Daily Thoughts - 05/11/2013

Daily Thought: Dorothy Day once said, “One must constantly recall the necessity to grow in confidence in God.…Trust that prayers will be answered. Maybe not as we want but as others need it to be.” Perhaps in other words our faith is not always about ourselves and God, but about others and God.

In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles today (Acts 18:23-28) Apollos is pulled aside and helped by Priscilla, Aquila and other in his ministry. Yes, he is an eloquent speaker but a stronger relationship with God is necessary so that he can help others with his gifts.  Jesus in the Gospel today (John 16:23b-28) continues to remind us of the need to ask in his name. In other words pray in his name so that what is needed, what is desire, will be received.

But what does it mean to ask in Jesus’ name? It means to pray like Jesus. Jesus prayed always looking beyond himself to others. Jesus prayed not for his own will but for the Father’s will. Our prayer, our relationship with God must always look beyond ourselves to others. We need to be about God’s will not our own.

Perhaps in the spirit of Dorothy Day, our challenge today is to grow in our relationship with God, trust that relationship and realize that our prayers will be answered not always as we want but as others need them to be!

Daily Prayer: O God, we seek the unity of our lives in you. Help us by the power of your Son’s Passion, Death and Resurrection to trust in your presence. May our prayers find their way into your heart. Helps us to trust that you will answer them not so that our will be done but your will. Grace us with hearts that look beyond ourselves to others. Help us to be people of hope who by our words and deeds strive to foster awareness of the meaning and value of each person as gifts for the life of the world. Amen!

Runner’s Thought: As we run today let us focus our attention on whatever presents itself to us during each moment of our run. Remembering that God can speak to us directly through each sight, sound and smell!

Happy Saturday everyone! It is cloudy with rain in the air here in Pelham today. Some might say it is a nice day just to stay and bed and sleep. I tried that but I guess I have had a enough sleep so I am trying to get caught up with some reading and writing. The house is quiet as I am the only one home today.

I hope you are having a good day wherever you might be. I pray it might be a day filled with the blessings of family and friends. That whatever you are doing will bring joy, laughter and peace to your life. Enjoy friends and know you are always in my prayers! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Hope in the Risen Lord…Fr. Paul