Daily Thoughts - 12/27/2014

Daily Thoughts: Feast of St. John the Evangelist – “Beloved: What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touch with our hands concerns the Word of life….” The opening lines from the First Letter of St. John which was read at today mass. They have always been comforting yet challenging words for me. They are certainly profound words today as we celebrate the feast of St. John, the apostle, evangelist and beloved friend of Jesus. As we often refer to him, the youngest of the apostle or at least the fastest as we hear in today’s Gospel (John 20: 1a and 2-8).

John by tradition lived the longest and was not martyred as the rest of the apostles were. In his old age he became a prisoner in exile, a mystic, a hermit and certainly a profound writer of the story of Jesus. Unlike his fellow evangelists John’s story is steeped in images, stories not found in the other Gospels and personal expressions of faith. John’s story of Jesus soars to the heights of the mystery of God, thus John is often imaged as an eagle.

In some ways we are all like John, living our life, running ahead when we can, believing when we get the chance to enter the mystery. We use the stories of our lives to proclaim the presence of God. We have seen things; heard things and touched things and they have all been about and from God. We are all God’s beloved.

May the spirit of St. John bring out the mystic in all of us today. May we look beyond what we hear, see and touch to the presence of God born in each of us this day!

Have a great day everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, may your love make us what we have been called to be this day – your beloved. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Running! If there's any activity happier, more exhilarating, more nourishing to the imagination, I can't think of what it might be. In running the mind flees with the body, the mysterious efflorescence of language seems to pulse in the brain, in rhythm with our feet and the swinging of our arms.” (Joyce Carol Oates) – Now we know why St. John was such a good mystic, writer and runner!

Daily Blessing: Saturday blessings in the midst of Christmas week my friends. I hope this finds you well today and ready and beginning an enjoyable the weekend. I have a busy day ahead. I am headed to the airport to drop off Fr. Robert and Fr. Edward who are headed to Florida. Then it will be taking one of our men from our Jamaica Monastery to Wilton, CT to visit a friend. After that I will head back home to get ready for the 5:00 pm mass at St. Malachy’s this evening. So I will be on the road a lot today hopefully the traffic will not be too bad!

We find ourselves in the midst of the Octave of Christmas which means at least in a liturgical sense today is Christmas once again. So in the spirit of Christmas I offer you my prayers and a blessing today – May the spirit of Christmas bring us peace – The joy and gladness of Christmas give us hope – The warmth of Christmas grant us love. Christmas blessings to all today and in the spirit of St. John may our feet be swift today so we can get to the weekend quickly and safe! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 12/26/2014

Daily Thoughts: Here we are on the day after Christmas, the day after the wonderful scene of Mary holding her newborn infant in a cave just outside of Bethlehem. However, the scene has shifted to a place outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem. It is not a tranquil scene but one of mob violence as they drag a young man out of the city to his death all because he believes. Stephen becomes the first martyr of the new church.

Now on Sunday so we will celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family but usually on December 28th we celebrate the feast of the Holy Innocents, the baby boys martyred by Herod because he was so afraid of the infant Jesus. However because it is Sunday the feast of the Holy Family will take precedent. My point here is that usually in these early days after Christmas the two of the feasts we celebrate, St. Stephen and Holy Innocents stand is stark contract to Christmas and they do so as a reminder that being a person of faith, believing comes with a challenge, comes with resistance from the world.

Christmas is not a happily ever after story. It is the beginning of a journey of faith that will take us from a cave outside of Bethlehem to a hill outside of the Jerusalem and beyond. Christmas is the beginning of a challenge to wake up every day and find Emmanuel, God with us, in our lives.

As we celebrate the feast of St. Stephen today we are reminded that the world will not always see things as we do.  Sometimes the world’s reaction to what we believe will be harsh and at times even deadly. But like Stephen we are asked to believe, to trust and to know that God is with us.

In our prayers today we ask St. Stephen to help and protect all who are persecuted because of what they believe. We pray for peace among religions, peace in our world!

“Peace demands the most heroic labor and the most difficult sacrifice. It demands greater heroism than war. It demands greater fidelity to the truth and a much more perfect purity of conscience.” (Thomas Merton)

Have a wonderful Friday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, we give you thanks today for the inspiring example of Stephen, who in the midst of struggle and persecution prayed for those who were against him. He is a true example of your Son’s Gospel message of forgiveness. Grace our hearts this day with the gift of forgiveness so that we too can be faithful in times when the world seems against us. May we have the strength of Stephen’s faith to always believe that you are with us and will never leave us to face our perils alone. Amen.

A Runner’s Thoughts: “I run because long after my footprints fade away, maybe I will have inspired a few to reject the easy path, hit the trails, put one foot in front of the other, and come to the same conclusion I did: I run because it always takes me where I want to go.” (Dean Karnazes)

Daily Blessing: Happy Day after Christmas everyone! Also for all named Stephen, Happy Feast Day! I hope everyone had a wonder day yesterday with many gifts, good food, choice drink and family and friends with which to enjoy the day. It was a quiet day here in Pelham and there is something to be said for quiet.

My prayer of blessing today will be a simple one – May the gift of the Christ Child continue to bless us this day with the joy of smiles, the energy of youthfulness, the spirit of children, the faith of St. Stephen, the hope of the Christmas Star and the love of family! Blessings to all today and always. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Christmas Day Thoughts - 12/25/2014

Christmas Day Thoughts: Some thoughts for a Christmas Day…

“We are all meant to be mothers of God...for God is always needing to be born.”

“Every creature is a word of God and is a book about God.” (Meister Eckhart)

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.

Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.” (Thomas Merton)

While it is good that we seek to know the Holy One, it is probably not so good to presume that we ever complete the task.”

“God loves human beings. God loves the world. Not an ideal human, but human beings as they are; not an ideal world, but the real world. What we find repulsive in their opposition to God, what we shrink back from with pain and hostility, namely, real human beings, the real world, this is for God the ground of unfathomable love.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

“Someday, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. Then for the second time in the history of the world, we will have discovered fire.” (Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ)

“Just because something is impossible, doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.” (Dorothy Day)

“It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”

“For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.”(Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn't come from a store.” (Dr. Seuss)

“Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.”  (G.K. Chesterton)

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:5)

“Let us draw from the crib the joy and deep peace that Jesus comes to bring to the world.” (Pope Francis)

A blessed, holy and peace filled Christmas day everyone!

Christmas Day Prayer: Loving Jesus, Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace, the Light of the World, as we celebrate your birth may we begin to see the world in the light of your gift of understanding with which you grace us.  As you chose the lowly, the outcasts, and the poor to receive the greatest news the world had ever known, so may we celebrate you in meekness of heart, wonderment of love and joyful hope.  May we bring your hope and love to all we meet today and always. Amen.

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Run into peace.” (Meister Eckhart) Merry Christmas all runners!

Christmas Blessing: Merry Christmas everyone! I returned a little while ago from our monastery in Jamaica Queens, NY where I concelebrated Christmas Morning Mass with Fr. Robert, our provincial, and the men of the community. We had a little sadness for one of our men, Fr. Xavier Hayes, C.P. celebrated mass with us and then went to his room and made the final journey to God. It was a gift to celebrate with him and it is a day of loss for our community.

Upon leaving the monastery Fr. Robert and I visited one of our men, Fr. Tom Brislin, C.P. in the hospital. Fr. Tom is the rector at the Immaculate Conception Monastery and had to enter the hospital a few days ago because of a kidney stone. While in the hospital the doctors found a few more things. So Fr. Tom finds himself in the hospital over Christmas with some uncertainties about the future. Please keep him in your prayers!

The death of Fr. Xavier this morning took me back 32 years to my own father’s death on Christmas morning. It is hard to believe it has been that long and yet he is very present to me each day. I though back to August and having the opportunity to visit Lourdes, France and how present he felt to me there. While it is always sad to lose someone you love it has always been a blessing to remember Dad’s life each Christmas by celebrating mass in his memory. Dad thank you for the gift of life and for the family you and Mom brought into the world. Thank you Mom and Dad for sharing your faith with me and talking God into calling me to the Passionists and priestly ministry! Remembering Dad once again on Christmas Day!

In the spirit of this day of joy, love and gathering here is my prayer of blessing for all…

May there be harmony in all your relationships.  May sharp words, envious thoughts, and hostile feelings be dissolved.

May you give and receive love generously.  May this love echo in your heart like the joy of church bells on a clear December day.

May each person who comes into your life be greeted as another Christ.  May the honor given the Babe of Bethlehem be that which you extend to every guest who enters your presence.

May the Hope of this sacred season settle in your soul.  May it be a foundation of courage for you when times of distress occupy your inner land.

May the wonder and awe that fills the eyes of children be awakened within you.  May it lead you to renewed awareness and appreciation of whatever you too easily take for granted.

May the bonds of love for one another be strengthened as you gather with family, community and friends around the table of festivity and nourishment.

May you daily open the gift of your life and be grateful for the hidden treasures it contains.

May the coming year be one of good health for you and those you love.  May you have energy and vitality.  May you care well for your body, mind and spirit.

May you keep your eye on the Star within you and trust this Luminescent Presence to guide and direct you each day.

May you go often to the Bethlehem of your heart and visit the One who offers you peace. And may you bring this peace into the world… (From Out of the Ordinary – “a Christmas Blessing” by Joyce Rupp)

I will remember all of you as I celebrate the Eucharist during this Christmas Season – Christmas blessings to all. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 12/24/2014

Daily Thoughts: “We are celebrating the feast of the Eternal Birth which God the Father has borne and never ceases to bear in all eternity…. But if it takes not place in me, what avails it? Everything lies in this, that it should take place in me.” (Meister Eckhart)

I think Eckhart, the great Dominican mystic of the Middle Ages, has his finger on the meaning of the Christmas feast we begin to celebrate today. Yes, Christ was born in history some 2,000 plus years ago and yes Christ will be born again at the Second Coming but what is most important for us is that Christ is born each day within us. As Eckhart says, “Everything lies in this, that [Christ’s birth] should take place in [us].” In other words each day we need to take on the responsibility of giving birth to Jesus by the living of our lives. We should bring the presence of God to the world each day.

Over the next day or so if we are lucky we will encounter children joyfully celebrating the gift of Christmas in song, in story, in pageant. We will experience them as angels, shepherds, Mary and Joseph. We will watch them place the child in the manager and proclaim “Glory of God on high and Peace on Earth to all people of good will.” We will see the joy, the excitement, and nervousness on their faces. And after all is said, sung and done we will for a moment sense the true meaning of Christmas that God is with us!

My hope is that this Christmas, as you celebrate the mystery of the Christmas Eucharist,  as you gather with family and perhaps friends, amid good food and choice drink, as presents are frantically opened and enjoyed you will look around at the faces of fellow parishioners, guests, friends and family and see the wonderful gift of God’s presence.

We are lucky people – no, we are blessed people because Emmanuel is born within us each day all we need to do is believe!

A Blessed and Holy Christmas to all!

Daily Prayer:  O Loving Child, you came to dwell among us long ago and as we celebrate this eve of your coming we know that no matter how happy and fulfilling our lives seem to be we sense there is always need for a deeper awareness of your hopeful presence. There are signs of your coming, signs of your continued presence, all around us. Freshen up our vision so that we can recognize your presence within us and among us as we celebrate this wondrous feast. May our lives be filled with your love this day and always and may we offer your love to all who come our way. Amen! (Adapted from a prayer by Sr. Joyce Rupp)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Every run is a work of art, a drawing on each day's canvas. Some runs are shouts and some runs are whispers. Some runs are eulogies and others celebrations. When you're angry, a run can be a sharp slap in the face. When happy, a run is your song. And when your running progresses enough to become the chrysalis through which your life is viewed, motivation is almost beside the point. Rather, it's running that motivates you for everything else the day holds.”  (Dagny Scott Barrios)

Daily Blessing: Christmas Eve Blessings to everyone! It is a very rainy day here in Pelham. Hopefully your day is a little better than mine. I also hope that you are not too busy with last minute things. May you find the time today or tomorrow to celebrate with God this special feast.

For today’s Christmas Eve Blessing I will offer A Blessing of Angels adapted from a blessing by the same name from Sr. Joyce Rupp –

May the angel of the annunciation bless us, inviting us daily to awaken to the presence of God within us.

May the angel of Joseph’s dreams bless us, stirring our spirits to trust the many ways that Mystery whispers to us.

May the angel of birthing bless us, calling forth wonder, awe, and gratitude for all that has helped us to become our true selves.

May the angels of Bethlehem bless us, tickling our souls with laughter, song and joy, heralding hope and good tidings to us.

May the angel of the journey to Egypt bless us, guiding and protecting us as we travel the inner and outer roads of life.

May the angel of desert wilderness, bless us, bringing courage when we experience bleak, intense searching and struggle.

May the angel of prayer bless us, gathering us closely to God who longs for our embrace.

May the angel of the children who sat with Jesus, bless us, helping us to see the beauty and freedom of life.

May the angel of the agony in the garden bless us, offering us solace in times of difficulty and struggle.

May the angel at the tomb of the resurrection bless us with faith, hope and trust that all will be well!

Blessing to all this Christmas Eve and enjoy! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul