Daily Thoughts: “Love seeks one
thing only: the good of the one loved. It leaves all the other secondary
effects to take care of themselves. Love, therefore, is its own reward.” (Thomas Merton)
Perhaps this is what Jesus is getting at
as he answers the scholar of the law in today’s Gospel (Matt. 22: 34-40). Love sits at the heart of any relationship, of
any friendship and the first mark of a good relationship, a good friendship is
benevolence. Actively, seeking and finding the good in another. In today’s Gospel
Jesus reminds us that we are to love God and love others and love ourselves. In
order to do this we must find the good in the ones we love, God, others and
self. As Merton says if we can do this the gift of love will be our reward!
Have a great Friday everyone.
Daily Prayer: Loving God, teach us to love as you love.
Help us to make our love unconditional, honest, and kind. Help us to ask
nothing in return and to let our love encompass the whole of humankind.
Loving God, let us offer our love without
speaking. Let it radiate as it shines forth from us. Let it be seen in our
faces, in our eyes, and let it be simple, sincere, and shame free.
Loving God, show us how to forgive as
you forgive and help us to not burden another with guilt. Help us to not play
the role of the martyr but to be a rock on which trust may be built.
Loving God, let our love for you and
others be greater by far than any love that is offered to us. Let our love be
always led by the Spirit, inspired of you our God and as forgiving and free as
Jesus’ love. Amen! (Adapted from a prayer
by Virginia (Ginny) Ellis)
A Runner’s Thoughts: “A runner's
creed: I will win; if I cannot win, I shall be second; if I cannot be second, I
shall be third; if I cannot place at all, I shall still do my best.” (Ken Doherty)
Daily Blessing: Friday
greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope your Friday is starting off well
and that you are looking forward to a fun and relaxing weekend when your Friday
work day comes to an end! It is hard to tell right now what kind of day we are
going to have here in Long Beach. It rained most of the night and the clouds
don’t seem to be clearing right now so we could be in for a wet, cloudy and
humid day or things could clear as the day goes along. In any case I hope it is
a beautiful day wherever you are today!
A shout out to our Provincial Fr.
Robert Joerger, C.P. who celebrates his birthday today. I am grateful for his
ministry of leadership and I am hoping he has a great birthday and gets to
celebrate at least a little!
We find ourselves beginning the last day
of a work week but for some of you it is a Friday in the midst of your
vacation. So whatever this Friday means to you my prayer of blessing today for
you is that God will bless you with his love today, just like he blessed Naomi
with Ruth’s love long ago. May God bless you with his love that challenges us
to love God, love others and love ourselves! May your Friday not be too busy
and may you be blessed with a beautiful, restful, relaxing and fun filled
weekend! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
No comments:
Post a Comment