Daily Thoughts: In our
scriptures today (Jeremiah 11: 18-20 and John 7: 40-53) we are reminded that
Jesus really never had a chance with the religious leadership of his time,
prophets, like Jeremiah, never fared well no matter where they came from but
the thought that Jesus came from Galilee sealed the deal. The religious
leadership had made their judgment and nothing was going to change it, not even
one of their own, Nicodemus calling for justice.
Jesus throughout his ministry cautioned
about making judgments. He healed, taught, forgave, showed compassion and asked
us to love even our enemies. His parables always reflected ways to live and not
to live. They always reflected a relationship with God so that people could
understand the presence of God in their lives. He showed compassion to all and
forgave sinners. All of this was too much for the religious leadership of his
time. Jesus' way did not fit into their view of the world, their way of living
in the world. They were prejudice in the case of place, they didn't like Galilee
but at other times their prejudice took on different forms. The prejudices that
we allow to make a home in us can often be the very thoughts and actions that
judge us!
Jesus and Jeremiah became the trusting
lambs led to the slaughter. They never had a chance because their message was
of God not the world. Their actions, their teachings, their lives give us
examples of how to trust and hope in God's love. They help us to look at life
through the eyes of faith not the eyes of prejudice.
As we enter this day let us be aware of
how we often judge people without listening to their story, without knowing who
they really are. Let us trust in the presence of God that every person can
bring to us. Let us be people of justice, truth, compassion and love. Let us be
open to finding God's presence, God's goodness everywhere.
Have a blessed Saturday everyone!
Daily Prayer: Compassionate
God, make us channels of your faith, hope, love and peace. Grace us with hearts
open to your loving presence in all that we meet. Help us with your wisdom so
that we might let go of our judgments, our prejudices, and our condemnations.
May we be people with generous hearts always rich in a harvest of compassion,
mercy and love. Amen!
A Runners' Thoughts: Remember if we
have the desire to run with God, then the specifics of the techniques used do
not matter very much just keep hold of the desire and God will be with you!
Daily Blessing: Saturday greetings
and blessings to everyone! I hope your Saturday morning has started off well.
The snow continues to fall here in Pelham though it is not as heavy as it was
yesterday afternoon and evening. As I have admitted often I am so over winter
and with all the travel it has been a long Lent and I can feel myself getting
tired yet there are miles to go, missions to give before I take a break so
please pray that I maintain the mission spirit and energy so that I can be my
best everywhere I go!
I head out in about an hour for Divine
Mercy Parish in Peterborough, NH. I will begin my mission by preaching all the
masses Saturday and Sunday and then celebrate the mission from Monday to
Wednesday. The mission service will be after the 8:30 am mass and at 7:00 pm
Monday through Wednesday. Please keep the faith community at Divine Mercy
Parish and their preacher in your prayers this week!
And to add a little twist to my week my
local community here in Pelham is beginning a mission at St. Francis de Sales
Parish in Manhattan today. It will be a four day mission from Monday to
Thursday at 7:00 pm and I am the mission presenter on Thursday evening. So I
will finish my mission at Divine Mercy in New Hampshire and then head home
Thursday morning so that I can be ready to close the mission at St. Francis de
Sales Thursday evening. And they say life is not interesting. Yes, I am keeping
busy and at least most of the time it keeps me out of trouble! So I also ask
your prayers for the faith community st St. Francis de Sales Parish in
Manhattan and their preachers!
My prayer of blessing today is that God
will bless us all with the energy, the spirit and the enthusiasm to continue
this journey of Lent and this journey of life. That God will bless us with a
joy for life, for other people and for ourselves. And that whatever we do,
wherever we go, whoever we meet will be touched by the joy that we bring! Have
a great Saturday everyone. I hope you will get some time to rest and relax. I
also hope you will be spending time with people you love. Remember to give God
a little time this weekend! Peace...Fr. Paul
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