Daily Thoughts: Sometimes when
we encounter the daily scriptures they create different emotional responses.
Take today’s two readings one from the Book of Tobit and the other from the
Gospel of Mark they present us with two different situations that might just
product two different emotions within us. In the passage from the Book of Tobit
we encounter a charming little story while in the Gospel of Mark we are treated
to another moment in the ongoing confrontation between Jesus and the religious
leaders of his time – a feed good story and a perplexing scene of conflict.
In the selection from Tobit we are
reminded of the basic virtues of loyalty and kindliness, a way of living life
that is open to everyone. Anyone with an honest attitude and a compassion for
others cannot help but tear up at least a little as we hear about the reunion
between Tobiah and his parents. It is the story of a good heart, common-sense
and the kindly love of others. It is a story about family, friends and the role
they play in guiding us through life. It is a story that teaches us about
community and about being Church.
As I said above it is a feel good story,
the kind of story we need to encounter every once in a while so that hope
remains alive. It is not a fairy tale, a happily ever after story. It is a
story of everyday life, a story of coming home, of reconnecting and of the
power of love.
Too often in our life we are confronted
with scenes of conflict like the one in our Gospel. We are reminded that often religion becomes a
business, a profession. In the Gospel, the temple, like perhaps the Church
today, has become a place of controversy. The religious leadership of Jesus’
time seem to put more importance on such arcane question as the end of the
world and what will happen rather than on the fundamental qualities of life
like compassion, love, forgiveness, generosity and prayer.
Jesus refuses to go down the path of the
religious leaders. He is not concerned about the “when,” “where,” or “how,”
Jesus is concerned about the now! It is the act of living in the now that is
most important. Tobit and Anna had hope in the future but their lives of
patience and love were firmly grounded in the present and in the end they found
new sight and life giving love.
Let’s not look too far ahead. Let’s not
make thing too complicated. Let’s be watchful, loving, compassionate,
forgiving, generous and prayerful so that we don’t miss those wonderful moments
of God’s presence that come to our doorstep!
Have a great Friday everyone!
Daily Prayer: O God, we thank
you this day for loving us and we open our hearts and ask you to come in.
Please make our hearts your home now and forever. Teach us where our hearts
must be and be the true treasure in our life. Help us to always make you the
center of our life. Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: If we approach
each run as a pilgrimage and believe that the realizations of our goals of this
running pilgrimage happen with each step taken, then we are truly wandering
down a sacred path. Our runs become holy. If we run with a sense of the sacred
in our heart we transform the earth beneath our feet into holy ground. If we
run with the intention to find God, then we become pilgrims. If we have the pilgrim’s
sacred intention then we change a simple, humble run into “God’s run!” (Adapted from Roger Joslin – Running the
Spiritual Path)
Daily Blessing: Happy Friday
everyone and may this be a day of many blessings! We find ourselves on the
verge of officially entering summer which will happen tomorrow. I hope summer
has come to where you are and that you are getting a chance to enjoy it!
I hope your week has gone well and that
you will get a chance to enjoy the weekend that is almost upon us. Have a great
Friday everyone and may God bless you as you journey through this day. May
today be rich in God’s blessings upon you, your loved ones and upon everyone
you meet. May today work be blessed with the richness of God’s presence. May
any traveling you might be doing be safe and bring you home this evening to
those you love. Enjoy your day everyone and may it be a day and evening blessed
by God’s love! Peace in Christ Passion…Fr. Paul
No comments:
Post a Comment