Daily
Thoughts:
There seems to be much more tension between Jesus and the people in John's
Gospel today (John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30). Certainly in these waning days of Lent as
we read John's Gospel we are made aware of the struggle most likely between
Jesus and the religious leadership.
The
leadership seems to be drawing upon tradition and Jesus seems to focuses on the
moment, the work that needs to be done. The leadership seems to be living out
the words that we hear in the reading from the Book Wisdom (Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22)
today about the wicked ones. They don't like what Jesus is saying. His words
are challenging and demanding in a way that is difficult for people who have
settled into a routine of life. Who have found a comfort zone that they do not
want disturbed.
Are not
we all like these religious leaders at times. We find a comfort zone, a routine
to life and then we become angry when someone or something comes along and
disturbs us, challenges us. It is particularly difficult when we somehow know
that the person, the challenge, is righteous but we just do not want to change.
We want to stay in our comfort zone and so we begin to find things wrong with
the person, the place or the situation. If we can convince ourselves that we
are right and they are wrong, then all will be well.
The
religious leaders try to do that today in the Gospel, the wicked ones try to do
that in the Book of Wisdom and certainly from time to time we try to do it in
our own lives. We cannot change the religious leaders of Jesus' time; we cannot
change the wicked ones from the Book of Wisdom. These examples are history and
told to us today so that we might not repeat their actions. Yes, our challenge
is always to recognize God in our midst even if it means letting go of our
comfort zone, even if it means changing our perspective, even if it means
finding the truth in another.
We pray
today Lord Jesus, be close to us because we do not live on bread alone but on
every word that comes from your mouth! We live on the gift of your presence and
the hope that it brings to life.
Have a great
Friday everyone!
Daily
Payer:
St. Augustine tells us that understanding is the reward given by faith so we
should not try to understand in order to believe, but we should believe in
order to understand. So we pray to you our loving God for the grace that will
help us to always believe. Enliven us when we are weak with the strength to
believe in your healing way and so that we may always live a holy way of life.
Grant us the wisdom to recognize your presence in our lives that comes from
within us and others. Be always near to us that when necessary we may take
comfort in your love! Amen!
A
Runner's Thoughts: Remember the little miracles of God that we encounter
during a run are not because we finish but are because we find the courage to
begin!
Daily
Blessing:
Friday greetings and blessings to all. In a few moments I will be heading into
Manhattan as today is the March taping day for the Sunday Mass. We will be
taping all day. So I have to be a bit brief with my daily blessing if I want to
get it out to you. I hope your Friday is starting off well. It is supposed to
be a sunny day today after a little early morning rain with temperatures not
quite as warm as yesterday but still a rather nice day for March. Hopefully the
weather and the journey with this day will be good for you too!
I am
headed out again tomorrow for a mission at St. Joseph’s Parish in Garden City,
New York. I will be preaching all the
masses Saturday and Sunday and then the mission will be Monday through
Wednesday in the morning and in the evening.
I hope
everyone has had a good week. If not, I hope you will have an easy Friday that
will lead you into a relaxing and restful weekend. We are entering the 13 days
of Lent which will bring us to the wonderful days of the Triduum and Easter. I
will truly be praying for all of you during these days in a special way.
My prayer
of blessing today is a simple one that all of us have a graced filled Friday,
one that leads us into a weekend of rest and peace. May we all be blessed with
richness of what matters to God and touched with the presence of God in all we
do today and in whomever we meet! Have a peaceful Friday. Peace in Christ's
Passion...Fr. Paul
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