Daily Thoughts: Peace is one of
the most elusive gifts whether we are searching for it personally or as a
family or a culture and society. There are so many things that can get in the
way of peace in life. It can be the minor irritations of life like traffic,
construction, a person on a cell phone sitting next to us or spring allergies.
It can also be the major realities of life, civil war, civil unrest, injustice,
warring nations, terrorism and natural disasters. There are many things that
can get in the way of a peaceful moment and a peaceful life.
Jesus in the Gospel today offers us
peace. Yet he reminds us that the peace he offers is not of this world. In fact
the peace that Jesus offers cannot be found in this world. His peace lies
beyond this life and flows from his relationship with the Father, the Creator
of peace.
Jesus reminds us that we need not be
troubled or afraid that even though we cannot encounter his peace in this
world, he will not forget us. In other words in order to encounter the peace
that Jesus offers we need to somehow let go and let God!
Peace is what we all want in our
personal lives and in our world. We encounter it every once in a while for a
moment however it doesn’t last. Something always comes along to disturb the
peace. Thus we need to be people of faith; we need to be people of hope.
In the midst of all life’s struggles the
early Church continued to move forward. They did not get down, they did not
give up. It was through God’s grace that the Good News was preached. It was
because the early Church had faith and hope in God. Their hearts were not
afraid or trouble they were on the journey towards the peace that Jesus offers.
Let us be people of faith and hope today. May we not be troubled or afraid
because we are willing to let go and let God!
Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone and
may the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in your hearts!
Daily Prayer: Lord, make us
instruments of your peace, where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there
is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that we may not
so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in
pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal
Life. Amen. (Adapted from the Prayer known as the Prayer of St. Francis)
A Runner’s Thoughts: As you run
today remember with each plant of your foot you feel firmness under you. Feel
that firmness as the presence of God.
Trust in that firmness. Know that God is running with you!
Daily Blessing: Tuesday greetings
and blessings to everyone! I have been missing in action for the last few days
but I am home and back in a reflecting mode again! I hope your day has started
off well and if not know that I am praying that it gets better!
I made the long journey home yesterday
and I am up bright and early this morning as I have the first of two
Confirmation Days with St. Barnabas Parish. My day with the kids will begin at
9 am so there is no day of rest after my Midwest journey. It was nice to get
home last night and I will enjoy the next few week at home even though I will
have things to keep me busy. I would ask that you say a prayer young people
making the Confirmation Retreat Days today and tomorrow and I would ask a
special prayer for their preacher that I will be at my best for them.
My prayer this morning is that your day
will be blessed with the presence of God. May your travels, your encounters,
your work, your interactions with others be touched with the grace of God and
may your living of life today bring you a little closer to the peace Jesus has
left for us. Peace in Christ’s Passion and Joy in the Risen Lord…Fr. Paul
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