Daily Thoughts: Who shall know
the mind of God? No one really, God's thoughts are not our thoughts; God's ways
are not our ways. I find the reading from Isaiah rather interesting today. It
confirms for me something about my faith that I have struggled with for many
years, the idea of doing things to be seen rather than doing things to make a
difference.
In recent years there has been a
movement among some to kneel down or bow profoundly when receiving communion.
There are those in high places who commend this practice and there are others
who think all should be doing this. However, if we apply Isaiah's words to the
situation it might sound something like this, "Do you call receiving
communion in this way what I want? This rather, is the receiving communion that
I want, I want you to receive and then take me into the world, help others, be
the presence of God everywhere you go!
However we receive communion is not the
point or the importance it is what we do once we receive the Lord. It is how we
treat people that makes all the difference. God does not put a lot of
importance in the "show" of things, in the "how" we do it,
in the "what" we look like when doing it, in how many people see it,
in the how reverent it is. God puts value in the way we live our faith, the way
we interact with the world, the way we treat others, the way in which we bring
God's compassion to the world.
In The Gospel, the religious leaders are
once again hung up on the rules, regulations and rituals but Jesus in about the
living of life. Jesus is about recognizing God in our midst. Lent keeps
reminding us that our thoughts are not God's thoughts and our ways are not
God's way, yet we have the opportunity to recognize the presence of God in our
life and change the way we think and the way we act so that we are about God
and not ourselves.
Have a blessed Friday everyone!
Daily Prayer: O God, help us
to walk in your ways. May our lives be about the gifts of your love and may our
words, actions and works bring life to others and ourselves. May we never do
anything for show but for the honor and glory of the kingdom. May what we do
always reflect a concern for others. Be with us always and when we struggle may
we always hear your voice say "Do not fear, here I am!" Amen!
A Runner's Thoughts: As we run today
let us think of our breathing as inhaling God and exhaling extraneous thoughts,
ideas and struggles. Let us allow all those thoughts that are buzzing about in
our heads to move through our bodies and be expelled through our breath so that
God has more space to be within us!
Daily Blessing: Friday
greetings and blessings to everyone! Are you cold enough? And to think just a
week ago I was enjoying 80 degree weather. All we can hope for is that spring
will come soon.
I hope you have had a good week. I hope
you have had a good beginning of Lent, because like winter it is going to be a
long journey. In a few minutes I will be heading into Manhattan for a day of
taping of the Sunday Mass at St. Francis de Sales Parish. It will be a long day
as we will be taping seven masses today. Then it will be back home so that I
can get ready to head out tomorrow as I begin my Lenten journey of parish
mission. My first mission is in Waterbury, CT so it will not be a long journey.
I am looking forward to this mission and all of my missions during Lent.
I pray today for God’s blessings on all
of you who stop to journey with me through this life and through Lent may today
be a good end to the work week and may it be the beginning of a restful and
relaxing weekend. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
PS I ask your prayers for me and
the many faith communities I will visit as I head out on the road into the Easter
Season. I will be in places like, Waterbury, CT, Mahopac, NY, Long Beach, NY, Hainsport,
NJ, Peterborough, NH, Oceanside, NY, Enola, PA and Pelham, NY, so if you are
near one of these places come and join in the faith journey. As I mentioned
above this weekend I begin a mission at Our Lady of Loretto Parish in Waterbury,
CT. If you want to know where I am just check in at my web site preacherman.org
and you can track my journey through Lent and Easter!
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