Daily
Thoughts:
Today we celebrate the second half of the Church’s focus on the heart.
Yesterday we celebrated the Sacred Heart of Jesus and today it is Mary’s
Immaculate Heart that we honor. There are many things we can say about Mary’s
heart but the virtue that stands out most to me about Mary is strength. I think
Mary’s heart was truly a heart of strength.
In the
Gospel today Luke tells us that Mary kept all the experience of Jesus in her
heart. She kept the joys and sorrows, the miracles and the opposition, the
quiet moments and the great crowds, the mother and father moments of family and
the community moments of discipleship. Mary kept the triumphant moments of
shepherds, angels, kings and palms and failing moments of whips, nails, wooden
crosses and death on a hill. Yes, Mary kept all things in her heart so she
needed a very strong heart to hold all the experiences of life that she
encountered from early on. Mary was truly a woman, a mother of great strength,
a strength that came from and was nourished, feed and supposed by her heart.
The heart
is central to who we are as a human being. Whether we are speaking about our
physical, emotion or spiritual life the heart plays a central role in how we
live our life. Mary’s heart was a heart of strength carrying the grace of God’s
presence in her life. Her strength enabled her to say “yes” to God and then
watch as that “yes” unfolded in the life, passion, death and resurrection of
her son, Jesus.
Mary,
woman of strength, hold us in your heart that we too may be strong in living
our journey of life!
Have a
great Saturday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
All
Loving God, as we honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary this day, we ask that by
the help of her prayers we might strengthen our own hearts and come to share
your blessings this day and always.
O holy
Mary, mother of all mercy, you are our life, our love and our hope. This day we
call out to you, in all our humanness, in all our failings. To you we send our
prayers, our thoughts, our tears, our joys. Turn your eyes, O most loving
Mother toward us that we might always hold the presence of your Loving Son in
our lives.
O
Compassionate, O Loving, O Tender Mother Mary. Direct our prayers always though
Christ, your Son, our Savior. Amen! (Adapted from the Prayer - Hail Holy Queen)
A
Runner’s Thoughts: One way to look at running is as a tool, a device or
practice that aids the user in our quest to pray. If we are intent about moving
along the spiritual path, then it only makes sense to use those aspects of our
live that already fill our days. So spend some time in prayer today go for a
run! (Adapted from Roger Joslin)
Daily
Blessing:
Saturday greetings and blessings to all on this Feast of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary! I hope everyone’s Saturday is starting off well and that you will have
a productive day or a restful day or maybe even both!
We
finished the first phase of the move of The Sunday Mass from Manhattan to
Jamaica Queens yesterday. All of the lighting and electric elements were moved
from St. Francis de Sales into storage at Immaculate Conception Church. Another
day will need to be dedicated to moving all of our other equipment and things.
Slowly but surely our new home for The Sunday Mass will begin to take shape.
It is a
sunny morning here in Pelham. It looks to be a nice day temperature wise. And
you might say it is a beautiful day to drive to Brooklyn and begin a mission at
St. Ephrem’s Parish. I will head out in midafternoon as I will be preaching all
the masses today and tomorrow. The mission will begin Monday and end on
Wednesday. If you are in or near the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn come and
join us for this late spring mission!
My prayer
of blessing today is that God will bless all of you with a beautiful day, one
in which you will celebrate the gift of life with family, friends and people
who enjoy life. May you be blessed with a day that is fun and filled with
moments and people of joy and hope. May you be blessed with a day of rest and
enjoyment. Please know as always, you are in my prayers and be safe if you are traveling
today. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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