Daily Thoughts - 10/20/2014

Daily Thoughts: We often think when we hear stories like the one about the “Rich Fool” in today’s Gospel (Luke 12: 13-21) that Jesus doesn’t like those who are rich and that is not true. When Jesus talks about wealth, possessions, status and power it is not to condemn them but merely to challenge all who find themselves in possessions of them. Jesus wants to know what we are going to do with what we possess. Do we use wealth, possessions, status and power to make ourselves comfortable or do we use them to help others? What we do with what we have is always the question.

As Jesus points out today, we cannot take it with us. As a friend of mine always says, “You never see a U-Haul behind a hearse!" In other words you cannot take it with you so what are you going to do with it?

Pope Francis is constantly challenging us to care about the poor, the needy, the less fortunate, the immigrants and the struggling. This challenge is nothing new it has been part of our faith from the beginning. Care and concern for the poor flows out of the Gospel. It is the same message that Jesus presents today. In the early Church the question of those in need was always part of the Church's focus. Pope Francis is just reminding us of what Jesus has said all along.

As Passionists, St. Paul of the Cross wanted us to be called “The Poor of Jesus.” He wanted us to seek out all those struggling in in the Passion of Jesus. Our Rule, our Constitutions of Life, talk about our option for the poor. They should be our first concern, especially those who encounter the Passion of Jesus in their life today.

Wealth, power, possessions and status are not evil. They are not counter to the Gospel; unless we fail to share, unless we only think of ourselves, unless we let injustice and poverty go unchallenged. Do we use the gifts, talents, possessions, wealth and power to make the world for all people a better place? In other words by living our life are we rich in what matters to God?

Have a great day everyone! And Happy Feast of St. Paul of the Cross to all my Passionist sisters and brothers!

Daily Prayer:

Lord Jesus, for how many ages have You remained imprisoned upon Your cross and still we pass You by, ignoring You? How often have we overlooked Your tender presence in our life, paying little attention to Your great sorrow, Your pain, Your powerful Love? How often have we, by our ignorance added to Your sorrow, deepened Your pain and refused Your Love?

You constantly stretch forth Your hands  to re-create us, to touch us with Your love, and still we close our eyes to Your presence and force you to remain imprisoned upon Your cross!

Our names are written in Your heart forever and You will not allow us to run from Your love.

Jesus, you have loved us with an everlasting love reflected in the power and compassion of Your cross.  Let the love that flows from Your cross surround us, break down the walls of our fear, enliven our faith and fill our hearts with hope.

Lord Jesus Christ crucified, teach us how to love as You have loved, even to the cross. May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts.  Amen!

(Adapted from a Passionist Prayer)

A Runner’s Thoughts: We need to always remember that there are different forms of prayer, of communication with God and that they are possible in everything we do, even when we run. So as I have often said, let us allow our runs to be a prayer – a prayer of thanksgiving, a prayer of petition or intercession, a prayer of praise, a prayer of struggle, or a prayer seeking help or perhaps just a prayer that says hello God how are you today?

Daily Blessing: Happy Monday everyone and Happy Feast of St. Paul of the Cross! It is just a great day to be a Passionist! My prayers are for all of you today as I celebrate the feast of our founder, in thanks giving for all your support over the years. I ask that you continue to pray for us so that we can keep his vision, his dream alive!

I hope your weekend was as good. I had a great weekend at Sacred Heart Parish in Mount Holly, NJ and I will be heading back north to Pelham in about an hour or so. It was a great week in a very spirit filled place!

I want to send a special blessing out to Alexis, whose birthday is today. Alexis is one of my two goddaughters and I am very proud of the woman she has become though I had nothing to do with it. I just want to send a special birthday blessing to Alexis! She is probably in the midst of teaching today but may she have a great day and may God continue to bless her and her family!

As for all, I am feeling pretty good and positive today I guess because it is the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross so I will ask God’s blessings for all of you today through the intersession of St. Paul of the Cross. May God bless you and protect you today and always. May God’s face smile upon you. May God’s grace enter into all you do. May you live today rich in a harvest of faith, hope and love which God has planted within you and may you always know that nothing can separate you from the love of God! Blessings to all and have a great day everyone. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul