Daily
Thoughts:
Both Jesus and Moses respond in the same way when people who seem to be outside
the “chosen few” make God’s presence known. They point to the fact that good
things are happening and if something is good then it is of God and if it is of
God then all the better no matter who is responsible.
God’s
ways are not always our ways. God’s plans are not always our plans and God’s
messengers are not always the people we think they should be. God's grace and
blessing does not always come from the people we expect. It is an unfortunate
that often our human condition leads us into envious reactions. These petty
reactions often make us judgmental and resentful of people we have decided that
followers of Jesus should do it the right way. In these moments of envy we miss
the God’s grace, we miss God’s presence, we miss the opportunity to encounter
in, through and with others the gift of God because we think it is not the
right way, the correct way.
It
is often easy to condemn others because we see them as sinners or because they
do not follow the rules – we see them as cafeteria Catholics or worst because
they don’t follow the rules as we see it. However Jesus sees the presence of
the Spirit, where we do not.
The
Gospel today encourages us to be less judgmental and look more deeply for the
grace of the Holy Spirit working, rather than on the rules and regulations.
Pope Francis has challenged us over and over again to see our life of faith
through this lens. Every encounter with another human being can be an encounter
with God.
Let
us be grateful today and every day for the presence, grace and love of God and
the many ways and people through which we get to encounter God’s grace,
presence and love. Let us also be open always to God’s ways and the unique and
sometimes even unorthodox people that God chooses to make his presence known.
Have
a great Sunday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Loving God, grant us a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find
you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a
hope of finally embracing you. Amen. (Adapted from a prayer by St. Thomas
Aquinas)
A Runner’s
Thoughts:
“We will not be put off the final goal. We have it hidden in us to attain.” (Robert Frost) Eternal friendship with
God…
Daily
Blessing:
Sunday blessings and greetings to all. I hope your Sunday has started off well
and that you are enjoying a beautiful day wherever you are. The sun is out here
in Chester, Nova Scotia but the pastor informed me this morning that he had to
turn on the heat in the church for the first time. It certainly is fall here in
Nova Scotia and it feels great!
I
had the 4 pm mass yesterday at St. Patrick’s Church in New Ross, Nova Scotia.
It is a small farming community about a half hour from Chester. This morning I
will have the 9 am mass at St. Augustine’s in Chester and then the 11:15 am
mass at St. Anthony’s Church in Hubbards, Nova Scotia. These are the three communities
that make up St. Augustine’s Parish. The mission will begin tonight at 7:00 pm
at St. Augustine’s. So I would ask your prayers today for the people of these
three communities especially those who will come to the mission. I would also
like to ask for a little prayer for the preacher. Let us continue to pray for
Pope Francis as he spends his final day in the United States. May he continue
to be safe and enliven us with his joyful spirit. May he have a safe and rest
journey home.
Whatever
you are doing this weekend, relaxing, watching football, working, traveling,
vacationing or just being I pray that God’s blessing will be upon your Sunday
filling it with the richness of joy, hope and the goodness of God’s presence.
May the precepts of the Lord give joy to your heart today! I hope you will be
giving God a little time today? Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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