Daily
Thoughts:
In this Holy Year of Mercy Pope Francis invites us to renew our relationship
with Jesus when he says,
“I invite
all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal
encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter
them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think
that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since “no one is excluded
from the joy brought by the Lord”. The Lord does not disappoint those who take
this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is
already there, waiting for us with open arms. Now is the time to say to Jesus:
“Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your
love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save
me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace”. How good
it feels to come back to him whenever we are lost! Let me say this once more:
God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.
Christ, who told us to forgive one another “seventy times seven” (Mt 18:22) has
given us his example: he has forgiven us seventy times seven. Time and time
again he bears us on his shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed
upon us by this boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness which never
disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, he makes it possible
for us to lift up our heads and to start anew. Let us not flee from the
resurrection of Jesus, let us never give up, come what will. May nothing
inspire more than his life, which impels us onwards!”
It is my
feeling that Pope Francis’ invitation focus us on the gift of this Holy Week.
It is an invitation to once again enter a personal relationship with our God
who loved us so much that he gave us his only son. As we journey through Holy
Week we relive the crowning moment of Jesus’ journey, his journey of love.
Today Jesus enters Jerusalem to take his last steps, steps that sum up his
whole existence. He gave himself without reserve he kept nothing for himself,
not even his life. May we take Pope Francis’ invitation to heart and live the mercy
and joy of the Gospel proclaimed today!
As we
begin this most holy of weeks, we are reminded of Jesus’ triumphant entrance
into Jerusalem. This wonderful, “Hosanna” filled day is the starting point for
the central story of all the Gospels, Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection.
Today, we reconnect ourselves to all those first gatherings of the Church as we
listen to Luke's accounts of Palm Sunday and the Passion of our Lord. We
remember the triumphant ride over the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem and the
lonely walk to Calvary. We once again tell the story of triumphant, glory,
hosanna, struggle, pain, sorrow, blessing, truth, giftedness, prayer and most
importantly love. Like the early Church and all the centuries of Church that
have gone before us, we are asked to remember, to believe, to have faith and to
hope in the love and mercy of God as lived out by our Lord Jesus Christ. As we
journey through this Holy Week, “May the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ Truly
Be Always in Our Hearts!”
Have a
holy and blessed Palm Sunday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
At the name of Jesus every knee must bend, in heaven, on earth and under the earth
and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father, that Jesus Christ is
Lord!
A
Runner’s Thoughts: “...the real purpose of running isn’t to win a race. It’s
to test the limits of the human heart.” (Without
Limits)
Daily
Blessing:
Palm Sunday greetings and blessings to everyone and Happy First Day of Spring! I hope you will be taking a
little time to celebrate this holy day and that you will give a little time to
God.
I will
keep you in my prayers this coming week. I will be at Our Lady of Perpetual
help in Pelham Manor for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. I will
preach the three Triduum Liturgies. I truly look forward to this week each
year. It is a wonderful week of faith and a time to just pause and be renewed
by the wonderful liturgies of the Church. Please know that as I take time for
prayer and reflection each day you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Please
take a little time for yourself this week it will be well worth the investment!
My prayer
today is that you may truly be blessed with a “Hosanna” filled day touched by
the mercy, joy and love of God. I pray in a special way for God’s blessings
upon all of you as you journey through Palm Sunday and this most holy of weeks.
May you truly be touch by the unfailing mercy and love of God and may the
Passion of Jesus Christ be always in your hearts! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr.
Paul
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