Daily Thoughts: “Let the hearts
that seek the Lord rejoice; turn to the Lord and his strength; constantly seek
his face.” This is the entrance antiphon for today’s mass and I have to admit I
do not often pay attention to the entrance antiphon. Some parishes where I have
celebrated daily mass will always stand and read the entrance antiphon as I
enter others do not. I have to say I rarely even read it. Yet at I was praying
with today’s readings earlier this morning my eyes stopped at this entrance
antiphon because I think in a few phrases it captures the essence of our
readings today.
In our first reading from St. Paul’s
Letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul gives the community at Ephesus a blue print
for being community. St. Paul challenges each part of the community to live
according their call as Christians to find God in each other. St. Paul
challenges them to let their hearts seek the Lord.
In the Gospel Jesus is confronted with questions
about who will be saved and his answer is that to be saved is a hard journey
which is not always predictable. Entering the Kingdom is fraught with many
challenges and what is necessary is strength. The best way to find and enter
through the narrow gate is to trust in the presence of God in life and to draw
upon the strength we are graced with through our friendship with God. For Jesus it is all about the lens we look
through in life. Do we see things as the world invites us to see things or do
we see things as God asks us to see things?
If we chose the world’s way of looking
at things the road is wide and easy but the end leaves us outside in the cold.
If we chose God’s way of seeing things the road is narrow, difficult and
challenging but in the end we will find ourselves safe and warm in the Kingdom.
We do not make this journey alone, we
are part of a community of believers, the Body of Christ. St. Paul tells us we
need to respect all the members which at times can be hard but Jesus tells us
if we do so we will be welcomed to the table of the Kingdom.
So let us be a community, a Church of
joy because our hearts seek the Lord; let us rely on God for strength for the
journey; let us constantly be focus on the face of God – today and always!
Have a great day everyone!
Daily Prayer: God, loving
Creator, grace us with the wisdom to embrace your Kingdom that is all around us
so that someday, after trying to master the winds, the waves, the tides and
gravity, we shall harness for you the energies of love, and then, for a second
time in the history of the world, we will have discovered fire – your
unconditional love. Amen! (Adapted from
the words of Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ)
A Runner’s Thoughts: Some words of
inspiration and faith today are – “People sometimes sneer at those who run
every day, claiming they'll go to any length to live longer. But I don't think
that's the reason most people run. Most runners run not because they want to
live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest. If you're going
to while away the years, it's far better to live them with clear goals and
fully alive then in a fog, and I believe running helps you to do that. Exerting
yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that's the essence of
running, and a metaphor for life [and a metaphor for faith]” (Haruki Murakami and [me])
Daily Blessing: Happy Hump Day
everyone! I hope this finds everyone having a good day if not hang in there it
will get better! So that your good day continues and that your not so good day
gets better I pray – Loving God bless us with a steadfast heart, which no
unworthy affection may drag downwards; bless us with an unconquered heart,
which no tribulation can wear out; bless us with an upright heart, which no
unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bless us with the understanding to know you,
bless us with diligence to seek you, bless us with the wisdom to find you, and
bless us with a faithfulness will help us to embrace your love in our life. I
pray this blessing for all my family and friends and anyone in need this day
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen! Have a great day. Peace in Christ’s
Passion…Fr. Paul
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