Daily
Thoughts:
“The Church which “goes forth” is a community of missionary disciples who take
the first step, who are involved and supportive, who bear fruit and rejoice. An
evangelizing community knows that the Lord has taken the initiative, he has
loved us first (cf. 1 Jn 4:19), and therefore we can move forward, boldly take
the initiative, go out to others, seek those who have fallen away, stand at the
crossroads and welcome the outcast. Such a community has an endless desire to
show mercy, the fruit of its own experience of the power of the Father’s
infinite mercy. Let us try a little harder to take the first step and to become
involved. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. The Lord gets involved and he
involves his own, as he kneels to wash their feet. He tells his disciples: “You
will be blessed if you do this”” (Pope Francis – Evangelii Gaudium – The Joy of
the Gospel)
Pope
Francis words today might not seem like they touch on our readings but they do.
Pope Francis challenges us to be people of the world, to be people who get down
and dirty with those around us. We are to be people of mercy and compassion. We
are to be people who find the good in others even if they have done us wrong.
We are to be people who bring joy to the world.
Sometimes
this can be a difficult task. When others hurt us our natural response is to
keep them at a distance, to wait for their apology, to seek justice, to wait
for repayment, to hold on to the hurt. However, Jesus challenges us to be
people who seek reconciliation, who offer forgiveness, who move beyond the
hurt, who are people of service and joy.
In
today’s Gospel (Matthew 5:20-26) Jesus teaches us about sin. He does not talk
about mortal sin and venial sin. Jesus just talks about sin. The things we do,
don’t do, the things we say or don’t say that hurt our relationship with God.
Sin as Jesus speaks about it is not hierarchical it is on a continuum, anger at
one end, killing someone at the other. If we do not deal with our anger, we are
headed down the wrong road. So in the Gospel today Jesus asks us to look at all
our faults, our failings, our struggles with others whether they are small or
great. He asks us to seek forgiveness and to be compassionate so that we remain
on the right road.
In other
words, we are to reach out to others, to serve others, to bring the gift of God’s
joy to others. And if we live life this way we will be blessed!
Have a
blessed Friday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Good Jesus, the author and encourager of peace, love and goodwill, soften our
hard and steely hearts, and warm our frozen and icy hearts, so that we may wish
well to one another today and that we may be true disciples and friends of
Jesus. Give us the grace even now to begin to reveal that heavenly life, where
there is no hatred but rather peace and love everywhere. Amen! (Adapted from a
prayer by Juan Luis (Ludovicus) Vives)
A
Runner's Thoughts: “We run to undo the damage we've done to body and spirit.
We run to find some part of ourselves yet undiscovered.” (John Bingham)
With this
in mind let us run no matter what circumstances we encounter. There are lessons
to be learned from running in various emotional states, just as there are when
running in different environmental settings. Let's not shy away from running in
an unaccustomed state of mind or an unusual situation. Opportunities for
encountering God often are found in the unfamiliar.
Daily
Blessing:
Friday greetings and blessings to all! I hope you will have a wonderful end to
the work week that it will lead you into a relaxing and restful weekend.
I head
out this morning to the Wartburg Home for mass at 11 am and then I will spend
the rest of the day getting ready to head out tomorrow to St. Bernard’s Parish
in Levittown, NY where I will begin a mission on Saturday evening. It is a
beautiful sunny day here in Pelham but a cold one. It is nice to at least see
the sun it makes the cold a little easier to deal with.
I pray
for God’s blessing on all of you today that in some way you will have a day
graced with the wonderful spirit of God that you will be blessed with the
richness of God’s presence in your life in some way. May your day be blessed
with successful travel, wonderful interaction with people, quite refreshing
moments, nourishment that energizes you and moments that remind you of God’s
love and joy! Be well everyone and if you can take some time to enjoy life
joyful way! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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