Making a Joyful Noise through Lent 03/29/2014

Making a Joyful Noise through Lent - 03/29/2014

“The salvation which God offers us is the work of his mercy. No human efforts, however good they may be, can enable us to merit so great a gift. God, by his sheer grace, draws us to himself and makes us one with him. He sends his Spirit into our hearts to make us his children, transforming us and enabling us to respond to his love by our lives.” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel)

Pope Francis’ words today remind us of God’s gift. Yes, we are not worthy yet God still gives us the gift of his presence, his Spirit. Are we humble enough like the tax collector to bow before God and allow God to transform us by this love?

In today's Gospel (Luke 18:9-14) we are reminded that it is not the quantity or style of our prayer. It is not the position we hold or all the things we can point to that we do. It is the quality of our prayer and how we live our life that counts.

The Pharisee had all the right words, all the right actions but not the right intention. He knew the law but the not the spirit. The tax collector on the other hand certainly struggled in his life but when it came to prayer, when it came to speaking with God he was right on.

Humility is a valuable gift yet one that not many people have. We grow up trying to develop our self-confidence; we try to be independent, self-assured and self-reliant. We are often told that we must promote ourselves in order to get anywhere. Yet, humility can help us recognize God, in ourselves and others. Humility can help us recognize the presence of God in the living of life.

The response to the responsoral psalm today is "It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice." I have a merciful person we must be humble. We must realize that we are not perfect we are human, with faults and failings just like everyone else. If we are willing enough and humble enough to seek God's mercy then we will be able to offer mercy and compassion to others.

As St. John Chrysostom put it, "We cannot be saved by seeking just our own individual salvation. We need to look first to the good of others."

Have a wonderful Saturday everyone and don’t forget to make a joyful noise with your life today!

Daily Lenten Prayer: Loving God, help us to live as humble, compassionate, joyful people today and always. May we always pray with openness to your mercy and love just like the tax collector. Grace us with hearts that recognize your gifts in our lives and an openness to share joyfully these gifts with others. Amen!

Runner's Thought: Running is a lot like life, sometimes it is energizing and sometimes it isn't but it always has meaning!

Daily Blessing: Happy Saturday everyone! I survived my long day’s journey to nowhere yesterday and nowhere is a rather interesting place. Yes, I made it to Midland and then Garden City, Texas. Garden City is about an hour from Midland and the parish St. Laurence is not in the town of Garden City it is in St. Laurence which is in the middle of farms and oil fields. The only here at the church, the rectory, there religious education building, the parish hall and the parish gym there is nothing else but fields for as far as you can see!

I had a good Texas style fried shrimp dinner last night and a very nice full night’s sleep. Oh and one last thing when I arrive yesterday it was 75 degrees, yes it is warm and sunny and it looks to remain that way for the rest of my stay here. May long day’s journey might have brought me to nowhere but it is warm and sunny here and right now that makes it the best place to be in my book. I am looking forward to the celebration of mass this evening and the mission that will begin tomorrow night. I am told this is a very spirited faith community! I ask your prayers for the faith community here at St. Laurence and if you could add one for their preacher it would be appreciated!

Well friends from the endless fields and open spaces of Texas I send you greetings and blessings this day and prayers that you will have a good Saturday. May God bless you with a restful Saturday, may it be gifted with the presence of people you love and may it be rich in the presence of God! If it happens to be a busy one may you find the gift of God’s blessing within your busyness. And may you be blessed with a little warmth in your life. Blessings to all form the wide open spaces and blue skies of Texas. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul

Making a Joyful Noise through Lent 03/28/2014

Making a Joyful Noise through Lent – 03/28/2014

“Let us go forth, then, let us go forth to offer everyone the life of Jesus Christ. Here I repeat for the entire Church what I have often said to the priests and laity of Buenos Aires: I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel)

Pope Francis’ words today paint a picture of the kind of Church he wants and doesn’t want. He wants a Church that is close to the Kingdom. He wants a Church of people live with the joy of the Gospel.

I have always been a bit jealous of the scribe in today's Gospel because Jesus says at the end of the exchange that the scribe is not far from the Kingdom of God. For me it would be a comfort to know that I was not far from the Kingdom. It is one of my greatest worries. I try to live a good and faithful life but there are times when I look around and wonder if I have missed the boat! I listen to people talk about their faith, I see their actions, I am aware of what they think is important and valuable in terms of faith, church, belief and religion and I wonder if I have taken the wrong path.

Sometimes I wonder if what I believe brings me close to the Kingdom? The Church as it stands today seems a far cry from the Church that Jesus seems to be putting together as we read the Gospel. Our religious leaders often, not always, seem to be closer to the scribes and Pharisees than to the disciples of Jesus. The institution we call Church often seems closer to the institution that Jesus often challenged and confronted during his ministry.

We seem to take some words in the scriptures at face value but others are glossed over and interpreted in ways other than what they say. We seem to be absolutely sure of what Jesus said, meant or wanted in certain situations and yet we discount or ignore other things because they don't seem to fit into the institution.

Yet there is hope as we continue to encounter the gift of Pope Francis. There is a hope that we will capture the joy of the Gospel. There is a hope that we will re-discover the Spirit of Christ.

I pray. I try to love whomever I meet. I truly value my relationship with God. I care about people no matter who they are and what they have done. I try to find God in all people. I value life in all forms. I want to be of help to people who struggle. I want to be a welcoming, forgiving person, religious and priest. I want to help people know and believe in God. Yet at times I am not sure whether I am on the right path. I don't always pray in traditional ways. I am more willing to accept a person where they are even if they don't fit into the laws of the institution. I want to dialog. I want to find a way for all to be close to the Kingdom. I don't want to judge. I don't want to be self-righteous and I certainly don't have all the answers.

I want to live Hosea's words today, I want to return to the Lord, but I am not always sure the institution takes me in that direction. I live to be a man of faith, I live to be a man of hope, I live to be a man of joy and I live to be a man of love. I pray that like the scribe I am a man close to the Kingdom of God!

Have a graced filled Friday everyone and don’t forget to make a joyful noise with your life today!

Daily Lenten Prayer: O God of all good gifts, fill our hearts with your loving presence. Grace us with the wisdom to recognize the way to your Kingdom. Enliven us with your word, your spirit that we may walk the path you have set before us. Give us the understanding to live your commandments of love with joy. Help us to get beyond ourselves and value the gift of others. May we always be a people who seek your Kingdom by living in the hope of your joy and love. Amen!

A Runner's Thoughts: Remember running can give us spiritual focus. When we run we have the time to be a person of prayer. It can be a prayer of few or many words. It can be one prayer or many prayers. It can be a simple breath that brings God into our being and it can be the exhaustion of give all to God as we finish our run.

Daily Blessing: TGIF to all today! I hope you have had a good week. The mission at St. Patrick’s ended last evening with a wonderful closing celebration. It was truly a graced filled experience and I think the Spirit was very present throughout the week. Many thanks to the staff and the people of St. Patrick’s!

So I was home last night by 10 pm, my clothes were in the wash by 10:15 and in the dryer by 11 pm. I was packed again by midnight, then to bed for a short three plus hours of sleep. Then it was up by 3:45 am and off to the airport by 4:30 am. I am headed to Garden City, Texas today on a 7 am flight in order to begin a Parish Mission on Saturday at St. Lawrence Parish. Garden City is about an hour from Midland, Texas which they tell me is in the middle of nowhere. I just hope I get somewhere today as I will be flying through Denver and spending four and a half hours in their beautiful airport! I hope to get to Garden City around 6:30 pm.

I am now sitting in Denver Airport trying to figure out what time it is, well I have four hour to figure it out!

I am looking forward to another mission. So far it has been a wonderful Lent for me. I have been in many different places and I know the Church is alive no matter what the media says at time!

My blessing prayer today is that you day will be more restful, peaceful and short than mine. That God will bless all of you with a peace end to this work week and the joy of a weekend with family, friends and many good experiences. Be well and safe friends, have a great day and a wonderful weekend where ever you are and whatever you are doing. Please remember me and the people who will have to put up with me in your prayers! God blessing upon all today and always…more from the middle of nowhere tomorrow! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul

Making a Joyful Noise through Lent 03/27/2014

Making a Joyful Noise through Lent – 03/27/2014

“The joy of the Gospel is such that it cannot be taken away from us by anyone or anything (cf. John 16:22). The evils of our world – and those of the Church – must not be excuses for diminishing our commitment and our fervour. Let us look upon them as challenges which can help us to grow. With the eyes of faith, we can see the light which the Holy Spirit always radiates in the midst of darkness, never forgetting that “where sin increased, grace has abounded all the more” (Romans 5:20).” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel)

The words of Pope Francis today echo the theme of our readings today. We don’t want to be a people with hardened hearts. We don’t want to be a people who lose the light and energy of the Spirit. We want to be a people who allow grace to abound. We want to be a people who recognize God in every action, experience, person and moment in our life.

Our faith is always challenged from within ourselves and from the world around us. But with a sense of hope we can wander through this darkness to the light to the joy of the Spirit and the presence of God that is around every corner!

"If today you hear [God's] voice, harden not your hearts." The response for the psalm today seems to say it all. In the first reading (Jeremiah 7: 23-28) the faith community has harden their hearts toward God. They are not listening or responding to the word or presence of God. In the Gospel (Luke 11: 14-23) there are some who have hardened their hearts for they cannot recognize God in their midst.

In the opening talk of my missions, I talk about how we at times harden perhaps not our whole heart but pieces or areas of our hearts. The primary reason is because we have been hurt and we harden ourselves so that we cannot be hurt again. Sometimes the hurt comes from another person, or a group of people, or an institution or from someone or something outside of us. Yet often we think the hurt comes from God and we harden our hearts to the grace, the word, and the presence of God. In doing this we very often miss the opportunity to experience the presence and the gift of God in our life.

Jesus reminds the people today that bad things do not come from God. God only wants good for us. God loves us, created us and desires a relationship with us. It is the world around us that can hurt. It is often the world within us that can hurt.

We don't want to make the mistakes of our ancestors that are talked about in our first reading from Jeremiah today. We don't want to make the mistake of the people who questioned were Jesus is from in today's Gospel. We want to open our hearts, make our hearts places of nothing but good soil so that when we encounter God, when we hear God's voice the grace, word, strength, blessing and presence of God will be planted within us and grow producing a harvest that is hundred fold.

Please as you journey through this day do not harden your hearts but be open to hear God's voice and encounter God's presence in your life!

Have a great Thursday everyone and don’t forget to make a joyful noise with your life today!

Daily Lenten Prayer: Almighty and eternal God, may we always walk in your ways but especially as we begin this new day. Enliven our hearts with joy so that they will not be hardened by the struggles, hurts, pains and difficulties of life. Help our hearts to remain open to hearing your Word and recognizing your presence. Too often because of life we begin to wander away from you, too often we fail to hear you or recognize your presence in our life. Help us to always have the strength to walk, to live in your ways and hear your voice. Bless us with the gift of your Holy Spirit of joy and hope this day and always! Amen!

A Runner's Thoughts: Running can give us an inner strength that can change our life. Just putting in the time, finishing a run can have an enlivening effect on your confidence and self-esteem. Running can also touch us in a spiritual way that makes us aware of God's presence in our life!

Daily Blessing: Happy Thursday everyone! I hope your day has started off well. We had a great third day and evening of the mission yesterday made special by the youth choir at the evening service. About 15 or 20 young people came to sing and make music and for their penance they had to listen to me for about an hour! We now had into the fourth and final day. I will head home tonight but it will be a brief stay as I have a 7:00 am flight tomorrow that will begin my journey to Garden City, Texas and another mission at St. Lawrence Parish beginning on Saturday. Lent is a busy time but at least I am staying out of trouble for the most part!

I am hoping all of you will have a blessed day. My prayer of blessing today is that you may it be rich in many life-giving experiences, in many faith filed people and touch with the gifts of joy, hope and love. Be well and safe my friends enjoy your day and know you are in my prayers! And may God bless all of you today and always. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul

Making a Joyful Noise through Lent 03/26/2014

Making a Joyful Noise through Lent – 03/26/2014

“The Gospel offers us the chance to live life on a higher plane, but with no less intensity: “Life grows by being given away, and it weakens in isolation and comfort. Indeed, those who enjoy life most are those who leave security on the shore and become excited by the mission of communicating life to others”. (Fifth general conference of the latiati n american and caribbean bishops, Aparecida Document, 29 June 2007, 360)  When the Church summons Christians to take up the task of evangelization, she is simply pointing to the source of authentic personal fulfilment.” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel)

Pope Francis’ joyful words today speak to our readings. They challenge us to live life to its fullest. As Pope Francis quotes from a meeting of bishops, “Life grows by being given away…” Life grows by being lived with joy. Live grows by doing the maximum whenever we can, not the minimum!

Sometimes we see laws, rules and commands as unnecessary. Sometimes we think they are burdensome. At times we look for ways around them or think, what is the least we need to do to follow them. Take going to mass as an example, people often ask me for what parts of the mass do they need to be there for in order to fulfill their obligation? Well, as I was growing up it was often said you had to be there before the Gospel and stay until Communion was given out. Certainly if you go to church on Sunday you can see the people who observe the law, the rule of going to mass in this way, they show up just before the Gospel and they are out the door at Communion. The letter of the law!

However, I do not think that is what Moses and Jesus (Deuteronomy 4: 1, 5-9 and Matthew 5: 17-19) are speaking about today. They are talking about living a life of faith, living a relationship with God that does not seek to do the minimum. It seeks to live the maximum. Moses tells the people to live their relationship with God and pass that living on. Jesus tells the people he has come to live his relationship with God, to be an example to the fullest extent of this relationship.

Often people ask what they can do to get their adult children to return to their faith. How can they get them to live a life of faith? My answer to them is to pray for and love their children and grandchildren, but most importantly to live their faith. The best was to make God present to people is by living out our relationship with God as authentically as we can, no short cuts! If we are fully invested, if we live out our relationship with God each day, we become an example; we pass on the gift sometimes not even knowing that we do.

Yes, rules, laws, regulations and commands can be bothersome they can place us in opposition to culture and society. They can seem hard to live out. They can frustrate us. But in living by the rules, in being faithful to our relationship with God we keep the story alive. We enhance the community of faith. We bring the gift of God's presence to all we meet. We pass on our faith!

Have a blessed Wednesday everyone and don’t forget to make a joyful noise with your life today!

Daily Lenten Prayer: Loving God, nourish us with your Word this day. Teach us your statutes and decrees. Enliven our hearts with a spirit of joy and love for you and your presence in our life. Challenge us to be more than people who do just the minimum. Grace us with the strength to do and be our very best selves for you. Make our lives true examples of your loving compassion in the world. Help us to live lives of joyful noise for you. Amen!

A Runner's Thoughts: Remember running can be a kind of medicine that helps us to change physically, emotionally and spiritually. Running can be an elixir that enlivens our life with health, hope and the presence of God!

Daily Blessing: Good morning everyone! I hope this day has started well for you and you will find many blessings as you journey through your day!

No snow here in Yorktown Heights and unless there is some on the way that I don’t know about I think this winter storm thankfully passed us by!

My prayer of blessing today is that all will be touched by the joy and love of God as you journey through this day. I pray that you will recognize the richness of your life and share it with others. And may we all be blessed with the strength to live the fullness of live not the minimum! Many blessings on everyone today especially my niece and nephew, Mindy and Paul! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul