Daily Thoughts: The passage we
find in Luke’s Gospel today (Luke 11:1-4) always causes me to remember my father
and the morning after my ordination day. The morning after my ordination I was to celebrate mass with my family. It would be my very first mass!
I had not looked at the readings because
of all the busyness leading up to my ordination day, so early that morning now
some 28 plus years ago, I awakened and wandered down the hall to the retreat
house chapel to look at the readings and prepared for my first mass. When I got
to the Gospel I could not believe what I read. It was Matthew version of today’s
Gospel about Jesus teaching his disciples to pray, specifically to pray the Our
Father. I put the book down and tears welled up in my eyes and I just sat there
for about an hour unable to prepare any more.
For you see the Our Father was one of
the last prayers I prayed with my “Abba,” my dad, my father, before he died
some four years before. It was a December night in and I was in my father’s
hospital room late at night and as I was about to leave he asked me to pray
with him. I was more than happy to do so and I asked him what prayer he wanted
to pray and he said, “The Our Father.” I began to say the words and notice that
my dad was not praying so I stopped and asked what was wrong. Dad said, “I
don’t remember the words.” His illness had begun to affect his mind. So I said,
“No problem” and suggested that I say a few words of the prayer and that he
repeat them after me. Do you know how hard it is to say the Our Father when you
have to stop and think about what you are saying? Well, we got through the prayer
and dad became very peaceful and for the most part remained peaceful over the
last few days of his life. I have always remembered that moment.
I had wanted my dad to see me ordained
but that was not to be but on that Thursday morning I realized that he was with
me and had been with me all along. I have never prayed the Our Father at mass,
during the rosary or at any other time and not thought about that moment. What
power there is in this simple prayer, what a gift this simple prayer is to all
who pray it.
I would invite you at some moment today
to pause and slowly, deliberately pray the Our Father. Listen to the words.
Realize what God offers you through the words of this simple prayer and what
God asks of you.
Just a little thought about the Our
Father, Jesus actually uses the word, Abba, which if translated literally would
be “daddy or dad.” I wish that the first translators of the prayer had used the
informal rather than the formal it might have made a difference in how we think
about this simple prayer today. It certain would have made the prayer more
intimate!
Have a great Wednesday everyone and
don’t forget to make a joyful noise with your life today!
Daily Prayer:
Abba, who art in heaven hallowed be your
name; your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those
who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil. Amen.
A Runner’s Thoughts: Not just
exercise, but a way to get in touch with and reclaim myself in an often
fragmenting world, running also serves as a powerful antidote to clinical
depression, a metaphor for the creative process, and, in its most profound
moments, a spiritual practice. (Alison
Townsend) Be spiritual today go for a
run!
Daily Blessings: It is Wednesday
everyone also known as “Hump Day.” Midpoint of the week and a day when all
camels are happy! So let’s be happy too! If you are bogged down by struggles,
problems or challenges today just pause for a moment and think of a camel
walking through your office, your home or wherever you might be at this moment
saying, “Guess what day it is…Guess what day it is! A smile should come to your
face and perhaps that is all you will need to make it a better day.
If that doesn’t work I pray that God
blesses you at some point today with a better day. And so for all of you my
prayer of blessing is this – I pray that the peace of God which is beyond all
understanding will keep your hearts, minds and souls in the wisdom and love of
God today and always. Have a great day everyone! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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