Jesus in
Matthew’s Gospel provides us with a more spiritual message. Disconnect yourself
from the things that the world finds important like material goods and wants,
and become more trusting of God, like the birds of the sky and the flowers of
the fields.
However,
in taking a second look at our readings, we might be able to say that in a
certain way they are related. The leaders
of Judah are involved in conduct that shows that they have lost focus, that
they have taken the easy way. They have misjudged the value of their gift from
God and they have placed immediate gratification over long-term growth. They stopped being focused on their
relationship with God and became more selfish.
Jesus invites
those listening to focus on things that really matter and not those that are
distractions. Jesus challenges those
listening and us to live more simply, less materialistically, and more
spiritually. Jesus encourages us to be
more faith-filled and less troubled by the things we are powerless to change.
In other
words, it is not the temporary and fleeting things in life but the consent
presence of God that can help us come to the source of real power. It is coming
to the realization that we cannot serve two masters. It is making the conscious
choice to put God at the center of our life. It is trusting in the reality that
when we are weak we are strong. It is not worrying about tomorrow but living
today!
Have a
great Saturday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my
entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you,
Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only
your love and your grace. That is enough for me. (A prayer by St. Ignatius
Loyola)
A
Runner’s Thoughts: Running can be a time for finding out who we really are,
it is time on the road, the sidewalk, the trial with no one to measure our
distance but ourselves. Running can be finding out our true character as
we run lap after lap. It can be not giving up when exhausted and journeying to
the finish. Running can help us to trust in ourselves and know somehow that
God’s grace is enough for us.
Daily
Blessing:
Saturday greetings and blessings to all! I hope your Saturday has started off
well? It is a sunny morning here in Chardon, Ohio. I hope the beginning of this
day is a beautiful one foe you?
This the
last full day of retreat with the Sisters of Notre Dame. In a little while we
will have mass and then a morning and afternoon conference. As I have said all
week the retreat seems to be going well and there is a nice spirit here.
Hopefully at some point I will get out for a run. Please continue to keep the
sisters and their preacher in your prayers.
I would like
to send a shout out to my brother, Jim, as he celebrates his birthday today.
His last year in the 50’s – enjoy it bro! Have a great day and do something
nice for yourself you deserve it after struggling with those kidney stones!
Happy Birthday and have a great day!
Well
friends I hope this day will be a good one too. I pray that God will bless your
day. May you be gifted and blessed with smiles, laughter, family, friends, fun
and peace today! And be safe out there if you are traveling! Have a great
day and may you be blessed with God’s joy in whatever you do and wherever you
go. May God’s joy be found in the people you meet today and within you! Peace
in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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