Daily Thoughts - 08/01/2015

Daily Thoughts: Something to think about from Thomas Merton as you journey through the day. It is certainly something that Herod did not think about in our Gospel (Matt. 14:1-12) today!

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.

Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, and is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.” (Thomas Merton)

Have a great Saturday everyone!

Daily Prayer:

Lord, teach us to be generous;

Teach us to serve you as you deserve;

To give and not to count the cost;

To fight and not to heed the wounds;

To toil, and not to seek for rest;

To labor, and not to ask for reward - except to know that we are doing your will.

(Adapted from a prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola)

A Runner’s Thoughts: You might say that John Bingham is also talking about the spiritual life when he talks about running – “It was being a runner that mattered, not how fast or how far I could run. The joy was in the act of running and in the journey, not in the destination. We have a better chance of seeing where we are when we stop trying to get somewhere else. We can enjoy every moment of movement, as long as where we are is as good as where we'd like to be. That's not to say that you need to be satisfied forever with where you are today. But you need to honor what you've accomplished, rather than thinking of what's left to be done.” (John Bingham)

Daily Blessing: Saturday greetings and blessings to everyone and happy first day of August. In some ways I feel the summer moving too fast but I think that happens when you are busy. I hope your summer has been a good one so far.

I also hope your Saturday has gotten off to a good start. We have a beautiful morning here in Pelham and I think it is going to be a good day throughout and I am going to pause for a moment today with nothing on my calendar and just enjoy the day. May your day be what you need it to be!

May God bless you day with peace. May God’s blessings be upon your day and your weekend, may it be filled with family, friends, laughter, fun, rest and relaxation! If you need a little quiet time may that be there too! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 07/31/2015

Daily Thoughts: The Gospel reading today focus on the human struggle, lack of faith. Often times we think we know what is right. We think we know what is best for ourselves and those around us. We think we know what God wants. Then someone comes along, like a Rosa Parks, a St. John XXIII, a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Thomas Merton, a Blessed Mother Teresa, a Blessed Oscar Romero, a Pope Francis and they point us in a different direction, sometimes telling us we are headed down the wrong path, but always showing us just where God can be found.

We don’t like to be wrong and we are not always excited to have someone ruin our plans after all what do they know about us, about our life, about our faith. We might not put them to death like the Israelites often did to their prophets but we often reject their way of thinking, their insights, their spirits, the gift of their faith, hope and love. We call to mind tradition, dogma, or doctrine. We point to order, cost and what makes us comfortable. We at times dismiss them as misguided and unimportant or we point to their faults and failings.

When we do this like the people of Nazareth we make it almost impossible to God to work in our lives. We make it impossible for the ordinary things in life to become extraordinary.

O God, in your great love keep us always open to the voices of your Word and strengthen our faith so we will always recognize your presence amongst us!

In the words of St. Ignatius Loyola whose feast we celebrate today let us, “Laugh and grow strong” today! Friday blessings to all!

Daily Prayer:

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace that is enough for me. (St. Ignatius of Loyola)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Struggling and suffering are the essence of a life worth living. If you're not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you're not demanding more from yourself - expanding and learning as you go - you're choosing a numb existence. You're denying yourself an extraordinary trip.” (Dean Karnazes)

Daily Blessing: Friday greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope this find you well and enjoying your morning and looking forward to the rest of your day!

Today is the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola the founder of the Jesuits so I send a shout out to Pope Francis and all Jesuits today – Happy Feast Day – many blessings and much peace to all!

I would especially like to remember Fr. Ron Windmueller, S.J. and Fr. Chet Gator, S.J. both of whom have passed on but through their friendship during my St. Louis days helped to make my vocation possible because they shared the treasure of God’s Kingdom with me. And Fr. Louis Padovano, S.J. who also has passed but who often showed me the light of God’s grace when I founded myself in darkness. Rest in peace with God my good Jesuit friends!

Finally I sent a shout out, on this last day of July, to all of you who follow me and who are part of my life. May God, who formed you in your mother’s womb, who breathed life into you, who gifted the world with your present, hold you once again in his loving hands as you journey through this day. May God bless you with the gift of a joy filled day. May God bless you with the gift of his presence that you will share with everyone you meet and may God keep you safe and return you home to those you love for a peaceful night! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 07/29/2015

Daily Thoughts: “You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.” (Thomas Merton) I thought of these words by Merton today as I reflected on the readings for the Feast of St. Martha. I think Martha fits these words well.

In the Gospel reading (John 11:19-27) we see a different side of Martha than the one in Luke (10:38-42). It is as if Martha has grown in her faith, her relationship with God and in her understanding of her friendship with Christ. In John, Martha is a faith filled woman, who does not fully understand but recognizes the possibilities and challenges and embraces them with courage, faith and hope. She seeks God in the present moment and in the end is greatly blessed.

We all need to pause and allow the gift of St. Martha’s spirit to enliven our own spirits today. May the spirit of St. Martha gift us with the courage, faith and hope to live this day ready to recognize the possibilities and challenges and embrace them with the grace of God’s love.

Have a great Wednesday and many blessings to all on this Feast of St. Martha!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, you have promised to remain forever with those who do what is just and right.  Help us to live in your presence this day and always. Help us to live Jesus’ commandment of love and bring your peace and joy to others.  Keep us ever mindful of the wisdom and love you have made known in Christ. Grace us with the courage, faith and hope to make your presence known though our words and actions. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: “...there was some kind of connection between the capacity to love and the capacity to love *running*. The engineering was certainly the same: both depended on loosening your grip on your own desires, putting aside what you wanted and appreciating what you've got, being patient and forgiving and... undemanding...maybe we shouldn't be surprised that getting better at one could make you better at the other.”  (Christopher McDougall, Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen)

Daily Blessing: Wednesday greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope everyone’s week is going well and that you are dealing with this July heat.

 

My Tuesday was a rather busy one as I spent the day in search of a car. I found one but the buying process is not easy when you belong to a religious community but hopefully sometime late today I will be getting rid of my rental car and driving my new one hope. So I guess I can say that my Wednesday will be a busy day too.

I hope your day has started well and will become even better as you journey through it. If not hang in there because there is always tomorrow and the chance for a better day!

Enjoy your “Hump Day” everyone and may God bless your day with many good experiences and people! I hope all of you will have a great Wednesday no matter where you are or what today will bring! I pray for God’s blessings upon all of you as you go through your day. May God bless all your endeavors, may God be with you in all of your challenges and in all of your struggles. Please trust in the presence of God that you carry within you and don’t be afraid to share your gift. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 07/28/2015

Daily Thoughts: “Spirituality without a prayer life is no spirituality at all, and it will not last beyond the first defeats. Prayer is an opening of the self so that the Word of God can break in and make us new. Prayer unmasks. Prayer converts. Prayer impels. Prayer sustains us on the way. Pray for the grace it will take to continue what you would like to quit.” (Sr. Joan D. Chittister, In a High Spiritual Season)

In the first reading today (Exodus 33:7-11, 34:5b-9, 28) we are told that God spoke to Moses face to face, just as we would speak to another person. We might say that this is a nice definition of prayer, talking with God, intimately and honestly. Prayer is a two way street, it requires us to speak and also listen. If we approach prayer in this way then good things will happen, challenging things will happen and we will be sustained in our journey of life.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer by St. Thomas Aquinas)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Struggling and suffering are the essence of a life worth living. If you're not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you're not demanding more from yourself - expanding and learning as you go - you're choosing a numb existence. You're denying yourself an extraordinary trip.” (Dean Karnazes) So to in the spiritual life!

Daily Blessing: Tuesday blessings and greetings to everyone! I hope your day has started off well if not hang in there and I will pray that it gets better!

I will be out car hunting today. Hopefully I will be able to find something a get the ball rolling on a purchase so I can return the rental car and get back to a little normalcy in my life.

Have a great day everyone – many blessings on your journey today. I hope all of you will have a great Tuesday no matter where you are or what today will bring! I pray for God’s blessings upon all of you as you go through your day. May God bless all your endeavors, may God be with you in all of your challenges and in all of your struggles. Please trust in the presence of God that you carry within you and don’t be afraid to share your gift. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 07/27/2015

Daily Thoughts: In today’s gospel from Matthew (13:31-35), Jesus invites those listening to consider the Kingdom of Heaven by using to examples. The example is that of the parable of the mustard seed which from my perspective brings to mind the unexpected awesome experience of God’s Kingdom starting out as something tiny, something almost invisible and then becoming something all inclusive, all-embracing, a universal entity that welcomes all people. 

The second example is a parable, about a woman who took leaven and mixed it into the dough. This was a familiar experience that the people of Jesus’ time could connect with.  They had seen the dough rise after a tiny amount of leaven had been mixed with it.  Jesus invited them to see the effect a tiny movement, a tiny experience could have on society at large.

Perhaps what are Gospel is calling us to today is what Pope Francis is calling us to in his recent encyclical, Laudato Si. We are being called to be a mustard seed or that little pinch of yeast. In other words, we are being called to give life to the presence of God in our own lives, and to be sensitive to the needs of those around us. We are called to focus on our common home, common good, and common responsibility as we strive in little, practical ways to bring a tiny piece of heaven wherever we go.  This is a marvelous opportunity to open our minds and hearts to experience the saving love of Jesus here and now and give us a taste of the eternal life that awaits each one of us.

Have a great Monday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, bless us and all that we do today, with the blessing of your love and mercy. Awaken in us our true image, our true likeness, our true gift. Water with your rain the dry places of our hearts and souls. Let your Holy Spirit direct us from the beginning of this day until its end and your Holy Spirit be our will, our work, and our end. Amen (Adapted from a prayer by Jacob Böhme)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Running is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.” (Catherine McKiernan) So to in the spiritual life – our relationship, our friendship with God is meant to be enjoyed, lived, not just endured!

Daily Blessing: Monday greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope your day has started off well. After ten days of novena it is a very quiet morning here in Scranton yet as I look out my window it looks to be another beautiful day. We had a wonderful closing to the novena last night and in a few hours I will head east back to Pelham. Please know all your prayer intentions offered each day and will remain in my prayers.

Have a great day everyone. May it truly be a good start to your week, but if not please know that I am praying that things will get better for you. May God’s blessings be upon you wherever you are and wherever your life brings you today. May your day be rich in God’s grace, hope, love and joy and may you find the strength and energy to share God’s blessings with whomever you meet! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul