Daily Thoughts: The Feast of
the Baptism of the Lord. In preparing for mass today I found myself focused on
God proclaiming Jesus as beloved. Now in growing up I was a middle child, not a
true middle child because I only had an older sister and younger brother and
supposedly you need two older and two younger siblings to be a true middle
child. However, I have proclaimed myself a middle child. I never got any
attention! I was neglected! Mom and Dad always like them best! – Not really!
For most of my childhood I sought the
attention of my parents and I guess I was not real good in sharing it with my
sister and brother. I was also a "pleaser." I wanted everything to be
affirmed by my parents, I didn't want to do anything that displeased them,
believe me it was an impossible task!
Now my parents were not the most
demonstrative people in the world. They had grown up through the Great
Depression, World War II and where serious people. Sure that could have fun and
enjoy themselves but they certainly did not gush over anyone or anything! My
father worked long hours at times and my mother was a stay at home mom. It was
not until I went to high school that we got a second car. My parents were busy
about many things, work, their faith, their family and could not always be
present at the things we, the children, were involved in. They rarely came to
my baseball games, my swimming meets, my basketball games. I was in one play
during high school and they didn't make any of the performances. I ran cross-country
and track my junior and senior year but they never saw me run. At the time it
seemed like a big deal to me, I wondered if I was really a good son? If they
really loved me?
Now let me say my parents were great
people, the best parents and they loved me very much but as we all know parents
seems so "dumb" when we are in our teens but they get very smart when
we get to our 20's! As I look back now my parents were always present at the
most significant moments of my life. They were always there at time when it
really mattered!
I have two images that will always stay
with me. One of my father at my profession of vows. He sat with my mother in
one of the first two pews and a friend took a picture of him as I was
professing my vows, the look on his face was priceless and you can even see a
few tears running down his face. If I could have heard his heart at that moment
I am sure I would have heard, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am
pleased!" My father died four
months after I took my vows.
The second image is of my mother at my
ordination. The day before my ordination as my mother was traveling to New
York, she feel and broke her arm. My brother took her to the hospital and the
doctor suggested that she have surgery. As my brother tells it, for I was not
there, my mother said, "No way, just set it, my son is being ordained
tomorrow and I have to be there!" The doctor set her arm and by the
afternoon she continued on her way to New York. She was in a lot of pain for
the next week or so but she was there! In her presence that day I heard the
words, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am pleased!"
We all have these moments when our
parents presence speaks volumes to us, when their presence proclaims us as
beloved daughters and sons. That is what we celebrate on this Sunday honoring
the Baptism of the Lord. Today we remember that important moment when the
Father and the Spirit needed to be there for Jesus. This moment sends Jesus on
his way. This moment sends Jesus into his ministry. This moment sends Jesus to
the Cross and the Resurrection.
It is a moment that gets played our over
and over again in our important moments of faith through our parents, families,
friends and faith community, God proclaims us as beloved daughters and sons.
Moments like Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination and
any sacramental moment in our life. God claims us as a daughter or son who is
beloved and sends us on our way.
Let us pray for our mothers, our
fathers, our families, our friends and to our God today so that when we next
receive communion we might hear those words in our heart, "You are my
beloved daughter, you are my beloved son, I am so profoundly pleased!"
Happy Sunday everyone! Don’t forget to
give a little time to God today!
Daily Prayer: O God, our
great and wonderful Parent, declare us your beloved daughters and sons once
again. Transform us with the grace of your love into the children you have
created and called us to be. Children who bring your presence, your love, your
mercy and your peace to the world in the Spirit of Christ your most beloved
Son! May everything we do be pleasing to you because it is done through Christ
our loving Lord! Amen!
A Runner's Thoughts: Judge the
quality of your run by the steadfastness of your movement towards the presence
of God. Run strong because you are not alone!
Daily Blessing: Sunday greetings
to all! In an hour or so I will be off to Chappaqua, NY to celebrate the 12
noon mass at St. John and St. Mary Parish. I was in Manhattan last night at St.
Malachy’s you might say I get around the diocese from time to time! It remains
cold. The wind in Manhattan last night was tough I was glad when I finally made
it home.
I hope your Sunday has started off well.
I hope you are finding some time to rest and just enjoy. I know many out there
are struggling with the flu and winter colds, be patience and know you are in
my prayers!
On this Sunday honoring the Baptism of
the Lord, I pray that God will renew within us the graces and blessings we
received at our own baptism. That the Holy Spirit will enliven our faith,
energize our hope and remind us of God’s everlasting love. I pray that God will
once again bless us with the gift of being his beloved daughters and sons! God’s
grace and blessing upon all today. Peace
in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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