Daily Thoughts - 12/12/2015

Daily Thoughts: Today’s Gospel (Luke 1:39-47) reminds us that Mary was truly a believer. Even though she did not know the full extent of her “yes” she proclaimed it anyway. She trusted in God. It was a trust that could be seen. Elizabeth saw it as Mary entered her home. For Elizabeth, Mary was blessed among women and her voice proclaimed the presence of God even to the baby in Elizabeth’s womb. Our God is not only of God of sight but also of sound.

Not having a clear vision of the road ahead is not always an easy way to life. It demands trust, it demands faith, and it demands a sense of hope in all that one does. Mary certain defines this way of living. She did not know the implications of her “yes” but she has trust, faith and lived by an unrelenting hope.

As Calvin Miller puts it in his book The Christ of Christmas: Readings for Advent – “We must look to Mary's example to know how to deal with the glorious impossibilities of God. Look how she turned the world upside down by making one simple statement.”

Today we remember that Mary turned the New World upside down when she appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian convert, as a beautiful young woman on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City on December 9, 1531. Just another reminder that if we trust, if we believe, if we live by hope we will encounter God most often when we least expect it but always when we are most in need!

Have a great Saturday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Come loving God, come – come and make your dwelling in our hearts. Come and be present to the struggling, difficult and challenging moments of our day. Come in your unexpected ways and fill us with a hope that will always help us to trust and have faith that you are always with us and you will never leave us to face the struggles and challenges of life alone. Come loving God, come and be with us today and like Mary may we always say “yes” - Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: As we prepare to run today or any day, as we stretch our muscles getting them ready for the journey ahead. Let us imagine that we are also stretching our spirits and giving our spirits the flexibility needed to encounter God. Each time we take the time to stretch we are also taking the time to pray!

Daily Blessing: Saturday greetings and blessings to all. I hope today has gotten off to a good start for you. The day is just starting here in Pelham and we are to have another mild day with sun and clouds just like yesterday. I hope your Saturday will be blessed with good weather and some rest and relaxation.

We celebrate the feast today of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It remembers the appearance of Mary to Juan Diego, a poor Aztec Indian convert, as a beautiful young mestiza woman on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City on December 9, 1531. It is a special day of celebration for all our sisters and brothers of Central, South America and here in North America too.

With this feast in mind I ask God’s blessings upon all of us today through the intersession of Mary. May God bless us all today with the wonderful grace of trust, faith and hope that was so present in the life of Mary. May this day be one in which we focus our life, strive to be the best we can, persevere through the struggles and challenges and always take a little time to connect with God through prayer. – Loving God bless us with the richness of your love wherever we go and through whomever we meet. And may we always say “yes” when you ask us to bring your presence to the world. We ask this blessing through your gift of Mary. Amen! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 12/11/2015

Daily Thoughts: Each time I read today's Gospel I think of the phrase, "You can please some of the people some of the time, but you cannot please all of the people all of the time!" I can also hear Jesus say, "But can I just please somebody!"

The fact is Jesus did please people, but his mission wasn't about pleasing people it was about helping, challenging, enlivening and gracing people. Sometimes these values of faith don't please in the way we expect. Life remains a struggle however if we come through the struggle – freedom and God's Love is waiting.

There will always be people in life who don't like anything. We have met them, nothing that gets done or is suggested is ever right. We say black, they say white. Perhaps the challenge of today's readings is to not become one of these people. The voice of God comes to us in many different ways. Sometimes it is the voice of John calling for repentance and forgiveness, other times it is the voice of Jesus offering acceptance, compassion and love. The challenge is to let God's wisdom guide and direct us so that we hear God's voice when God speaks and act so that it transforms our lives!

Have a great Friday everyone.

Daily Prayer: Loving Jesus, Savior of all life, come to us today and always. Helps us to welcome you in the peace of our night, in the silence of our days, in the beauty of creation, in the hours of great struggle within, in the challenges of living, in the anger and violence of our world, in the sadness and joy of life. Help us to always welcome you knowing that you will be with us in every situation, that you will be with us always. Amen.

A Runner’s Thoughts: “You can run full speed into a door that is closed or you can pull back just a little and go through the open door.” (John Bingham) So let God help you find that open door… Feel the touch of God in your run today no matter if the run is a struggle touched with pain or strong and life giving!

Daily Blessing: Friday greetings and blessings to all. I hope this finds you well and off on the right foot on this Friday of Advent. It is hard to believe but two from today is Christmas and three weeks from today we will be getting ready to welcome in a New Year!

It seems to be another mild day here in Pelham. The fog is still dissipating or burning off so it is hard to tell whether we will have a sunny or cloudy day today. I hope the weather by you is enlivening your spirit or at least not getting in the way of a good Friday journey.

My prayer of blessing for all of you today is that – Our Loving God, will bless you this day with his eternal love, Jesus. May God make you always vigilant in hope so that you hear the voice which announces God’s glory and opens your hearts to receive the Spirit who prepares you for Christ’s coming once again. May Christ be born in your hearts this day and may you bring his gift of eternal love to all you meet this day. May God bless us all on this journey of Advent that we might be ready to celebrate the gift of Christmas once again. Blessings always...Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 12/10/2015

Daily Thoughts: Isaiah's and Jesus' words seem to have a sting to them today. Isaiah seems to remind us that God is in control. Not matter how bad it gets in this life God is always going to be there. God is always going to keep his promise even if we do not. Jacob can turn into a worm and Israel can become a maggot but God will still be faithful.

On the other hand, Jesus reminds us today that no matter how great we become in this life it still pales in comparison to what awaits us in eternal life. John the Baptist was the greatest of all prophets; perhaps the greatest of all people yet the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven at that moment was greater than John.

These are hard words to hear yet Jesus asks us to hear! We like to think of ourselves as in control. We like to think of ourselves as important. Yet the scriptures remind us today that we are not, in control or important. You might say the Word for today is "remember it is not about us, it is about God." God who is always faithful! And isn't that a hopeful message to take with us and proclaim today!

Have a great Thursday everyone – one filled with Advent hope!

Daily Prayer: O Mighty and Faithful God, give us the joy and hope of your love today as we live our life in this imperfect world. Keep us ever mindful that life is not about us, it is about you and the gift of eternal life that awaits us. Bless us with the spirit of John and Isaiah today as we prepare the way for Christ by our care and service to one another! Amen!

A Runner's Thoughts: When you run, run mindfully – when you run, make your run a prayer. Remember that each run is a quest for a connection with God!

Daily Blessing: Happy Thursday everyone! I hope today has gotten off to a good start for you. The sun is trying to come out but it seems like it might be another cloudy day in Pelham though it will be mild one. I went out for the paper a little while ago and it wasn’t cold at all. I always think that with the sun out the day seems a little less short at this time of the year and a little more enjoyable, so I am rooting for the sun to make an appearance today. I hope the sun will shine on your day too!

I will head out a little before 11 am to the Wartburg Home to celebrate mass with the faith community there. I enjoy being with the community and celebrating with them. I hope you will be able to connect with some people of faith today too!

My prayer of blessing for all us today is – Faithful God, giver of all good gifts, bless us today with hearts that love you, so that by deepening our sense of respect and reverence for you we may nurture within ourselves and others only what is good. Bless us with your watchful care throughout this day so that wherever we go and whatever we do it will be for you. Bring us home safe to those we love that we might celebrate the gift of family, of friendship, of community, of your love so that our sleep will be restful and we will be energized to welcome you once again tomorrow! Have a great day everyone and peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul