Daily Thoughts - 10/10/2015

Daily Thoughts: Today we have a very brief, two-line Gospel. One in which we hear a woman call to Jesus, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.”  But Jesus’ responds, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

I think in our Gospel today Jesus is suggesting that we change our focus. That we look at life through a different lens. He is not discounting his own mother and their close relationship, for Jesus family is more than biology, more than DNA, family is hearing the Word of God and living it. Jesus is telling us that our own relationship with God can be blessed if we use God’s word as a lens through which we look at and then live life.

In today’s Gospel we are invited to be family with others beyond our immediate family relationships. We are to include others because we have been included by Jesus.

As we have encounters over the last three plus year with Pope Francis, he is a person who has heard the word of God and who lives it. He finds Jesus in the faces and lives of the poor and struggling in our world.  And by his words and actions Pope Francis asks us to open our hearts to the hungry, the poor and the marginalized. He asks us to open our hearts to those struggling in the world because they are family.

We are called be the Word of God to reach out to others who need us as a way to really unite to Jesus and his mission on earth.  What does Jesus want from us? Jesus wants a family. Jesus wants a friendship.  Jesus isn’t looking for us to read more about him or discuss the theology of his ministry.  Jesus longs for a close and personal friendship with us as we speak to him about our lives and lean on him for support in times of need. Blessed by his love, we hear the call to keep his word by loving as he has loved us, by being family to all.

Jesus invites us today reach out to those who need us. Pope Francis calls us over and over again be a society, a church, a family of inclusion, dialog and service for all.

Have a great Saturday everyone!

Daily Prayer: O God, turn us into the arms, hands, legs and feet of your beloved Son, Jesus. You gave birth to us on the earth to become his living body. Make us worthy to be his arms, hands, legs and feet and so worthy to share in his eternal life. Amen (Adapted from a prayer by St. Hildegard of Bingen)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “I view life as a series of training events building up to the big race and final finish line and I am always in training, always in the process of reaching the final goal.” (Matthew Shafner)

Daily Blessing: Saturday greetings and blessings to all! I hope your Saturday has gotten off to a good start. It is a beautiful sunny day here in Pelham after a night of storms and rain. I hope you are enjoying the beauty of all wherever you are today.

I would as that we continue to prayer for the Synod on the Family taking place in Rome this month. May those involved be truly open to God’s Spirit so as to help our Church grow and be a source of life for the world. May those involved hear the Word of God and live it!

My prayer of blessing for all of you today is that God will bless all your endeavors, your encounters, your times of solitude, your moments of busyness and your times of rest today. May this day be what you need it to be. May it be a gift from God that enables you to find the present of God in your life, especially within yourself! Have a great Saturday and don’t forget to give a little time to God this weekend. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 10/09/2015

Daily Thoughts: I have always struggled with this passage in Luke that is our Gospel today (Luke 11:15-26). First of all if Jesus is taking the time to case out demons, why are people upset? Why are they casting a negative light on Jesus and his ministry? You would think that they would be pleased. You would think that they would be open to all the help they can get!

Perhaps the reason for their negativity is that they have become accustom, even comfortable with these demons. How does the old saying go, “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know!” Sometimes we become comfortable with the devils that make a home in us. We look at them and begin to rationalize our encounters with the devils of our life. “They are just small problems, personal things, they really don’t hurt anyone. – Everybody does it. Everybody is doing it.”

Looking at it another way we might say that Beelzebul is the strong man who guards his palace. His possessions are hatred, anger, prejudice, greed, and injustice. Through them he tries to control the world. By ourselves, we are helpless against his power. But this parable is one of hope. It proclaims the gospel message. There is one stronger than Beelzebul who can overpower him and cast him out of our lives if we let him. Christ is our strength, who by his resurrection has defeated the power of evil. We are called to live each day in the faith that Christ can help us overcome our demons. If we do our heart becomes a place where no demons dwell only Christ. O Lord, create in us a clean heart and a faithful spirit!

Have a great day everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, give us today day the wisdom to see which things are important, and which things are not. Show us how best to use the time and talents you have given us. Help us to use all our opportunities wisely, that we may share, through service to others, the good gifts we have received from you. Amen.

A Runner’s Thoughts: “As every runner knows, running is about more than just putting one foot in front of the other; it is about our lifestyle and who we are.” (Joan Benoit Samuelson) The same can be true when we talk about faith. Faith is more than just reciting prayers or going to mass every Sunday, though like putting one foot in front of the other when we run, these rituals are important. Faith is really about how we live our life. Faith is like taking a breath. We need to breathe when we run and when we do anything else. It is the same with faith. A person of faith allies her or his faith to every aspect of life. Faith is about who we are. So today and every day let us be runners but also let us be people of faith!

Daily Blessing: Happy Friday everyone! I hope your day has started out well and that you are looking forward to a good day and a relaxing weekend.

Let us continue to pray for the Synod on the Family taking place in Rome these days of October. May the Holy Spirit guide and direct the discussions of those involved so that they may truly be a bridge to the future and not a roadblock.

My prayer of blessing for all of you today comes for the words of another Paul, a much great Paul than me – Today I say to all of you as you live this day: rejoice! Let me say it again: rejoice! As you live today let your kindness should be known to all. Have faith God is always near. Live today with no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, my friends in the Passion, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in the people of faith around you. If you do this then the God of peace will be with you today and always. (Adapted from the words of St. Paul to the Philippians)

Blessings to all! Have a great Friday! Peace in Christ Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 10/08/2015

Daily Thoughts: Today’s Gospel (Luke 11:5-13) encourages us to pray, to stay connect with God because God is so eager to help us. As Jesus says if a reluctant friend can be persuaded to help, how much more will God be willing to help!

As Kathleen Norris puts it, “Prayer is not asking for what you think you want, but asking to be changed in ways you can't imagine.”

Or as St. Teresa of Calcutta puts it, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.”

Today we are asked to put ourselves in God’s hands and let God change us in ways that we cannot imagine. This does not mean that God will always give us whatever we ask but it does mean that God always hears our prayer!

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, we are often so afraid to open our clenched fists! If we do who will we be when if we have nothing left to hold on to? Who will we be when we stand before you with empty hands? Please help us to gradually open my hands and to discover that we are not what we own, but what you want to give us. Amen!  (Adapted from a prayer by Henri J.M. Nouwen)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, it knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're the lion or a gazelle-when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.” (Christopher McDougall) And as a friend often says…So to in the spiritual life!

Daily Blessing: Thursday greetings and blessings to all! I hope today has started off well for you and that so far your day has been rich in God’s presence.

May we continue to pray for the Synod on the Family going on in Rome these days that it will truly be the work of the Spirit.

My prayer of blessing for you today is that God will provide you what you need to keep the faith and live this day. And so to all my friends who will stop by this site today and even for those who won’t I ask God’s blessings upon you, your day and those most dear to you.

Loving God, bless family, friends and all your faithful people so that they will always live your truth; express your love by their life; share your passion by their enthusiasm; take action with your grace; walk by faith; dance and sing to the gift of your spirit and embrace your unimaginable blessings. Help us make today worth remembering because we know that you created us out of love. Have a great day everyone! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul