Daily Thoughts - 05/23/2015

Daily Thoughts: In today’s Gospel we encounter the final five verses of John’s Gospel. As we have journeyed through the Easter season we have retold the stories of Jesus’ meetings with the disciples after the Resurrection. Drawing on yesterday’s Gospel in one such story Jesus helps the disciples catch a large number of fish and in doing so he gets their attention after which they gather to have a little breakfast. Having nourished themselves Jesus then challenges Peter three times with the question “Do you love me?” What we read today is the final call of Peter and only Peter.

In the early part of John’s Gospel, Jesus, is followed by two of John the Baptist’s disciples. In the story Jesus turns and asks the two men perhaps the most important question of John’s Gospel, “For what are you seeking?” The two men reply by asking Jesus where He is staying. Jesus extends the invitation to, “Come and see.”  Jesus does not say, “Come and find out”, or “Let me tell you everything you ever have wanted to know about everything.”  Jesus simply invites these two men as he will invite others and all of us for that matter, to some, to see and so believe. This is Jesus’ ongoing invitation, the challenge of being people of faith throughout our journey of life.  In John’s Gospel, believing is seeing the “signs” so that believing beyond “signs” will be what it means “to follow”.

So John’s Gospel ends with Peter’s having seen enough “signs” including the catching of 153 fish after catching nothing, apart from Jesus,  during the darkness of their past night. Perhaps when looking back at the disciple who Jesus loved, Peter is asking for another “sign”, a companion whom Peter could trust for support. Jesus indicates that this disciple has his own calling as does Peter, as do all of us. Peter’s calling is to trust in his friendship with Jesus throughout the rest of the story, the end of which Peter does not know.

These final verses are a summary statement of all that Jesus has done throughout his time on earth. It is a summary of all the “signs” that are there to be seen and all who can see the “signs” are no longer blind, they believe, they have faith, because of having seen, because they have encountered Christ. As John says there were many events in the life of Jesus, but those that have been written down are just the right amount for Peter and any reader of the Gospel.

With the coming of the Spirit we are given the gift of faith which is a variety of vision by which we look or and receive “signs” of the presence of Jesus and of His calling us into the beyond, into the unknown of our tomorrows. We, like Peter, will always want assurances, companions, and more “signs” to make believing a little bit easier. God gives us just the right amount of what’s good for our own response.

Have a great Saturday everyone!

(My thoughts today are adapted from a reflection on today’s Gospel by Fr. by Larry Gillick, S.J.)

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 of Hippo)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” (Dean Karnazes)

Daily Blessing: Saturday greetings and blessings everyone! I hope your Saturday has begun well and that you are enjoying the beauty of God's creation wherever you are on this Memorial Day weekend. It is a beautiful sunny day here in Pelham and by all accounts it will last throughout the day. I know there are some part of the country dealing with difficult weather, storms, floods and drought. I pray that the beauty of God’s creation will soon touch your days too!

My prayer of blessing is that this will be a day blessed in God's presence, grace and love. That it will be a day bless with wonderful experiences, safe travel, if you are traveling, and the rest and relaxation that will help you to enjoy the gift of your life! Remember to be safe as your celebrate this weekend especially if you are on the road traveling and please don’t forget to give God a little time this weekend. It is Memorial Day weekend a time when we remember all who have served our country and give their lives in that service so take your remembrances to God in the form of a prayer. Peace in Christ's Passion and Joy in the gift of the Holy Spirit...Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 05/22/2015

Daily Thoughts: As I was reflecting on the readings late last night as I was trying to get ready for the Sunday Mass taping day which I will be leaving for shortly and once again two quotes from rather famous Jesuits came to mind.

The first was a quote that I have always liked from Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ. – “Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”

And the second is a prayer written by St. Ignatius of Loyola, SJ. – “Take Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To you, O Lord, I return it. All is yours, dispose of it wholly according to your will. Give me only your love and your grace, for this is enough for me.”

Perhaps this is another one of my Jesuit days. In reading the Gospel this late last night these words from two great Jesuits came to mind. In the Gospel Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” and three times Peter says, “Yes!” Our relationship, our friendship with God centers on love, God’s love for us and our love for God.

This exchange between Jesus and Peter along the shore of the Sea of Galilee after the Resurrection puts an exclamation point of their relationship and sends Peter out into the world to discover the energies of love, to discover fire once again all in the service of God!

Love is only realized, only understood in terms of action. How we live it out determines its power and presence. If Peter loves Jesus then he must live that love out, he must share it with the people of God and so must we!

Have a great Friday everyone and a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Daily Prayer:

Take, Lord, receive all our liberty

Our memory, understanding, Our entire will.

Give us only your love and your grace, that's enough for us

Your love and your grace are enough for us.

Take, Lord, receive all we have and possess.

You have given all to us, now we return it.

Take, Lord, receive, all is yours now

Dispose of it wholly according to your will.

(Adapted from the song Take Lord Receive by Fr. John Foley, SJ)

A Runner’s Thoughts: Remember running is not just conquering, hills, distance, weight, injury, illness or pain. Running is most often conquering ourselves. We can try to do it alone but it is so much easier when we let others journey with us and we are always at our best when we run with God!

 

Daily Blessing: Friday greetings and blessings to all! I hope your day is starting out well. In a few moments I will be off to St. Francis de Sales Parish in Manhattan for our final Sunday Mass taping day before we take a break for the summer months. We have six masses to tape today and hopefully they will go well. As the taping day comes to an end we will begin the Memorial Day weekend which will not be too busy for me though on Sunday I will be the master of ceremonies for the Fiftieth Anniversary of Priesthood celebration of Fr. Lucian Clark, C.P. The mass and dinner will take place at the Passionist parish in Jamaica, New York on Sunday afternoon. It should be a wonderful celebration of fifty years of priestly ministry and I would ask you to keep Fr. Lucian in your prayers this weekend!

May God bless all of you this day with the Spirit of Love and through your work, your travels and your interaction with others may Jesus truly know that “Yes, you do love him!” May God’s blessings be upon your Friday, upon your Memorial Day weekend and upon your celebration of Pentecost Sunday. May you have a restful, peaceful, fun filled and Spirit filled weekend with those who are most important to you. Peace in Christ’s Passion and Joy in the Holy Spirit…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 05/21/2015

Daily Thoughts: “Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: ‘I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their words….’” There is comfort for us in today’s Gospel (John 17:20-26). While we still find ourselves listening to Jesus talk about his and our relationship with the Father as we have been for most of the Easter Season, today Jesus let us know that his prayer is not only for his disciples but for us, those who believe because we have heard.

Jesus looks ahead with his prayer today, ahead to all those who will come after him and somehow, in some way, come to believe. Jesus prays for people like you and me who have listened to the words of parents, relatives, teachers, preachers and come to know and believe in Jesus.

St. Paul in the first reading (Acts 22:30; 23:6-11) is an example of the power of Jesus’ prayer. Paul knows human nature and he used it to his advantage today so that he can continue to proclaim the Good News. St. Paul is a witness to the presence of God in the world and because of his witness we to have a chance to believe.

As we journey through this day let us be thankful for Jesus’ prayer that we too might be included in God’s love if we have the courage to believe in the Good News that we hear!

Have a wonderful Thursday everyone!

Daily Prayer:

God be in our head and in our understanding today.

God be in our eyes, and in our seeing today.

God be in our mouth and in our speaking today.

God be in our feet and in our traveling today.

God be in our hands and in our embracing today.

God be in our ears and in our listening today.

God be in our soul and in our believing today.

God be in our hearts and in our loving today.

God be in us and everything we do today. Amen!

(Adapted from a Celtic Prayer)

A Runner’s Thoughts: If we chose to be a spiritual runner we can learn three things about ourselves.  We can learn how to keep moving forward through whatever life throws at us. We can learn who we truly are, our best self. We can learn that we are never alone and always love because we have God running with us!

Daily Blessing: Thursday greetings and blessings to all! I trust your day has started off well. If not please know you are in my prayers and I will say a special prayer after finishing this post that your day will get better.

It is starting out to be another cool and cloudy day here in Pelham. There seems to be a battle going on between spring and summer one day we are in the 80’s and another we are in the 50’s and 60’s. Lots of clouds but not that much rain I guess you could say that this is what spring is all about. This is a medical day for me. I will start off in about two hours from now with my annual physical and then around noon I will be at dentist. Hopefully no problems or issues will be found and I will get a clean bill of health for another year!

Have a great Thursday everyone and may God’s blessings and grace be upon your work, your rest, your interaction with others, your loved ones and you! May God truly be with you, around you and within you today and always! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Joy in the coming of the Holy Spirit…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 05/19/2015

Daily Thoughts: “I pray for them.” The words of Jesus from today’s Gospel (John 17: 1-11a). Throughout these closing days of the Easter season we hear over and over again Jesus’ desire for us to continue his mission and ministry in the world. He knows that it will not be easy so he prays to the Father that we might be taken care of just has the Father has taken care of him.

                                                                          

In the first reading (Acts 20: 17-27) St. Paul reflects on what lies ahead for him because he has taken up the mission of Jesus. He talks about being martyred. His time is short, and he realizes it.  He like Jesus, in the Gospel, is sending a message to his followers.  He has done his best; he has proclaimed the Gospel now they must carry on.

The message for us in these last days of Easter is to trust in the Spirit as we continue the ministry and mission of Jesus in our lives. The message is to do our best and to always know that Jesus is with us. He has offered us a relationship, a friendship with God. It is that friendship that St. Paul draws upon in living his life, in being challenged by the world around him and in staying faithful to his call. We are asked to do the same.

As we have often heard through these days of Easter God so loves the world that he has so fearfully, wonderfully made us so that as we live this day let us trust in our friendship with God and live the gift that God has created us to be!

Have a blessed Tuesday everyone!

Daily Prayer:  Loving Jesus, you have no body now on earth but mine, no hands but mind and no feet but mine. Mine are the eyes through which you look out with compassion on the world. Mine are the feet with which you go about doing good. Mine are the hands with which you bless people now. Jesus you have no body now on earth but mine so through me bless the world today. Amen! (Adapted from St. Teresa of Avila)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “There is a lesson to be learned from running in various emotional states, just as there are lessons to learn from running in a wide range of environmental settings. Don’t shy away from running in an unaccustomed state of mind or an unusual situation. Opportunity for enlightenment often waits in the unfamiliar.” (Roger Joslin)

Daily Blessing: Tuesday greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope your day has started off well. Here in Pelham we woke up to a bit of a chill, the good things is that it is May and the chill will not last long. It is another cloudy day and rain is in the forecast once again but they say that the sun will be with us tomorrow so I look forward to a beautiful day but in the meantime thank God for the rain that will enliven the earth.

I have a lot of paperwork that needs to get done and I have to say I am procrastinating. Writing talks and letters, responding to emails is not my strong suit but new talks need to be developed, letters need to be written if I want my ministry to be successful. So if you could offer a little prayer today for this procrastinator I would appreciate it!

Have a blessed day everyone and may God’s blessings be upon your work, your travel, and your encounters with others, upon those whom you love and upon you! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Hope in the Risen Lord…Fr. Paul