Daily
Thoughts:
Perhaps these three quotes help us understand our two parables this morning
from Luke’s Gospel. Parables that speak to us of the mercy of God…
“The
thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the
hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a
field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if
he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars! You have to
heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else. Heal the wounds, heal
the wounds. ... And you have to start from the ground up.” (Pope Francis)
“A
church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.” (Abigail Van Buren)
“I
prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting, and dirty because it has been out on
the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and
from clinging to its own security.” (Pope Francis)
“God
never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.”
(Pope Francis)
In
St. Paul’s words, “We live for the Lord and if we die, we die for the Lord; so
then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” And our Lord never stops
searching for us no matter how much we have struggled in our life. Our readings
today speak to us of hope, mercy and God’s great love for us. This is something
the scribes and Pharisees never seem to understand. The question is do we?
Have
a great Thursday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Loving God, we are often so afraid to open our clenched fists! If we do who
will we be when if we have nothing left to hold on to? Who will we be when we
stand before you with empty hands? Please help us to gradually open my hands
and to discover that we are not what we own, but what you want to give us.
Amen! (Adapted from a prayer by Henri J.M. Nouwen)
A Runner’s
Thoughts:
“Shift from thinking to feeling–feel yourself accomplishing your goal. Take
that feeling out of your head and put it into your heart. Embrace it as the
reality.” (Erin Taylor) So to in the spiritual life – Don’t just think God,
feel God today. Put God in your heart!
Daily
Blessing:
Happy Thursday everyone! I hope today has started off well for you and that so
far your day has been rich in God’s presence. It is hard for me to tell if it
is going to be as nice day yet as it is still dark outside but I am hoping will
have a sunny drive back to New York.
It
is an early morning for me as I will be stopping by the men’s prayer group who
are having breakfast together this morning beginning at 6:15 am and then I will
get ready to celebrate the St. Bartholomew School mass this morning at 8:15 am
after which I will be getting on the road for the long drive back to New York.
Our mission ended last night with a wonderful, spirit filled faith filled mass.
I am truly grateful to the parish for inviting me to celebrate mission with
them. I would ask you one last day to offer a prayer for the faith community of
St. Bartholomew my they continue their rich tradition long into the future. If
you could also say a little prayer for their preacher who will be on the road
today!
Loving
God, bless my family, my friends and all your faithful people so that they will
always live your truth; express your love by their life; share your passion by
their enthusiasm; take action with your grace; walk by faith; dance and sing to
the gift of your spirit and embrace your unimaginable blessings. Help them make
today worth remembering because they know that you created them out of love.
Have a great day everyone! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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