Daily
Thoughts:
Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles offers us a nice reflection for
our journey through Easter and life. The Pharisee Gamaliel seems to be a man of
wisdom as he reflects on the challenge that the Sanhedrin seem to be confronted
with – are the Apostle for real? His solution is one that should be applied
every time we encounter this type of challenge. Only time give us the answer
whether something is of God or not.
It is not
easy to sit and wait. It is not easy to consider that someone or something
might truly be of God especially when it challenges what we believe or how we
are living. Put yourself in the shoes of
the Scribes and Pharisees, in the shoes of the religious leadership of Jesus’
time. They had studied, believe and learned to live by certain rules,
regulations and beliefs and now the Apostles and disciples of Jesus were
challenging the vary way of life they believed in. Change is not easy!
But
Gamaliel says wait and see if it is of God it will last, if it is not it will
fail. This is wise advice for living our life in faith. It is not always easy
or possible to follow but it is wisdom to be considered as we navigate through
the struggles and challenges of life.
In our
Gospel today we hear the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. Jesus takes the five
barley loaves and two fish and provides as much bread and fish as people need
to nourish themselves. This reading reminds me of the wonderful gifts that God
gives us as we journey through life. Perhaps the lesson to learn from our
Gospel today is that we should never under estimate the value of the gifts that
God provides to us. No matter how simple or insignificant we think they might
be anything is possible with God. Are we willing to let go and let God work
through what we have?
As we journey
through this Easter season, let us reflect on the people and experience we
encounter and not judge too quickly. Let’s give them time because we never know
when someone or something might just be about God. And let’s not sell short the gifts that we have
because if we are willing to place them in Jesus’ hands great things can happen
and many can be fed!
Have a
blessed and holy Friday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Compassionate God; take away from our hearts all suspiciousness, indignation,
anger and contention and whatever is determined to hurt kindness and lesson
love. O God, have mercy, on all who seek your mercy. Give grace to all in need
of your grace today. Help us to live this day in your love so that we may be
found worthy to enjoy the fulfillment of your grace and attain your gift of
eternal life. Amen. (Adapted from a
prayer by Thomas À Kempis)
A
Runner’s Thoughts: “Fear of trying causes paralysis. Trying causes only
trembling and sweating.” (Mason Cooley)
and “Let him [or her] that would move the world first move himself [or
herself}.” (Socrates)
Daily
Blessing:
Friday greetings and blessings to all! I hope this finds you enjoying your
Friday or at least making your way through it in a life giving way. I am in the
midst of getting things done so that I can head back out on the road tomorrow
as I will head to Mount Holly, NJ and Sacred Heart Parish where I will
celebrate a mission beginning tomorrow. I would ask your prayers for the faith
community at Sacred Heart and for their preacher.
If you remember
I asked you to pray for a man named Mike and his family yesterday. Well, I
received news last night that Mike passed away. So once again please pray that
Mike now rests in God’s eternal hand and please hold his wife and four children
in your prayers these next days that they might find the mercy, peace and love
of God as they grieve the loss of a husband and father.
I pray
for all of you today that you will once again be touch by the joy of this
Easter Season. May you be gifted today with many life giving experiences, with
many encounters of God through the people you meet, with safe travels if you
are traveling and with much joy and peace as you journey through this day!
God's blessings to all today! Peace in Christ's Passion and Joy in the Risen Lord...Fr.
Paul
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