Daily
Thoughts:
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter and our thoughts and
prayers are with Pope Francis, a humble and courageous man who has brought
great joy and spirit to our Church and the world over the past few years. Some people
criticize him for the way he goes about being pope but I admire him for his honesty,
for his faithfulness, for his joy, for his smile for letting go and letting
God!
The
Gospel today is one of my favorites that scene when Jesus asks the disciples,
"Who do people say that I am?" I know scripture scholars do not
interpret this question a Jesus wanting to know what people think, however each
time I hear it that is where my thoughts go. This scene for me makes Jesus a
little more human in my book.
He asks
who to people say that he is, and then he asks the disciple who they say he is.
Don't we all want to know the answer to these questions about ourselves? What
do people think of us? What are they saying about us? We wonder what people in
general whom we meet and perhaps work with think about us. We wonder what our
friends really think. They are questions that we would like answered.
For me, I
think Jesus did too, perhaps not for the same reasons we do, but I think it was
important for him to know. Maybe he wanted to know how his message was getting
across. Maybe he wanted to know how well his disciples were paying attend, were
learning. Maybe it was a way to know just how well their relationship had
grown.
As always
we can count on Peter to bring life to the moment. Without hesitation he
responds to Jesus' question with what was in his heart, "You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God." You can almost hear the love in
Peter's voice. This heartfelt reaction and answer to the question and Jesus
says, "Blessed are you Simon....For flesh and blood has not revealed this
to you, but my heavenly Father." Peter was speaking from the depth of his
soul. He would still struggle in his relationship with Jesus, there would be
more mistakes but Peter had his hand of the pulse of his friendship with Jesus.
Perhaps
Pope Francis does too; maybe his journey as pope is one that constantly reveals
the joy and mercy of God. As people of faith perhaps we need to trust that Pope
Francis is a shepherd who doesn't lord it over us but is an example to us.
Let us
remember the words of St. John of the Cross, "In all our necessities,
trials, and difficulties, no better or safer aid exists for us than prayer and
hope that God will provide for us by the means God desires."
Have a
great Monday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Great and awesome God, bless us today with the gifts of your mercy and
forgiveness not just for our own lives but that these gifts will be alive
within us. Help us to be your disciples who bring a positive attitude and voice
to the world today. Grace us with the wisdom to find the goodness in ourselves
and the people we encounter. Guide us so that we do not respond to a negative
with a negative. Make us workers who help to build your peaceable Kingdom as we
live our life today! Amen!
A
Runner's Thoughts: Let us look at our run today and every day as a tool, a
device or a practice that aids us in our quest to be people of prayer.
Daily
Blessing:
Monday greetings and blessings to all. I know that Monday is often a day that
we don’t like, we don't want the weekend to end and Mondays to arrive. We don't
like how we feel when we get up on Monday mornings having to face a new week,
but Happy Monday anyway! I hope you will all have a good week rich in many
positive experiences and encounters with positive people.
I made it
through my Sunday with five faith filled celebrations of mass that were alive
and life giving. Then I began the mission at 7:30 pm. It was a spirit filled
and enthusiastic crowd in spite of the rain. It was a long day but a good one. Again,
I ask your prayers for the faith community here at St. Bernard’s and for their
preacher. May this be a good mission for them and me!
My prayer
of blessing today is that you will have a great day, with many blessings as you
begin a new work week. May it be one that runs smoothly and peacefully with
many graced moments! May we all be blessed with the strength of God to guide
us, the power of God to uphold us, the wisdom of God to enlighten us. Many
blessings today wherever you are and upon whatever you are or will be doing.
Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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