Daily Thoughts: "Let your
hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord!" This line from the Psalms came
to mind as I we reflecting on the Gospel (Mark 5:1-20) today. I have often
found this Gospel story a strange story. There are many layers to it: Jesus in
foreign territory; the man who lives among the tombs; the unclean spirits named
legion that are sent into the swine; the swine that throw themselves into the
sea; the fear for the people so much so that they ask Jesus to leave and
finally the man once possessed becoming a preacher of the Good News.
It seems that the possessed man in the
story is the only one who can take comfort in Jesus. He has struggled all his
life. He has been chained and broken out of the chains only to find little
peace. It is only Jesus who can finally free him totally. I think we all have
parts of ourselves that get possessed by the demons of life. Things that we
cannot let go of that hurt us in a personal way and sometimes even hurt the
people around us. We sometimes free ourselves only to be caught by them again.
Perhaps like the man in the story it is only through Jesus that we can find
comfort and hope.
Often as we live life we tell Jesus to
move on, to leave, we do not want our life disrupted even if it not going so
well. We likes things the way they are even if our life a awash with struggles,
chains, tombs and a lack of peace. Yet all of us have the opportunity to
recognize Jesus in our life and become free of the things that possess us but
first we need to overcome our fears and trust in God's presence. Trust that
change can be good.
May this day be one when we recognize
Jesus passing by and allow our hearts to find comfort and hope in his presence!
Have a great Monday everyone!
Daily Prayer: O God creator
of all good things, you are our light and our salvation, whom should we fear.
Loving God, you are the stronghold, the rock of our life, of whom should we be
afraid? Help us as we live this day to discern what is right, to take comfort
and to always hope in you. Guide us along your right path knowing that you are
always with us and you will never leave us to face life alone. Amen!
Runner's Thought: Let us try to
make our run a spiritual one today, remembering as we run God is our strength,
God is the breath we take, God is our footpath, and God is our finish line!
Daily Blessing: Snow, snow,
snow, snow, what a difference a day makes. We are up to about 5 inches so far
and we are on our way to 8-10 inches. If only this came yesterday it might have
made the game more interesting! Well friends, welcome to Monday! Let me first
say congrats to all Seahawks fans and condolences to all Broncos fans! I saw an
interesting fact on the internet this morning this day more than any other is when
the most people take a sick day or a personal day because of a Super Bowl. Well
today they can blame it on the weather! Also there is a movement by some to
make the day after the Super Bowl a National Holiday. Not sure I agree with
that, couldn't we just play the Super Bowl on Saturday evening. I think just as
many people would watch it!
I have to say I didn't party last night
and I didn't watch the game so I am up and ready to go! I have a busy day ahead
as in a few hours I will head over to our monastery in Jamaica Queens, New York
to begin the community retreat tonight. I will be giving the retreat there all
week and then I will head to Florida for two missions. So I have to get things
in order here because I will be away for three weeks. Much to do and I want to
get out of here earlier than I intended before the weather gets too bad!
So my prayer of blessing today will be a
simple one. If you are home or at work,
if you are dealing with bad weather or not I pray that this day will be one of
many blessings for you! If you are hung over but happy may the pain in your
head leave soon so you can enjoy being happy. If you are still crying in your
beer may today ultimately end in you finding some peace remember there is
always next year. I pray that today will be the beginning of a great week for
everyone! As you journey through this week take comfort and hope in God and let
God cast out the demons that might try to possess you! Blessings to all!
If you have a chance please offer a
prayer for the Passionist Community at our Immaculate Conception Monastery as
they enter into a time of retreat and also say a prayer for their preacher!
Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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