Daily Thoughts: Today we
celebrate the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, two very prominent figures in our
story of faith, two men who grounded and push forward the early Church but who
did it in very different ways. We celebrate two men who remind us why we are
Church, two men who reflect what it means to be Church.
I sometimes think that Sts. Peter and
Paul reflect the Church though it might be nice to have a triptych of saints
today with perhaps the third being a woman, like St. Mary Magdalen. If Mary
were included our celebration today our feast would surely be a more complete
picture of the Church and the Body of Christ.
However, we celebrate Peter and Paul,
two people of different approaches to life, different ways of living, different
ministries. They didn’t always agree yet they forged an energy, a spirit that
remains with us today.
St. Peter was a passionate man but one
who was easily swayed by the moment. St. Paul was a man of conviction, spirit
and energy but at least early on it was misguided. Both had to be challenged by
God to accept their roles as leaders, preachers and persons of faith.
We celebrate them today by asking them
to intercede for us before God so that we might be graced with the strength,
the perseverance, the energy, the spirit and the faith to live as a Church, as
the Body of Christ. We seek their passion so that we too might recognize God in
our midst and be able to proclaim as we journey through our life of faith, “You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and “To God be glory forever and
ever, Amen!”
Have a great Monday and many blessings
on this feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.
Daily Prayer: O God, source
of every good gift and sure foundation of our life together as Church, today we
honor and celebrate Saints Peter and Paul, grace us with a share in their zeal
for preaching and living the gospel. Strengthen our faith to be witnesses, even
unto staking our lives on your promises. We offer this prayer today and always
through our one Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity
of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
A Runner’s Thoughts: Mother Teresa
saw Christ in the face of everyone she met; it is possible to conduct a run
that models her behavior. So as we run, let’s place a smile on our face and
thus offer a blessing to everyone we meet on our run today!
Daily Blessing: Monday
greetings and blessings to everyone and happy Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul! I
hope your Monday has begun well. The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity sister’s
retreat here in Manitowoc, WI got off to a nice start last night and in a few
moments I will head to the chapel for morning prayer and mass as our first full
day begins. I would ask you to please keep the sisters who are on retreat in
your prayers there about 35 of them and if you have the time to say a little
prayer for their preacher it would be greatly appreciated. The weather here in
Manitowoc is beautiful. The sun is out the temperature is in the high 60’s. I
hope wherever you are the day is beautiful too!
My prayer of blessing today rests in the
spirits of the saints we honor, St. Peter and St. Paul. I pray that the spirits
of St. Peter and St. Paul may be with all of you today. May you be blessed with
the spirit of faith to help you on this journey of life. May you be blessed
with the spirit of hope to get you through the rough times. May you be blessed
with the spirit of love to remind you in whose image and likeness you are
created in, how special you are and that you are never alone. May you be
blessed with the spirit of strength to not be afraid to proclaim the Good News
and to not be afraid to make a mistake. Through the spirits of St. Peter and
St. Paul know that God is with you always and will never leave you to face your
perils alone! Happy Monday everyone! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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