Daily Thoughts: There is a
story I heard over the weekend about a tourist who came too close to the edge
of the Grand Canyon, he lost his footing and plunged over the side, clawing and
scratching to save himself. Somehow he was able to grab hold of a small,
shrubby bush. Filled with terror, he called out, “Is there anyone up there? Can
anyone help me?” He heard a reassuring voice say, “I’m here: the Lord your God.”
The man said, “I am so glad you came
along, I can’t hold on much long.” The Lord said, “Before I help you, I want to
know if you believe in me.” The man answered,
“Lord, I certainly believe in you. I go to church every Sunday and
sometimes even on Wednesdays. I read my bible, pray every day, and I always put
my envelope in the collection.”
God replied, ‘But do you really believe
in me?” The man was getting more desperate with every passing moment. “Lord,
you can’t believe how much I believe in you. I truly believe!”
God said, “Good. Now let go of the branch.”
The man stammered, But Lord…” And the voice of the Lord came back, “If you
believe, let go of the branch.” A few moments of silence passed and then the
man yelled, “Is there anyone else up there?”
A bit of humor on this Tuesday afternoon
but I think it is humor that touches our first reading today from the Book of
Job and our responsoral psalm, Psalm 88. Both Job and the psalmist seem to be
crying out in their own way for somebody else. Things are not working out so
well. Life is not going so good. They are trying to find purpose and meaning in
the midst of struggle and difficulty.
We have all been Job, we have all been
the psalmist, we have all been the tourist hanging on the ledge. Our challenge in
those moments is to decide whether we are willing to let go and let God!
Have a good afternoon and a peaceful
evening!
Daily Prayer:
O God, show us your mercy and gladden our
hearts. We are like the person on the way to Jericho who was overtaken by
robbers, wounded and left for dead. O Good Samaritan, come to our aid. We are like
the sheep that went astray. O Good Shepherd, seek us out and bring us home in
accord with your will. Let us dwell in your house all the days of our life and give
you praise for ever and ever with those who are there. Amen. (Adapted from a
Prayer of Saint Jerome for Christ's Mercy)
A Runner’s Thoughts: “When you first
get a hill in sight, look at the top of it only once. Then imagine yourself at
the bottom of the other side.” (Florence Griffith Joyner) So to in the
spiritual life…when you encounter the challenges, struggles and difficulties of
life look at what you must overcome only once and then imagine yourself embraced
by God!
Daily Blessing: Tuesday
afternoon blessing to all! I made my way to Willimantic, CT yesterday and about
25 Oblates and I began our retreat together last evening. It is a very nice
group of men and the Immaculata Retreat House is on a very beautiful piece of
property. I was out for a walk early this morning and wandered into a group of
deer, who promptly ran off. It is overcast this afternoon and cool and I won’t
be surprise if it rains but we are settled into the retreat so let it rain!
Please keep this group of Oblate brothers and priests in your prayer as they
make this journey of retreat and if you can spare an extra prayer for the
preacher it will be greatly appreciated!
I would like to send a shout out to Josh
and Emily Knichel, who live in North Carolina and who are at the hospital
awaiting their third child. My prayers are with Emily that it will be a safe
and beautiful delivery sometime today! Prayers for all in the Knichel family as
they await the newest member of the family!
My prayer of blessing for all of you this
afternoon is that God’s blessings will be upon all of you as you go through the
rest of your day. May God bless all your endeavors, may God be with you in all
of your challenges and in all of your struggles. May God bless you with the
grace to trust in the presence of God that you carry within you and the courage
not to be afraid to share your gift. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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