Daily
Thoughts:
"Repairer of the breach...Restorer of ruined homesteads." Do we not
have a picture of these titles in the Gospel today? Jesus invites Levi
(Matthew) to follow him. Jesus invites a tax collector a profession that made
the people involved hateful to society. Yet, Jesus brings them into the
community of faith. Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners and the
religious leaders are taken back, Jesus brings those who are thought to be
outside the community into the community. Yes, Jesus in the true "repairer
of the breach and restorer of ruined homesteads.
However,
these words and this story are not just about Jesus. Isaiah is speaking to us.
Jesus is laying down an example for us. We are to be the repairers of the
breach and restorers of the ruined homesteads. It is our job as members of the
faith community to reach out and make those on outside welcome within the
community. It is our job to offer God’s mercy.
So often
we find within the faith community people who find it much easier to judge, to
exclude, to criticize, to question the actions of people then to reach out and
help, then to be merciful. So often we find people within the faith community
who create the breach and ruin the homesteads.
As people
of faith we live with the hope that the words of Isaiah are fulfilled in the
person of Jesus but we also live with the challenge that as a disciple of Jesus
we need to keep that hope alive. It has been said that through what God
"does" we come to know who God "is." I think this can also
be said about us. Through what we do for others as a people of faith people,
people will come to know who we are.
As we
continue this journey of Lent let us respond to Jesus' invitation to follow and
give life, mercy and hope to life as repairers and restorers!
Have a
blessed Saturday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Almighty and ever-loving God, look with compassion and mercy on our humanness,
on all our struggles and weaknesses. Strengthen us for the journey ahead. Give
us the wisdom to follow your call. Enliven us with the grace to be repairers
and restorers of your love. Help us to be people of mercy and hope and to bring
that mercy and hope to all we meet. Amen!
A
Runner's Thoughts: As we run today let us find the grace and strength to
choose the narrow road, the steep uphill climb, the rocky trail, the muddy path
because these choices are made by few and these choices can at times make all
the difference!
Daily
Blessing:
Saturday greetings and blessings to all. I hope you will have a restful and
peaceful Saturday though I think if you live in the eastern part of the US it
will be a cold one. If it happens to be a busy Saturday may you find a little
time in the midst of today to at least take a little breather. If you are in
the midst of this bone chilling cold may you find a place a warmth.
I head
out this afternoon for Trenton, New Jersey where I begin a mission this evening
at St. Raphael/Holy Angels Parish. I will be preaching all the masses today and
tomorrow and then the mission with be from Monday to Wednesday at 7:30 am and
7:00 pm. If you are in the area come and join us.
My
prayers are with Pope Francis these days as he visits Mexico. May his journey
be safe and life giving. May the people of Mexico find peace and God’s mercy in
Pope Francis’ presence and may all the loud mouth politicians, especially in
the United States, be silenced by his joyful spirit.
My prayer
of blessing for us today is that no matter what we are doing today, whether it
be resting or busy about many things that God will bless us with the wisdom and
grace to recognize the present of God within us and in the people around us.
Blessings to all and again, enjoy your day; enjoy your weekend. Do not forget
to give God a little time this weekend! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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