Daily
Thoughts:
It must have been difficult being one of the 12 apostles. Today Gospel reminds
us of two realities in the life of Jesus’ friends. First that to be a friend of
Jesus you had to make a leap of faith over and over again and second how Jesus
is almost always patient with them. I say almost because at times you can hear little
frustration in Jesus’ voice in dealing with his friends.
Imagine
how new this all was to his disciples, his friends, even after the years of
teaching and following. Jesus says there’s a place for you; you know the way.
And yet Thomas says: “We don’t know where you are going; how can we know the
way?”
Jesus is
the way. This is the message his friends hear over and over again. It’s a
message we are to hear and live by. We, like Jesus’ disciples, are challenged to
make a leap of faith over and over again as we live our lives. We, know the
way, but we sometimes struggle to follow it. We make easy choices and we let
ourselves be led astray. But like Jesus’ disciples, we learn the way. We just
have to go in the right direction. When we make a mistake and make the wrong
turn, we are graced with God’s patience and we hear the words that open our
Gospel today, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have
faith in me.”
Have a
great Friday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Gracious God, who made the covenant promise with our ancestors, we begin this
day a rebellious people. We want to act out your intentions for us, but we keep
getting mixed up by all the glitter of the world around us. You tell us to
honor creation, and we use other people, animals and plant life only to meet
our wants. You offer daily bread to every living creature, and we steal that
bread from our sisters and brothers in the name of greed. You promise us new
life, and we shrink back from it is fear. Heal us, God, lest we destroy
ourselves. We need your presence among us. Amen. (Adapted from the United Nations Environmental Sabbath Prayer)
A Runner’s
Thoughts: “The
greatest danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling
short, but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” (Michelangelo)
Daily Blessing: Friday greetings and
blessings this morning. I hope your day is starting off well. It is another
sunny and mild day here in Pelham. The flowers our out and the trees are blossoming.
It is a day to celebrate God’s wonderful gift of creation!
Today
will not be a busy day just another day of preparation before I hit the road
for a few weeks. I will pause in the midst of my morning to celebrate Mass with
the fine people at the Wartburg and I will get my run in today. As for the rest
of the day it will be filled with packing and organizing so that I will be
ready to begin my journey to Wisconsin tomorrow morning.
My prayer
of blessing is that God will bless you this day with the Spirit of knowing the
way and throughout your work, your travels and your interaction with others that
your hearts will not be troubled because you have faith in God and in Jesus always.
May God’s blessings be upon your Friday, and upon your weekend. May you have a productive,
peaceful, and Spirit filled day. Peace in Christ’s Passion and Joy in the Risen
Lord…Fr. Paul
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