Daily Thoughts: "Lord if
you wish, you can make me clean. Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him
and said, I do will it. Be made clean. And the leprosy left him
immediately." I think the key elements of this story are the person's
faith in Jesus, the willingness of Jesus to heal and Jesus' touch. Maybe the
most important element is Jesus' touch, his willingness to be connected with
someone who is unclean by the standards of culture, society and religion.
Today whether we are talking about our
culture, society or even our church the usual response is to disconnect
ourselves from someone defined as unclean. Yet, Jesus sought to be connected.
He did not want to push them away from the community but to bring them into the
community.
The Feast of the Epiphany which we
celebrated last Sunday was about the universal nature of Christ's presence in
the world. Jesus confirms that nature today by reaching out to one who has been
pushed out of the community. It is a profound moment it is a challenge to all
of us who proclaim we believe. Do we wish, do we will that all belong to the
community no matter what? Jesus does and he was willing to step across a
boundary to make sure that it happens. Are we?
Perhaps like Jesus it is a commitment to
prayer that will help us to, wish it and will it. It is through prayer, our
conversation with God, that we will find the strength to walk with Jesus across
the boundaries imposed and bring others to the community, to friendship with
God!
Have a great day everyone!
Daily Prayer: Loving God, we
know that you wish your community of faith to include everyone. Help us to
break down the barriers, to across the boundaries that our world, our culture,
our society, our institutions create to bring healing to all your people. Help
us to be committed to prayer, to our conversation with you, so that we will
always have the strength share with others the healing power of your love!
Amen!
A Runner's Thoughts: Run in a new
place today, for new places can stretch our capacity for finding the presence
of God as we run!
Daily Blessing: Greetings and
TGIF to all on this Friday morning. I had a very nice day yesterday at the
Bishop Molloy Passionist Retreat House. There were about 30 people who braved
the cold and came to the Day of Recollection and they seemed to enjoy our time
of reflection and prayer together. Thanks to Fr. John Michael and Fr. Michael
for the invitation and for your hospitality. Thanks to all who came and
journeyed in faith with me.
Before I forget I would like to send a
shout out to my friend, classmate and fellow Passionist, Fr. Chris Cleary, C.P.
on his birthday. Happy Birthday, Chris and many blessings today and always and
yes you can use as many puns as you want today!
I hope everyone has had a good week. It
certainly has been a cold one and today here in Pelham we are dealing with snow
though as I write it seems to be stopping. They say things will be warming a
bit and perhaps that means a good weekend for everyone before the cold returns
again.
My thoughts and prayers are with the
people of France as they mourn those so brutally killed a few days ago and as
they wait to two hostage situations that hopefully will be resolved peacefully
today. I pray for an end to violence and terrorism.
My prayer of blessing today for all of
us is a simple one - may we all have a day filled with many blessings and much
grace where ever we find ourselves. If we are on the road or away from home or
just have to travel each day may we return home safely this evening to begin a
restful weekend with the people most important in our lives! And if our
schedule for today and this weekend calls for busyness may we find some quiet,
restful and peaceful time during the busyness! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr.
Paul
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