Daily Thoughts - 06/25/2016

Daily Thoughts: One of my many struggles with the revised Roman Missal has been with a phrase that we hear in today’s Gospel, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof….” I have just found this phrase a struggle each time I say it just before receiving communion. I keep wanting to say, “into my heart,” rather than “under my roof.”

The centurion, the one who expresses these words in our Gospel, is one who is used to having power and commanding others.  We encounter this in his own words to Jesus, “And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it.”  And yet, he recognizes that his own power is nothing compared to that of Jesus.  How often do we find ourselves wanting to control a situation or tell God how to do something?  It sometimes takes us a while before we step back and realize that we are not in control.  Once we remember that we are not in control can often be quite liberating.  Placing our trust and faith in God over and over again is a part of any spiritual journey. It is the letting go and letting God.

What is powerful about our Gospel today is the absolute faith with which the centurion approaches Jesus on behalf of his servant.  He does not doubt that Jesus’ words alone can heal his servant, even without a physical encounter with Jesus.  Each time we receive the Eucharist, we, unworthy as we are, are deemed worthy for a physical encounter with Christ.  What an awesome and wonderful thought!  And yet often the reality of Christ within us, under our roofs, in our hearts is very challenging to grasp and a reality that we don’t always approach with the faith and trust of the centurion. 

Like the centurion, we have the opportunity to be transformed with each encounter with Christ, whether it is through prayer or meditation, through interactions with others in our daily lives, or through receiving Christ in the Eucharist.

As we journey through this day let us pray that we can approach Jesus with the same humility and faith that the centurion does. Let us invite Jesus into our hearts and our homes, under our roofs, and allow Him to transform us as we journey in faith.

Have a great Saturday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by you, always follow your plains, and perfectly accomplish your holy will. Grant that in all things, great and small, today and all the days of my life, I may do whatever you require of me. Help me to respond to the slightest prompting of your grace, so that I may be your trustworthy instrument for your honor. May your will be done in time and eternity by me, in me, and through me. Amen. (Prayer by St. Teresa of Avila)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “The human spirit is indomitable. No one can ever say you must not run faster than this or jump higher than that. There will never be a time when the human spirit will not be able to better existing records.” (Roger Bannister)

Daily Blessing: Saturday greetings and blessings to all. I hope your Saturday has started off well and that it will only get better as you make your way through it. We are to have a sunny and hot day here in Covington, KY. Hopefully the weather where you are is helping to make your day a good one.

This is the last full day of retreat here at St. Joseph Heights the Provincial Center for the Sisters of Notre Dame of Covington. I think it has been a good retreat. Many of the sisters on retreat have share their stories, enthusiasm and their faith with me this week. Please continue to keep the sisters in your prayers and if you could offer an extra prayer for their preacher it would be greatly appreciated.

Well my friends, I pray that God will bless your day. May you be gifted and blessed with smiles, laughter, family, friends, fun and peace today! 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

Daily Thoughts - 06/24/2016

Daily Thoughts: Perhaps one of John the Baptist’s most profound sayings which can be found in John’s Gospel (John 3:30) goes like this, “He (Jesus) must increase and I must decrease.” Why is this so profound? Well because in it John shows us a humility not found very often.

Think of our world, when someone rises to power, fame, fortune the last thing they want to do is let go of control, step out of the spotlight, and turn things over to someone else i.e. Mr. Trump and to be fair many others. Yet, that is exactly what John the Baptist does. He is “the man” all eyes are focused on him, he has center stage and yet once Jesus enters John is willing to step out of the bright lights and let Jesus take over.

Today we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist. We remember his coming into the world and how he was dedicated from conception to be the forerunner, the announcer of Jesus’ presence in the world. From the very beginning John knows that at some point his presence will no longer be necessary, his mission will be completed and he will have to decrease.

Remembering John the Baptist reminds us of our challenge to live as prophets, as disciples of Jesus. Life is not about us and if we take on the journey of discipleship, of proclaiming the presence of God we too will all be called to decrease so that God can increase.

Yes, our feast today reminds us that like John the Baptist, we too are wonderfully made so let us praise God with the living of our life today so that like John we can be ready to proclaim God’s presence to whomever we encounter!

Have a great Friday and may you receive many blessings in the spirit of John the Baptist today and always!

Daily Prayer: O God, it is hard sometimes to believe that you are really present in this world of ours. But with the help of your grace we do believe it! So in the spirit of your faithful prophet, John the Baptist today, please help us to live our life in such a way that it will be easier for others to recognize you. When we find doubt, help us to bring a little light. Where we find discouragement, let us be a ray of hope in the darkness. To those who feel estranged and alienated from you and your Church, let us be like a bridge and when we encounter people who have been hurt or feel misunderstood, grace us with the wisdom to leave only the imprint of your healing love and compassion.  Loving God, wherever we go and to whomsoever we meet, help us to be an instrument of your compassion, love and peace. Amen. (Adapted from a prayer by Sr. Bernice Kuper, S.P.)

A Runner’s Thoughts:  Samuel Shoemaker once said, “Prayer may not change things for you, but it for sure changes you for things.” Let's make our next run a prayer and allow ourselves to be changed!

Daily Blessing: Friday greetings and blessings and happy Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist! I hope everyone’s day has started off well. We begin the day here in Covington with clouds but the sun should come out by the afternoon. I hope the sun is shining wherever you are and that you are moving about today with a lively step and a hopeful purpose. If not, I pray that your day will get better!

We enter our sixth day of retreat here at St. Joseph Heights in Covington, KY. The sisters on retreat continue to have a good spirit and I look forward to another day of journeying with them. Please continue to keep the sisters in your prayers and if you can afford an extra prayer for their preacher it would be greatly appreciated.

I pray for God’s blessings today upon you, your work, your ministry, those whom you meet and those whom you love! May you enjoy the places you go to, the people you encounter and the experiences that you have and also know that as you journey through this day you are in my prayers!

Remember, “Seek God and you will find God and every good thing as well!” (Meister Eckhart) May you be rich in the spirit of John the Baptist today. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 06/23/2016

Daily Thoughts: There was a poster I once saw that said, “If you were to be put on trial for being a Christian, would you be found guilty?” Perhaps that is what Jesus is getting at in the Gospel today (Matt 7:21-29). It is not about what we say; it is about how we live especially when there is a storm.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” If we are to be people of faith, we need to be Christ like.

As Jesus images in the Gospel, our faith needs to be built on God, our rock, so that when the storms come and the winds blow we stand firm. It does not mean that we don’t sway a little; that we are not pushed at times to our limits; or that the electricity doesn’t go off from time to time. What it does mean is that when the storm is over, the wind stop blowing and the sun comes out we are still standing and a member of the Body of Christ!

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Daily Prayer:

Loving God, help us today;
 To live life as an opportunity and benefit from it;
 To live life as beauty and admire it;
 To live life as a dream and realize it;
 To see life as a challenge and meet it;
 To live life as duty and complete it;
 To see life as a game and play it;
 To live life as a promise and fulfill it;
 To live life as sorrow and overcome it;
 To live life as a song and sing it;
 To live life as a struggle and accept it;
 To live life as a tragedy and confront it;
 To live life as an adventure and dare it;
 To live life as luck and make it;
 To live life as too precious and not destroy it;
 To live life as life and embrace it to the fullest. Amen!
(Adapted from a quote by Blessed Mother Teresa)

A Runner’s Thoughts: In an ancient rabbinic saying it is said that when we humans begin a journey we are preceded by angels crying, “Make way! Make way! Here comes the image of God!” So when we run next let us remember that we are the image of God!

Daily Blessing: Thursday greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope your day is starting off well. I was awakened about an hour ago by hail pounding at my window. I am wondering at this moment what my car looks like as the hail storm lasted about ten minutes. The rain is still coming down and there is lightening flashing all around. I think we are to have storms most of the day here in Covington. May the weather be a little calmer wherever you are.

The retreat with the Sisters of Notre Dame continues to go well and there is a good spirit in the house. Please continue to keep the sisters in your prayers and if you can spare an extra prayer for their preacher it will be greatly appreciated.

I pray that God will bless you with a wonderful day. May all your endeavors be rich in the presence, grace, love, joy, mercy and hope of God. May God bless you with a joyful, hopeful presence and may you share it with all you meet today! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 06/22/2016

Daily Thoughts: At times when I face the scriptures for a particular day I want to just close the book and tell the community gathered, “Let’s all just sit quietly and listen to what God is saying to us today.” Well, I had that feeling early this morning when I looked at the readings for today (2Kings 22: 8-13; 23: 1-3 and Matthew 7: 15-20). The theme whether we are looking at the first reading or the Gospel seems to be laws, rules, regulation. I have to admit these are not my favorite topics for conversation or preaching. I know that they are important. I know that laws, rules and regulations are necessary.

The readings emphasize rules and decrees and warn us of false prophets.  Yet sometimes it is a challenge to understand what are the “decrees” to be followed and what are the ones of “false prophets.”  I know there are times when I need to stop and examine myself – my actions, my words, my thoughts and my blunders – to reflect on just where my relationship with God is. I know that some of the laws and decrees of the world that I live in seem contradictory to God’s expectations.  I am often challenged to find a sense of balance and truth in the living of life.

A litmus test for me, is the feeling that I get in the midst of choices and decisions in my life.  There is that little voice that always seems to speak up when I am trying to rationalize that what I’m doing is okay.  If I really stop and am honest with myself I realize that I’m cutting corners or putting a spin on it so that I can do what I want not necessarily what God wants. I walk along with my feet of clay until I take the honest route and shake dirt from my feet. I guess you can say I argue with myself until rid myself of the “false prophets” and find my way back what is real honest and true - Jesus. 

A common question we sometimes hear used is – What would Jesus do? It is a question that I have asked myself often and at times in answering the question I find that I am not in sync with Jesus. In these moments I need to pause and challenge myself to do what is right – to truly forgive someone without reservation or to reach out without resentment or expectation of payback and help someone – to think that life is just about me, to look beyond myself! That is what my friend, Jesus, would do, that is what I am called do! 

You might say that it is a Jesus thing or today it is a Pope Francis thing. It is finding the presence and hand of God at work in the living of life.  Laws, rule, regulations and decrees might not be sexy but that guide and direct us through the pitfalls of life and often help us to make the right choices.

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Daily Prayer: O God, grant us grace to desire you with our whole heart, so that desiring you we will always seek you with our whole heart and find you; and in finding you, we may always love you, and may let go of those thing that separate us from you, for the sake of Jesus. Amen. (Adapted from a prayer by St. Anselm of Canterbury)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “To be a consistent winner means preparing not just one day, one month or even one year - but for a lifetime.” (Bill Rodgers) I know Bill Rodgers is talking about running, racing, but I also think you can apply what he says to faith. Faith is a lifetime of preparation, work and investment. We need to be about faith, our relationship with God each and every day!

Daily Blessing: Wednesday greetings and blessings to all! I hope this midpoint of the week will be kind to you. We are expecting a sunny and warm day here in the Ohio River Valley but there is a chance for some storms later in the day. I hope your Wednesday weather will enhance your day in some positive way.

Our retreat here at St. Joseph Heights the Provincial Center for the Sisters of Notre Dame is going well. The sisters have all settled into the routine of retreat and I as preacher am constantly trying to stay one step ahead of them. Please keep the sisters in your prayers and if you have the time offer a prayer for the preacher too!

My prayer of blessing for all of you today is that you will have a great day wherever you are and in whatever you will be doing! May this day be one filled with blessings, hope, peace, laughter and sunshine! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 06/21/2016

Daily Thoughts: I think today’s Gospel (Matt 7:6, 12-14) is about reverence, and respect. Jesus seems to indicate that the road to reverence and respect is a narrow one that is a difficult journey but certainly one that is worth the struggle.

There are always people out in the world that find it easy to disrespect us. As Jesus seems to indicate the road of selfishness and “me first” is wide and has many travelers.

Perhaps the focus of today’s Gospel rests in these words by Thomas Merton: “To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.

Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”

If we recognize the Love of God in ourselves and in others we will be on the right road!

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Daily Prayer:

O God, we thank you for the gift of this day.

Give us the energy we need to face our work; with the attentiveness we need to do it well.

Give us the self-discipline we need to finish it even if no one sees and no one praises us.

Give us the self-respect which will inspire us not to produce anything which is less than our best.

Give us the courtesy and the considerateness which will make us easy to live and work with.

Help us to live today so that we will make the world a happier more hopeful place wherever we go. Amen! (Adapted from a prayer by William Barclay)

A Runner’s Thoughts: A smile as we run can help us remain focused, it often causes others to smile back which can be uplifting and perhaps most importantly it can remind us that that we have been graced by God. So as we run today let’s put a smile on our face!

Daily Blessing: Tuesday greetings and blessings to all! There seemed to be storms all around us last night but none came through Covington. As the morning begins here it looks to be another hot, humid, sunny day. I hope your first full day of summer is going well for you though I think many of us we will have it hot and muggy today!

We are into our second full day of retreat here at the Provincial Center of the Sisters of Notre Dame. I would ask your continued prayers for the sisters of retreat and if you could add an extra prayer for their preacher it would be greatly appreciated.

I pray that your day is starting off well and that you are energized and ready to give it your all. I pray that you will have a great day! May it be one filled with the presence of God so that you will encounter many blessings, much hope, a little peace, much laughter and a little shade! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 06/20/2016

Daily Thoughts: We could approach today Gospel (Matthew 7: 1-5) from a negative perspective after all that is what Jesus seems to do. We could look at it as the don’ts of life. We are not to judge so that we will not be judged. But I would like to look at Jesus’ words in a more positive light.

Perhaps the intent of Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel isn’t just to say, don’t judge so that you will not be judged but that Jesus is asking us to stop and take a look at just how we look at others. Do we look at others through what they or maybe we do wrong?  Wouldn’t it be better to first try to find God’s goodness, God’s presence in others which just might lead us to finding God’s goodness and presence in ourselves?

Judging is easy. We are all imperfect so we will always find flaws. We will always find moments of weakness. We will always find actions that don’t measure up, not only in others but also in ourselves. I think sometimes we judge or are hard on others because we know our own mistakes, our own shortcomings and if we can take the focus off our faults and failing and look for them in others we think we can feel better.

However, the opposite is true, if we look for goodness, if we look for God’s presence in others it often opens the door to finding God within ourselves. I think this is what Jesus is getting at today. Yes, perhaps he puts it in the negative but if we walk by faith, if we trust in God’s love then Jesus’ words can be turned into a positive way of living life. After all, if we take the wooden beam from our own eye then we will have better vision not just to see the splinter in others, but to find the goodness in ourselves and others. If we can find God in ourselves, we will be able to find God in others and vice versa!

Have a great Monday everyone!

Daily Prayer: O God, search us and know our hearts; test us and know our concerns. See if there is any crooked way in us, and lead us in the everlasting way. For we truly do believe so our prayer to you is help our unbelief. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: “I know that when I finish strong, I’m cultivating and honoring the love and commitments in my life. As a runner, it’s time to apply that hard-earned wisdom to everything I do.” (Kristin Armstrong)

Daily Blessing: Monday greetings and blessings to all. I hope your day is starting off well. The early morning sky here in Covington, Kentucky has some clouds but the weather people say they will only be around this morning. It is going to be a hot one here.

Yes, I am in Covington, Kentucky. I arrived yesterday afternoon a little after 4 pm. In time to settle in, have a little dinner and begin a new retreat last evening. There are about 20 Sisters of Notre Dame on retreat this week. They have a beautiful provincial house here in Covington and I am looking forward to another week of retreat. Please keep the sisters on retreat in your prayers this week and if you could add a little extra prayer for the preacher it would be greatly appreciated.

Have a great day everyone. May it truly be a good start to your week, but if not please know that I am praying that things will get better for you. May God’s blessings be upon you wherever you are and wherever your life brings you today. May your day be rich in God’s grace, hope, love and joy and may you find the strength and energy to share God’s blessings with whomever you meet! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 06/19/2016

Daily Thoughts: We might say that all the readings today tell us a little something about who Jesus is. The reading from the Book of Zechariah points us in the direction of Jesus who will be crucified and the great mourning that will result.  The readings from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians and Luke’s Gospel tell us that is Jesus the Christ, the anointed one.

Throughout our life we all have had people, like teachers and parents, theologians and scripture scholars who have told us who they think Jesus is.  It is an ongoing quest in our life of faith to come to an understanding of who Jesus was and is. Perhaps the most important aspect or thought we encounter in the Gospel today is that we are invited by Jesus to say who we think Jesus is.  You might say that Jesus is giving us the opportunity to find our voice.  To name and realize just how we experience Jesus in our life.

Often I have reflected on this Gospel reading with a sense of closeness to Jesus. I know scripture scholars will disagree with me but when Jesus asks, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” I feel a kinship to Jesus. I sense his humanness. There have always been moments when I have wanted to know what people think. What are they saying about me? How do they see me? The scholars will say that this has nothing to do with Jesus wondering what people think. But for me this passage always connects me in a human way with Jesus.

To take it a step further it gives me pause to consider the place of Jesus in my own life. Who do I say that Jesus is? What place does he take in my life? What role does he play in my life? Important questions to ask from time to time in this journey of life. How do I really see Jesus? In what ways do I let him enter my life? How often do I recognize what he has done for me? How often do I recognize his love for me?

As the summer gets ready to begin it might be a good time to pause in the midst of this journey of life and have a conversation with Jesus. To him ask these same questions he asked his disciples many years ago and challenge ourselves to look into our hearts and answer like Peter, you are the Christ of God. You are a friend who loves us very much!

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Daily Prayer: God of life, there are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and wear us 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: “Running is elementary. It is elegant in its simplicity.” (John Bingham)

Daily Blessing: Sunday greetings and blessings to all and Happy Father’s Day to all fathers! It looks to be another beautiful day here in Chardon. I am making my final preparations for mass which will be at 10:30 this morning. It will be the community mass for all the sisters here at the Provincial Center and the closing mass of the retreat. After mass I will hit the road for Covington, Kentucky where I will begin a retreat for another province of Sisters of Notre Dame this evening at 7 pm. They have told me Covington is about a four-and-a-half-hour drive so I am hoping to leave here around noon. It will be a busy day for me.

I hope your Sunday is a little less busy than mine. I hope you will get a chance to enjoy the gift of this day in some way that will renew and refresh you. And please remember to give God a little time today.

Let me take a moment to thank all of you for your good wishes yesterday on my 30^th anniversary of ordination. I appreciated the good and kind words. As I wrote to my classmates of 30 plus years, sometimes it seems like only yesterday but other times it seems like a million years. The journey of life with its ups and downs. All I can say is that it is a new day, another opportunity to know that things are not as they should be and yet to care for them the way they are. Again thanks everyone!

My prayer of blessing today 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 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 Jesus is with you always and will never leave you to face your struggles alone! Father’s Day blessings to all fathers and Sunday blessings to all! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul