Daily Thoughts: In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis invites
us to renew our relationship with Jesus when he says,
“I invite all Christians, everywhere, at
this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at
least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this
unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for
him or her, since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord”. The
Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step
towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with
open arms. Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be
deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more,
to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me
once more into your redeeming embrace”. How good it feels to come back to him
whenever we are lost! Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving
us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy. Christ, who told us to
forgive one another “seventy times seven” (Mt 18:22) has given us his example:
he has forgiven us seventy times seven. Time and time again he bears us on his
shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this
boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness which never disappoints, but is
always capable of restoring our joy, he makes it possible for us to lift up our
heads and to start anew. Let us not flee from the resurrection of Jesus, let us
never give up, come what will. May nothing inspire more than his life, which impels
us onwards!”
It is my feeling that Pope Francis invitation
focus us of the gift of this Holy Week. It is an invitation to once again enter
a personal relationship with our God who loved us so much that he gave us his
only son. As we journey through Holy Week we relive the crowning moment of
Jesus’ journey, his journey of love. Today Jesus enters Jerusalem to take his
last steps, steps that sum up his whole existence. He gave himself without
reserve he kept nothing for himself, not even his life. May we take Pope
Francis’ invitation to heart and live the joy of the Gospel proclaimed today!
As we begin this most holy of weeks, we
are reminded of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. This wonderful,
“Hosanna” filled day is the starting point for the central story of all the
Gospels, Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection. Today, we reconnect ourselves
to all those first gatherings of the Church as we listen to Mark's accounts
of Palm Sunday and the Passion of our Lord. We remember the triumphant ride
over the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem and the lonely walk to Calvary. We once
again tell the story of triumphant, glory, hosanna, struggle, pain, sorrow,
blessing, truth, giftedness, prayer and most importantly love. Like the early
Church and all the centuries of Church that have gone before us, we are asked
to remember, to believe, to have faith and to hope in the love of God as lived
out by our Lord Jesus Christ. As we journey through this Holy Week, “May the
Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ Truly Be Always in Our Hearts!”
Have a holy and blessed Palm Sunday everyone!
Daily Prayer: At the name of
Jesus every knee must bend, in heaven, on earth and under the earth and every
tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father, that Jesus Christ is Lord!
A Runner’s Thoughts: “...the real
purpose of running isn’t to win a race. It’s to test the limits of the human
heart.” (Without Limits)
Daily Blessing: Palm Sunday greetings
and blessings to everyone! I hope you will be taking a little time to celebrate
this holy day and that you will give a little time to God.
I am looking forward to beginning this
journey through Holy Week by celebrating Palm Sunday mass at St. Francis de
Sales Parish in Manhattan this evening. Our community just finished a mission
in the parish this week and there was a wonderful spirit to the community
during the mission and I am hoping that carries over to our celebration this
evening.
I will keep you in my prayers this
coming week. I will be at Our Lady of Perpetual help in Pelham Manor for Holy
Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. I will preach the three Triduum
Liturgies. Then it will be off to Jamaica, West Indies on Easter Sunday. Yes,
in a way it will be a busy week but I love this week and I am so looking
forward to it!
I pray in a special way for God’s
blessings upon all of you as you journey through this most holy of weeks. May
you truly be touch by the unfailing love of God and may the Passion of Jesus Christ
be always in your hearts! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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