Daily
Thoughts:
The Gospel offers us a story about a widow who is accompanying the funeral
procession of her only son. The fact that she is a widow and only has one son
who is now dead are the two important elements of the story. For women of
Jesus’ time, having a husband and having a son were signs of God’s blessing. As
the story opens, Jesus is moved with mercy, by what he encounters and
approaches the funeral procession. He speaks to the dead man, “Young man, I
tell you, arise.” Just like Elijah in our first reading, rises the widow’s son,
Jesus gives this struggling mother back her son. As the son comes back to life
he begins to speak and all who hear him and see what Jesus has done, responded
with great proclamations of faith that God had visited his people.
We might
say that at this point the Jewish internet begins posting or sending reports of
this Jesus who is now living out exactly what he announced he would be doing
when he stood up on the Sabbath and unrolled the scroll of Isaiah back in his
hometown of Nazareth. He is offering God’s mercy to those most in need. He is
offering God’s mercy to those who most often go without. Jesus has begun his
journey to fulfil all the predictions of the coming Christ. We will spend the
remainder of these Ordinary Time days watching, listening to Jesus at his very
best.
Here’s a
thought for the journey. In my personal prayer I have been thinking about this
man who Jesus raised from death. The story says that he began speaking and we
know that the fame of Jesus was spreading throughout region. Like a lot of the
people in the Gospel stories, I began to wonder what happen to this man during
the rest of his life? Did he become someone special, a celebrity perhaps? Did
he talk about his near death experience? Did life become all about? Was he
known more for his healing than the living of his life? Or was the rest of his
life focused on a relationship with God, with Jesus that touched everything
that he did?
We often
hear it said that we first must start with a personal in our relationship with
Jesus. Yet, it cannot be all about just “me and Jesus.” There can often be a
subtle kind of selfishness in our spirituality when it is just “me and Jesus.”
This happens when our prayer becomes all about ourselves, all about me. We want
to be better, more virtuous, trusting and such. Yet, sometimes we can become
celebrities in our own prayerful way. It is attractive of course, nobody is
more interesting to us than ourselves.
Perhaps
in avoiding the trap of “me and Jesus” we need to remember that our prayer, our
friendship with Jesus is completed and perfected only by how we give of
ourselves by returning to the community. The more we give of ourselves, the
more we share our friendship with God in relationship with others.
Being a
friend of God can become a chancy endeavor. Have a great Sunday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
God of life, there are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and
wear ys down; when the road seems dreary and endless, the skies gray and
threatening; when our lives have no music in them and our hearts are lonely,
and our souls have lost their courage. Flood the path with light, we ask you;
turn our eyes to where the skies are full of promise. Amen (Prayer by St.
Augustine of Hippo)
A Runner’s
Thoughts:
“The advice I have for beginners is the same philosophy that I have for runners
of all levels of experience and ability—consistency, a sane approach,
moderation, and making your running an enjoyable, rather than dreaded, part of
your life.” (Bill Rodgers)
Daily
Blessing:
Sunday greetings and blessings to all. In an hour and a half I will begin a
long day of preaching here at St. Ephrem’s Parish in Brooklyn, NY. Things got
off to a good start last night as I preacher the 5 pm Saturday evening mass and
my invitation to the Parish Mission will continue today with four masses beginning
at 8 am and ending with the 5 pm mass this evening. St. Ephrem’s is a very nice
parish in the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn not far from the Verrazano
Bridge. If you live in the area come join us Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for
the mission either in the morning after the 8:45 am mass or in the evening at
7:30 pm.
It looks
to be a cloudy day here in Brooklyn with I believe a chance of rain throughout
the day. I guess we could use the rain. I am just hoping I can get out for a
run later today or at least a walk. I hope the weather by you today will enable
you to enjoy the gift of God’s creation in some way.
My Sunday
prayer of blessing is that you will be blessed with the spirit of faith to help
you on this journey of life. May you be blessed with the spirit of hope to get
you through the rough times. May you be blessed with a spirit of mercy to help to
see God in others and yourself. May you be blessed with the spirit of love to
remind you in whose image and likeness you are created in, how special you are
and that you are never alone. As you journey through this day may you know that
God is with you always and will never leave you to face your struggles alone! Don’t
forget to give God a little time today and have a great Sunday everyone! Peace
in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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