Daily
Thoughts:
Well our scriptures today continue the theme that has been with us for the last
few days; it is the theme of looking beyond ourselves. We have in the Gospel
today the famous story of the rich man and Lazarus the poor man who sits at the
rich man door. Lazarus is covered in sores. At first glance we might say that it
is the rich man’s wealth that is the problem and I am sure that many preachers
have taken that approach in preaching about this Gospel. However, at closer
inspection, it is not wealth that is the problem it is the rich man's way of
life, it is how he lives. It is how he uses his wealth. He fails to see Lazarus
at his door and if he does see him he ignores him.
In the
Gospels when Jesus talks about wealth it is never to condemn the person just
because they have wealth it is always about what we do with it. Do we hoard it?
Do we only care for ourselves? Or do we see the world and the needs of the
world? Do we let our wealth work for the betterment of others? Do we help those
in need with our wealth? This not only
pertains to money and possessions, it is also about the gifts and talents that
we have that can not only help us but others. Once again like the last few days
this is about service, it is about being humble because all that we have comes
from God and needs to be shared!
In the
first reading from Jeremiah we are reminded that one of the important values of
our life is trust, specifically trust in God. This value can help with the
above challenge of service. If we trust in God, if we make God part of our life
then our riches, our gifts, our talents, our resources are much easier to
share, because we know that God is with us.
Our
challenge is to think outside the box. Conventional wisdom says store up
treasures for ourselves, make sure our life is comfortable, eat, drink, rest,
be merry. But as people of faith God demands our lives. We are to be disciples,
we are to be servants, we are to make what we have work for the good of others.
We are to be people whose trust and hope is in God. We are to be rich in what
matters to God. Remember "the Lord, alone probes the mind and tests the
heart, and rewards everyone according to her or his ways, according to the
merits of her or his deeds." Let us be people who trust and hope in God.
Let us be people rich in the presence of God!
Have a great
Thursday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Loving God, direct our hearts this day to be your servants in all we do.
Enliven us with the fire of your Spirit of Love. Grace us with a steadfast faith,
a spirited hope so that all we do will be effective in helping ourselves and
others experience your loving presence. You are the Heart of Love and we want
to place all our trust in you. We know that we are not perfect, we struggle
with our weaknesses but we place our hope in you to bring about the richness of
life this day from your goodness. Amen!
A
Runner's Thoughts: “A course never quite looks the same way twice. The
combinations of weather, season, light, feelings, and thoughts that you find
there are ever-changing.” (Joe Henderson) So run without fear today, breathe,
run and permit the spirit of God's loving presence to be in each stride you
take!
Daily
Blessing:
Thursday greetings and blessings to all! I drove home in the pouring rain and heavy
wind with a few flashes of lightening last night but this morning it looks like
a beautiful sunny day. I am not sure what the rest of the day is to bring but
it is nice to see the sun. I hope your day is starting off well. I have an 11
am mass at the Wartburg Home today and then I think I am just going to relax
the rest of the day. I know that you might be in the midst of a work day so I
will take some time to pray that it goes well for you wherever you are and in
whatever you are doing.
The
mission at St. Bernard’s in Levittown, NY ended nicely last night. It was a
wonderful and spirit filled three days and four evenings even with the rain and
I think many good things happen. I thank you for all your prayers this week. I
have a little break now before I begin a mission at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Parish here in Pelham Manor on Saturday. It will be a nice change of pace as I
get to sleep in my own bed each might and I only have to travel a mile away.
I pray
for God’s blessings upon everyone today that we will have a peaceful Thursday
without too many struggles or problems. That today will be rich in presence of
God especially in the people we encounter throughout this day. Blessings upon
everyone today, have a great day and enjoy the day wherever you are! Peace in
Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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