Daily Thoughts - 09/11/2013

Daily Thoughts: “There is nothing that can replace the absence of someone dear to us, and one should not even attempt to do so. One must simply hold out and endure it. At first that sounds very hard, but at the same time it is also a great comfort. For to the extent the emptiness truly remains unfilled one remains connected to the other person through it. It is wrong to say that God fills the emptiness. God in no way fills it but much more leaves it precisely unfilled and thus helps us preserve -- even in pain -- the authentic relationship. Furthermore, the more beautiful and full the remembrances, the more difficult the separation. But gratitude transforms the torment of memory into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as a thorn but as a precious gift deep within, a hidden treasure of which one can always be certain.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer says above there is nothing that can be said or done that replaces the loss of someone dear to us. But hopefully Bonhoeffer’s words can help to give comfort to all who lost loved ones twelve years ago in Lower Manhattan, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania.

Perhaps, Bonhoeffer’s words can help all of us deal with what we as a city, a country and a world lost twelve years ago. May his words give us pause to be grateful for the silent joy that all who gave their life continue to give us. May those who lost their live continue to be a hidden treasure for all of us, a treasure that we can always count on.

“In normal life we hardly realize how much more we receive than we give, and life cannot be rich without such gratitude. It is so easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements compared with what we owe to the help of others.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

To the people who gave their lives, to the families who gave their loved one we say thank you!

Daily Prayer:

God of all peace and conciliation,
For those who went into danger, we give thanks.
For those who remained behind with the infirm and injured, we give thanks.
For those who thought of others first, we give thanks.
For those who offered comfort to others, we give thanks.

For moments of unknown, grant us courage.

In times of fear, grant us courage.
When called upon to stand for the rights of others, grant us courage.
When others call for our destruction, grant us courage.

When the enemies of freedom lash out, bless us with your peace

When the darkness of hatred descends, bless us with your peace
When we feel the urge to trample and destroy, bless us with your peace
When we look to the future of your universe, bless us with your peace
Amen!
(Adapted from a prayer by Rabbi Matt Friedman)

Runner’s Thought: “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)

On this day when so many lost their lives some of whom were runners let us run to breathe fresh air. Let us run to explore. Let’s us run to experience more than the ordinary. Let us run to savor the trip along the way. Let us run to remember and in remembering make our run a prayer for peace. Let us run to bring God’s presence to the world!

Wednesday blessings to all! I would that you like me have spent the morning remembering that Tuesday twelve years ago and how it changed our lives. Perhaps you thought of where you were and what you felt as the tragic events of that day unfolded. Yet, here we are twelve years later still searching for peace!

My thoughts and prayers today go out to all affected by the events of that day especially to the children who lost mothers and fathers that day. Nothing can fill the void of their loss. May what remains unfilled always keep them connected to the gift of the person, the treasure they lost!

To all on the solemn blessings and peace and may you bring to those you love and the world the gift, the treasure that you are! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 09/10/2013

Daily Thoughts: “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.” (Mother Teresa)

Jesus spends the night in prayer. Jesus places himself in the Father’s hands, at the Father’s disposition and listens to the Father’s voice in the depth of his own heart and look at what happens. Twelve close friends are gathered and people from everywhere are healed!

In the Gospel today (Luke 6:12-19) Jesus shows us the power of prayer. It is not just a prayer of asking for help, though I am sure Jesus asked the Father for help from time to time. For Jesus and for us prayer is the placing of oneself in the hands of God. Yes, prayer is a conversation with God but prayer is often more listening the speaking.

Jesus prayed often and not only when he faced major events in life. Jesus throughout the Gospel takes time for prayer. He takes time to hear the Father’s voice in his heart so that graced things could happen on his journey through life.

So today let’s not forget that prayer needs to be a part of our lives. Let’s take at least a little time to put ourselves in God’s loving hands and hear God’s voice in our hearts. Let’s put ourselves at the disposal of God. The outcome for us just might be more good friends and healing for life’s struggles! Remember nothing is impossible with God.

“Prayer is not asking for what you think you want, but asking to be changed in ways you can't imagine.” (Kathleen Norris)

Daily Prayer:

Circle us, O God.
Keep protection near and danger afar.

Circle us, O God.

Keep hope within and keep doubt without.

Circle us, O God.

Keep light near and darkness afar.

Circle us, O God.

Keep peace within and keep evil out.

Please, circle us, O God.

Keep our hearts in your loving hands and let us hear your voice!
Amen.
(Adapted from a prayer by David Adam)

Runner’s Thought: “Running, much like life, [faith and the spiritual life], has its hills and valleys. On any given run, and particularly in most marathons, we come across easy stretches and seemingly impossible challenges. I have learned to just keep going. The tough moments never last, and the easy stretches are always a joy. The same is clearly true in life [in faith and the spiritual life], if we just keep going we'll get to that finish line with water, massages, and bananas! [And friendship with God!] (Main part of quote by Will Starr, Runner's World Challenger of the Week – I add what is in the brackets)

Tuesday greetings to all! I hope your day has started off well. It is a bit cloudy and humid here in Pelham and they say we are in store for some hot and humid weather over the next few days. However the great thing about this time of the year is that we know it will not last very long. By the weekend we will be back in comfortable weather, which will be good as I have an 18 mile race on Sunday!

Speaking of running please make sure to check out my Runner’s Thought for today I think it has a lot to say about the living of life.

Well the first week of the NFL is finished. How did your team do? Mine not so good. However, I joined a sports fantasy pick’em league and out of eight teams in the league my team (The Preacher) is in first place after the first week. Either I am very good or the others not so much! There is another reason “fluke.” I am going with “fluke!”

If you missed it my Pirates won their 82^nd game last night and their string of 20 losing season has come to an end! Alleluia! Now we have got to make it to the playoffs. I am also hoping for first place in the division which will mean more than one playoff game. I can always hope can’t I?

So this ends the sports update for the week. I hope you will have a great Tuesday and encounter many blessings today and much peace. May you be graced by God in whatever you do and may you bring God’s grace to whomever you meet! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts: 09/09/2013

Daily Thoughts: “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than destroy it?” (Luke 6:9) This is perhaps an important question for us to consider today as a nation and as a world. What are we about doing good, saving life or doing evil and destroying life? Some might say it is that it is all in how you look at it. That is certainly true when it come to the Middle East and the struggles in Syria.

Yet in the Gospel today that is exactly what Jesus is getting at. How do you look at life? Do you look at with an open mind or a closed mind? Do you look at life through the lens of possibilities or through the lens of only one possibility? The scribes and Pharisees had only one lens through which they looked at life, the law. They could see no other possibilities.

I have always admired people who walk into a situation open to seeing whatever the possibilities are. The might have their opinion but they are also open to what others say and do. They have their own lenses yet they can see other perspectives. Would that we all could see and live life this way!

The scribes and Pharisees only looked through one lens. Jesus was open to all possibilities especially when the possibilities meant life. We pray today that we too with the grace of God will always be open to the possibilities that produce life.

Daily Prayer:

For the expanding grandeur of Creation, worlds known and unknown, galaxies beyond galaxies, filling us with awe and challenging our imaginations: We give thanks this day.

For this fragile planet earth, its times and tides, its sunsets and seasons: We give thanks this day.

For the joy of human life, its wonders and surprises, its hopes and achievements: We give thanks this day.

For our human community, our common past and future hope, our oneness transcending all separation, our capacity to work for peace and justice in the midst of hostility and oppression: We give thanks this day.

For high hopes and noble causes, for faith without fanaticism, for understanding of views not shared, for the gift of many possibilities: We give thanks this day.

For all who have labored and suffered for a fairer world, who have lived so that others might live in dignity and freedom:  We give thanks this day.

For human liberty and sacred rites; for opportunities to change and grow, to affirm and choose: We give thanks this day.

For doing good and saving life: We give you thanks this day.

We pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes, not by our words but by our deeds. Loving God, We give thanks this day!

(Adapted from a prayer by O. Eugene Picket)

Runner’s Thought: “Struggling and suffering are the essence of a life worth living. If you're not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you're not demanding more from yourself - expanding and learning as you go - you're choosing a numb existence. You're denying yourself an extraordinary trip.” (Dean Karnazes)

Isn’t this true also of life and what Jesus challenges us with in the Gospels? Jesus always moved beyond his comfort zone. He always demanded more of himself and those around him. He always asked those who would listen, those who believed, to learn so they could expand their thinking and their life.

Jesus always wants to take us on an extraordinary trip so when we run let’s make sure we take him with us!

Happy Monday everyone! I trust you had a good weekend. I hope your favorite teams won throughout the weekend and if they didn’t, well there is always next time!

I hope you were able to find a little time for God and prayer over the weekend. I had a wonderful Saturday evening from 7pm till midnight. No internet, no cellphone, no TV, just some quite prayer time in our little chapel before the Blessed Sacrament. I prayed for all of you as I also prayed for peace in our world. Please do not stop praying for peace as we I have a long journey and many hearts to change in order to get there! Let’s us pray that our leaders choose the path of good and life as Jesus suggests in the Gospel today!(Luke 6:6-11)

Have a great Monday everyone and may you be blessed throughout this day with the gift of God’s grace to help you be the good person I know that you are! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 09/07/2013

Daily Thoughts: Here are some thoughts to consider as we perhaps take some time to stand in solidarity with Pope Francis today and pray for peace…

“Peace demands the most heroic labor and the most difficult sacrifice. It demands greater heroism than war. It demands greater fidelity to the truth and a much more perfect purity of conscience.” (Thomas Merton)

“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

These two quotes perhaps reflect a spirit that hopefully we as individuals, as a country and as a world can draw upon today and in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

Please take some time to pray for peace today. The craziness of culture, society and the world around us affects us all. The violence of evil makes its way into everyone’s life. When we pray for peace it in not just about war, it is about the way violence, conflict, evil and a loss of respect for life makes its way into all of our lives. We are all affected by the violence and the unrest of our world. It touches individuals, families, neighborhoods, friendships, communities, cites, nations and all aspects of life no matter how protected we think we are.

Peace demands heroic strength and faithfulness. A world at peace is truly what we want to leave the children of this, isn’t it?

Please join Pope Francis and join me today in making a sacrifice by offering something up or doing something special and praying all for the cause of peace. You don’t have to pray all day; you don’t have to give up anything for life. Just make a little sacrifice today and spend a little time in prayer. Believe me it will not cost much but it just might lead us to a better world!

Please know I will be praying with you and for you intentions today. As I said earlier in the week I will be praying before the Blessed Sacrament in our little chapel here in Pelham from 7 pm until midnight today. You and your intentions will be a part of my prayer as I join Pope Francis in praying for peace.

Daily Prayer:

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek

 to be consoled as to console,
 to be understood as to understand,
 to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
(Adapted from a the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi)

Runner’s Thought: “When you've had the perfect run, you've cleared your soul.”

(From Runner’s World Quote of the Day - Pat Monahan, lead singer of Train) I would say it doesn’t even have to be a perfect run; sometimes a really tough run or just an ordinary run can still be a way to clear your heart, mind and soul. And when you can clear your heart, mind and soul you are not far from peace!

Happy Saturday everyone! I know I haven’t been as consistent in posting each day and I really have no good reason, just being a little lazy the last week or so!

I hope life is going well for all of you these early days of September. While I have been lazy in certain parts of my life the weather has certain produced some energy in other parts of my life. It is a joy to run these days without oppressive humidity. I no longer return home like as if I ran through a rain storm! The change in weather has also helped my preparation for my three upcoming marathons which I desperately needed!

I need to send a shout out to the Wieck Clan as they gather to celebrate the second game of the new college football program at UNC Charlotte! Their first game was last week and they got a big win. Today they play Chowan (whoever they are) hopefully it will be another win. As I write the Wieck Clan probably just finished up their morning tailgate breakfast and are getting ready for kickoff! Go 49ers!

I hope the weather where you are has helped your energy too. I pray that life is going well for you and that the stress and struggles that are always a part of life are not too great for you these days. Please know that you are often in my thoughts and always in my prayers.

And don’t forget Monday is International Buy a Priest a Beer Day. All contributions for beer will be accepted!

And as I mentioned in my Daily Thoughts please take some time to pray for peace today. Believe me it will not be time waste! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 09/04/2013

Daily Thoughts: “We have never preached violence, except the violence of love, which left Christ nailed to a cross, the violence that we must each do to ourselves to overcome our selfishness and such cruel inequalities among us. The violence we preach is not the violence of the sword, the violence of hatred. It is the violence of love, of brotherhood, [of sisterhood,] the violence that wills us to beat weapons into sickles for work.” (Oscar A. Romero, The Violence of Love)

Jesus and Paul in our readings today (Colossians 1:1-8 and Luke 4:38-44) tell us that they have come to proclaim the Good News. They do it in different ways but their goal is always to bring the Good News to whomever they meet, whether it is the community of believers at Colossae or the people in Capernaum or the many towns beyond.

The Good News that Jesus and Paul bring is the same Good News brought by Bishop Oscar Romero many centuries later. It is the Good News of love. It is the Good News of the Cross. It is the Good news of community. It is the Good News of no more war!

I believe there comes a point in a believer’s life when we need to say enough. Enough violence! Enough war! Enough hate! Enough disrespect for life! If we are truly a great silent majority, if we truly want a world based on peace then it is time to say enough with one great voice! It is time to proclaim and live the Good News.

Daily Prayer:

Lord, take us where You want us to go;
Let us meet who You want us to meet;
Tell us what You want us to say; and
Keep us out of your way. Amen
(Adapted from a prayer by Fr. Mychal Judge)

Runner’s Thought: “There are no standards and no possible victories except the joy you are living while dancing your run. You are not running for some future reward-the real reward is now!” (Fred Rohe, The Zen of Running) And you are not running for some experience of God in the future when you run you are running with God now! So enjoy the company!

Uh Oh, Guess what day it is! Guess what day it is! Whoop Whooo! Yes, it is Wednesday…it is Hump Day! It is also only one more day until our new dishwasher comes! Whoop Whooo! And there is nobody happier than a camel and a house waiting for a new dishwasher today!

I hope all of you are find and survived your first day of school or work after the long Labor Day weekend. I hope you have gotten back into the swing of things wherever you are.

Once again I ask you to continue to pray for peace! As I mentioned yesterday I am going to take some time on Saturday to be in solidarity with Pope Francis and pray for peace. I will be fasting Saturday afternoon and evening, I hope to run 15 miles and I will be praying before the Blessed Sacrament for 7:00 pm until 12 midnight in our little chapel here in Pelham. I would ask all of you to do something special for peace on Saturday too. It doesn’t have to be anything long or involved. It can be simple and short, just do something different with an intention for peace.

Have a great Wednesday – Hump Day everyone and please know as always you are in my prayers! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 09/03/2013

Daily Thoughts: “Our duty, as men and women, is to proceed as if limits to our ability did not exist. We are collaborators in creation.” (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin)

This quote by the great philosopher, theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin came to mind as I was praying earlier day and making some final adjustments to a homily that I preached this morning to a high school faculty. The readings for the day (1Thess 5:1-6, 9-11 and Luke 4:31-37) speak about being a teacher and trusting in what we know and the gifts we have.

In his First Letter to the Thessalonians Paul is asking the community to trust in what they believe in, in other words to have faith. He points to the things going on around them, the uncertainly of their times and that some people are saying, “Peace and security,” in other words everything is fine, while others are say “ruin and disaster,” in other words, life is a mess! Paul says let’s trust in our relationship with God. Let’s be faith filled people and live life “as if limits to our ability [do] not exist.” Let work with God.

Jesus on the other hand in the Gospel is helping people to experience the gift of God in their lives. His teaching has power and authority. But what gives Jesus’ teaching so much power and authority? We might say it is because he is the Son of God and we would not be wrong. But I think Jesus’ teaching had power and authority because of how he treated people. In the Gospel today he expels a demon spirit so that a man can get on with his life. Over and over again Jesus takes people where they are and helps them to grow, to recognize the grace and presence of God in their lives.

Jesus knows that limits to our ability do not exist, because anything is possible with God. So let’s live this day in God’s presence. Let’s look beyond what appear to be our limits and let’s work with God to make a better world. Let’s be collaborators with God to bring about peace!

Daily Prayer:

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek

 to be consoled as to console,
 to be understood as to understand,
 to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
(Adapted from a the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi)

Runner’s Thought: “The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” (John Bingham) The miracle is also trusting in the presence of God, then finding, embracing and acknowledging that presence as we run!

Happy Tuesday everyone! And happy first day of school to all teachers and students who headed out the door this morning for the first time. I know there are many who have been at school for a while already, but here in New York today was the beginning in many places. I pray that all students and those who help them to learn and grow will have a great year!

I hope everyone else had a nice Labor Day weekend and that you were able to let go of work a little and just celebrate life with family and friends. It is hard to believe that it is already September. My how time flies when you are having fun!

In some ways I have a busy fall ahead of me in other ways I do not. Ministry in these next few months will be a little light unless I can pick up some last minutes jobs here and there but I do have a full schedule of running over the next three months. Three marathons in three months, now where was my brain when I thought this one up? I am nervous but also looking forward to the challenge as I close in on my 60^th birthday.

Just a reminder I will be running NYC Marathon in memory of my good friend Roseann Quinn who died two years ago. This will be the third time I have tried to run it in her memory so I am hoping three is a charm. You might remember Roseann died from cancer and I am running in her memory for Fred’s Team. The team raises money to help Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Hospital.  I have reached 84% of my goal of $10,000. I know many of you have already given over the last two years but if you haven’t or know someone who would like to give to please stop by my fundraising page - http://mskcc.convio.net/site/TR/FredsTeamEvents/Freds_Team?px=1984802&pg=personal&fr_id=1930

I certain appreciate any help you can give so that I can reach my goal!

Have a great Tuesday everyone! A big shout out to my niece Mindy who celebrates her birthday today – Have a Great Day Mindy!

And please join me in praying for peace in Syria, Egypt and everywhere else in the world where people wake up each day and have to live with violence. Pope Francis has asked us to fast and pray for peace on Saturday September 7^th. I will be fasting and praying before the Blessed Sacrament on Saturday from 7 pm until Midnight here in our little chapel in Pelham. I ask you to join me in spirit at some point during that time by giving up something a TV show, a football game, a baseball game or something, and spend just a little time in prayer. Let’s believe that all things are possible with God and so our prayer can make a difference.

Again, blessings today upon everyone! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 08/31/2013

Daily Thought: “You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.” (Thomas Merton)

Perhaps this is the spirit of today Gospel (Matt. 25:14-30) that we take the chance and invest our life. There are always risks involved but in the end wouldn't it be great to hear God say to us, "Well done good and faithful servant, come share my joy!"

Have a great day everyone! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul