Daily
Thoughts:
Now I have to admit to you that I struggle every time I hear or read today's
Gospel. The images that Jesus uses to talk about the religious leadership of
his time seem all too familiar and being a part of the leadership of our Church
I wonder about myself and whether I am making the same mistakes as those Jesus
is talk about in the Gospel.
I think
about the scandals and struggles of the Church today and wonder if the very
pitfalls that Jesus points out about the leadership of his day are not alive
and well in the leadership of the Church today. Let's remember that the Scribes
and Pharisees of Jesus' day were good people for the most part. They were doing
what they thought they were supposed to do. However, they were caught up in a
religious leadership culture that had developed over centuries. They thought
they were doing what was right.
Many in
religious leadership today are good people doing what they think is right, but
they caught up in the leadership culture that has developed over centuries. But
like in Jesus' time does that make it right and life giving?
For me
whether you are part of the religious leadership of today or not the challenge
of the Gospel is that of being a humble servant. Throughout my life and
ministry as a priest I have always imaged myself as a servant and a shepherd.
Those are the two images that make the most sense to me for who I am and how I
am supposed to live. I work at trying to be a humble person but I am not always
successful. What always brings me back to reality when I get too full of myself
is that I am a servant nothing more.
Too often
today we see people in leadership who feel entitled, who look for the places of
honor, who seek out titles, who do place burdens on others without any thought
of helping. They become people who are distant, at times unapproachable and
certainly not shepherds or servants!
Perhaps
our task today is to pray for leadership, especially within our Church that
they - we might find the virtues of servant and shepherd once again. That they
- we might take to hearts the words of Jesus and seek to be humble servants who
learn to do good again!
Have a
great Tuesday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Loving God, we pray today not just for ourselves but also for those who lead
us. Give us and all in leadership the wisdom to see the value of humility and
service. Help us to overcome the desires of entitlement, power, influence and
status. Grant us the grace to be compassionate, hope filled and loving servants
and shepherds. Guide us with your love so that everything we do will show the
saving power of God. Amen!
A
Runners' Thoughts: A runner who embarks on the journey of prayer and running
can expect surprises, missteps, and perhaps great leaps toward a relationship
with God! So as you run never underestimate the power of dreams, the influence
of the human spirit and the presence of God!
Daily
Blessing:
Tuesday greetings and blessings to all, I hope your day has started off well
and that it will continue to be a good day for you. If it has not, I pray that
it will only get better.
The
second day of mission went well yesterday here at St. Bernard’s. Both the
morning and evening sessions went very well. At the evening session I had 100 6th
grade CCD children who were well behaved and who added a nice spirit to the
session. I ask your continued prayers for the faith community here at St. Bernard’s
and their preacher.
It looks
like I will not escape bad weather this week as we are to get snow and freezing
rain sometime today and rain all day tomorrow. I seem to get at least one bad
day each mission this Lent. Well, I cannot do anything about it so I will just
hope that the weather people are wrong.
I would
like to pause and remember my mother today on this 99th anniversary
of her birth. February 23th was always a special day and I tried never to
forget it especially in the last years of her life. Mom have a wonderful birthday
today in heaven! Enjoy yourself and know that we love you and miss you!
So in the
midst of the possible snow and or ice and the busyness of this day I once again
offer a prayer of blessing for all of you. I ask God to bless your day and
whatever you will be doing. May today truly be a day rich in the presence of
God for you, your loved ones and for everyone you meet! Peace in Christ's
Passion...Fr. Paul
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