Daily Lenten Thoughts - 03/16/2013

Daily Thoughts: We are reminded today that Jesus really never had a chance with the religious leadership of his time, prophets never fared well no matter where they came from but the thought that Jesus came from Galilee sealed the deal. The religious leadership had made their judgment and nothing was going to change it, not even one of their own, Nicodemus calling for justice.

Jesus throughout his ministry cautioned about making judgments. He healed, taught, forgave, showed compassion and asked us to love even our enemies. His parables always reflected ways to live and not to live. They always reflected a relationship with God so that people could understand the presence of God in their life. He showed compassion to all and forgave sinners. All of this was too much for the religious leadership of his time. Jesus' way did not fit into their view of the world, their way of living in the world. They were prejudice in the case of place, they didn't like Galilee but at other time their prejudice took on different forms. The prejudices that we allow to make a home in us can often be the very thoughts and actions that judge us!

Jesus and Jeremiah became the trusting lambs led to the slaughter. They never had a chance because their message was of God not the world. Their actions, their teachings, their lives give us examples of how to trust and hope in God's love. They help us to look at life through the eyes of faith not the eyes of prejudice.

As we enter this day let us be aware of how we often judge people without listening to their story, without knowing who they really are. Let us trust in the presence of God that every person can bring to us. Let us be people of justice, truth, compassion and love. Let us be open to finding God's presence, God's goodness everywhere.

Daily Lenten Prayer: Compassionate God, make us channels of your faith, hope, love and peace. Grace us with hearts open to your loving presence in all that we meet. Help us with your wisdom so that we might let go of our judgments, our prejudices, and our condemnations. May we be people with generous hearts always rich in a harvest of compassion, mercy and love. Amen!

Runners' Thought: Remember if we have the desire to run with God, then the specifics of the techniques used do not matter very much just keep hold of the desire and God will be with you!

Happy Saturday everyone! If you are in New York Happy St. Patrick's Day as the parade will take place today so in a way you have two days to celebrate. I hope where ever you are and whatever you will be doing this weekend you will have a little chance to celebrate the Irish in all of us!

I head out later this afternoon to begin a mission at Good Shepherd Parish in the Marine Park section of Brooklyn. Once again if you are in the area stop in and celebrate with us this week. The mission service will be at 7:30 pm on Monday through Wednesday. I will also be celebrating the 11 am daily mass those days. Please keep the faith community at Good Shepherd and their preacher in your prayers!

Have a great Saturday everyone. I hope you will get some time to rest and relax. I also hope you will be spending time with people you love. Peace...Fr. Paul

Daily Lenten Thoughts - 03/15/2013

Daily Thoughts: There seems to be much more tension between Jesus and the people in John's Gospel than in the other three. Certainly in these closing days of Lent as we read John's Gospel we are made aware of the struggle most likely between Jesus and the religious leadership.

The leadership seems to be drawing upon tradition and Jesus seems focuses on the moment, the work that needs to be done. The leadership seems to be living out the words that we hear in the reading from the Book Wisdom today about the wicked ones. They don't like what Jesus is saying. His words are challenging and demanding in a way that is difficult for people who have settled into a routine of life. Who have found a comfort zone that they do not want disturbed.

Are not we all like these religious leaders at times. We find a comfort zone, a routine to life and then we become angry when someone or something comes along and disturbs us, challenges us. It is particularly difficult when we somehow know that the person, the challenge, is right but we just do not want to change. We want to stay in our comfort zone and so we begin to find things wrong with the person, the place or the situation. If we can convince ourselves that we are right and they are wrong then all will be well.

The religious leaders try to do that today in the Gospel, the wicked ones try to do that in the Book of Wisdom and certainly from time to time we try to do it in our own lives. We cannot change the religious leaders of Jesus' time; we cannot change the wicked ones from the Book of Wisdom. These examples are history and told to us today so that we might not repeat their actions. Yes, our challenge is always to recognize God in our midst even if it means letting go of our comfort zone, even if it means changing our perspective, even if it means finding the truth in another.

We pray today Lord Jesus, be close to us because we do not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from your mouth! We live on the gift of your presence and the hope that it brings to life.

Daily Lenten Prayer: St. Augustine tells us that understanding is the reward given by faith so we should not try to understand in order to believe, but we should believe in order to understand. So we pray to you our loving God for the grace that will help us to always believe. Enliven us when we are weak with the strength to believe in your healing way and so that we may always live a holy way of life. Grant us the wisdom to recognize your presence in our lives that comes from within us and others. Be always near to us that when necessary we may take comfort in your love! Amen!

Runner's Thought: Remember the little miracles of God that we encounter during a run are not because we finish but are because we find the courage to begin!

Happy Friday everyone! Sorry if you came looking for my thoughts and prayers yesterday and found none, to be honest I took the day off. I guess you could say I was mentally tired. It is not that I didn't pray or have a few thoughts but I just couldn't sit down and put them on paper. I needed a day just to relax, I hope you didn't mind.

My mission in Stony Point, NY ended very nicely on Wednesday evening. We had a good crowd for the closing and we ended with a good spirit that hopefully will help us to continue our journey of faith. I stayed the night in Stony Point and then came home yesterday morning. I will be gathering my things together today once again so that I can head out again tomorrow for a mission at Good Shepherd Parish in Brooklyn, NY. If you are in the Brooklyn area near Marine Park why not stop in and join us. I will be preaching all the masses Saturday and Sunday and then the mission will be Monday through Wednesday in the morning at 11:00 am and in the evening at 7:30 pm.

I hope everyone has had a good week. If not I hope you will have an easy Friday that will lead you into a relaxing and restful weekend. We are entering the final two weeks of Lent which will bring us to the wonderful days of the Triduum and Easter. I will truly be praying for all of you during these days. May this year's Holy Week and Easter be filled with many graces and blessings for you and those you love. Have a peaceful Friday and a restful weekend. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul

Daily Lenten Thoughts - 03/13/2013

Daily Thoughts: There is a thread running through our two readings today it is the thread of intimacy and relationship. In the first reading from Isaiah we hear almost Advent like images of how God enters our life and help us to make the journey home. We hear how much God desires a relationship with us and how far God is willing to go for that relationship. There is the famous image in the reading about the child in the mother’s womb and even if that mother were to forget about the child God will not forget about the child and us.

In the Gospel it is John’s image of the relationship between the Father and the Son. Throughout John’s entire Gospel we constantly hear about the intimate relationship that Jesus has with the Father. If you see Jesus you are looking at the Father. The two are inseparable, they work together. They know each other’s thoughts, words and actions. We are invited to have this same kind of relationship with Jesus and the Father.

Intimacy is something we all want, something we all need but it is something many of us find difficult because of what it demands of us. It demands commitment, time, energy and a willingness to be truthful and honest. It demands a willingness to see the good in others and to understand their struggles, their faults and failings. Intimacy means we are willing to stand by the other even when it is not easy, even when it is not popular.

Much talk time and print space has been given to celibacy and chastity in recent years, some of it positive and much of it negative. Being one who has tried to live this vow I know that the most difficult part is intimacy and I am not just talking about physical intimacy. I think we all have a great need, desire, longing for and deep connection with another, a person to share our joys, fears, sadness, struggles, triumphs, feelings and love. We want that soul friend who knows us, understands us, values us, forgives us and loves us no matter what and yet whether celibate or not this friend is hard to find.

Many of the great saints talk about finding this relationship after a long struggle with God. I am not a great saint so my struggle for intimacy goes on. It is a great need in everyone’s life and sometimes it is a life-long search. For me there is always sadness when I see this intimacy devalued or absent. When I see a mother or a father forget their child, either through abuse, neglect or when their life become so self-centered they don’t make the connection. I am also encouraged and hopeful when I see the wonderful gift of intimacy at work in the lives of people, when they don’t forget!

Throughout Lent we have been reminded that living a life of faith demands looking beyond ourselves, it demands being other oriented. Relationships and intimacy are the way we can keep ourselves focus on others, focused on God. Let us live the journey of life today open to the gifts that others can bring to our lives!

Daily Lenten Prayer: O God, you call us to be in love with you just as you are in love with us. Give us the grace to not be afraid of your gifts of love and mercy in our lives. Help us not to fear your invitation to intimacy and may we never hesitate to share your love with another. Grant us the strength to never forget the tenderness of your loving presence and to trust that you will bring us home. Amen!

Runner’s Thought: Today, finish your run with a burst of speed no matter how far you have run. As you run all out those last few steps imagine receiving a greeting from God. God embraces you and holds you as you catch your breath. God offers a few good words to welcomes you home.

Happy Wednesday, “Hump Day” everyone or as the TV people are calling it “Super Tuesday of the Conclave,” I am not sure why a Wednesday becomes a Super Tuesday rather than a “Super Wednesday” but then I don’t work for the media. All I know is that I have not received any calls as of yet, I even checked my phone this morning to make sure it was still working. I certainly don’t want to hold things up because they can’t get a hold of me!

I hope you are having a good day. I know some of you probably have one eye on your work and the other eye on the chimney at the corner of the TV screen. I forgot to check whether someone has invented and app for the phone so that you know whether is it white or black smoke without watching TV. I am not worried, for once in my life, I am just waiting for the call.

Well enough dreaming back to work. We had a nice closing celebration of the mission this morning and now I am waiting to celebrate the closing mass this evening, I will head home tonight and have a couple of days at home before heading out on Saturday again to begin a new mission in Brooklyn. My prayers are with everyone today that you all have many blessings today and a day without too much stress! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Lenten Thoughts - 03/12/2013

Daily Thoughts: I have a few disjointed thoughts this morning. First there is a one striking thing about today's Gospel for me; it is the fact that the man whom Jesus approaches is alone. He says he has no one to help him. No one to get him to the water, he finds himself alone unable to get to the waters of life. How often do we feel alone in life. We have that feeling that we are out there on a limb by ourselves. There is no one to help, no one to lean on, and no one to help us get to where we want to go. Like the man in the gospel today we can be surrounded by a world of people and yet still feel alone.

In those moments perhaps it is only God who makes the difference. We perhaps are not dramatically healed as the man in the story but when we let God enter our life, life does become better. We encounter the gifts of life; we get places that seemed impossible to get to before. With God in our life being part of the world, be a part of the community is not only possible it happens.

Another aspect of our readings today is the element of water. Ezekiel and the man in the Gospel encounter the healing power of water. They are each aware of its importance in for life. They each become aware of the presence of God in life that water represents.

Our readings today remind us of the value of God's presence in our lives. God's presence never leaves us to face life alone. God's presence is life giving, refreshing and life sustaining. As the verse for the responsorial psalm says, God is with us and God is our stronghold our support.

As we live this day let us be aware of the many ways that God enters our life. Let us be aware of the many ways in which God does not leave us alone and the many ways God sustains and refreshes our life. Let us be thankful and not fear because is ever with us and will never leave us to face life alone!

Daily Lenten 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 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 for 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.  From Thomas Merton --- Thoughts in Solitude

Runner's Thought: Perhaps as we run today we too should choose the road less traveled: the road of awareness as we run, the road of revelation as we run, the road of intention as we run, the road of mindfulness as we run, the road of imagination as we run, the road of prayer as we run. Today let's pick a road we have not traveled lately and let it make a difference in our life today!

Happy Beginning of the Conclave Day everyone! For those of you who are not Catholic and are tired of all this Catholic news take comfort in the fact that it will soon be over. Now if you don't hear from me over the next few days then it probably means I have been called to Rome. I will be keeping my cellphone with me at all times these days because you never know when they might listen to the Holy Spirit and thus be giving me a call. For all of you that might find my elevation to pope problematic no worries the Pittsburgh Pirates will win a World Series long before that ever happens! I am not on the cardinal's radar, none of them even know my name so you can rest easy world!

It is an exciting time though and we should keep the cardinals in our prayers as they try to discern the Holy Spirit's promptings and find a person who can lead the Church at this time in history. I pray for a pope open to the spirit of a God, a true shepherd and servant who cares about all people! I pray that the cardinals will find such a person.

I hope your Tuesday is starting out ok. We had a nice opening to the mission here at Immaculate Conception Parish both in the morning and evening. I am looking forward to the second day as it will begin in just about an hour. There is a good spirit here and we are truly walking by faith these days!

I pray for blessings upon your today where ever you are and whatever you will be doing. May today be a productive and peaceful one for you. May today be rich in the presence of God and may that presence help you to know that even in the most difficult times of struggle that you are not alone. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul

Daily Lenten Thoughts - 03/11/2013

Daily Lenten Thoughts: Jesus words in the Gospel today are as true for us as they were for the people of Jesus’ time, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” We are always looking for signs and wonders. If I pray to the Blessed Mother and my prayer is answered I will believe. If I pray to St. Jude and my prayer is answered I will be believe. If my friend, my family member is cured of cancer I will believe. If the Blessed Mother, one of the saints, if God would just appear to me and tell me what to do I would believe.

We are always chasing miracles, apparitions something extraordinary and if we can just find one, experience one, we will believe. Or will we? There were many people during Jesus’ time who saw him heal or raise someone from the dead and did not believe or only believe for a short time. Take his disciples as an example, all of the things they saw, all of the experiences they had with Jesus and yet they still ran away. They still betrayed him. They still denied him. Belief is not easy and signs and wonders are not the cure. Living and believing every day requires work. Putting time into our relationship with God, prayer, good works, care and attention to others, especially those in need are what will make faith, belief possible.

There are signs and wonders going on around us every day. The sun rises and sets. People do good things for others. God is present in nature, people and us. We just have to stop and take notice. We have to be will to stop and look at the ordinary things around us because they will make the extraordinary possible.

God desires nothing but happiness for our lives as we hear in the words of Isaiah today. The only thing that gets in God’s way is us! There was a commercial a while back, I think for an insurance or investment company and it open with a person doing something kind for another person. Someone saw the gesture and did something nice or kind for another person. The commercial continued with one act of kindness after another until it came full circle back to the original person that the original act of kindness. Signs and wonders are going on around us every day all we have to do is stop and take notice. If we do – faith, belief in God will be much easier!

Daily Lenten Prayer: Loving God, be always with us in times of stress and struggle. Help us to know that you are close even when we cannot feel your presence. Grace us with wisdom to always know that you are there helping us and watching over us. As St. Paul says, “nothing in heaven and on earth can separate us from your love.” Help us to believe and live St. Paul’s words. Enliven our hearts with faith and hope in your love today and always! Amen!

Runner’s Thought: When you finish your run today, take a moment to reflect on the sense of God’s presence that you felt as you ran. Try to carry this presence with you as you go through the rest of this day and into tomorrow.

A Monday greeting to all! I hope everyone had a nice weekend, that you got a little rest and relaxation and that you are looking forward to a good weekend. If not you are in my prayers! My weekend preaching went well and in just about an hour we will begin three days of mission here at Immaculate Conception Parish in Stony Point, NY. Met some retreatants from Riverdale here over the weekend it was nice to see some familiar faces. I think it will be a good three days of mission the people seemed enthusiastic. Again I ask for your prayers for the faith community here and their preacher.

I guess you can say all eyes are on Rome this week as we await the conclave to begin and the election of a new pope. While there seems to be a lot of speculation on who the next pope will be the one great thing about this election is that we do not have to endure years of endless negative campaign ads and negative commentary on the campaigns! My prayers are with the cardinals and their task and I remain hopeful they will find a person who will lead the Church in a compassionate and loving way!

May everyone have a great Monday with blessings upon all you do and upon everyone you meet! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Lenten Thoughts - 03/10/2013

Daily Thoughts: We seem to be in the forgiveness mode of Lent these days. Yesterday we had the Pharisee and the tax collector at prayer and today we have perhaps the most famous of all Gospel parables the Parable of the Forgiving Father. In each story we are asked to recognize God’s forgiveness which is always available to us.

As I was reading the parable of the Forgiving Father for probably the 1000 plus time something new jumped out at me. As I was reading about the older son suddenly St. Paul’s words from his Letter to the Romans echoed in my mind. Towards the end of Chapter 8 in Romans St. Paul talks about nothing separating us from God’s love. He goes through a litany of things that we might think would separate us from God’s love but in the end St. Paul says nothing will ever separate us from God’s love. In using that passage for my own personal prayer and at time for preaching I have always thought that St. Paul left out one thing. There is one thing that can separate us from God’s love, ourselves!

The older son separates himself from his father’s love, no one or nothing else does. The younger son separates himself from his father’s love but is humble enough to recognize his mistake and return. The older son continues to stand outside as the story ends and as I always tell people if someone is outside at the end of one of Jesus’ parables they are not in a good place.

In the second reading today St. Paul tells the Corinthians to always be reconciled to God, in other words, do not let yourselves stand between yourself and God’s love! Like the younger son let’s see your faults, our failings and our struggles. Let’s return home to our loving God and be reconciled. If we do God will create something new with us!

Daily Lenten Prayer: O God of compassion and forgiveness, grace us with your gift of hope. Help us to be your new creations proclaiming the Good News. As your ambassadors of reconciliation may we bring your healing and reconciliation to others just as Jesus brought healing and reconciliation to us. Welcome us this day into your presence and bless us with you wondrous love! Amen!

Runner’s Thought: Run in the presence of God. In order to do this, as you run, simply imagine God is with you constantly on the run. It does not matter how you image God. Just take whatever image of God you have and allow that image to accompany you on your run.

Have a blessed and holy Sunday everyone! I hope you set your clocks ahead one hour last night, if not I would guess you are running a little late as you read this or are a bit frustrated at being late for something today. If so just relax it is only one day and hopefully by now you are caught up. I did miss the hour of sleep last night but I will catch up later today.

I began the mission here at Immaculate Conception Parish in Stony Point, NY by preaching the 5:30 pm Saturday evening mass and I will be preaching the 7:30 am, 9:30 am and 11:30 am masses today. If you are in the area come join us from Monday to Wednesday in the morning 8:30 am or in the evening at 7:30 pm as we celebrate a time of mission. Please keep the faith community and their preacher in your prayers,

My thoughts and prayers are with the cardinals in Rome these days. I truly hope they will pick a good person who will lead us into a new grace filled and  spirited time. My prayers are also with Fr. Edward as he does his reporting from Rome for CNN.

Have a great Sunday everyone, relax a little and enjoy the day where ever you are. Please know you are in my prayers always especially during this holy time! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul