Daily
Thoughts: It
is always nice to celebrate the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul and then to
remember his two friends Timothy and Titus the next day. I think if I had ever
married and had more than one son, I would have considered the names Timothy and
Titus. My first born son would have received the name Paul, there would have
been no discussion about that!
I find
the readings interesting today. In the gospel (Mark 3: 31-35) Jesus invites us
into his family, everyone who does the will of God is my brother and sister and
mother. In other words, if we live out life as the person God has created us to
be we are part of the family!
This is not
easy. Human nature is always calling us to the easiest, quickest, self-centered
and most self-indulging way of life. Most of the time our human nature rubs up
against God's way, tension is created, struggle ensues. It is almost never easy
to do what Jesus would do, to do what God calls us to do, yet if we respond to
God's call, God's will, we are part of the family. We have the support, the
prayers, the energy, the faith, the hope, the love of others and the most
important other is God!
In the
first reading from Paul's Second Letter to Timothy, Paul says to Timothy,
"For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you
have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of
cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed
of your testimony to our Lord...but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel
with the strength that comes from God." I love the first line of this
section of the letter, "stir into flame the gift of God." In other
words, be alive, be energized, be excited about the gift of your friendship
with God. I have often thought this would be a good quote to begin each day
with among others.
So
friends as we journey through life today, let us stir our gift from God into the
flame of life and as we find ourselves in the midst of struggles between what
the world suggests and what God suggests let us remember even though what God
suggests might seem harder, not as glamorous, not as self-fulfilling it is the
family we walk with that will make all the difference!
Have a
great Tuesday everyone.
Daily
Prayer: O
God of all life, help us to stir your gift into the flame of life and direct
our hearts throughout this day in your wonderful Spirit of hope. So that we may
always know it is you at the center of all we are, all we want, and all we are
meant to be. Keep us always faithful to your everlasting Spirit of Life that we
might overcome our differences and become a house united in your Love. Amen!
A Runner's
Thoughts:
“To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.” (Steve
Prefontaine) So today try to transform your run from just a run to a sacred
experience by letting God run with you!
Daily
Blessing: Tuesday
greetings and blessings to all. I hope wherever you are this morning things
have started well, whether you are at home still digging out from the weekend or
you are out and about beginning a normal Tuesday. Wherever you are and whatever
you are doing I pray and hope life is good for you today!
I would
ask you if you get a chance to prayer for and with a woman named Elizabeth. She
wrote to me the other day asking prayers for her three daughters and unborn
grandchild. This family has many struggles so if you could join me in offer a
prayer for Elizabeth, her daughters and unborn grandchild sometime today I and
they will greatly appreciate it.
My prayer
of blessing is once again a simple prayer – I pray today for God’s blessing
upon all of us and I pray in the hope everyone will have a great Tuesday.
However, if our day has started slow, or disorganized, or in a panic, or
challenged by the weather, may we not worry and may it all come together by
day's end! If our day started with peace and purpose may these two graces, see
us through to the end of the day! If our day started with struggle and tension
may we find moments of peace and calm that sustain us through the day. If our
day has started without God, may we let God find us so that we will not walk
and work alone! Blessings to all! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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