Daily Thoughts: In his
Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis
writes, “If we are to share our lives with others and generously give of
ourselves, we also have to realize that every person is worthy of our giving.
Not for their physical appearance, their abilities, their language, their way
of thinking, or for any satisfaction that we might receive, but rather because
they are God’s handiwork, his creation. God created that person in his image,
and he or she reflects something of God’s glory. Every human being is the
object of God’s infinite tenderness, and he himself is present in their lives.
Jesus offered his precious blood on the cross for that person. Appearances
notwithstanding, every person is immensely holy and deserves our love.
Consequently, if I can help at least one person to have a better life, that
already justifies the offering of my life. It is a wonderful thing to be God’s
faithful people. We achieve fulfilment when we break down walls and our heart
is filled with faces and names!”
These words of Pope Francis reflect the
spirit of this most holy day that we celebrate. Yes, Holy Thursday is about the
institution of the Eucharist. Yes, Holy Thursday is a special day for priests
as we look to this day as a starting point for our life and ministry as
priests. Yes, Holy Thursday is a day when we remember the beginning of Christ
Passion which will lead to his Death and Resurrection. Yes, Holy Thursday is about
a meal, Christ’s last meal and a meal that calls us to remember the history of
our faith as God’s people released from slavery and beginning a journey to
freedom.
Today, from my perspective is also about
service, about looking beyond ourselves to the gift of God within us and
sharing that gift. Pope Francis reminds us that all of us are God’s handiwork.
All of us reflect the glory of God.
It was on this day that Jesus showed his
infinite tenderness by washing the feet of his friends and by sharing himself
in the Eucharist. It was intimacy, tenderness and a gift that defined Jesus
life and ministry. As Pope Francis reminds us, it is this very way of life that
Jesus calls us to as people of the Gospel.
May this Holy Thursday truly help us to
break down the walls and open our hearts that they may be filled with face and
names! Have a blessed Holy Thursday everyone and please give a little time to
God before the day is over!
Daily Prayer: O God, in the
fullness of time you revealed your love in Jesus. On this remembrance of the
eve of his death, we recall how as a sign of your covenant, Jesus washed the
feet of his friends and gave himself as Eucharist.
We pray today that you will give us life
through the Eucharist and the gift of your joy to follow Christ in humble
service. So that one day we may pass over from this world to your kingdom and
enjoy the blessing of eternal joy. Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: Run in the
presence of God. In order to do this, as you run, simply imagine God is with
you constantly on the run. It does not matter how you image God. Just take
whatever image of God you have and allow that image to accompany you on your
run.
Daily Blessing: Holy Thursday
greetings and blessings to everyone! My morning has started rather early I
guess my mind started to work before the rest of me was ready. My eye opened
this morning before 5 am and my mind has been going ever since. I hope your Holy
Thursday has started well and this it will truly be a blessed day. The sun is
not quite up yet though I can see a glow in the eastern sky from my desk. I
believe it is to be a sunny day with some warmer temperatures here in Pelham
today. It will be nice to see the sun and feel it warmth on this Holy Thursday.
I will head to Our Lady of Perpetual
Help Parish here in Pelham Manor later today. They have a special evening
supper before the Eucharist of the Lord’s Supper. I am looking forward to
joining the parish community to celebrate this most holy of evenings and sharing
the Good News with them. Please keep all who gather this holy night to remember
in your prayers.
I hope you will be able to get to at
least some of the services over the next three days if not for the whole
service perhaps just for a short visit so that you might stay in touch with the
holiness, blessing and grace of these days. Please make a visit or spend some
time in prayer. Take a little break for the busyness of life to be touched by
God’s grace!
My prayer of blessing for all of you
today is that the infinite tenderness of God might touch your life and that you
will be blessed over these most holy days with the joy of the Cross, which
springs from the knowledge that we possess an imperishable treasure in
perishable earthen vessels. Holy Thursday blessings to all! Peace in Christ’s
Passion…Fr. Paul
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