Daily
Thoughts:
"Lord if you wish, you can make me clean. Jesus stretched out his hand and
touched him and said, I do will it. Be made clean. And the leprosy left him
immediately." I think the key elements of this story are the person's
faith in Jesus, the willingness of Jesus to heal and Jesus' touch. Maybe the
most important element is Jesus' touch, his willingness to be connected with
someone who is unclean by the standards of culture, society and religion.
Today
whether we are talking about our culture, society or even our church the usual
response is to disconnect ourselves from someone defined as unclean. Yet, Jesus
sought to be connected. He did not want to push them away from the community
but to bring them into the community.
The Feast
of the Epiphany which we celebrated last Sunday was about the universal nature
of Christ's presence in the world. Jesus confirms that nature today by reaching
out to one who has been pushed out of the community. It is a profound moment,
it is a challenge to all of us who proclaim we believe. Do we wish, do we will
that all belong to the community no matter what? Jesus does and he was willing
to step across a boundary to make sure that it happens. Are we?
Perhaps
like Jesus it is a commitment to prayer that will help us to, wish it and will
it. It is through prayer, our conversation with God, that we will find the
strength to walk with Jesus across the boundaries imposed and bring others to
the community, to friendship with God!
Have a
great Friday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Loving God, we know that you wish your community of faith to include everyone.
Help us to break down the barriers, to across the boundaries that our world,
our culture, our society, our institutions create to bring mercy and healing to
all your people. Help us to be committed to prayer, to our conversation with
you, so that we will always have the strength to share with others the healing
power of your love! Amen!
A
Runner's Thoughts: “Being a runner means you are now free to win and lose and
live life to its fullest.” (Bill Rodgers) Run in a new place today, for new
places can stretch our capacity for finding the presence of God as we run!
Daily
Blessing:
Friday greetings and blessing to all. I hope your day has started off well. It
is still dark out so I am not sure what this day will bring. I think the
temperature is to be on the mild side but the day is to be cloudy and rainy. If
that is so that will make the drive back to New York not so nice later today.
Well I hope the weather is better by you today.
I hope
everyone has had a good week. It certainly has been a good week here in
Baltimore at least from my perspective. The retreat seems to have gone well.
Please offer a prayer for these men as their retreat comes to an end later this
morning and they head back to the seminary to begin their second semester and
continue their discernment for the priesthood. A little extra prayer for their
preacher to finish well and travel safely would be great appreciated too.
My prayer
of blessing today for all of us is a simple one - may we all have a day filled
with many blessings and much grace where ever we find ourselves. If we are on
the road or away from home or just have to travel each day may we return home
safely this evening to begin a restful weekend with the people most important
in our lives! And if our schedule for today and this weekend calls for busyness
may we find some quiet, restful and peaceful time during the busyness! Peace in
Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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