Daily Thoughts: Sometimes we
need to remember that God has the power to transform our loss into gladness and
our sorrow into joy. In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles today the
jailor finds himself at a moment of decision. He thinks that all the prisoners
have escaped. He considers taking his own life because it would be quicker and
less painful then the death he would have to endure for such a folly under his
watch. However, he finds that his worst fears are unfounded and that God has
given him and opportunity through Paul and Silas to change his life. Thus
rather than death the jailor and his family experience new life!
In moments of tragedy, struggle,
disappointment and sadness we at times get an opportunity to grow, to see life
in a different way, to change. It is not easy, it can be challenging and
perhaps our first thought is to not even try, to continue to feel what we feel.
Yet, God is waiting for us to step up and bring the presence of God to each
moment of our life, moving beyond worry, fear, anger, resentment and sadness to
the Spirit of God.
In May of last year Pope Francis wandered
into a very tense part of the world and broke the tension by simply treating
people with respect, love and joy. He put smiles on people’s faces and by his
simple actions of prayer gave people pause to think. Did anything profoundly
change? Probably not, but perhaps Pope Francis provided the opportunity like
Paul and Silas for something new to happen.
My hope is always that we as people, as
nations, as Christians, Jews, Muslims, we will at some point grasp the moment
like the jailor in the reading today and allow God to transform our lives from
fear and hate into peace and hope!
Have a great Tuesday everyone!
Daily Prayer: Loving God we
once again draw upon the inspiration of St. Francis. Please help us to be your
instruments. Please help us to be your presence in this world, to be your
people of Faith.
Lord, make us instruments of your peace
today and always, 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: Let us remember
in the midst of our run when running gets harder, when we get tired, when we
are climbing a steep hill, when we don’t feel like continuing, when it just
don’t seem worth it, these are reminders to come home to our breath, to the
awareness that God is running with us! (Adapted from Roger Joslin)
Daily Blessing: Tuesday greetings
and blessings to everyone! I hope your day is beginning well. I hope the sun is
out and you feel awake, energized and ready for a new day. If not you are in my
prayers with the hope that your day will get better!
The sun is out here in Pelham and it
looks to be another beautiful day. I am home alone these days and working on
some future projects. I wish the pollen was a little less, my eyes are itchy
and my nose is running but they are small inconveniences and certainly don’t
take away from such a beautiful day!
I pray this morning for blessings upon
your day wherever you are today and in whatever you will be doing. May your day
be rich in the presence of God. May all you do and everyone you meet be gifted
by your energy, your goodness, your love, your faith and your joy. Have a
wonderful day everyone. Peace in Christ’s Passion and hope in the Risen
Lord…Fr. Paul
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