Daily Thoughts - 04/23/2016

Daily Thoughts: “If you know me, then you also know my Father.”  These are familiar words of Jesus spoken to Thomas and Philip and found in today Gospel (John 14: 7-14). They are words that remind us that our Christian faith is a very profound experience; only those who have faith come to know that God, the creator of the universe, chose to enter our life, to be part of human history and in doing so reveal a profound love to all creation.

Jesus seems to be responding to the age old question, is there a God, and if so what is this God like? Jesus’ answer is look at me, know me, because if you see and know me then you see and know my Father. As we find earlier in John’ Gospel, “God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might bot perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16) So if we take a good look at Jesus, if we get to know Jesus then we will know God, we will know the Father, the God who so loves the world!

In coming to know God it always comes down to a relationship, a relationship with Jesus, a relationship with the Father, a relationship with the Spirit. Relationships take work, relationship can be difficult and demanding, relationship demand time and investment. Yet in the end a relationship is the only way we can come to know the love, mercy, joy and faithfulness of God!

Have a great Saturday everyone!

Daily Prayer: God of all blessings, source of all life, giver of all good gifts, we thank you for the gift of life - for the breath that sustains us, for the food that nurtures us and for the love of family and friends without which there would be no life.

We thank you for the mystery of creation - for the beauty that the eye can see, for the joy that the ear may hear, for the unknown that we cannot behold because it fills the universe with wonder, for the expanse of space that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves.

We thank you for setting us in communities - for families who nurture our becoming, for friends who love us by choice, for companions at work, who share our burdens and daily tasks, for strangers who welcome us into their midst, for people from other lands who call us to grow in understanding, for children who lighten our moments with delight, for the unborn, who offer us hope for the future.

We thank you for this day - for life, for one more day to love, for the opportunity to work one more day for justice and peace, for neighbors, for one more person to love and by whom be loved, for your grace and one more experience of your presence, for your promise to be with us, to be our God, and to give salvation.

For these and all blessings, we give you thanks, loving God. Amen. (Adapted from Prayer of Thanksgiving on beliefnet.com)

A Runner’s Thoughts: Running can clear cobwebs from our minds and focus our thinking. Running can give us time and space to sort out the things that are bothering us, or challenging us. At time running allows us to detach and think of nothing at all. But perhaps most importantly running offers us an opportunity to connect with God through our senses. Running gifts, us with an opportunity to taste, touch, smell, hear and see God in our life!

Daily Blessing: Saturday greeting and blessings to all! I hope you will get to enjoy a beautiful, sun filled and warm Saturday. In an hour or so I will be on the road beginning my long journey to Manitowoc, WI. I am hoping for an uneventful trip with clear skies and no weather problems. I hate to leave the east as the last few days have been just beautiful. I think I am headed for colder temperatures but I am sure I will catch a little spring in northern Wisconsin.

As you enter your day I pray that your life and your day will be blessed with the Spirit of God’s presence in the people you meet, the places you go and in the things you do. May you come to know God today through the living of life and may your living of life today be filled with joy. Peace in Christ’s Passion and Joy in the Risen Lord…Fr. Paul

daily Thoughts - 04/22/2016

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

Daily Thoughts - 04/21/2016

Daily Thoughts: “Characters welcome,” use to be the calling card of the USA network. But as I reflect on the stories of the early Church as they come to us through the Acts of the Apostles I am reminded that our Church, our community of faith is made up of characters, faith characters. Some very familiar to us like Peter and Paul others not so familiar just names or people who appear for a moment yet they played a role in the development of the early Church.

What is it that makes a “character of faith?” Well, I think our answer is in today’s Gospel. Jesus has just washed the feet of the disciples and he reminds them that “no slave is greater than his master and no messenger is greater than the one who sent him.” Thus, a “character of faith” is someone who follows the words and actions of Jesus. A “character of faith” has faith in God and faith in Jesus. A “character of faith” follows Jesus and believes that in following Jesus they will make their way to the gift of eternal life.

One thing is for sure because we are “characters of faith” we will not live life the same way and every once in a while we will need to stop and listen for the voice of God in our life. We will need to receive those whom God sends into our life. But as a faith character we take comfort and have hope that Jesus will always take the time to point us in the right direction.

The sad thing is that like in the early Church, like during the time of Jesus, characters are not always welcome. We have all been gifted by being created in the image and likeness of God. Each of us are different, each of us are unique and special. And as we will learn a little later in John’s Gospel Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. There are many dwelling place in the eternal home thus there is room for every character!

Have a blessed Thursday everyone!

Daily Prayer: O God, author of life and freedom, hear us as we call upon you to help guide us through life today. Help us to trust in your loving presence so that we will be true to the “character” that you have created us to be. May we never be afraid to ask for your help especially when we are not sure which way to go. Give us the strength to not be troubled by the anger and negativity of the world, but to have faith and hope in you. Grace us with the energy to live life with truth and authenticity.  Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: Oprah Winfrey once said, “Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.”  So as we run today let us put God into our run.

Daily Blessing: Thursday greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope your day has started off well, with a little sunshine and warmer temperatures! If not, I pray the morning setbacks are only temporary and things will be humming along by the afternoon.

I had a good Confirmation Retreat Day with the students from St. Barnabas Parish. There were 38 students, half the class, I will do another day in May for the other half of the class. The kids were good and responsive though as always there were a few who pushed my patience a little. But I was happy to celebrate the day and offer a little wisdom and knowledge about the Sacrament of Confirmation, and hopefully helping them to see the sacrament a little differently.

Today will be a quiet day in my life. I have the 11 am mass at the Wartburg Home and not much else. I will begin to get my thing together as I leave for two weeks on the road on Saturday. First stop will be Manitowoc, WI and a retreat for the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity and then it will be on to Seton Hill, PA and a retreat for the Sisters of Charity. So I need to get my act together so to speak and begin the process of packing so I don’t leave home without the things that I need!

My prayer of blessing today is that all of you will have a great Thursday filled with many blessings and graced with many moments that will put a smile on your face. Please know that you are in my prayers today and always. Peace in Christ’s Passion and Joy in the Risen Lord…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 04/20/2016

Daily Thoughts: Once again we are privy to the life of the early Church. In today’s first reading Barnabas and Saul set apart from the others and the Holy Spirit comes upon them, sending them on their ministry to the Gentles. We meet Mark and other characters in the story of the early Church. We begin to see how the faith communities identified people alive in God’s Spirit and called them forth to proclaim the Good News.

We might say that this little section from the Acts of the Apostles is a practical example of what Jesus speaks about in John’s Gospel today. Jesus continues to remind us of how important his relationship is with the Father. He reminds us that we need to listen for the words of God as they come from Jesus and as they come from those who the Spirit sends. The Good News comes from God, it is alive with God’s Spirit, and it is the light that will guide us on our journey of faith.

The challenge is always our willingness to hear and see the gift of God in our life. The challenge is to be open each day to the many ways in which God becomes present to us. The challenge is to take the Word we hear and the Light we see and make it known to the world. The challenge is to be the voice and light of God in our world today!

Have a blessed Wednesday everyone!

Daily Prayer: O God, strength of the faithful, grace us once again with your light today. Help us to see your presence around us and within us. Gift us with your Word, a Word that we not only hear but also proclaim. May we become your light of hope to a world darkened by terror, tragedy, violence, anger, evil and fear. May we be directed by your light of life today and in the living of life always praise you! Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: “As I get older I see that running has changed for me. What used to be about burning calories is now more about burning up what is false.” (Kristin Armstrong)

Daily Blessings: Wednesday greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope your week has been a good one so far. If not, I pray that there will be a little warm sun and goodness in your day today.

Today is the Hump Day and in a few hours I am off to celebrate a Confirmation Retreat Day for those preparing for Confirmation at St. Barnabas Parish in the Bronx. The retreat will be at St. Joseph Seminary. I am not sure how many young people I will have today but I would ask you to keep the young people making the day in your prayers and if you have the chance please say a prayer for their preacher too!

Please know of my prayers for you today. I pray that God will bless you with the gift of life in all that you do today. I pray that you will bring God’s presence to all you meet. I pray that you will encounter the gift of God’s mercy and love as you journey through this day. Be well and safe in your journey through life today! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Joy in the Risen Lord…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 04/19/2016

Daily Thoughts: It is always interesting to me to hear the stories of the early Church as they are presented in the Acts of the Apostles. We hear about the struggling and the joyous moments of the early Church. We meet the people who made up the early Church and helped it to move forward. We hear about the wonderful faith filled moments and the dark moments of persecution and challenge.

Each time I hear the stories of the early Church I am reminded that as much as things change they also remain the same. The characters are different, the events are different but the struggles and joys are the same. Today we face many if not all of the same challenges of the early Church. We have communities of great faith; we have preachers on fire with the Good News. We have challenges inside and outside the Church and at times we have persecutions.

Our faith is constantly in question, challenged, and often under attack. We are faced with change, differences within and a changing, struggling world around us. Like the early Church we are a community of believers listening for the voice of the Good Shepherd. Sometimes we hear it and sometimes the noise of the world around us tries to out shout it.

Our challenge is to hear the Good Shepherd’s voice, to recognize it in the midst of all the other voices and to have faith, to trust and to believe that the Good Shepherd will always be with us and will never leave us to face our perils alone!

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Good Shepherd, speak to us words that will comfort and strengthen us today. Grace us with your loving and hope filled presence. Help us to always hear and recognize your voice among the many voices of the world. Guide us to the right path of life. Enliven us with your Spirit to be people who always bring joy and hope to the world around us. Love us with your everlasting love. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: Remember when running as a pilgrim, as a friend God, we do not just log miles, witnessing the run as it happens. Our run becomes an act of devotion, a spiritual renewing. Our pilgrim run is not mere sightseeing or getting from one point to another, it is the development of the capacity to see what is sacred, what is of God and to hear the Good Shepherd!

Daily Blessing: Tuesday greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope your day has started off well. There seems to be some clouds in the shy as morning begins here in Pelham but I think at some point the sun will be out and we will encounter another beautiful day. I hope that same is true where you are!

As I journey on through this Tuesday my prayer is that God will bless all of you is some special way today. I pray that God will bless your endeavors and your encounters with others. I pray that God will bless you with safe travel if you are out and about. I pray that if you are struggling you will feel God’s presence in the midst of the struggles and know that you are not alone. Most of all as you journey through this day I pray that you may encounter God’s love especially when you don’t think it is there! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Hope in the Risen Lord…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 04/18/2016

Daily Thoughts: These words of Pope Francis seem to capture the spirit of today's Gospel, (John 10: 1-10). "Every Christian, and especially you and I, is called to be a bearer of this message of hope that gives serenity and joy: God's consolation, his tenderness toward all. But if we first experience the joy of being consoled by him, of being loved by him, then we can bring that joy to others. This is important if our mission is to be fruitful: to feel God's consolation and to pass it on to others!"

Jesus offers us a relationship with himself and the Father. Jesus offers us the consolation and tenderness of the Good Shepherd. Jesus brings God’s joy to us. All we have to do is accept it and offer it to others!

Have a great Monday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, you have brought us the gift of abundant life. Give us eyes that can look beyond the glamor and trivia of the world to the richness of your loving presence as it comes to us in others, creation and ourselves. Grace us with hope so that we will not give into despair, anger, vengeance, hate and fear but through hope we will find the joy, grace and life you came to give us. May we come to know the full measure of life that you have promised and bring it to others! Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: Run with a strong heart today. If you run in the midst of the ordinary, you will often find yourself touched by the extraordinary presence of God. Run strong into the heart of God today!

Daily Blessing: Monday greetings and blessings to all. I should also say Happy Tax Day (If Tax Day can be happy!) and Happy Patriots Day to all! Especially all the runner’s currently getting ready to run the Boston Marathon in just about an hour. My prayers are with all the runners, may their run be a good run and may it be safe run! And to all of you non-runners out there I hope your Monday, your week, has started off on the right foot. If not, I pray your fortunes will change as the day and the week goes on.

The sun is out here in Pelham and it looks like it is going to be a beautiful day which is a very nice way to start the week. I hope it is and will be the same for you.

My prayer of blessing this morning is that God will bless your day with a strong faith, the hope of a new day and week and the love of many people in your life. Many you be blessed with God’s presence in your travels, your work and your encounters with others. May you be graced with much love from the people who mean the most in your life! Blessings upon everyone have a great Monday and a great week. You can be assured of my prayers as you journey through this week. May God bless you with the gift of bringing God’s joy to the world today! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Joy in the Risen Christ…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 04/17/2016

Daily Thoughts: One message from our readings today is that we are to be hope filled people. Yes, we are to be people live with the Spirit of God in the midst of a world that is often the voice of hate and anger, a world that is filled with struggles, challenges and encounters with evil.

In our first reading, Paul and Barnabas face a challenge in Antioch. Some of the people in the community do not like Paul and Barnabas’ message. They do not want these outsiders; they do not want their life changed. So they stir up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas. But the Spirit of God is alive in Paul and Barnabas, the Good News will be proclaimed. Those who read and hear the stories of the Acts of the Apostles are reminded that the Spirit of God will not be held back, it is a Spirit for all!

John in the Book of Revelation reminds the churches he is writing to, to stay strong, to remain hopeful. Even though they are struggling and evil is around them God is with them. They are journeying through this life to something greater, to a place of plenty and peace, but they must remain strong. They need to trust always in God even in the midst of struggles, challenges and evil.

These two readings are words we need to hear today. The anger, struggles and evil that we at time encounter in our world bond us to Paul, Barnabas and the early Church. The anger and hateful rhetoric that we seem to encounter in our world challenge us to be strong and remain hopeful. The anger, violence and evil of our world can often make wonder and ask why? But in the spirit of Paul, Barnabas and John we are called to remain faith filled because we are on a journey to something better.

Perhaps in a similar way the challenges of our world today call us to listen in a special way for the voice of the Good Shepherd. Sometimes the noise of our world gets very loud but the Good Shepherds voice is always calling us. Sometimes the leadership of our world, our country, our church, our culture and society is all about power, authority, money, influence and self-interest. Jesus in John’s Gospel today reminds us that true leadership is about service and being a Good Shepherd. Jesus’ image of leadership is about mercy, compassion, forgiveness, understanding, care, support and selflessness!

The readings today call us to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd. A Good Shepherd who is always there especially in the midst of struggle, challenge, fear and evil. A Good Shepherd with a Spirit that cannot be denied. Let us listen, live and be God’s faith filled people of hope!

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Daily Prayer: O God, help us to throw ourselves into your loving arms because we know that you are always with us and will never leave us to face life alone. Enable us to trust in your presence even in the midst of struggle, difficulty, sadness, challenge and evil. Grace us with a spirit that is always hope filled. Help us to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd in the midst of all the noise in our lives. Strengthen us with the fire of your love so that like you and your Son Jesus we may be one in faith, hope and love. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: “I’ve learned that finishing a marathon isn’t just an athletic achievement. It’s a state of mind; a state of mind that says anything is possible.” (John Hanc)

Daily Blessing: Sunday greetings and blessings to all. I hope your Sunday has started off well. Please remember as you journey through your day to give God a little time today!

In a few hours I will be headed out to St. John and St. Mary’s Parish in Chappaqua, New York for the 10 am mass today. Then it will be back home for a little R&R after a busy week. I had a nice day of recollection with the Passionist Associates yesterday and I look forward to the new challenges ahead this week.

I want to thank everyone for your kind words and support yesterday as you responded to the news of my new ministry. It is going to be a challenging time in my life for sure but I am excited and looking forward to the challenge.

My prayer on this Sunday morning is that your day will be blessed with the voice of the Good Shepherd and that you will all be blessed with the joyfulness of God’s presence that will help you with any burdens or struggles in your life at this time. May you encounter God in the breaking of the bread, the sharing of the cup, the gathering of family and friends and within the gift of your own life today! Have a blessed and holy Sunday everyone! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Joy in the Risen Lord…Fr. Paul