Daily Thoughts: “The Church
must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved,
forgiven, and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel.” (Pope Francis)
I thought of these words by Pope Francis
as I read today’s Gospel (Matt. 19: 3-12). In a few months we will have the
second half of the Synod of Bishops on the Family and we will await some
decisions particularly about divorced and separated Catholics. Those who lean
toward tradition might point toward today’s Gospel as a reference point in
saying that we should not change our stance on marriage especially in terms of
the divorced and separated. Yet, I often wonder if that is what Jesus had in
mind when he spoke these words.
Now to be sure there is no way to know
what Jesus meant or was thinking when he challenged the Pharisees and his
disciples with the words found in today’s Gospel however, if we consider the
whole of his life and ministry we might point towards the words of Pope Francis
as a way to look at Jesus’ words today. I am certain that Jesus’ words point to
the sacredness and importance of marriage. Making a lifelong commitment speaks
volumes about two people’s love. Jesus’ life was a lifelong commitment of love
for us.
However, Jesus’ life was also about
mercy, forgiveness and encouragement. Think about his conversation with the
woman at the well. Did he tell her to go, get her life in order then come back
and see him about the “living water?” No he looked past her struggles, her
relationships and welcomed her into the mercy of God and as the story goes it
made all the difference.
We all make mistakes, some small and
some big. We all think we are in love when we really aren’t. We all believe we
have found the right person and yet we haven’t. We all do our best and
sometimes it isn’t our best. We all say forever and sometimes it isn’t. We all
work hard at relationships but sometimes they are beyond our control because
the other person walks away. Don’t you think God, who knows all these things,
is still willing to sit and talk with us at the wells of our life? You better
believe he is! So why aren’t we as a Church just as willing?
The Eucharist is an altar of sacrifice
and a table of forgiveness. The Eucharist is a place of welcome for everyone
who believes. The Church is Eucharist we need to be a community where God’s
mercy is freely given where all are welcome, forgiven, loved and encouraged to
live the good life of the Gospel!
Have a great Friday everyone!
Daily Prayer: O God, here is
our heart, here it is with all its secrets. Look into our thoughts, O God our
hope, and take away all our wrong thinking and feelings. Let our eyes be ever
on you, and release our feet from whatever holds them from walking towards you.
We ask you to live with us, to lead us, to make our hearts your holy temple, a
fit dwelling for you our loving and merciful God. Amen (Adapted from a prayer
by St. Augustine of Hippo)
A Runner’s Thoughts: “As athletes,
we have ups and downs. Unfortunately, you can't pick the days they come on.”
(Deena Kastor) And so to in the spiritual life…As people of faith we have our
ups and downs and unfortunately you cannot pick the days they come on. All you
can do is be faithful and keep on the journey!
Daily Blessing: Friday
greetings and blessings to all! Another beautiful day here in Pelham and in a
few hours I will be headed to Long Beach, NY and St. Ignatius Martyr Parish to
help out for a few weeks. It is a very fine community of faith and I am looking
forward to my time with them. If you are in the area please stop in.
Things here in Pelham are sort of back
to normal. Most things damaged by our little mishap earlier this week have been
fixed or thrown out and we seem to be in a good space once again, when I return
from Long Beach I will need to get the boiler people in to check the boiler out
but that can wait for now.
May God bless your Friday with the
richness of his presence, mercy, joy and peace. May God’s blessing help your
work day to go quickly, your vacation day to go slow, your travel day to go
safely, but may they all be blessed with good people, many smiles, much
laughter and God’s love. Have a great Friday everyone. Peace in Christ’s
Passion…Fr. Paul
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