Daily Thought: Both of today's
readings talk about a holy mountain. For Isaiah the holy mountain is the place
of a wonderful feast, a banquet of rich food, of choice wines, a place where
tears are wiped away. Jesus' holy mountain is a place where people are healed
and feed. It is a place where all the excluded people can come and be included,
the lame, the blind, the deformed, those that cannot speak and many others.
Both holy mountains, or should I say, the holy mountain is a place of mystery
and a place of great mercy, love, forgiveness, it is God's place!
Perhaps, today's readings are a reminder
to all of us that God does not discriminated, in fact God goes looking for all
who are often not included so they should be included. Perhaps today's readings
remind us that none of us are perfect, we are all in need of healing and of
nourishment, and we are all in this journey of life together. Let's us welcome
the miracle of God's healing and love and may it be what we share during this
holy day!
Have a great day everyone!
Daily Prayer: O God of the
Holy Mountain, prepare our hearts today with the divine power of your love that
we might be willing to welcome all to the banquet of life on your holy
mountain. Help us to share the great gifts of your love with all we meet today
not counting the cost, not judging those whom we meet. Help us to rejoice and
be glad this day satisfied in your love and ready to share the fragments of
today's banquet tomorrow! Amen!
A Runner's Thought: Make your run a
meditation today, flush the mind and open the heart and know God is with you!
Daily Blessing: Happy Wednesday
and Hump Day! After a long weekend you are probably feel a little out of breath
today, the festivities of the Thanksgiving Weekend have caught up with you
perhaps. Well just hang in there and give it all you’ve got to get over this
hump and it will be all downhill to the weekend – Promise!
We had a great second evening of the
mission last night. The community was awesome once again and it was a late
night for me because we offered the Sacrament of Reconciliation after the
mission service with twelve priests available and many people came. I did not
finish until 9:45 pm. It was a workout but a spirit filled one. There were many
tears and most of all there was the gift of God’s merciful love! I also gave a
morning of reflection to the staff here at St. Paul’s. It was a simple
reflection on parish life and ministry with sharing after. I think it went
well. I look forward to the closing mass this evening. Please continue to pray
for the faith community here at St. Paul’s and for their pastor Fr. Bill who is
in need of healing. Also if you have a little prayer time left could offer one
for the preacher.
Today is the feast of St. Francis
Xavier, a Jesuit priest and missionary, but for me it brings to mind a very
good friend, Fr. Xavier Vitacolonna, C.P. who died a little over two years ago.
Fr. Xavier's given name was Francis, his religious name was Xavier. He was a
brother, priest and missionary. I include him in my prayer today and I pray to
him as a member of the communion of saints! Help us to bring peace Fr. Xav!
My prayer of blessing for all of you
today is taken from a prayer by St. Teresa of Avila – May God bless us with the
grace to allow ourselves to be guided by God, to always follow God’s plans, not
ours, to always accomplish God’s holy will through the living of our lives. May
God bless us with the grace that in all things, great and small, today and all
days of our lives, we may do whatever God asks of us. May we always respond to
the slightest prompting of God’s grace so that we will be God’s trustworthy
instruments of peace, joy, mercy and love. May God’s will be done in time and
eternity by us, in us and through us – Amen!
Have a great Hump Day everyone. Many
blessings upon you and all you meet today and on whatever you do, wherever you
are! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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