Daily Thoughts: I think sometimes we struggle because God
doesn’t seem present in ways we would like. We cannot take God fishing like
Peter and the other disciples did. We cannot invite God is for a meal like
Zacchaeus did. We cannot stop in the midst of our daily work and have a
conversation about life like the woman at the well did. We cannot argue a
frustration like Martha did. We cannot ask a question and get an immediate
answer like the disciples often did. We cannot feel that loving embrace like
Mary and others surely did.
We have to live by faith and hope not personal contact. Our
time is a time of trusting in God’s presence and having faith that God is at
work in us helping us make the right choices, helping us live a good life.
We might say that Pope Francis has challenged us as begin
this Holy Year of Mercy, to take up the “yoke” that Jesus mentions in the
Gospel today (Matthew 11:28-30). It is the “yoke” and “burden” of the people
around us who do not have the necessities of life, who are hungry, cold,
homeless, suffering, immigrants without a home, people fleeing war and violence.
Yes, seeing these people, encountering them, perhaps even
being one them is a burden and a yoke that is heavy, difficult to carry and a
problem which often seems impossible to solve. Yet, Jesus says pick it up,
carry it, but not alone. Like Jesus, Pope Francis knows that if we do this we
will learn from Jesus and we will come to know that the impossible can become
of the possible.
Perhaps our challenge today is to be “humble of heart” and
trust in God’s strength to help us help the world. Have a great day everyone!
Have a blessed Wednesday everyone!
Daily Prayer: Loving God, we are grateful for this wonderful
enterprise you have invited us to, this journey called life. Grace us with your
gift of hope so that we might never lose faith in your loving presence which is
always ready to lead us down the right road. Help us to trust that you will
never leave us alone or let us grow weary but give us the strength of eagles’
wings so that we can live our life to its fullest. Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: In the first reading (Isaiah 40: 25-31)
from today’s mass Isaiah writes, “They will run and not grow weary….” As I read
these words this morning I could not help but think about running. I don’t know
any runner, except maybe the elite runners who when starting out on a training
run or a race does hope that they will run and not grow weary. It is the vision
of every runner to run strong and to finish.
It is the hope of every person of faith to live life to the
fullest, to remain strong and faithful and to finish. St. Paul tells us to run
life focused on the finish line. We need to always look ahead not behind. Pope
Francis during this Holy Year of Mercy has us looking ahead and has
challenged us not to grow weary in our service as a Church to the poor, the
homeless and the hungry.
Running is a wonderful metaphor for life. When we run we are
reminded of the challenges of life but also the gifts of life. As Isaiah says,
“They that hope in the Lord, will renew their strength, they will soar as with
eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.”
Running is about having hope, faith is about having hope and in each case hope
leads us at time to making the impossible – possible!
Daily Blessing: Wednesday greetings and blessings to all. I
didn’t use “Hump Day greetings and blessings” because at this time of the year
the weeks seem much longer than seven days. It often feels like one big week
from Thanksgiving to Christmas. We seem to be busy, busy, busy – never stopping
at this time of the year. I am hoping you will have a little time just to enjoy
life and the season of Advent today in the midst of our journey to Christmas!
I hope your day has started off well. It seems that we are
going to be in for another nice day here in Pelham. It is a little on the cool
side but certainly not winter. I know that parts of the country are bracing for
storms toward the end of the week but right now we here in the east are
enjoying the last weeks of fall.
I pray that you are not too busy these days and there are
moments to relax and just enjoy the gift of Advent, the gift of family, the
gift of friends or even the gift of solitude! May God bless you today and always
– in the words of Isaiah – with the strength to run and not grow weary, walk
and not grow faint and that you may soar through this day on eagles’ wings as
people of faith who hope in God with strength renewed! Peace in Christ’s
Passion…Fr. Paul
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