Daily Thoughts: There are two
things that strike me in today’s readings. First in the Acts of the Apostles we
encounter a moment of struggle within the early Church. Some want to keep
things as they are. They don’t want to break with tradition, while others see
no need for past tradition. The struggle focuses on past Jewish traditions and
the emerging new Church into which gentles are entering. Paul and Barnabas
decide to go to Jerusalem and talk about the problem. What a novel idea,
sitting down and talking about issues, problems, struggles and differing views
of Church. Perhaps Pope Francis has taken a page from the Acts of the Apostles
over the last two years!
My second thought comes from the Gospel.
Not too long ago Jesus offered us the image of the Good Shepherd – God as the
shepherd always watching out for us, always taking care of us, always walking
with us. It is a comforting image of God’s presence in our life. Today the
image is of God as the life giving vine extending out into the world through us
the branches. God becomes the vine running through our life offering us grace
by which we grow into the person we have been created be so that we can produce
the fruit of God’s presence and love in the world.
As a branch of God’s presence and love
in the world we don’t have to know everything. We are a branch running from the
Vine. It is the Vine that offers us everything that we need as long as we stay
attached. We cannot do it on our own we must depend on the Vine – God’s
presence, grace, love, mercy, forgiveness and joy to produce good fruit.
Jesus through the image of the vine and
the branches reminds us today that the more we are connected to God, the more
we lean on God, and the more we learn from God and experience God’s presence in
the world around us, the better we will be at living life – the more fruit we
will produce!
Have a great Wednesday everyone!
Daily Prayer: Loving Jesus, you have no body now on earth
but mine, no hands but mind and no feet but mine. Mine are the eyes through
which you look out with compassion on the world. Mine are the feet with which
you go about doing good. Mine are the hands with which you bless people now.
Jesus you have no body now on earth but mine so through me bless the world
today. Amen! (Adapted from St. Teresa of
Avila)
A Runner’s Thoughts: “There is a
lesson to be learned from running in various emotional states, just as there
are lessons to learn from running in a wide range of environmental settings.
Don’t shy away from running in an unaccustomed state of mind or an unusual
situation. Opportunity for enlightenment often waits in the unfamiliar.” (Roger
Joslin)
And another thought, “Run often. Run
long. But never outrun your joy of running.” (Julie Isphording)
Daily Blessing: “Hump Day”
greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope your day has started off well. I
had a good Confirmation Day with the students of St. Barnabas Parish yesterday
and I will be leaving shortly for the second day with of other half of the
Confirmation class. I would ask you to please say a prayer for the students
today and for their preacher!
My prayer for all of you today is that
you will be have a great day, one filled with many blessings. May God bless
your work, your travel, your encounters with others, may God’s blessings be
upon those whom you love and upon you! May God bless you so that you can get
over any “hump” today in peace and joy! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Hope in the
Risen Lord…Fr. Paul
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