Daily Thoughts: Today’s
readings are preludes to tomorrow stories, the martyrdom of Stephen and Jesus’
discourse on the “Bread of Life.” In some ways we can say that today’s readings
are about seeing and hearing and we learn that some people only see and hear
what they want to see and hear. When we live life this way we open ourselves to
the possibility of missing the gift, the presence of God in our life.
The religious leaders surrounding
Stephen today only see and hear what they want to see and hear. They miss the
very gift from God that Stephen brings to them, the very gift of God that
Stephen is. They miss a chance to grow, to see and hear thing differently. They
have already decided who and what Stephen is thus God has no chance.
The people following after Jesus in
today’s Gospel are caught up in the miracles that Jesus has performed. They are
not listening to his words, they are not open to the presence of God, they want
more miraculous things. Jesus reminds them that in order for good things to happen
they have to be open to the gift and presence of God in their lives. That they
have to believe not in what they see and hear but in the presence of Jesus in
their lives!
Often we only see and hear what we want.
God can be speaking to us, calling us down a new path but we miss it. Today let
us open our eyes, our ears and our hearts to the many different ways that God
can be present in our lives especially those ways beyond what we want to see
and hear!
Have a great Monday everyone!
Daily Prayer: Loving God open
our minds and hearts to the gift of your presence. Helps us to see you and hear
you in every person we encounter, every experience we have and every moment we
live today. Grace us with eyes and ears that don’t just see and hear the
obvious but that are open to every way you come into our lives. Enable us to be
your Easter people of faith, hope and love today and always. Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: As we run today
let us look at our run this way that everywhere we put our foot today we will
feel the presence of God. God is our friend and our closeness to our friend God
is in the placement of our foot with each stride we take during our run. We run
today knowing that God is underneath us, beside us, within us!
Daily Blessing: Monday
greetings and blessings and Happy Patriots Day to all! Especially all the
runner’s currently running the Boston Marathon. My prayers are with all the
runners, may their run be a good run and may it be safe run! And to all you
non-runners out there I hope your Monday has started well and you are having a
good start to this new week
I am in Enola, PA at Our Lady of Lourdes
Parish where I began a mission last night with a wonderful spirit filled
community. It was a great Saturday and Sunday of preaching and then last night we
had our first session of the mission. I am looking forward to our second
session this evening. Please keep the faith community here at Our Lady of
Lourdes and their preacher in your prayers these days.
Even though it is raining today it is
still a good day to be alive and walking the journey of faith. My prayer of
blessing this morning is that God will bless your day with the faith of St.
Stephen, the hope of a new day and week and the love of many people in your
life. Many you be blessed with God’s presence in your travels, your work and
your encounters with others. May you be graced with much love from the people
who mean the most in your life! Blessings upon everyone this week have a great
Monday and a great week. You can be assured of my prayers as you journey
through this week. I hope your weather is warming up and that you will have a
rich and faith filled week! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Joy in the Risen
Christ…Fr. Paul
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