Daily Thoughts: We encounter the famous story of Zacchaeus in
today's Gospel (Luke 19:1-10).
Zacchaeus had to liabilities, one he was short and the other was that he was a
tax collector.
Now he could not do anything about his shortness that was
with him to stay. Being a tax collector seemed to be his choice. We do not know
how he got the job or why he wanted it but it put him in a bad light with many
people and the religious leadership. He was seen as a sinner, someone who sold
out to the Romans and someone who was cheating his own people just to get ahead
in life.
However there was something honest and interesting about
Zacchaeus. When he heard that Jesus was in town, he wanted to see him, catch a
glimpse. So as the story goes he climbed a tree and we might say the rest was
history. Jesus saw him and invited him down for a closer look.
We find out through the conversation between Jesus and
Zacchaeus that Zacchaeus is trying to be an honest man and he is willing to go
the extra mile if he has hurt or harmed anyone by his position and he is
rewarded for his honesty and good heart as Jesus comes to his house.
Zacchaeus was able to take his shortcomings, his liabilities
and turn them into strengths. He was able to make a positive situation out of
what seemed to be a negative. All he
need to do was seek out God in his life.
With this story Jesus once again reminds us that good
things, faithful things can come from unexpected situations and people. Like
Zacchaeus we need to be on the lookout for the presence of God in our life and
be bold when our chance comes to encounter that presence!
Have a great Tuesday everyone!
Daily Prayer: "The Cross of My Lord, Be my Standard, Be my
Comfort, Be the Answer to all dark questions, The Light of all nights, The Sign
that You have chosen us, The mysterious and sure Sign that we are Yours for
eternity. Amen." (By Fr. Karl
Rahner, S.J.)
A Runner's Thoughts: At first an ordeal and then an
accomplishment, the daily run becomes a staple, like bread, or wine... or air.
(Benjamin Cheever, author and Runner's World contributor) We might also say
that the daily run also becomes our prayer, our conversation with God each day!
Daily Blessing: Tuesday greetings and blessings to everyone! I
hope this finds you well and enjoying the gift of a new day. If not, if things
are a little rushed, disorganized and you feel like you have gotten off on the
wrong foot, hang in there, you are in my prayers and I will take your struggles
with me into my new day with the hope that all will be well by the end of the
day!
The retreat here at the Carmelite Sisters Motherhouse
continues to go well. The chaplain is a little over the weather so I have
double duty this morning, mass at 8:00 am for the community and mass at 9:30 am
for the sisters on retreat. No big deal it means I get to use my homily twice!
Please continue to keep the sisters in your prayers and if you could say a
little extra prayer for the preacher it would be greatly appreciated.
So in the midst of this bright, sunny but cold morning here
along the Great River let's go forward into this new day whether it has started
off well or not by asking for God's blessing on all that we will do and upon
all whom we meet but also let's ask God's blessing upon us that like Zacchaeus
we will not miss the gift of God in our life today!
Loving God, bless our families, our friends and all your
faithful people so that we, like Zacchaeus and Eleazar, will always try to live
your truth; express your love by our lives; share your passion by our
enthusiasm; take action with your grace; walk by faith; dance and sing to the
gift of your spirit and embrace your unimaginable blessings. Help us make today
worth remembering because we know that you created us out of love. God's
blessings on your day everyone! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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