Daily Thoughts: Now I have to
admit to you that I struggle every time I hear or read today's Gospel. The
images that Jesus uses to talk about the religious leadership of his time seem
all too familiar and being a part of the leadership of our Church I wonder
about myself and whether I am making the same mistakes as those Jesus is talk
about in the Gospel.
I think about the scandals and struggles
of the Church today and wonder if the very pitfalls that Jesus points out about
the leadership of his day are not alive and well in the leadership of the
Church today. Let's remember that the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day were
good people for the most part. They were doing what they thought they were
supposed to do. However they were caught up in a religious leadership culture
that had developed over centuries. They thought they were doing what was right.
Many in religious leadership today are
good people doing what they think is right, but they caught up in the
leadership culture that has developed over centuries. But like in Jesus' time
does that make it right and life giving?
For me whether you are part of the
religious leadership of today or not the challenge of the Gospel is that of
being a humble servant. Throughout my life and ministry as a priest I have
always imaged myself as a servant and a shepherd. Those are the two images that
make the most sense to me for who I am and how I am supposed to live. I work at
trying to be a humble person but I am not always successful. What always brings
me back to reality when I get too full of myself is that I am a servant nothing
more.
Too often today we see people in
leadership who feel entitled, who look for the places of honor, who seek out
titles, who do place burdens on others without any thought of helping. They
become people who are distant, at times unapproachable and certainly not
shepherds or servants!
Perhaps our task today in to pray for
leadership, especially within our Church that they - we might find the virtues
of servant and shepherd once again. That they - we might take to hearts the
words of Jesus and seek to be humble servants who learn to do good again!
Have a great day everyone!
Daily Prayer: Loving God, we
pray today not just for ourselves but also for those who lead us. Give us and
all in leadership the wisdom to see the value of humility and service. Help us
to overcome the desires of entitlement, power, influence and status. Grant us
the grace to be compassionate, hope filled and loving servants and shepherds.
Guide us with your love so that everything we do will show the saving power of
God. Amen!
A Runners' Thoughts: A runner who
embarks on the journey of prayer and running can expect surprises, missteps,
and perhaps great leaps toward a relationship with God! So as you run never
underestimate the power of dreams, the influence of the human spirit and the
presence of God!
Daily Blessing: Tuesday
greetings and blessings to all, I hope your day has started off well and that
it will continue to be a good day for you. If it has not I pray that it will
only get better.
We began our celebration of mission yesterday
at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Mahopac, NY. The first day went very well.
We had two good sessions in the morning and evening and there was a good great
spirit at both. I ask your continued prayers for the faith community at St.
John’s and their preacher.
It is a long drive between Pelham and
Mahopac each day but I am sort of enjoying it. In the morning it helps me
prepare for the day and in the evening it helps me unwind and reflect on the
experiences of the day. The only difficult part is when there is bad weather
like Sunday night and they say it is going to be another bad one tonight.
Please pray that the storm takes a little longer to get here so I can get home
before the worst part!
I would like to pause for a moment today
and remember my parents. Today is their wedding anniversary. They were married 72
years ago. I am sure they are celebrating this day in heaven. I would just like
to thank them for their love for because of it my sister, my brother and I got
a chance to enter this world. I think I speak for the three of us, we are eternally
grateful and we feel very blessed to be part of mom and dad’s love, to be a family. So Happy
Anniversary Mom and Dad! Thanks for the gift of your love and for sharing it
with us!
So in the midst of the cold, possible
snow and or ice and the busyness of this day I once again offer a prayer of
blessing for all of you. I ask God to bless your day and whatever you will be
doing. May today truly be a day rich in the presence of God for you, your loved
ones and for everyone you meet! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
I was actually just thinking about this subject this early morning...perhaps....just perhaps... when one might get caught up with traditions, rules, hierarchy, procedure...one might miss the most important thing...God :) we kind of have to do this.....strip ourselves of ourselves...our humanness :) because humility is a beautiful thing. God Bless us all.
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