Daily Thoughts: Today is the
feast of St. Mary Magdalene. She is referred to as the Apostle to the Apostles.
Mary was the first proclaimer of the resurrection a story we read today from
John’s Gospel (John 20: 1-2, 11-18). The interesting thing about Mary’s
encounter with Jesus is that at first she does not recognize him. You might
think that after following Jesus for so long it would be hard not to recognize
him.
Now some might say it was because of his
resurrected body but I think it was because Mary did not expect to see Jesus
alive. Have you ever been in a situation
when you did not expect to see someone? When the person surprises us with their
presence there always seems to be a moment when we don’t recognize them. They
haven’t changes, they are the same person but our eyes and brain just were not
expecting them. Then they do or say something that is familiar and we recognize
them. It doesn’t make sense and once we
realize our mistake, we wonder how we did not recognize her or him but yet it
happened.
The element of surprise can often catche
us off guard. Perhaps today that is a good way to think about the presence of
God in our life. We have a God of surprises and at any moment of our day God
can walk into our midst. Are we ready? Or will we miss the moment because we
are not expecting God to be there?
Through the intersession of St. Mary
Magdalene may we be open today to be surprised by God! Have a great Tuesday
everyone!
Daily Prayer: God of
surprises, we thank you for the gift of your presence in our life today. We
thank you for the way you bring us to new life in ways that surprise us,
liberate us, celebrate us and give us hope.
We ask you to be presence in our life
today; helping us to show that here and now, you are at work bringing healing,
wholeness, and justice and that by the grace of your Holy Spirit of love, we
your people may share in the surprising work of your presence today.
God surprise us today with your hope and
love that we may be your faith filled people who proclaim the Good News to a
world that does expect to encounter your love. Surprise us today, God! Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: Remember running
is an opportunity to search for God amid the commonplace, humdrum and ordinary
activities that most often occupy our life. That is ultimately the point of
meditative running – we are trying to find a way to mix the mundane with the
mystical, to blend the sacred with the profane, to find heaven on earth. If
running is sacred time to us then we have the opportunity to encounter the gift
of God while we run! (Adapted from Roger Joslin – Running the Spiritual Path)
Daily Blessing: Happy Tuesday
everyone! Sorry that I have been absent these last few days but I have been
under the weather, I guess it is a summer cold and I have been taking care of
my responsibilities here at the novena and laying low the rest of the time. The
novena here at St. Ann’s is in high gear. Please know that I have brought all
of the intentions that you have sent to me to my prayers at the novena each
day. If there are any new intentions that you would like to add please let me
know.
A special shout out to my newest grandniece
Natalie Ann (note it is Ann without the “e” I was mistaken in my earlier post.
I hope she is doing well in these first few days outside the womb and finding
life and family wonderful! Blessings upon Mom (Sarah) and Dad (Dominick) and
also upon Gram (Bernadette) as she assists in these early days of Natalie’s new
life! Please give the “Little One” a hug and kiss from me!
I hope you are having a good week. May
this Tuesday be one of many graces and blessings for you and those you love.
May God bless you today with many wonderful surprises so that you will know you
are loved and that you always make the world a better place by the gift of your
presence! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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