Making a Joyful Noise through Lent 03/13/2014

Making a Joyful Noise through Lent – 03/13/2014

“The word of God constantly shows us how God challenges those who believe in him “to go forth”.” (Pope Francis – Evangelii Gaudium – The Joy of the Gospel)

Pope Francis’ words today remind us about what each and every page, story and word of the Gospel challenges us to be and do. Jesus was always asking us through his words and deeds to go forth. Pope Francis asks us to go forth with joy!

"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you," advice given by Jesus to his disciples, advice given to us today. What a different world it would be if we just followed this simple wisdom. I do not think there is a person among us who does not want good things to happen to them. Who does not want to be treated with respect and dignity? Who does not want to be valued for who they are? It is a basic human emotion, feeling and need. We want to be accepted, we want to be loved.

Yet over and over a scene is played out in our world today that runs counter to the wisdom Jesus gives us in the Gospel today. Just think of how many times and how many different ways each day we hear about, read about and even witness people disrespecting, belittling, devaluing, making fun of and hurting others, with words, actions, or in actions. Just think of all we endured leading up to any kind of national or local election. The millions of ads that attacked the other candidate, we rarely hear about how qualified or well suited somebody would be for an office we usually hear how bad the other person is or will be.

Just take a trip some time online through Facebook, Twitter or one of the other social media sights. Reading the comments at the bottom of some article or news story post on the internet and you will encounter, hate, bigotry and profound disrespect. We seem to be about tearing down not building up. If we take Jesus' words at face value it would seem we all want people to disrespect, dishonor and devalue us because that is the way we seem to treat others.

I think we need to remember that we value life because each of us, all of us, are born in the image and likeness of God. There is good in all of us. Perhaps we first need to find that goodness in ourselves and allow our words, our actions to originate from that goodness.

In the first reading Queen Esther (Esther C: 12, 14-16, 23-25) prays for God's help. In the Gospel (Matthew 7: 7-12) Jesus tells us to ask for God help. Today I am praying, I am asking God to help us see and concentrate on the goodness, the image and likeness of God within us, the joy of God within us, so that we may see it in others and continue the work of the prophets of old in making this world a better place , a joy filled place. Making it a world of respect, reverence, joy and love!

Have a great Thursday everyone and don’t forget to make a joyful noise today!

Daily Prayer: Gift us O God, with a spirit that always contemplates what is right, what is good, what is worthy, what is decent, what is honorable, what is joyful, what is of value, the goodness, within ourselves and others. Help us to treat all we meet in the same way we want to be treated. Grace us with patience when we are not. Enliven us with trust in you so that we will always have the strength to ask, seek and knock. Knowing that if we do we will always be given, we will always find and the door will always be open! Amen!

Runner's Thought: Let us run today with a spirit of gratefulness. Before beginning our run, let's declare our intention to look upon all we encounter with the freshness of the unexpected. It has been said that "surprise leads us on the path of gratefulness." So let us run with a sense of miraculous expectation and allow feelings of gratitude for the extraordinary and the ordinary to flow through our being!  Adapted from Roger Joslin

Daily Blessing: Have a great Thursday everyone! We finished the mission last night in Rockville, MD at St. Elizabeth Parish in a wonderful way except we did have a few anxious moments as the electricity went off in the midst of mass due to the very strong winds but it return in the moment or too. Again a great spirit and I now take that spirit with me as I ready myself to head out back to New York and my next mission in Pelham Manor on Saturday. Though before getting back on the road I will take a little break and visit with family in this area.

I hope your week has been going well and perhaps coming to an end in a good way so that you can enjoy the weekend ahead. For all those not having a good week, and I have heard a few story of people who are not, I am asking God for a special bless upon you today that things will turn around and that today will be a truly blessed day for you.

I pray today for God's blessing upon all of us, that the richness of God’s presence will touch our lives in many ways so that we can live to fullness of life in all we do and with all we meet. Remember within you is a treasure the treasure of God’s presence, trust yourself, find the goodness in yourself and live today with a joy filled heart! May God bless the gift that you are and everyone you meet! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul