Daily Thoughts: “Be merciful, O
Lord, for we have sinned.” Perhaps this simple response for today mass is the
key to understanding and living out Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel (Matthew
5:43-48). To love one’s enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, we first
must realize that we too are sinners; we too have hurt others and at time made
life difficult for others.
There are no perfect people out there in
the world, no one can claim perfection, thus if we wish mercy and forgiveness
we need to be willing to offer it too. Now I am not saying it is easy, if it
were Jesus would never have included it in his teaching and I would not be
writing about it this morning. Living a life of faith is often difficult and
always challenging.
Perhaps the key to making it work is
prayer. If our first response to the challenge, to the difficulty, to the
struggle is prayer rather than anger, resentment, and judgment then we have the
chance to imperfectly live the Gospel message.
Today’s Gospel is not about excusing
offensive acts or being lenient with people who hurt us. It is not about
looking the other way and letting people just do what they want. Today’s Gospel
is about how we trust is the presence of God as we live in the midst of an
imperfect world. It is about how we react to people and situation that hurt us.
Do we seek vengeance, do we expect to extract our pound of flesh or do we pause
and through prayer place the person, the situation in God’s hands.
Prayer can be a way of offering another
Christian love. It can be a way of seeking mercy and forgiveness and also
offering mercy and forgiveness. Prayer is not going to make our world perfect
but it can be a starting point for us becoming the people of faith that Jesus
asks us to be today!
Have a great Tuesday everyone and don’t
forget to make a joyful noise with your life today.
Daily Prayer: God of all
hope, renew in us today the courage to live life to its fullest. Help us to
especially stand for and live out the values that Jesus taught us, humility,
courage, compassion, mercy, forgiveness and love. Grace us with your wisdom to
know how to best live our life in you. When opposition comes our way help us to
not give in to fear and cowardice, help us not to strike back with violence and
anger, help us not to react out of pride and judgment. Help us to be humble,
prayerful people of faith, humble people alive with hope and ready to offer
your love. Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: “Now bid me
run, and I will strive with things impossible.”
(William Shakespeare) “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead
where there is no path and leave a trail.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Can’t these thoughts be found in how Jesus is
asking us to live? – Have a great day!
Daily Blessing: Tuesday blessing
to all! I hope your morning is starting well and that this will be a good day
for you in every way.
In a few hours I will begin the long
trek to the Midwest. My first destination is the Chicago area to visit family and
then it will be on to Manitowoc, WI where I will be giving two sisters retreats
beginning next Sunday. I will not be returning home until July 13th
so this will be a long stretch on the road. Please keep all those who will
encounter me through my ministry over these next few week that they will find
what they need and encounter through me the love of God. And if you could
remember me in your prayers I would greatly appreciate it.
I hope you are finding these middle days
of June which are leading us towards summer enlivening and life giving. My
prayer of blessing today is that your day will be rich with God’s blessings
upon your work, your travel, your encounters with others, upon those whom you
love and upon you! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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