Daily Lenten Thoughts - 03/20/2013

Daily Thoughts: “…and the truth will set you free.” Simple words of Jesus in today Gospel if only we could follow them. Sometimes the truth is the last thing we choose to speak. We think it complicates life. We think it causes more problems. We think it often hurts more than it helps. We think it should only be used as a last resort only when there are no other options. The truth seems anything but free at times to us!

Yet throughout his life and ministry Jesus only spoke the truth and every time we walk into a church or a Catholic home and see a crucifix on the wall we are reminded of where the truth got Jesus. We are reminded of the price he paid for coming into this world to speak the truth. We are reminded just how much God loves us.

Perhaps a different way of thinking about Jesus’ words in the Gospel today is that the truth has set us free. If only we would embrace it. If only we would follow the example of the three young men in Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace. If only we would realize the freedom that living by the truth means for our lives, the gift that it can be to ourselves and the world and the hope that it brings to life.

May we have the courage to speak and live the truth like the three young men and may the truth truly set us free to be the people God has created us to be!

Daily Lenten Prayer: O God of compassion, touch our hearts this day with the spirit of your truth. Grace us with strength so that we might stand in the midst of the fire of life with a faith ground in your Word, a hope enlivened by your truth and freedom grounded in your love. Amen!

Runner’s Thought: When we run in a spiritual way, we are brought into the process of God-ing. Meaning as we run we are not moving toward God but interacting with God along the way. Our run becomes a direct physical, emotional and spiritual way of becoming who we are, our authentic selves. In the process we open up vast and unlimited opportunities to connect with God in new, life giving ways!

Happy Wednesday everyone! Yes, it is “hump day” once again. I have to say when I am on the road the weeks seem to go rather fast! Today will be a busy day, I will not only be finishing up my mission here at Good Shepherd with a morning and evening service but I will head over to Manhattan, to St. Malachy's Church, this afternoon to tape two masses for the Sunday Mass. I was up to the wee hours of this morning trying to collect my thoughts and come up with two homilies. So I am starting the day on very little sleep please pray for me today. I want to do my best!

I hope and pray your day is not as busy. May you encounter many good people today and have may good experiences. May your day be rich in God’s blessings! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul