Daily Thoughts: "Your
ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and
teach me, for you are God my savior." This is the opening line of today's
psalm and perhaps words that sum up our readings for us.
In the first reading from the Book of
Daniel, Azariah prays for God's forgiveness not just for himself but for the
community. He reflects on the social sin of his time. Not just something an
individual has done but what the community had done or failed to do. Azariah
seeks God's forgiveness. Often we do not think this way we worry more about
individual sin rather than looking at ourselves as a community of faith who at
times sin together by our action or our lack of action. We rarely take into
consideration social sin and yet we, as a community, are responsible for what
we do or don't do.
We might think the Gospel turns us back
to individual forgiveness but in a way it carries through with our first
reading's theme. The other servants see the injustice of the one servant and
look to correct the problem. We might say it is the community that deals with
the injustice.
Forgiveness and being a forgiving
person, a forgiving community, was a constant theme in the life of Jesus. It is
not an easy way to life. We would rather seek revenge than be forgiving. We
would rather hold the hurt in our heart than be forgiving. It takes hard work
and a heart of compassion. Jesus taught us how to have such a heart. He taught
us how to be forgiving people and he also taught us how to take responsibility
for our sinfulness. He showed us how to be people of faith. He showed us how to
take responsibility and also how to be compassionate and forgiving. He taught
us that forgiveness is an ongoing process.
Jesus taught us the ways of God. He
showed us the path to walk. The question is; are we willing to learn and walk
down the path that Jesus has set before us?
Have a blessed Tuesday everyone!
Daily Prayer: Loving God,
enliven in us your gifts of compassion and forgiveness. Teach us to walk in
your way of truth and love. Grace us with the wisdom to recognize our own
faults and failings as individuals and a community. Enable us to seek
forgiveness and to be forgiving. Help us to walk humbly through life as you
show us the paths to walk! Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: Endurance is
not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory. (William
Barclay, Scottish Theologian)
Daily Blessing: Tuesday greetings
and blessings to all! I hope this finds you well and that your Tuesday has
gotten off to a good start. It was a beautiful day here yesterday. After some
clouds in the morning the sun can out and was bright and warm all day. The snow
melted on the broad walk and it was a very refreshing walk from one end to the
other. Today they are calling for rain but right now out my window I see sun. I
can hope the weather people are wrong and it will be another good day for a
walk!
If not I am sure it will be a busy day
of mission. The mission here at St. Ignatius Martyr in Long Beach, NY has gotten
off to a good start yesterday. The morning service and the evening one were
both nicely attended and spirit filled. I am looking forward to today’s
services! Please continue to pray for the faith community here at St. Ignatius
and for their preacher.
Today I pray we will all have a great
day filled with many graced and blessed moments. May any struggles be minor
ones that quickly are solved. And May God will bless us all with the faith, hope
and joy that will make our lives be a “yes” to whatever God asks of us this day!
Have a great day everyone and may God’s blessing be with you! Peace in Christ’s
Passion…Fr. Paul
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