Daily Thoughts: "If today you hear [God's] voice, harden
not your hearts." The response for the psalm today seems to say it all. In
the first reading the faith community has harden their hearts toward God. They
are not listening or responding to the word or presence of God. In the Gospel
there are some who have hardened their hearts for they cannot recognize God in
their midst.
In the opening talk of my missions, I
talk about how we at times harden perhaps not our whole heart but pieces or
areas of our hearts. The primary reason is because we have been hurt and we
harden ourselves so that we cannot be hurt again. Sometimes the hurt comes from
another person, or a group of people, or an institution or from someone or
something outside of us. Yet often we think the hurt comes from God and we
harden our hearts to the grace, the word, and the presence of God. In doing
this we very often miss the opportunity to experience the presence and the gift
of God in our life.
Jesus reminds the people today that bad
things do not come from God. God only wants good for us. God loves us, created
us and desires a relationship with us. It is the world around us that can hurt.
It is often the world within us that can hurt.
We don't want to make the mistakes of
our ancestors that are talked about in our first reading from Jeremiah today.
We don't want to make the same mistake of the people who question where Jesus
is from in today's Gospel. We want to open our hearts, make our hearts places
of nothing but good soil so that when we encounter God, when we hear God's
voice the grace, word, strength, blessing and presence of God will be planted
within us and grow producing a harvest that is hundred fold.
Please as you journey through this day
do not harden your hearts but be open to hear God's voice and encounter God's
presence in your life!
Have a blessed Thursday everyone!
Daily Prayer: Almighty and
eternal God, may we always walk in your ways but especially as we begin this
new day. Enliven our hearts with joy so that they will not be hardened by the
struggles, hurts, pains and difficulties of life. Help our hearts to remain
open to hearing your Word and recognizing your presence. Too often because of
life we begin to wander away from you, too often we fail to hear you or
recognize your presence in our life. Help us to always have the strength to
walk, to live in your ways and hear your voice. Bless us with the gift of your
Holy Spirit of joy and hope this day and always! Amen!
A Runner's Thoughts: Running can give
us an inner strength that can change our life. Just putting in the time,
finishing a run can have an enlivening effect on your confidence and
self-esteem. Running can also touch us in a spiritual way that makes us aware
of God's presence in our life!
Daily Blessing: Thursday greetings
and blessings to everyone! I hope your day has started off well. We had a great
third day and evening of the mission yesterday. I am thankful for my time at
St. Ignatius Martyr and for the spirit and faith of the community there.
After the closing mass last night I made
my way back to Pelham. I will be here until Saturday afternoon when I will head
out to Hainsport, NJ to begin a mission at Our Lad Queen of Peace. These days
home will not be quiet though as I have spiritual direction this morning and a
meeting for a future mission later this afternoon. In these days between
missions I am always playing catch-up with paperwork and other assorted responsibilities.
I would ask you to continue to keep the
young college student in your prayers that I mentioned the other day. Let us
keep the power of prayer strong so that he makes it through this difficult time
in his life.
I am hoping all of you will have a
blessed day. My prayer of blessing today is that you may it be rich in many
life-giving experiences, in many faith filed people and touched with the gifts
of joy, hope and love. Be well and safe my friends enjoy your day and know you
are in my prayers! And may God bless all of you today and always. Peace in
Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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