Daily Thoughts - 12/16/2015

Daily Thoughts: As I read the first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 45: 6c-8, 23c-25) early this morning a song by Fr. John Foley, S.J. came to mind. The song is “Turn to Me.” The refrain for the song comes right out of our first reading today, “Turn to me, oh turn and be saved says the Lord for I am God. There is no other, none beside me, I call your name.” Isaiah tells us today that there is one God, who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. There is no other, and the best thing we can do is to turn to God, acknowledge our creator, and praise our God with all our heart. If we do this Isaiah tells us, we will be saved.

In our Gospel today from Luke (Luke 7:18b-23) we encounter a scene between Jesus and two of John the Baptist disciples who have been sent to ask Jesus if he is the one that they are waiting for or should they look for another. Jesus simple says look around, tell John what you see happening. Those who cannot see, see, those who cannot hear, hear, people are being cursed, people cannot walk, now walk, marvelous things are happening! In other words, the one God that Isaiah has told us about in the first reading, has brought forth a savior for his people. And those who acknowledge him will be blessed.

Each Advent we wait, but perhaps like John we know we have found the answer.  We know that Jesus is the one to come and we do not have to look any other. We just have to “turn and be safe” for we know our God and are blessed in this knowledge.

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Daily Prayer: God of mercy, save us. You who have the power save us all. Give us counsel in our times of anxiety, help us in our times of trial, give us comfort when we are persecuted, and give us strength to hold off the challenges and temptations of the world. Grant us pardon, for our faults, our failings, our sins. Renew in us our faith so that we will always know that you alone are our God and there is no other. We make this prayer through Christ our Savior. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: “The reason we race isn't so much to beat each other, but to be with each other.” (Christopher McDougall) So to in the spiritual life…The reason we believe, we have faith and worship within a community of believers is not to be better than but to be with each other on the journey of faith.

Daily Blessing: Wednesday greetings and blessings to all. I hope your “Hump Day” has started off well. Here in Pelham it looks to be another sunny day but on the cooler side. I hope wherever you are the gift of God’s creation will help you in your journey through this day.

I am a bit down today because I undertook a painting project in the house yesterday and it didn’t turn out so good. I have no clue what I did wrong. It was a very frustrating day and now I get to what up each day and be reminded of it!

I would also ask your prayers today for one of God little people. Her name is Abigail, and she went through a surgery yesterday and she is only a little over a year old. She made it through alright but it was still a difficult experience. Please keep Abigail in your prayers. Ask God for his merciful healing for her so that she can continue to smile as she always does!

My prayer of blessing for all of us today is – Loving God, through the gift of your presence during this new day in our lives help us as we walk amid passing things to always love the things of heaven and hold fast to what endures. Bless us all with your gifts of mercy and hope that we may bring your presence to whomever we meet and to every place we go! Amen! Blessings to all today, travel safely and enjoy the gift of this day. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 12/15/2015

Daily Thoughts: “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.” (Thomas Merton)

I thought of this quote from Thomas Merton as I read our readings today. Zephaniah (3: 1-2, 9-13) reminds us that no matter much we think of ourselves, there is someone greater in the life than humanity. And in our Gospel (Matthew 21: 28-32) Jesus confronts us with the question, what is more important the words we speak or the actions through which we live?

Merton reminds us that it comes down to being grateful. If we are grateful for our live, for the people we encounter, for everything that is around us then we know something, someone is greater. If we have gratitude then we are open to the wonder and grace of God. If we are grateful then our actions will always be a positive response to what we are ask to do and whom we are ask to be.

Thus the key word for our journey through this Tuesday and every day is gratitude. May we truly be grateful for life today because that will make all the difference!

Have a great Tuesday filled with joy, mercy and gratitude everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, creator of all the times and seasons of our lives. Grace us with a faith this day that is grounded in the characters of our lives who have made it possible for us to be the women and men we are today. Gift us with the wisdom to remember the stories of our life and help us to live the story of today and make you present once again. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Your body will argue that there is no justifiable reason to continue. Your only recourse is to call on your spirit, which fortunately functions independently of logic.” (Tim Noakes) Thankfully our spirits run on faith, hope, love and the presence of God!

Daily Blessing: Tuesday greetings and blessings to all. I hope your day is starting off well and that you will have a good day. Here in Pelham is seems to be the beginning of a beautiful sunny day and once again it will be on the mild side. We have been blessed with a very mild December so far and rather than worry about what eventually is to come, winter I am just enjoying what is here! Wherever you are I hope you are enjoying the gift of whatever this day brings to your life.

I pray for God’s blessing on all of us today. May God enliven our spirits and enable us to bring the Good News in word and deed wherever we go and to whomever we meet. May we travel safe, live this day in God presence and rest this night in God’s peace. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 12/14/2015

Daily Thoughts: In the book, Thoughts in Solitude, Thomas Merton writes, “If our life is poured out in useless words, we will never hear anything, never become anything, and in the end, because we have said everything before we had anything to say, we shall be left speechless at the moment of our greatest decision.”

Merton’s words remind me of the chief priests and elders in the Gospel today. They always had a lot to say to and about Jesus. They constantly questioned him, trying to catch him in a “slip of the tongue.” Yet, in today’s Gospel they were left speechless.

I have always thought these religious leaders were not bad people. They were just fearful people. They were people afraid to stop long enough to listen, to hear and to recognize God’s gift in their midst because it might mean they would have to change.

Perhaps our reflection today might be to ask ourselves if we are willing to stop and listen. Each day we encounter God in many ways. Are we like the chief priests and elders afraid to listen to, and acknowledge God’s presence? Are we afraid that if we do we might have to change?

Advent can be a busy time, lots of things to do before Christmas. Do we dare stop the rush and take some time to listen, to hear, to recognize God’s presence? Let’s hope so because if we do this just might be one of the greatest moments in our life!

Have a great day everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, teach us to take the time listen today. Help us to recognize your presence in our life. Guide us always in your way of truth, mercy, joy and love. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: “If we push on, we begin to feel a vague, tingling sense of who, or what, we really are. It's a powerful feeling, strong enough to have us coming back for more, again and again.” (Adharanand Finn) Doesn’t this quote speak about life and faith also? Doesn't it speak to God’s presence in our life?

Daily Blessing: Monday greetings and blessings to all! It is a foggy morning here in Pelham. The experts say we will have a rainy but mild day. You know what they say into everyone’s life a little rain must fall. It is just 11 days until Christmas – so let's make it 11 days of wonder rather than 11 days of worry and stress!

I hope this finds you all well and energized for a new day. I got my Christmas Cards in the mail yesterday and finished decorating the house. So life is pretty good in this part of the world if I do say so myself.

Later today I will be heading up to St. John and St. Mary Parish in Chappaqua, NY to help with confession this afternoon and evening. This is Reconciliation Monday in the Archdiocese of New York and all the parishes are offering confessions from 4 – 8 pm today. If you are in the Chappaqua area stop in and I assure you, you will have a compassionate confessor. For everyone else remember reconciliation can be a great way to pause and put our life into perspective. It is an outward sign of God’s mercy, flowing from the life of Christ, giving us grace! It is worth the time.

I will adapt a prayer from mass today as our blessing prayer for today – Loving God, through the gift of your presence during this new day in our lives help us as we walk amid passing things to always love the things of heaven and hold fast to what endures. Bless us all with your gift of hope that we may bring your presence to whomever we meet and to every place we go! Amen! Blessings to all today, travel safely and enjoy the gift of this day. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul