Daily Thoughts - 05/28/2016

Daily Thought: Eugene Peterson in his book Subversive Spirituality writes, “Imagination is the capacity to make connections between the visible and the invisible, between heaven and earth, between present and past, between present and future. For Christians, whose largest investment is in the invisible, the imagination is indispensable, for it is only by means of the imagination that we can see reality whole, in context.”

After reading today’s Gospel (Mark 11:27-33), a question might be, do the chief priests, scribes and the elders, the religious leadership of Jesus’ time, lack imagination? It seems each time we meet them they just don’t seem to be able to make a connection between visible the invisible, between heaven and earth, between the present and the past, between the present and the future.

Perhaps an even more important question is – do we lack imagination in living out our faith? Have a great Saturday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Grant us, O Lord, the gift of modesty. When we speak, teach us to give our opinion quietly and sincerely. Help us in success to realize what we owe to you and to the efforts of others, in failure to avoid dejection, and in all ways to be simple and natural, quiet in manner and lowly in thought, through Christ our Lord. Amen (Prayer by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.” (Orison Swett Marden)

Daily Blessing: Saturday greetings and blessings everyone! I hope your Saturday has begun well and that you are enjoying the beauty of God's creation wherever you are on this Memorial Day weekend. It is a beautiful sunny day here in Pelham and by all accounts it will be a hot one. I know there are some part of the country dealing with difficult weather, storms, floods and drought. I pray that the beauty of God’s creation will soon touch your days too!

I continue my prayers for expectant mothers, especially my niece Sarah. I know that waiting is difficult especially when you are waiting for new life. May you find peace in your time of waiting and when the time come may you give birth to the beauty and mystery of God. I am also praying for expectant father and grandmothers waiting to help!

My prayer of blessing is that this will be a day blessed in God's presence, grace and love. That it will be a day bless with wonderful experiences, safe travel, if you are traveling, and the rest and relaxation that will help you to enjoy the gift of your life! Remember to be safe as you celebrate this weekend especially if you are on the road traveling and please don’t forget to give God a little time this weekend. It is Memorial Day weekend a time when we remember all who have served our country and give their lives in that service so make your remembrances to God in the form of a prayer. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 05/27/2016

Daily Thoughts: Today’s Gospel begins with Jesus entering the Temple area but it was late, so Jesus went to Bethany for the night only to return today to drive out the buyers and sellers in the Temple area.   Before Jesus took it upon himself to clear the Temple of business he first paused to look around.  What did he see?  Did he see beauty, as well as distortion?     

Often we act before thinking; we jump in with both feet before we really know what we are landing on. We act as though we know what the real circumstances are. Our actions at time are based on our memory or worse yet, based on how we might prefer to perceive reality.  Pausing and looking again can be difficult.  It might cause us to change our understanding.  Pausing might even cause us to ask for help even from God so that we can see things correctly!

In the Gospel today Jesus asks us to pause but also to persevere in prayer and forgiveness. In fact, it is our willingness to forgive that helps our prayers find their way to God. Jesus pauses today in the Gospel to put into perspective just what the Temple was all about. As Jesus says, “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all people!”

Have a blessed Friday everyone!

Daily Prayer: O God, give us insight into our friendships. Help us to see your gift of love, your presence in them. Help us to be faithful friends to others, loyal, generous and kind. Grant us the gift through our friendships to love and be loved. Bless our friends this day and always with the richness of life and the faithfulness of our love. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: If we run as a spiritual runner let us remember that it is being a runner that matters, it is not how fast or how far we go. The joy, the gift is in running, in the journey and not always in the destination. We have the best chance of encountering our friend God, in the midst of our run when we remain focused in the present and don’t think too far ahead! (I adapted this from a quote by John Bingham, the author of No Need for Speed: A Beginner's Guide to the Joy of Running.)

Daily Blessing: Friday greetings and blessing to all. I hope your Friday has started off well and it will be a short one that will take you into a relaxing and fun Memorial Day weekend. The sun is out here in Pelham and it looks to be another warm day.  I hope the skies are bright, the sun is out and the air is warm wherever you are today.

I will be heading out to a funeral mass this morning and then the rest of the day is free and clear. Hopefully I will get a run in this afternoon or at least a trip to the gym so that after the run I can work on the weights a little.

I continue my prayers for expectant mothers, especially my niece Sarah. I know that waiting is difficult especially when you are waiting for new life. May you find peace in your time of waiting and when the time come may you give birth to the beauty and mystery of God. I am also praying for expectant father and grandmothers waiting to help!

My prayer today is that all will encounter the wonderful tiny whispering sound of God’s presence in your life today. That all of you will be renewed in your journey, your mission in life and that in being honest with yourself you will overcome fear, hurt, anger, loneliness, jealousy and fatigue to be the person of joy, hope and love that God has created you to be! Enjoy your Friday and know you will all be in my prayers today and always. May your day be safe and may your evening be blessed with rest and peace! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 05/26/2016

Daily Thoughts: In our Gospel today we are treated to the story of Bartimaeus, the blind man whom Jesus encountered as he was passing through Jericho one day. Bartimaeus not influenced by the people around him who said be quite called out to Jesus asking for sight. Jesus once again pointed a person’s faith as the source of their healing.

A couple of years ago I ran across the following reflection by an unknown author that seems to be a good reflection for our Gospel today so I share it with you…

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves: Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are we NOT to be? We are children of God. Our playing small doesn’t save the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around us. We were born to make visible the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it is all of us!

And as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fears, our presence automatically liberates others.

So let us not allow our salt, our flavor, to become insipid. Today let us live as the person that God has created us to be rich in the gifts of faith, hope and love, rich is all that matters to God. (Adapted from an Unknown Writer)

Bartimaeus let his light shine. He did not worry about what others thought. He called out to Jesus and because of his faith he was healed. He believed in the fact that he was a child of God and he made visible the glory of God that was within him. Should we not do the same with our life today?

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, in you is found the fullness of life and unconditional forgiveness and love. We place ourselves in your hands each day, asking that you make holy all that we are, all that we have, and all that we offer you. Keep us firm in our faith and strong in your service. Create in us a new heart, that we might find a peace that always welcomes us home. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: Not every run need to be a search for life’s deeper meanings. Sometimes when we run we need to just “cruise!” Approach your next run with openness to the moment. Try to run unencumbered by the stress and strains of life. Look for the unexpected, look for the expected in a different way. Just cruise with God at your side!

Daily Blessing: Thursday greetings and blessings to everyone! It is a beautiful sunny morning here in Pelham. I hope the same is true where you are. In a couple of hours, I have off to the Wartburg Home for mass and then I will head to Bronxville for a wake this afternoon. Hopefully I will be able to get a run in before dinner. With the temperature change yesterday to near 90 it was a tough run. It is interesting how warmer temperatures can make the same run so different. I have to keep at it though only 123 days until my ultra-marathon! Keep pushing!

I continue my prayers for expectant mothers, especially my niece Sarah. I know that waiting is difficult especially when you are waiting for new life. May you find peace in your time of waiting and when the time come may you give birth to the beauty and mystery of God. I am also praying for expectant father and grandmothers waiting to help!

My prayer of blessing today is that your Thursday has started off well and will continue to be a good day. May God bless your work, your relationships and most importantly you today! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 05/25/2016

Daily Thoughts: Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because Christians are talking when they should be listening.” We might say that in the Gospel today (Mark 10:32-45) Jesus is looking for an ear to listen and what he gets is people who want to talk.

Jesus shares with his friends what is ahead on their journey. He shares what he is going to go through and for this sharing he get a response that doesn’t concern him but those who are supposed to be listening.  James and John think only about their future not that of Jesus or others. Jesus has come to serve. Jesus has come to carry the cross. Jesus has come to be a saving gift for others.

There often is a lot of discussion, or what I like to call chatter, when Pope Francis says something that cause people to pause an think. For instance a year or so ago he gave a homily concerning who is redeemed. The chatter turned to who is an expert that can speak or clarify to what Pope Francis meant. Or who is an official spokesperson of the Vatican who knows what Pope Francis means.

Was the point of Pope Francis’ homily that someone should respond and tell us what he means or was the point of his homily that we should listen and think? Do we know the mind of God? Do we know the mind of Pope Francis? What if God wants to welcome an atheist into heaven is that wrong? Is God making a mistake? What if Jesus’ presence in the world was to redeem everyone is that so bad?

Through the Gospel today Jesus reminds us that in order to be a part of the Kingdom our life must be a life dedicated to the care and service of others. If we make this the focus of our life, then the possibilities are endless because as Monday’s Gospel told us all things are possible with God.

Are we listening or are we talking? Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, you are always willing to teach us how to listen. May we be willing to have our ears open and ready to listen to the many ways you teach us today.  Help us to listen to those who enter our life today, and give us the desire to serve and not be served. Help us move toward a greater wholeness in life that does not look to exclude but gifts us with the joy and hope of inclusion because all things are possible with God. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: Despite the fact that we love to run, there are days when we simply do not feel like running. Running takes discipline but if our discipline is too rigid we can take the joy and fun out of our experience. So let’s run in a way that allows us to find pleasure, fun and joy in the experience.

Daily Blessing: Wednesday greetings and blessings to all. I hope your day has started well, if not may it become better as the day continues! We have a beautiful sunny day here in Pelham and the temperature is to reach into the 80’s today. I think we are bypassing spring and going right to summer at least for today.

I continue my prayer for expectant mothers, especially my niece Sarah. May the gift of life they carry coming into the world safely and full of life. I also prayer for expectant fathers and grandmothers!

If the week so far has not been good may this truly be a hump day to get you over to the good side. If it has been a good week so far may this truly be a hump day to get you over to the downhill side of the week. Blessings on your work, your encounters, your experiences and upon everyone you meet today! Blessings upon you and those whom you love! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 05/24/2016

Daily Thoughts: “We have given up everything and followed you.” I wonder how many of us can really say this. Whether we are religious brothers, priests, sisters, diocesan priests, lay women and men, bishops, cardinals or popes we might think we have given up a lot or everything but we haven’t.

One of my Passionist brothers often tells the story that at his first vows the preacher said, “Today you have given up everything and tomorrow you will begin to take it all back!” And in a way I think I have to agree with him as I look back of the course of my own religious life. It is hard giving up everything and with the way the world is going each day there are new things that we must have, that we cannot live without. We rationalize and we make excuses for needing things, for collecting things, for having things.

The same Passionist brother in the above story once put up a picture of a very beautiful chalice and paten in the office of our retreat house and he wrote on the picture, “I need this!” Being a young and brash religious I wrote underneath, “Do you need it or do you just want it?” The picture came down but we bought the chalice and paten. We didn’t need it, we just wanted it!

Yet, in the midst of all this needing, wanting and possessing the Gospel (Mark 10: 28-31) today reminds us that if we are willing to let go there is much we can receive. It might not seem as valuable and important as the things we seem to need and want but it is far more important and valuable. It is the presence of God found in the people around us and in ourselves.

Can we let go and let God today? Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, in you is found the fullness of life and unconditional Love. We place ourselves in your hands each day, asking that you make holy all that we are, all that we have, and all that we offer you. Keep us firm in our faith and strong in your service. Create in us a new heart that we might meditate on the Passion of Christ, and find a peace that always welcomes us home. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: “I run because if I didn't, I'd be sluggish and glum and spend too much time on the couch. I run to breathe the fresh air. I run to explore. I run to escape the ordinary. I run… to savor the trip along the way. Life becomes a little more vibrant, a little more intense. I like that.” (Dean Karnazes)

Daily Blessing: Tuesday greetings and blessings to all. It is a rainy Tuesday here in Pelham. The weather people say that we need the rain so I will look to capitalize on the rainy weather by getting some paper work done and enjoying the fact that it is not a cold rainy day! I hope the weather is a little better by you today.

I continue to keep expectant mothers in my prayers, especially my niece, Sarah. I am sure that the final days of waiting are hard. May the new life within these loving mothers finally come forth and grace a wait world with a new glimpse of the mystery of God. I also pray for waiting fathers and grandmothers today too!

My prayer of blessing for all of us today is that God will continue to bless all of us with his life giving presence and that God will grace us with the strength and energy to share that presence wherever we go and with whomever we meet! Blessings to all today, have a great day, stay dry and know that God is with you! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 05/23/2016

Daily Thoughts: I once heard someone say that our first reading from the First Letter of St. Peter (1 Peter 1: 3-9) is the most beautiful reading in the scriptures in terms of hope. While I like the reading I would not mark it as one of my favorites even in terms of hope but it does create a wonderful image of our relationship with God, which some might say stands in contrast to the Gospel passage today (Mark 10: 17-27) but I would say complements it.

The Gospel brings us the story of the rich young man, perhaps one of the saddest stories in the Gospel. The story of struggle because of wealth and possessions, a story that points out one of the great pitfalls of being successful, that it can go to your head. Wealth and possessions can become a god if left unchecked, if they become the most important things in life.

Yet, the end of the Gospel like the reading from the First Letter Peter leaves us with a sense of hope. The hope is that “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God” (Mark 10:27). Yes, we are going to struggle with the trappings of life. Yes, sometimes we are going to feel like the rich young man. Yes, at time the words of the disciples will be uttered by us, “Then who can be saved” (Mark 10:26). And yes, sometimes our possessions and money will overwhelm us and we will struggle.

But we live in the hope that even in our failures, our distractions all things are still possible, salvation is still possible, friendship with God is still possible because God is always with us and will never leave us to face life alone!

Happy Monday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Compassionate God, at times our hearts seems troubled. When this happens everything becomes an effort, life is difficult and we struggle to be faithful. In these moments remind me of Your Son’s words “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God” Do not let us be afraid and thus give in to life’s troubles. Rather help us, stay close to you, by reaching out to others, doing something creative with passion, and always living the fullness of life. Enliven us always in Your Holy Spirit of hope, so that we may live life with Passion together. And may the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in my heart! Amen.

A Runner’s Thoughts: You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement. (Steve Prefontaine)

Daily Blessing: Monday greetings and blessings to all. I hope your day is starting off well. As I look out my window the sun is rising in the east and it looks to be a beautiful start to the day. The weather people are talking about rain in the afternoon but I am going to focus on the rising sun and worry about the rain later.

I have mass at the Wartburg Home this morning at 11 am and I would like to get a nice long run in hopefully before it rains. Other than these two goals not much else happening in my day which is sort of nice for a change. I hope your day will not be too busy either.

I would like to offer a little prayer this morning for expectant mothers, remembering in a special way my niece, Sarah, who is currently waiting for her son to arrive any day now. Loving God, bless all waiting mothers today!

May their wait not be too long so that they will be filled with the joy of new life. And bless waiting fathers and grandmothers too!

My prayer of blessing for all of you today is that your love many more and more abound in wisdom, knowledge, understanding and wealth of experience so that you may continue to learn to value the things that really matter and that you will always be blessed with a harvest of faith, hope and love which God has planted within you. Blessings to all today! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 05/22/2016

Daily Thoughts: A few years ago a read a book entitled Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor. She is one of my favorite authors, I love the way she writes and how she tells a story. In one of the chapter Barbara tells a little anecdote about life as pastor/rector of her first parish in northern Georgia. After services one Trinity Sunday she found a miniature Three Musketeer Bar and a note on her car. They were from an eccentric woman who lived across the street from the church. The note read, “One for all and all for one, Happy Trinity Sunday.”

I could not help but laugh as I read the story and the story has stuck with me over the years and I keep coming back to it. Taylor writes the story as she is talking about settling into her first parish as a pastor/rector. It wasn’t easy, there were challenges and struggles, but this story seemed to reflect an acceptance, a fitting in for her.

Perhaps that is what this feast of the Holy Trinity is all about. We celebrate the mystery of God as Trinity, three persons but one God. Just saying it seems odd. How can we have three persons but just one God? How can we talk about three individuals yet still only be talking about one God? In human language it is impossible yet that is what we believe. We celebrate the gift of three persons so connect, so intimate, so focused that they are one. Believing means that we are part of that one, members of the relationship, accepted.

We believe in, we celebrate our God today who is all for one and one for all. Happy Trinity Sunday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Grant us, O Lord, this day to walk with you as Father, to trust you as Savior, to be enlightened by you as Spirit, to worship your as Lord: that all our works may praise you and our lives may give you glory. Amen. (Anonymous)

A Runner’s Thoughts: Remember running in a different place every once in a while can bring with it a different set of experiences. Each new setting can provide an opportunity to practice our spiritual running by helping us to be aware of not only new things around us but also new things within us. Running in a new place stretches our ability to find God in our runs, in life and in ourselves!

Daily Blessing: Sunday greetings and blessings to all and Happy Feast of the Most Holy Trinity! I hope you find yourself in the midst of a blessed Sunday and a relaxing weekend. It looks like the rain that began yesterday evening is still with us this Sunday morning. I am hoping we at least see a little bit of the sun sometime today but I think chances for that are slim.

It was a very late night for me last night as I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Baccalaureate Mass for Seton Hall Prep. Now I don’t travel around going to Baccalaureate Mass for fun. I went because a young man I baptized some 18 years ago is graduating from Seton Hall Prep today and invited me to celebrate with him and his family last night. Daniel is a very fine and intelligent young man. He received many awards last night and is one of three Salutatorians for today graduation. It was great to be with him and his family. And I know his grandmother who passed away almost five years ago is very proud of him. Daniel will be headed to the University of Notre Dame in the fall!

I thought I would have a rather easy drive home last night from Parsippany, NJ where the party was held. I mean driving home at midnight, there will not be any traffic right? Well even though it was raining everything was going great until I got to within a quarter mile of the George Washington Bridge and then dead stop. Apparently, they were doing construction, in the rain, on the upper level and then there was an accident in the two lane they had open so the whole upper level was closed and I could not get to the lower level lane at that point. I got home at 2:30 am. I love New York!

So from a rather tired Padre, my pray if blessing this morning for all of you is that God’s blessings will be upon all of you today and always. I hope you will be blessed day rich in family, friends, warmth, peace and rest. May God truly be with you and those you love, keeping you safe as you enjoy the many gifts of God’s creation and all that this day brings into your life. Remember to spend a little time with God today because after all, “One for all and all for one!” Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul