Daily
Thoughts:
As the saying goes curiosity killed the cat. But does it? Sometimes we think of
curiosity only as something negative, something that will ultimately get us in
trouble. However curiosity can be a good thing. It can help us to encounter and
experience many wonderful things that if we had not been curious about them we
might have missed the experience. Think of all the wonderful things that have
been discovered or invented because people were curious. Think of all the diseases
that have been cured because people were curious. Curiosity can be a very positive
experience.
Today
in the Gospel Herod is curious about Jesus, just as he was curious about John
the Baptist. I often get the feeling that Herod was not far from the Kingdom of
God. He was not far from being a really good person. He was not far from
following Jesus. However Herod never really let his curiosity lead him to the
Kingdom instead he worried about what others might think or say or do. He never
let himself truly experience the presence of God in his midst. Herod curiosity
led to fear rather than new life. Herod curiosity led to worldly things rather
than to God.
We
are all curious people but the question is do we let our curiosity lead us to
God or the world? Is our curiosity healthy and purposeful or unhealthy and
destructive? Are we willing to let our curiosity led us to a deeper
relationship with God or to a fear of God? Perhaps a few questions we might ask
ourselves as we journey through this beautiful fall day.
Have
a great Thursday everyone!
Daily
Prayer: Grant, O God, that we may never fall away in
success or in failure; that we may not be prideful in prosperity nor dejected in
adversity. Let us rejoice only in what unites us and sorrow only in what
separates us. May we strive to please no one or fear to displease anyone except
you, our God. May we see always the things that are eternal and never those
that are only temporal. May we shun any joy that is without you and never seek
any that is beside you. Loving God, may we delight in any work we do for you
and tire of any rest that is apart from you. Gracious God, let us direct our
hearts towards you, and in our failings, let us always seek forgiveness with
the firm purpose of being better people. Amen! (Adapted from a prayer by St. Thomas Aquinas)
A
Runner’s Thoughts: “Running is a thing worth doing not because of the
future rewards it bestows, but because of how it feeds our bodies and minds and
souls in the present.” (Kevin Nelson)
Daily
Blessing:
Thursday blessings and greetings to all. I hope your day has started well? It
looks like another beautiful day here in Tarrytown! There is a bit of a breeze
and the air is crisp but then what would be expect for a fall day. I hope the
weather is invigorating where you are.
This
is the last full day of retreat with the sisters and as far as I can tell the
retreat seems to be going well. They keep coming to the conferences. No one has
walked out or thrown anything at me so I think it is a good retreat. Please
keep the sisters on retreat in your prayers today and as always if you could
say a little prayer for their preacher it would be greatly appreciated. Let us
also continue to prayer for Pope Francis as his journey in the eastern United
States continues. May his journey remain safe for him and all with whom he
celebrates. May his life giving spirit continue to enliven us and draw us
closer to God and may his words cause us to pause to consider our own journey
in life and challenge us to find the right path in life
My
prayer of blessing today is adapted from the Irish tradition - May God bless
all of you today so the road rise up to meet you and makes your journeys swift
and easy. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your
face. And if the rain has to fall may it be soft upon the fields and upon you.
And may you be truly blessed by God holding you in the palm of his hand
throughout this day and always!
Have
a great day everyone! May it truly be blessed with many wonderful experiences,
may gifted and loving people and the energy that only a beautiful fall day can
bring! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
No comments:
Post a Comment