Daily
Thoughts:
Usually when I hear today's Gospel the thought that comes into mind is,
"Right question, wrong time!" What I mean by this is that Mrs.
Zebedee asks the right question but it at the wrong time. She wants the best
for her sons; she wants eternal life, who doesn't? It is the goal of every
person of faith. Yet if we listen to the passage closely, Jesus has just talked
to them about what lies ahead, he has shared with them the reality of his
Passion and Death. What's their response, "Can my sons have a place of
honor in the Kingdom?" If Jesus were like us he might have responded,
"Lady, did you just hear what I said!" But he doesn't, Jesus turns it
once again into a teaching moment in the hope his disciples will continue to grow.
We might
say that Mrs. Zebedee's question is a typical human response when someone is
sharing their deep human emotions and feelings. When someone shares with us a
personal struggle, a personal tragedy, a personal hurt or pain, at those
moments we tend to want to change the subject or turn inward and think of
ourselves. Jesus and the readings the last few days have been trying to focus
us beyond ourselves. A disciple serves. A disciple looks outward toward others.
A disciple tries to right the wrongs of society. A disciple thinks of those who
have no one to help them. A disciple is not concern about herself or himself. A
disciple has entrusted herself or himself to God. Jesus uses this moment today
to once again make this point. He has "not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life in ransom for the many."
Jeremiah
wants to know why bad things happen to good people. Why for all the good work
he has done he faces being repaid with death? All he did was to bring God's
message to the people. All he did was be a faithful disciple. What Jeremiah
learns and what eventually Jesus' disciples learn is that discipleship is not
easy and often dangerous. Yet if we trust in God, if we look beyond ourselves
to others God will take care of us when it counts most.
As we continue
to make our way through this Lent let us listen to Jesus and not respond by
thinking just of ourselves but let us trust in God's kindness and love because
we too are willing to serve rather than be served. We too are willing to look
beyond ourselves for the sake of the Kingdom!
Have a great
Wednesday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Loving God help us today and always to be your disciples. Teach us the value of
good works for others. Grace us with the energy and spirit that will make us
joyous and merciful servants with a willingness to give of the gifts we have
for the good of others and the Kingdom. Bestow upon us an abundance of your
compassionate love so that we have the strength to walk down any road in life
knowing you will never leave us to face the journey alone! Amen!
A
Runner's Thoughts: As we run today let us remember that a meditative
prayerful runner is fortunate enough to have found a way that refreshes the
body and renews the spirit, thus enabling the runner to be born again with
every runner in the presence of God.
Daily
Blessing:
Wednesday greetings and blessings to all! I hope all of you have gotten off to
a good start today and may your day to be blessed with many good things and
many encounters with God’s grace. If it hasn’t been a good start to the day
hang in there I am praying that your day will only get better.
This is
the last day of our mission here at St. Bernard’s and it is going to be another
day of rain. At least it is not snow! Please continue to pray for the faith
community here at St. Bernard’s and for their preacher.
May God
bless us all today with the gifts of faithfulness, hopefulness and loving care
for others. May God bless us with the strength to stake our lives on the
promises of God. Have a faith filled day with many blessings and much peace. As
always you are in my prayers. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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