Daily Thoughts - 01/30/2014

Daily Thoughts: As I was preparing for my ministry over the next few months last night I ran across a section from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 10:23-25) that gave me pause for thought. "Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy. We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works... [and] encourage one another." Our life needs to be about hope and encouragement not judgment, finger pointing, hate and exclusion. We believe and we hold on to that belief because we have hope in God presence in our life and in our world after all that is God's promise to us!

Then as I read today’s Gospel (Mark 4: 21-25) I think Jesus puts what I read last night in Hebrews a little differently. In his wonderful image of a lamp the question is asked, do we hide it, the light or do we put it on a stand and let it fill the whole room? The light, the gift of God needs to be placed on a stand. It needs to be made visible by the way we live our life, by the way we treat others and by the way we trust the promises of God!

Remember as Jesus tells us today, "The measure with which you measure will be measured out to [us]." So let's be the light on the stand in the middle of the room today. Let's be the one who rouses everyone else to love and good works. Let's be the one who trusts in the promises of God and thus bring the gift of hope to all we meet this day!

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, you have promised to remain forever with us, may we always trust in this promise and allow it to be the light of hope that guides our every action today and always. May we always be your light on the stand in the middle of the room that through our good works and the hopeful living of our life we may bring your loving presence to the all we meet. Amen!

Runner's 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!

Daily Blessing: I hope you are all having a productive Thursday. Remember the weekend is not far away and if you are a sports fan the Super Bowl is upon us. It looks like the NFL is going to luck out with the temperatures in the 40’s and 30’s for the game and no precipitation. I still think having the game in a cold weather site with no dome is dumb but they didn’t ask me so life goes on. 

I am spending this week preparing for a long run of ministry beginning next week with a retreat to the brothers and priests at our monastery in Jamaica, New York. I will be on the road from next Monday until the Thursday before Palm Sunday. So please know you will be in my prayers throughout my ministry on the road. I ask that you keep me and the many faith communities that I will be visiting and celebrating with in your prayers. 

As you wonder through this day keep the energy high and don't let the everyday struggles get you down. I pray today that God will bless us all with much hope, strong faith and many measures of love! Enjoy the day, stay warm, be safe and above all may God bless your day! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul

PS A special shout out to Joan and Jurek on your birthdays today. Have a great day!