Daily Thoughts: Today is the
feast of St. Mary Magdalene. She is referred to as the Apostle to the Apostles.
Mary was the first proclaimer of the resurrection a story we read today from
John’s Gospel (John 20: 1-2, 11-18). The interesting thing about Mary’s
encounter with Jesus is that at first she does not recognize him. You might
think that after following Jesus for so long it would be hard not to recognize
him.
Now some might say it was because of his
resurrected body but I think it was because Mary did not expect to see Jesus
alive. Have you ever been in a situation
when you did not expect to see someone? When the person surprises us with their
presence there always seems to be a moment when we don’t recognize them. They
haven’t changes, they are the same person but our eyes and brain just were not
expecting them. Then they do or say something that is familiar and we recognize
them. It doesn’t make sense and once we realize our mistake, we wonder how we
did not recognize her or him but yet it happened.
The element of surprise can often catche
us off guard. Perhaps today that is a good way to think about the presence of
God in our life. We have a God of surprises and at any moment of our day God
can walk into our midst. Are we ready? Or will we miss the moment because we
are not expecting God to be there?
Through the intersession of St. Mary
Magdalene may we be open today to be surprised by God! Have a great Wednesday
everyone!
Daily Prayer: God of
surprises, we thank you for the gift of your presence in our life today. We
thank you for the way you bring us to new life in ways that surprise us,
liberate us, celebrate us and give us hope.
We ask you to be presence in our life
today; helping us to show that here and now, you are at work bringing healing,
wholeness, and justice and that by the grace of your Holy Spirit of love, we
your people may share in the surprising work of your presence today.
God surprise us today with your hope and
love that we may be your faith filled people who proclaim the Good News to a
world that does expect to encounter your love. Surprise us today, God! Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: Remember running
is an opportunity to search for God amid the commonplace, humdrum and ordinary
activities that most often occupy our life. That is ultimately the point of
meditative running – we are trying to find a way to mix the mundane with the
mystical, to blend the sacred with the profane, to find heaven on earth. If
running is sacred time to us then we have the opportunity to encounter the gift
of God while we run! (Adapted from Roger
Joslin – Running the Spiritual Path)
Daily Blessing: Wednesday blessings
and greetings to everyone! I hope your “Hump Day” has started off well and that
you will find the rest of the week downhill so to speak.
It is the sixth day of the novena here
at St. Ann’s and all continues to go well. The two preachers are doing a great
job and tomorrow we have a healing mass at which the Sacrament of the Sick is
administered. It is always a moving experience for me. Please continue to keep
us in your prayers and know that you are in my prayers each day. Again if you
have any prayer requests please send them along.
The weather has certainly changed the humidity
has gone away and it is a very pleasant day. I hope the same is true where you
are.
I hope your week is going well and that
you are encountering interesting things in your own life. We all cannot be
celebrities or travel around the world but all of our lives are important and
special. All of our lives give us the chance to encounter God and bring God to
others all of our lives are a gift!
May God's blessings be upon your life
today and as you live out this day may you come to know that you are loved and
that you bring the love and grace of God to others. Peace in Christ’s
Passion…Fr. Paul
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