Daily Thoughts: We celebrate
the feast of St. Luke, the Evangelist and companion of St. Paul today. In the
first reading, (2 Timothy 4:10-17b), we are reminded that St. Paul was not
always successful in his relationships. Two of his companions leave him but
one, Luke, remains. When St. Paul was challenged in his ministry and he was
challenged often, I am sure that he wished that there were more friends there
to help him. But the Lord always stood by St. Paul and provided him with the
strength necessary to push on.
From this story in St. Paul’s Letter to
Timothy and others like it we can be graced with the hope that in our journey
of faith our support, like St. Paul’s, comes from God in many different ways.
God is always with us and will never leave us to face our perils alone. And
like Luke for Paul, friends and family who stand by us, even when others forget
us, are special gifts. Perhaps today on this Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist and
faithful friend we might give thanks for the faithful friends in our own lives.
Thanking God for them and the gifts that they are to us!
Have a great Saturday and a wonderful
weekend everyone and don’t forget to give God a little time too!
Daily Prayer: Almighty God,
you inspired your servant Luke the Evangelist and Physician to set forth in the
gospel the love and the healing power of your Son. In faithfully detailing the
humanity of Jesus, he also showed the divinity of Jesus and his genuine
compassion for all human beings.
May St. Luke intercede for us that we
may deepen our understanding of the gospel and grow in compassion of Jesus. May
his intercession enable us to follow your way and bring your healing and loving
presents to all we meet this day and always. Amen.
A Runner’s Thoughts: The parish
school here in Mount Holly, Sacred Heart is having the Sacred Heart Halloween
Hustle 5k Run and Walk today at 9:00 am. I would love to run with everyone but
I have mass at 8:30 am so I can’t but I will pray for all the runners and
walkers that it will be a fun and safe race!
“I tell runners… that no matter how
inexperienced a runner you may be, there is nothing wrong with being intense.
You don't know what you might discover.” (Francie Larrieu Smith) – “With the
proper motivation, that is, a good reason for wanting to do it, your mind [will
and spirit] can overcome any sort of adversity.
(Franz Stampfl)
And so to in the spiritual life!
Daily Blessing: Happy Saturday
everyone! It will be a busy day for me with mass in the morning, confessions
and mass in the afternoon and perhaps a hospital visit or two during the day.
Then I will have a full slate of masses Sunday beginning with 7:30 am and
ending with 7:00 pm. The life of a parish priest! I hope your weekend will not
be as busy but I also hope you will find a little time for God too!
My prayer of blessing for all of you
today is that wherever you are, whomever you are with and whatever you are
doing today may you, your endeavors, your companions, and your living of life
be blessed with the richness, grace and love of God’s presence! Have a great
day everyone. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul