something very
different in a matter of hours. At least the retreat center here in San Angelo
is air conditioned and a very comfortable place. Once again I would ask your
prayers for the priests of the Diocese of Lubbock, Texas who will begin retreat
with me this evening. I think there is to be about 45 priests on retreat and I
am told the bishop will be here too. So in your prayers remember those on
retreat and the preacher!
As I said above I hope your Monday, your
new week, has started well. I pray that your day, your week, will be blessed
with many wonderful and life giving experiences. I pray that you will take sometime
today to smell the flowers, to enjoy the colors of creation and to let yourself
be loved! May the blessing of God’s love be with you today and always. Peace in
Christ’s Passion and Joy in the Risen Lord…Fr. Paul
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