Yet
throughout his life and ministry Jesus only spoke the truth and every time we
walk into a church or a Catholic home and see a crucifix on the wall we are
reminded of where the truth got Jesus. We are reminded of the price he paid for
coming into this world to speak the truth. We are reminded just how much God
loves us.
Perhaps a
different way of thinking about Jesus’ words in the Gospel today is that the
truth has set us free. If only we would embrace it. If only we would follow the
example of the three young men in Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace (Daniel 3:14-20,
91-92, 95). If only we would realize the freedom that living by the truth means
for our lives, the gift that it can be to ourselves and the world and the hope
that it brings to life.
May we
have the courage to speak and live the truth like the three young men and may
the truth truly set us free to be the people God has created us to be!
Have a great
Wednesday.
Daily Prayer: O God of compassion,
touch our hearts this day with the spirit of your truth. Grace us with strength
so that we might stand in the midst of the fire of life with a faith based in
your Word, a hope enlivened by your truth and freedom grounded in your love.
Amen!
A
Runner’s Thoughts: “There is only one way to succeed in anything, and that is
to give it everything.” (Vince Lombardi) Thus when we run in a spiritual way,
we are brought into the process of God-ing. Meaning as we run we are not moving
toward God but interacting with God along the way. Our run becomes a direct
physical, emotional and spiritual way of becoming who we are, our authentic
selves. In the process we open up vast and unlimited opportunities to connect
with God in new, life giving ways!
Daily
Blessing:
Wednesday greetings and blessings to all. I hope as you read this that your
Wednesday is or has started off well. With darkness still the order of the morning
I am unsure what this day will bring weather wise but the experts say it will partly
cloudy with rain in the evening and mild temperatures throughout the day. Hopefully
the weather by you will help to make your day better.
I would
like to send a shout out to the people in the Washington, DC area who might be
starting a nightmare of a commuting day as their transportation system has been
shut down for 24 hours or so. I am thinking specifically of my niece and
nephew-in-law who commute each day from Fairfax to Washington. Hang in there
and know your journey is in my prayers.
We will
be finishing up the mission here at St. Joseph’s today both in the morning and
evening. It has been a good mission and a faith filled mission. As we bring the
mission to a close please keep the faith community here at St. Joseph’s in your
prayers and if you have a little extra time please add a prayer for their
preacher.
I hope
and pray your day will not be too busy and that you get a little chance to just
enjoy the gift of this day in some unique and life giving way.
My prayer
of blessing as I await the rising of the sun this morning is that we may all
encounter many good people today and have may good experiences that will be
rich in the presence of God. I pray that God will bless us all with the grace
to see, feel and experience the goodness and joy of life in what we do today,
in who we meet and perhaps most importantly in ourselves as we live this day.
May our day be rich in God’s blessings! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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