Daily Thoughts: We find
ourselves in the waning days of Lent and the drama of our faith story has
heightened. Jesus can feel the forces of evil closing in on him so he enters
into prayer. Not a prayer of intercession or need but a prayer of thanksgiving
for the strength the Father has given him so that he can fulfill the purpose
for which he came into his world.
We might say that our Gospel today gives
us a preview of Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Today Jesus is not in
a garden with his three closest friends, who seem to be having trouble staying
awake. No, in today’s Gospel scene Jesus is in Jerusalem and a large diverse
crowd has gathered. In face some in the crowd are gentles. As Jesus speaks he
draws the crowd and us to the cross, to it's agony and it's triumph. We are
invited to see the glory of the cross and to learn from Jesus' great act of
love.
Our scriptures today invite us to
prepare our hearts, to open our hearts to God. If we are willing to open our
hearts to God then God is willing to create a clean heart within us, a heart
with God's love written upon it. Jeremiah tells us that God has made a new
covenant with us. One that names us as God's people and Jesus' cross reminds of
the profound investment that God has made in us. It is a covenant, an investment
of unconditional love.
As Pope Francis has reminded up over and
over again, our God is a merciful God. And so we seek through the mercy of God
a clean heart and a steadfast spirit in these closing days of Lent so that we
can take up the challenge of listening for God’s voice, gazing upon the cross
and allowing Jesus to draw up to himself.
May the Passion of Jesus Christ be
always in our hearts! Have a blessed Sunday everyone.
Daily Prayer: Lord, make me
an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where
there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair,
hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine
Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be
understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that
we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: As you run
imagine God is at your side, running along with you. Imagine how God would look
with kindness into the faces of all whom the two of you meet. Imagine how God
would fine good in everyone you encounter. Look for good in everyone. Look for
good in yourself! (From Roger Joslin – Running the Spiritual Path)
Daily Blessing: Sunday
greetings and blessings to all! It is a very cool day here in Peterborough, NH.
I made it here yesterday afternoon and we had a nice beginning to the mission
as I preached the Saturday evening mass. Today will be a full day with masses
in the morning and an area wide reconciliation service in the afternoon. I am
looking forward to these next few days as the community seem spirit filled and
excited about the mission.
Peterborough is a quiet little New
England community in New Hampshire. The church is around 200 years old and the
parish is in the midst of building a new church. Like in many place in the east
over the last 10 years three churches from surrounding towns have been combined
into one new parish and while the faith community is small it is spirited and
enthusiastic. Please pray for the faith community here at Divine Mercy Parish
and also for their preacher!
I ask God’s blessing on all of us that
we journey through this Fifth Sunday of Lent that it may be a peaceful, restful
and life giving day. May God bless us with the richness of family, friends, and
a day touched by God’s loving presence.
May God bless all of us as we ready ourselves to begin a new work week.
May the week ahead be one that runs smoothly and peacefully with many graced
moments! Have a wonderful graced filled day everyone!. Peace in Christ’s
Passion…Fr. Paul
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