Daily Thoughts: The readings
today are interesting on the one hand we have the famous story of Herod and
John the Baptist. It is a rather gruesome story, it is hard sometimes to think
of a young girl being presented with some one's head and then turning and
giving it to her mother. Yet, I guess gruesome things happen in life every day,
thankfully not in my life.
I am always struck in this story with
the fact that Herod is moved by John, that he likes to listen to him, yet he
gives in to the worldly pressure around him. I get the feeling Herod knows that
John is right, but his power, his self-importance; his ego will not let him say
yes. Herod has surrounded himself with people who push him in the wrong
direction. We might say that he gives in to the peer pressure of his time!
There is a great line in the Letter to
the Hebrews that says, "Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some
have unknowingly entertained angels." It is great advice! Perhaps it is
advice that Herod should have heard or heeded. He certainly had one of God's
angels, John the Baptist in his presence.
We need to be aware that God can come to
us, be present to us in many ways. We need to trust that God is with us always.
We need to remember that we are a community of faith not just individuals and
we need to always be aware of the struggles and joys of others because they can
often bring God into our midst.
Let us today live by the phrase – God is
my light and my salvation, whom should we fear? Jesus is the same yesterday,
today and forever!
Have a great Friday everyone!
Daily Prayer: O God, help us
to always love and reverence your presence in ourselves and others. Keep us
always trusting of your presence and love and help us to be hospitable to all
we encounter especially the angels you send into our life! Set out life today
on a firm foundation of your love so we may live with the hope and trust that
you will never forsake or abandon us because you are with us always! Amen!
A Runner's Thoughts: Let's make our
run today a God centered run. Let us honor the voice of God in nature,
experiencing all the sounds and sights of nature as we run. We can let our
breath join in the chorus and we look purposefully for all the signs of God in
nature because if we do this we surely will not be running alone!
Daily Blessing: Happy Friday
everyone! Well we have made it to the end of another week. For many it has been
a long week of battling snow, rain, ice and cold and the forecast is for more
of the snow and cold on Sunday and Monday, however we have survived and will
continue to survive knowing each day brings us a little closer to spring!
I am up rather early this morning
because I have a 7:30 am Mass at Mount St. Michael’s High School in the Bronx.
It is a nice way to get the day started!
My prayer today is that God’s blessings will
rest upon all of you wherever you are, wherever you go and in whatever you will
encounter today. I pray you stay safe, warm, and have a faith filled day. May
you find the richness of God’s presence in your life today and always. Also I
pray that the end of this day will bring you home to those you love most and
help you to the beginning of a restful and enjoyable weekend. Have a great
Friday everyone! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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