Daily Thoughts: “God is always
trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them.”
(St. Augustine of Hippo) I was thinking about these words from St. Augustine in
terms of our Gospel today (Matthew 25: 1-13). Yes, I know that Jesus is focused
on the end time, whether it is his final coming or the day that God calls each
of us individually. Yes, we need to be awake and we need to be ready like the
five wise virgins because not being ready, not being awake has dreadful
consequences, (see wailing and grinding of teeth from yesterday).
However I believe Jesus words “stay awake!”
and his story of the ten virgins can be looked at another way. Jesus might not
be just talking about the end time or the day God calls each of us home, he
might also be talking about this moment and what we are missing if we are not
awake or ready. What graces? What joys? What blessings? What experiences of
God’s presence are we missing if we are not awake, if we are not ready?
It is not always about the negative,
about the end time, about wailing and grinding of teeth. It is also about the
opportunities we miss each day, each moment of our life because God is trying
to give us good things but our hands are too full or we are trying to cut
corners!
May the spirit of St. Augustine be with
you today. Have a great Friday!
Daily Prayer: O God, to know
you is life. To serve You is freedom. To praise you is the soul's joy and
delight. Guard us with the power of Your grace here and in all places. Now and
at all times, forever. Amen. (Adapted from a prayer by St. Augustine)
A Runner’s Thoughts: “The act of
running is simple, one foot in front of the other. The art of becoming a runner
is achieved through a new mindset and commitment to change, especially if it’s
new to you. It’s tough, challenging, painful, sometimes lonely, regularly
uncomfortable and often excruciating…but the rewards are second to none.”
(Terry Lander) And so too in the spiritual life…
Daily Blessings: Friday
greetings and blessings to all! It is a beautiful morning here in Pelham the humidity
seems low, there is a sunny blue sky, a gentle breeze what more could I ask
for. I hope your day has started off as beautiful and mine.
I would like to send a shout out to the
School Sisters of Notre Dame in the African Province. Today is the 4th
Anniversary of the beginning of their province and they will install the first
native African sister as provincial. It is a special day for all School Sisters
of Notre Dame but especially those in African. It is an alive and growing
province and I would just like to say happy anniversary, many blessings upon
the new provincial and all the sisters today and into the future. May the
spirit of St. Augustine energize and enliven the ministry, the work and the
lives of all who call themselves School Sisters of Notre Dame and who serve the
people of Africa!
My prayer of blessing for all you today
is that our Loving God, the giver of all good gifts, will bless you today with
hearts that love you, so that by deepening your sense of respect and reverence
for yourself you may nurture within yourselves and others only what is good.
May God bless you with a watchful care throughout this day so that wherever you
go and whatever you do it will be in, and through and with God. May God bring
you home safe to those you love that you might celebrate the gift of family, of
friendship, of community, of your love so that your sleep will be restful and
you will be energized to welcome tomorrow! May God bless you with the spirit of
St/ Augustine as you journey through this day! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr.
Paul
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