Daily Thoughts: “Different
gifts but the same Spirit!” It is hard sometimes to trust in the gifts that we
have. We always seem to look across the fence at the other side and think it
looks better. We tend to see what other people do and think, “If only I could
be like Mike!”
The key to overcoming our struggle with
the Spirit is to remember, that every gift comes from the same Spirit. In other
words we all have a common origin, we all are gifted. The challenge is not, are
we the best, the brightest, the most powerful, the most important, the most
well-known, the strongest, the most gifted. The challenge is how do we give
life to the gifts we have? How do we speak and act so that when others hear and
encounter us they come to know the mighty acts of God?
St. Paul was very creative when he used
the image of the body to represent our relationship with God, our relationship
with Jesus. It is one body with all of us as members, as parts. All of us are
necessary for the body to work, to function, to have life, with each member,
each part valuable and important. Some members, some parts may stand out more
than others, but it is the sum of the parts working together take makes the
body visible, strong and life giving.
Yes, today we celebrate the gift of the
Holy Spirit in our lives. We celebrate being one of the many gifts of the
Spirit. We celebrate being a part of Christ’s body. We celebrate being a member
and hopefully like the disciples on the first Pentecost we give life to the
gifts of the Holy Spirit that we have received so that all will hear through us
in a language they understand that proclaims the mighty acts of God in the
world today.
Have a great Pentecost Sunday everyone!
And may the Spirit of God’s peace be with you today and always. Let the Holy
Spirit fill your hearts with the Passion of Jesus Christ and bring to life the
fire of God’s love within you!
Daily Prayer: Breathe in us,
O Holy Spirit, that our thoughts, our ideas, our words, may all be holy. Act in
us, O Holy Spirit, that our works, our labors, our actions, our living of life
too, may be holy. Embrace our hearts, O Holy Spirit, that we may love and be
love in a holy way. Strengthen us, O Holy Spirit, that our lives may represent
all that is life giving and holy. Protect us, O Holy Spirit, that we always may
be your gifts of hope and life in this world. Amen! (Adapted for a Prayer to the Holy Spirit by Saint Augustine)
A Runner’s Thoughts: Running is about
the physical, the mental and the emotional sides of our lives. It challenges us
in physical, mental and emotional ways. Will our bodies respond, will they hold
up, will they get us back home or to the finish line? Will our minds let us
move beyond the pain and the struggle? Can we overcome the fear? Will we give
in to what seems easier? Yes, running is about the physical, the mental and the
emotional sides of our lives, however running is also about the spiritual. It
is about breathing in the breath of God, the Holy Spirit. Running is about
giving life to the gift of who God has created us to be!
Daily Blessing: Pentecost
greetings and blessings to all! It is a beautiful morning here in Pelham and
all the forecasts say that it will be a beautiful throughout the day. No rain
in sight with a warm sun upon us. What a great way to celebrate the Feast of
Pentecost in the midst of our Memorial Day weekend!
I hope your Pentecost Sunday has started
out well and that you will have a good if not great day. Just a reminder to
give God a little time today too!
A shout out today to Fr. Lucian Clark,
C.P. who will be celebrating his 50th Anniversary of Ordination
later today and to David Lorden who is celebrating his birthday today. May the
Holy Spirit of celebration be with both of you today!
May God bless you with an enjoyable day
especially among family and/or friends. Through God’s Spirit may this day offer
you some rest and relaxation so that you might enjoy the gifts of the Holy
Spirit within and around you!
I will leave you today with this thought
from Thomas Merton, “Love is the guarantee that the life of the Spirit is
growing in us. Love is the sign of the Holy Spirit at work in the Church and in
the world.” So may God bless you with much love today and may you love much
today my friends! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Joy in the Gifts of the Holy
Spirit…Fr. Paul
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