Daily Thoughts: Our readings
today focus on Christology, who Christ is for us. The saints we celebrate today
St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen have a smile on their faces as
they spent a lot of time talking, writing and defining Christology – the
humanness of Christ and the divinity of Christ, or perhaps said differently the
mystery of Christ. Who exactly is Christ in our life? How have we come to know
him?
For me one of the interesting aspects of
our readings is not so much the presentation of Christology, who Christ is but
it is the reality of coming to know Christ for ourselves. John the Baptist
shows us the way; to know Christ we have to know ourselves, know who we are and
who we are not. John knows himself and in knowing who he is, he is able to know
Christ. John the Evangelist in the first reading tells his community to
remember who they are and in doing so they will remember and know Christ. It is
an age old process, it is the foundation of our journey of faith – to know
ourselves is to know God!
Perhaps in these early days of the New
Year it might be good to pause and do a little self-reflection, not in a
narcissistic way, but in an honest way. Who are we? What do we value? What do
we believe? What are our struggles? What are our faults and failings? What are
our joys and hopes? As we once again come to recognize and know ourselves, we
will once again come to recognize and know our God!
Have a great Friday everyone and may you
find hope, joy, peace and love in the Passion of Christ today and always!
Daily Prayer: O God, grant us
the humility of knowing ourselves as we truly are and thus coming to know you
better. Help us to see your presence in our daily lives so that your gift of
hope remains alive within us and may we past your hope on to those whom we meet
today. We continue though out this Christmas Season to pray for families in
grief and for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! And that we may
truly see the saving power of you our God today and always...Amen!
A Runner's Thoughts: “For me, as for
so many runners, there really are no finish lines. Runs end; running doesn't.”
(Dean Karnazes). So today, run with the purpose of becoming a friend of God and
you will never run alone!
Daily Blessing: Friday blessings
to all! I hope this finds you well and enjoying this first Friday of the New
Year. It seem like a crazy week with the holiday yesterday and today being
Friday the doorway into another weekend. In a way the last two weeks have
seemed like one long weekend!
My thoughts and prayers go out to the
Mario Cuomo family. Former Governor Mario Cuomo died yesterday my prayer is
that he has found peace with God and that his family will find peace. Governor
Cuomo was a great speaker and a truthful and honest man. His presence will be
missed!
Today, I pray for God’s blessing upon
all of us that God’s blessing will help us navigate through the struggles,
disappointments and sadness of life. That it will help us find the joy, the
grace, the wonderfulness and the gift of God’s presence this day wherever we
travel to, in whomever we meet, in whatever we need to do and most importantly
within ourselves so that we will never give up! Loving God, bless us this day
with the wisdom, the understanding, the knowledge, the courage, the good
judgment, the reverence and the wonder and awe to trust in and have faith that
you are alive within us, that you love us and that you will never leave us
alone in the midst of the perils of life. Amen – Blessings to all, be safe, be
warm! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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