Daily Thoughts - 07/02/2016

Daily Thoughts: In today’s gospel Jesus presents himself to his disciples, and to us, as our bridegroom. Jesus says he desires to relate to them, and to us, as a bridegroom relates to a bride!

This is quite an invitation to intimacy and in thinking about it, one might feel a little uncomfortable. To be honest with you, I am much more comfortable focusing on what Jesus as savior, shepherd and friend -- our way, our truth our life. I am comfortable acknowledging Jesus as savior of humanity, and for saving me as part of the human race.

But it is sometimes scary when Jesus reveals what he desires from us individually, that is, when he invites us to be with him in the most intimate human relationship, that of a bridegroom and bride. This invitation can seem overwhelming because intimacy ask so much more of us perhaps more than we want to give.

But he is honest with us and his disciples. He asserts that he does not want us simply to “patch up” our former relationship with God -- patching up old cloth and old wineskins doesn’t work. Jesus invites us to a new relationship, new cloth, new wineskins.

Can he really mean it? What do we do now? Can we accept the invitation?

But what Jesus asks Jesus gives. We can only pray for the grace to remove our resistance and to allow Jesus to draw us into this spousal intimacy.

Lord, teach us how to let you be our bridegroom and speak to us of peace!

Have a great Saturday everyone.

Daily Prayer: Help me, O God, to be a good and true friend: to be loyal and never to let my friends down; never to talk about them behind their backs in a way that I would not do before their faces; never to betray a confidence or talk about things I should be silent about; always to be ready to share everything I have; to be as true to my friends as I would wish them to be tome. This I ask for the sake of him who is the greatest and truest friend, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. (William Barclay)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Not just exercise, but a way to get in touch with and reclaim myself in an often fragmenting world, running also serves as a powerful antidote to clinical depression, a metaphor for the creative process, and, in its most profound moments, a spiritual practice.” (Alison Townsend)

Daily Blessing: Saturday greetings and blessings to all. After the storms of yesterday evening and night I awakened to a beautiful, clear, cool sunny day. It is one of those invigorating days that make you want to get out of bed and do something. I hope the mother nature has provided you with a beautiful Saturday wherever you are!

Sometime this morning I hope to get out for a run and then I will spend the rest of the day working on my homily for tomorrow as I have the noon mass at St. John and St. Mary’s Parish in Chappaqua, NY.

Have a great Saturday with many blessings in whatever you will be doing, working, relaxing, having fun or even traveling. I pray that God will be with you throughout your day and bless you with the richness of his presence and love. If you have to travel during this holiday weekend, please do so safely! Blessings today and always and may this holiday weekend be filled with family, friends and fun! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 07/01/2016

Daily Thoughts: Whenever I hear or read today’s Gospel (Matt. 9:9-13) I think of all those times when people, often times leaders, especially religious leaders, refuse to attend something, a graduation, dinner, fundraising event or some other gathering because a certain person is going to be there or be honored. Often the objection centers on an issue like abortion, contraception or some other political/faith issue. I am sure those who protest the presence of this person have good reasons; reasons often intensified by some others who believe it would bring scandal to attend.

Yet, Jesus often sat, talked, ate and was found in the company of public sinners and people at odds with the faith community. Situations that the religious leaders of his time thought were bringing scandal. Jesus’ statement to the Pharisees today seems to indicate that these are the very people he came to encounter and help. Why is that not the same today? Why are we not willing to be present to people who need help today? Do we not trust God’s presence? Do we not trust that people can change? Do we think that people cannot be affected by what we bring to a moment though faith? Must people always believe first before we are willing to talk to them or be in their presence? Do we really not value our own witness of faith?

Jesus did not convert every person he met. He did not change the attitudes, the opinions or the actions of every person he encountered. Jesus simply was willing to listen, to share, to be present to and to treat all people as God’s children. He was willing to break bread, to share a meal and hope that through the encounter a person’s heart might change.

I realize that none of us are Jesus, however if we are true disciple should we not humbly follow in his footsteps and trust in our faith, in our witness to the Gospel?

Have a great Friday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Compassionate Jesus, you are alive and at large in our world, help us to follow and find you as we live our life today. Help us to find you in the people we meet; the places we go; the work we do and in the plans we make. Gift us with the grace to be one of your disciples so that we might see with your eyes, hear the questions you ask and welcome all people with your trust and love. Give us the patience, compassion and wisdom to change the things that contradict God’s love through the power of the cross and the freedom of your Spirit. Amen! (Adapted from a prayer by John V. Taylor)

A Runner’s Thoughts: As we run today let us listen to ourselves, let us run with hope and joy, let us make each step an offering of our heart in which the imprint of God in our life is made present.

Daily Blessing: Friday greetings and blessings to all. It looks to be another sunny day here in Pelham. You might say a perfect start to the long Fourth of July weekend. I hope the same is true by you and if you are getting an early start on the weekend and traveling today please travel safely.

We had a nice thank you party for Fr. Edward last night. It brought to a close his time as host and producer of The Sunday Mass. Most of the staff of The Sunday Mass gathered at Sergio’s in Pelham and a good time was had by all. We ask God’s blessings on Fr. Edward as he goes forth into his new endeavors and upon The Sunday Mass that we might continue the good work and spirit that he started.

My prayer of blessing today is that God will bless you with a day that will help you to look at the positive in life not the negative. May God bless you with a vision of hope and not despair, with the grace to believe that the impossible can become of the possible. May God bless you with the time today to look around you with wonder and amazement and not cynicism and negativity! May God bless you with a positive Friday that will take you into a wonderful Fourth of July weekend! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 06/30/2016

Daily Thoughts: “When God is going to do something wonderful, [God] always starts with a hardship; when God is going to do something amazing, [God] starts with an impossibility.” (Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith)

In some ways I think both our readings today speak to Anne Lamott’s thoughts about God. In our first reading Amos faces the struggle and hardship of all prophets, not being accepted. He faces banishment and probably death. But Amos stands his ground after all this is not about him. He was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores and he was fine with this simple life. No this is not about Amos, this is about God and his relationship with Israel. Amos’ parting words for Amaziah are not so merciful! But as Lamott says, if God is going to do something amazing God starts with hardship and the impossible. It was certainly a hardship and maybe even an impossible task for Amos. But, then God stepped in and the tables turned.

We might look at the Gospel (Matt. 9:1-8) in the same way. Jesus seemly, at least for the scribes, starts with an impossibility, forgiving sins which lead to another impossibility the healing of a paralytic. Yet from these two seemly impossible actions the hardship of sinfulness and a physical disability are taken away, in other words something amazing and wonderful takes place.

The key to both of our stories is faith and faithfulness, Amos’ faith, the paralytic and his friends’ faith and God’s faithfulness. Perhaps was we journey through this day we should give pause to look at the ways our faith is tested. May the hardships and the impossibilities of our journey through life be by the grace and mercy of God turned into the very faith and hopefulness that heals, forgives and proclaims God’s presence in the world.

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Search us today, O God, and know our hearts; test us and know our thoughts and action. See if there are any wicked ways in us. If there are forgive us. If there are heal us. May we always be truly faithful so that you can lead us down the path of wonder and amazement. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Not just exercise, but a way to get in touch with and reclaim myself in an often fragmenting world, running also serves as a powerful antidote to clinical depression, a metaphor for the creative process, and, in its most profound moments, a spiritual practice.” (Alison Townsend)

Daily Blessing: Thursday greetings and blessings to all. It is hard to believe but this is the last day of June! It seems like only yesterday that we were still dealing with cold gray days. It is a beautiful sunny morning here in Pelham. It is the kind of day that is worth getting out of bed early for. I hope your day is starting off well and that it will be a day of positive energy and many blessings!

May God bless your day with much grace and may you find joy in whatever you will be doing, working, relaxing, having fun or even traveling. I pray that God will be with you throughout this day and bless you with the richness of his presence and love. If you will be traveling at some point in the next few days, please do so safely! Blessings today and always and may these coming days of holiday be filled with family, friends and fun! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 06/29/2016

Daily Thoughts: Today we celebrate the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, two very prominent figures in our story of faith, two men who grounded and push forward the early Church but who did it in very different ways. We celebrate two men who remind us why we are Church, two men who reflect what it means to be Church.

I sometimes think that Sts. Peter and Paul reflect the Church though it might be nice to have a triptych of saints today with perhaps the third being a woman, like St. Mary Magdalen. If Mary were included our celebration today our feast would surely be a more complete picture of the Church and the Body of Christ.

However, we celebrate Peter and Paul, two people of different approaches to life, different ways of living, different ministries. They didn’t always agree yet they forged an energy, a spirit that remains with us today.

St. Peter was a passionate man but one who was easily swayed by the moment. St. Paul was a man of conviction, spirit and energy but at least early on it was misguided. Both had to be challenged by God to accept their roles as leaders, preachers and persons of faith.

We celebrate them today by asking them to intercede for us before God so that we might be graced with the strength, the perseverance, the energy, the spirit and the faith to live as a Church, as the Body of Christ. We seek their passion so that we too might recognize God in our midst and be able to proclaim as we journey through our life of faith, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and “To God be glory forever and ever, Amen!”

Have a great Wednesday and many blessings on this feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

Daily Prayer: O God, source of every good gift and sure foundation of our life together as Church, today we honor and celebrate Saints Peter and Paul, grace us with a share in their zeal for preaching and living the gospel. Strengthen our faith to be witnesses, even unto staking our lives on your promises. We offer this prayer today and always through our one Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

A Runner’s Thoughts: “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” (Tommy Lasorda)

Daily Blessing: Wednesday greetings and blessings to all and happy Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul! I hope your Wednesday is beginning well.  It looks to be a sunny day here in Pelham a little different from the cloudy rainy day yesterday. It will be a busy day for me as I will start the day with the boiler being cleaned and the drains being cleaned and I will end the day with two meetings focused on The Sunday Mass’ move to our new home in Jamaica, New York. Busy end of June days!

I hope life is good by you and that you are not caught up in too much busyness. If so may you get through the day with a smile on your face and good vibes from everyone one you me and all that you do!

My prayer of blessing today rests in the spirits of the saints we honor, St. Peter and St. Paul. I pray that the spirits of St. Peter and St. Paul may be with all of you today. May you 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. May you be blessed with the spirit of strength to not be afraid to proclaim the Good News and to not be afraid to make a mistake. Through the spirits of St. Peter and St. Paul know that God is with you always and will never leave you to face your perils alone! Happy Hump Day everyone! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 06/28/2016

Daily Thoughts: Calming the storm. We have all been there; things are going along just fine. Sure there are a few bumps in the road but that is to be expected in the living of life but we have got things under control. Then it happens, all hell breaks loose and we are hanging on for dear life. All our planning, all our preparations, all our good intentions seem to go right out the window. We are now hanging on by our finger tips any moment life will come crashing down on us. We followed our plan. We did the right things. Why is this happening to us? Our life is simply out of control and we are doomed!

“Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Why are we terrified? Have we lost faith? Have we lost faith in God, faith in others, faith in ourselves? Have we forgotten all the hard work we have put into life? Are we unwilling to trust ourselves any more just because a storm has entered our life? Are we really that fragile? Have we forgotten to trust who has brought us to this moment?

Storms in life are fearful moments. They seem to take control away from us, if we really ever had it. They bring to the surface all kinds of doubt from the dark reaches of our hearts. They scare us and sometimes make us think the worst. They take us out of our comfort zone. Yet, we are reminded today that no matter what, we never face the storms of life alone. Paraphrasing the words of Thomas Merton’s famous prayer, “We should not fear because God is always with us and will never leave us to face our storms alone.”

On this lazy summer day whether we find ourselves in the midst of a calm day, looking at a horizon full of storm clouds or right in the middle of an all-out storm, let us have faith in God, faith in those important in our life and faith in ourselves so that no matter what this day brings our faith will see us through.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Daily Prayer: My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. (Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude)

A Runner’s Thoughts: I have two thoughts for you today… Remember that if we are meditative runners, if we are runners at prayer then with each run we are fortunate to have found a way to refreshes not only our bodies but also our spirits. You might say with each run we give ourselves the change to be born again in friendship with God! (Adapted from Roger Joslin – Running the Spiritual Path) – “You only ever grow as a human being if you're outside your comfort zone.” (Percy Cerutty)

Daily Blessing: Tuesday greetings and blessings to all! We find ourselves journeying through these last days of June. It seems like only yesterday that we were battling ice, snow and the cold of winter, but life keeps moving and today we find ourselves in the midst of summer.

Another busy day for me as I head to the dentist later this morning and then on to my new office and the other focus of my life these days The Sunday Mass. Even though the summer is supposed to be slow with our move to a new site and all that goes along with a move things are busy and I need to get them done before I hit the road again. So no rest for the weary!

My prayers are with all of you today hoping that you will have a good day rich in the many gifts of summer and the presence of God. Have a great day everyone wherever you are. Blessings upon your work, your ministry, your experiences, those whom you encounter, those whom you love and especially upon you! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 06/27/2016

Daily Thoughts: I think today’s Gospel (Matthew 8:18-22) can be reduced to two words, essentials and incidentals. Jesus seems to be saying that there are essential things in life and there are incidental things in life and we have to figure out which are which. To follow Jesus means that we invest in the essentials and we let go of the incidentals, however this is not always easy. What is an incidental for Jesus a lot of the time is an essential for us.

Now we are never really sure what the scribes are up to, often they seem to spend their time trying to antagonize Jesus. Are Jesus’ answers in the Gospel today in response to an antagonist or words for all of us to live by? I vote that they are words for all of us to live by even though they might be difficult.

Making a commitment to follow Jesus involves letting go. The Gospel today gives us a perfect example of what it takes to let go. Jesus basically says, “If you are going to follow me it’s now or never!” He doesn’t invite us follow tomorrow, in a couple of weeks or a year from now—we are invite today…Now! Following Jesus is not easy, especially when it’s not on our terms. Living this life is about battling our own needs, wants and desires every day. As Jesus say, following him means “Picking our cross and following each day!”

A question for today might be what do we think are the important things in life and are we willing if necessary to let them go to follow Jesus?

Have a great Monday everyone!

Daily Prayer: O Lord our God, grant us grace to desire you with a whole heart, so desiring you we may seek you with a whole heart and find you; and so finding you, may we love you; and loving you, may we hate those sins which separate us from you, for the sake of Jesus. Amen (A Prayer by St. Anselm of Canterbury)

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 am sorry my posting is a little late today but I did not get home until 11:30 pm last night. It was a twelve-hour drive and after unpacking I went to bed and decided to take a little sleep in today.

I trust your Sunday was a little more enjoyable than mine. The weather at least was beautiful as I crossed Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey which made the drive a little easier. If you did not have a good weekend, I pray that as we begin this new week things will get better!

Well we find ourselves journeying through the last days of June. My how time flies when you are having fun, sometimes I would just like to slow time down so I can fully enjoy the moment. But onward we journey so I guess it is up to me to stop and smell the flowers every once in a while. I will not be able to do that for a while as my calendar is full for the next few months!

Well it is nice to be home but now I have a lot of catch-up to do being away for three weeks. Once I get my feet on the ground this morning it will be off to the Wartburg Home for mass at 11 am and then on to The Sunday Mass office where I need to begin the process of getting settled in my new office and working on the move to our new Sunday Mass site. Lots to do!

My prayer of blessing for all of you today is that this new works week, or vacation week will be blessed with the rich presence of God in your life. May you find that presence in the people you meet, in the places you go, in the experience you and most importantly within yourself. Many blessings today, have a great day and please know my prayers go with you. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 06/26/2016

Daily Thoughts: Elijah’s journey has not been an easy one. To fully understand today’s First Reading one would need to read all of Chapter 19 in the First Book of Kings which includes today’s story. Elijah being a prophet has struggled and fought against false prophets. He has dismissed his servants fled into the desert because his life is at risk. He has encounter a messenger from God. He has encountered God and been told by God to return and anoint several new kings and then we encounter today’s story. Elijah is to anoint Elisha as his replacement. We might say that Elijah has been a busy man.

Elijah’s comes to Elisha and throws his cloak over Elisha. The prophetic garment was a symbol of property rights. Elisha receives his state as both servant and possessor of Elijah’s powers of miracles. The communication is instantaneous but as often happens when God calls there are often discussion or reason why this is not the best time. This call of Elisha is no different. He has an excuse as to why he cannot respond right way. However, as also happens when God calls, Elisha gets the picture quickly, leaves his former ways and trustingly follows God’s invitation.

In the Gospel today we encounter several distinctive and important characteristics. It is literally a turning point in Luke’s Gospel. From this point on Jesus has turned toward Jerusalem where he will be lifted up on the cross and raised up after his resurrection. The word “resolutely” speaks of his determination to fulfill his identity as priest, prophet and king. From here, Luke presents Jesus as working slowly upward and directly to the city of Jerusalem. This provides the context for the next section of today’s reading.

The group travels into a village of Samaria where they are not welcomed. James and John ask Jesus if they should call down destructive fires on the Samaritans. Jesus rebukes them and they leave having better things to do as they journey. The dispute between Jews and Samaritans is about proper interpretation of scriptures and also about where exactly the proper place of worship is, in which territory has God truly appeared. We read about this in John’s Gospel. In the story of the woman at the well this struggle between the Samaritans and Jews is evident. Even then like now there is the battle for scriptural turf and possession of the truth.

In the third part of today’s Gospel we hear about call and response. Three people interact with Jesus and the disciples. Jesus presents them with the basic principles of being one of his followers. There is an invitation offered to face the tensions between selfishness and selflessness; between not wanting to let go and letting go and letting God. It is not easy because there are always healthy and normal desires for home and family.  The Gospel ends with an image of perseverance. Jesus seems to be talking of himself as well as to those who wish to follow him. Faithfulness is never an easy journey. 

Jesus stayed faithful to his being raised on the cross. He remains faithful to the ministry and the mission. Our faithfulness is not just to our own personal commitments, but to Jesus’ faithful commitment to being our Savior. Jesus saves us from ourselves, and our attempts at perfection.

Perhaps a few questions we need to ask ourselves are. How can we live with ourselves who so constantly are not constant? To whom are we faithful? With Paul we grumble that all the good we want to do, we do not do and those things we would rather not do, well, we easily do them. Our baptismal promises center around Jesus being our savior. Perhaps we just need to live with ourselves, because he does!

Have a blessed and holy Sunday everyone!

Daily Prayer: O God, you love us not in some aloof, impersonal way, but with the cherishing love a good mother pours out on her children; with the adoring love a good father delights to give the children in his life. With the disciplining love good parents give their children; with the protecting love shepherds shower on their lambs. Your love for us now is gift-love, faithful, committed, unchanging, inextinguishable. Grant us the grace to believe, to follow, to choose, to experience this love even when it is difficult, even when it doesn’t make sense, even when everyone else says differently. Grant us the hope of your eternal love so that we can keep our hands on the plow always look ahead. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: Let us remember that if we run the spiritual path, God is the source of our strength, God is our footpath, and God is the finish line. If we run consciously, with the intention to move closer to the presence of God, then our movement, the sound of our breath becomes a profession of our faith! (Adapted from Roger Joslin, Running the Spiritual Path)

Daily Blessing: Sunday greetings and blessings to all! I hope this find you well and having a good beginning to your Sunday. In a few hours I will celebrate the closing mass of the retreat and then I will be on the road back to New York. I am hoping that I will get to leave around 10:30 or 11:00 am. It just depends on how well I get my things together this morning before mass. It has been a good retreat and I would like to thank you for all the prayers you sent this way for the sisters and their preacher.

I think the weather across, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey is supposed to be good today. There is the chance of storms here in Covington but hopefully I will get on the road ahead of them. I am hoping the traffic will not be too heavy and that I will be able to get to New York at a decent hour.

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 God is with you always and will never leave you to face your struggles alone! Happy Sunday everyone and remember to give God a little time today! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul