Daily
Thoughts: "If today you hear [God's] voice, harden
not your hearts." The response for the psalm today seems to say it all. In
the first reading the faith community has hardened their hearts toward God.
They are not listening or responding to the word or presence of God. In the
Gospel there are some who have hardened their hearts for they cannot recognize
God in their midst.
In the
opening talk of my missions, I talk about how we at times harden perhaps not
our whole heart but pieces or areas of our hearts. The primary reason is
because we have been hurt and we harden ourselves so that we cannot be hurt
again. Sometimes the hurt comes from another person, or a group of people, or
an institution or from someone or something outside of us. Yet often we think
the hurt comes from God and we harden our hearts to the grace, the word, and
the presence of God. In doing this we very often miss the opportunity to
experience the presence and the gift of God in our life.
Jesus
reminds the people today that bad things do not come from God. God only wants
good for us. God loves us, created us and desires a relationship with us. It is
the world around us that can hurt. It is often the world within us that can
hurt.
We don't
want to make the mistakes of our ancestors that are talked about in our first
reading from Jeremiah today. We don't want to make the same mistake of the
people who question where Jesus is from in today's Gospel. We want to open our
hearts, make our hearts places of nothing but good soil so that when we
encounter God, when we hear God's voice the grace, word, strength, blessing and
presence of God will be planted within us and grow producing a harvest that is
hundred fold.
Please as
you journey through this day do not harden your hearts but be open to hear
God's voice and encounter God's presence in your life!
Have a great
Thursday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Almighty and eternal God, may we always walk in your ways but especially as we
begin this new day. Enliven our hearts with joy so that they will not be
hardened by the struggles, hurts, pains and difficulties of life. Help our
hearts to remain open to hearing your Word and recognizing your presence. Too
often because of life we begin to wander away from you, too often we fail to
hear you or recognize your presence in our life. Help us to always have the
strength to walk, to live in your ways and hear your voice. Bless us with the
gift of your Holy Spirit of joy and hope this day and always! Amen!
A
Runner's Thoughts: “I always loved running – it was something you could do by
yourself and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow
as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights
just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.” (Jesse Owens)
So – running can give us an inner strength that can change our life. Just
putting in the time, finishing a run can have an enlivening effect on your
confidence and self-esteem. Running can also touch us in a spiritual way that
makes us aware of God's presence in our life!
Daily
Blessing:
Thursday greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope your day has started off
well. We had a great third day and evening of the mission yesterday. I am
thankful for my time at Our Lady of Perpetual Help and for the spirit and faith
of the community there.
I will be
home here in Pelham until Saturday afternoon when I will head out to Lindenhurst,
New York to begin a mission at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish. I will keep
busy however over the next couple of days with morning masses at the Wartburg
Home and a visit to the dentist. During these days between missions I am always
playing catch-up with paperwork and other assorted responsibilities.
I would
like to pause for a moment and remember my mother and father today because today
is the 73rd Anniversary of their wedding. Back in the midst of World
War II they gather with just a few family and friends at the 7:30 am mass to
express their love for each other. I am so grateful for their love as it
brought me and my sister and brother into the world. I know that they are
celebrating in the gift of eternal love today! Thanks Mom and Dad and enjoy
your day!
I am
hoping all of you will have a blessed day. My prayer of blessing today is that
you may it be rich in many life-giving experiences, in many faith filed people
and touched with the gifts of joy, hope and love. Be well and safe my friends
enjoy your day and know you are in my prayers! And may God bless all of you
today and always. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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