Daily
Thoughts:
"Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in
your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior." This is the opening
line of today's psalm and perhaps words that sum up our readings for us.
In the
first reading from the Book of Daniel, Azariah prays for God's forgiveness not
just for himself but for the community. He reflects on the social sin of his
time. Not just something an individual has done but what the community had done
or failed to do. Azariah seeks God's forgiveness. Often we do not think this
way we worry more about individual sin rather than looking at ourselves as a
community of faith who at times sin together by our action or our lack of
action. We rarely take into consideration social sin and yet we, as a
community, are responsible for what we do or don't do.
We might
think the Gospel turns us back to individual forgiveness but in a way it
carries through with our first reading's theme. The other servants see the
injustice of the one servant and look to correct the problem. We might say it
is the community that deals with the injustice.
Forgiveness
and being a forgiving person, a forgiving community, was a constant theme in
the life of Jesus. It is not an easy way to live. We would rather seek revenge
than be forgiving. We would rather hold the hurt in our heart than be
forgiving. It takes hard work and a heart of compassion. Jesus taught us how to
have such a heart. He taught us how to be forgiving people and he also taught
us how to take responsibility for our sinfulness. He showed us how to be people
of faith. He showed us how to take responsibility and also how to be
compassionate and forgiving. He taught us that forgiveness is an ongoing
process.
Jesus
taught us the ways of God. He showed us the path to walk. The question is; are
we willing to learn and walk down the path that Jesus has set before us?
Have a
blessed Tuesday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Loving God, enliven in us your gifts of mercy, compassion and forgiveness.
Teach us to walk in your way of truth and love. Grace us with the wisdom to
recognize our own faults and failings as individuals and as a community. Enable
us to seek forgiveness and to be forgiving. Help us to walk humbly through life
as you show us the paths to walk! Amen!
A
Runner’s Thoughts: Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing,
but to turn it into glory. (William
Barclay, Scottish Theologian)
Daily
Blessing:
Tuesday greetings and blessings to all and welcome to March! I hope this finds
you well and that your Tuesday and your March have gotten off to a good start.
It was a beautiful day here yesterday. After some clouds and rain in the
morning the sun came out and was bright and made things a little warmer the
rest of the day. Today they are calling for cooler temperatures but I think we
will see the sun most of the day. The evening will bring rain and wind once
again. I hope your day weather wise and in every way will be a good one.
The
mission at Our Lady of Perpetual Help has gotten off to a good start. The
morning service and the evening one were both nicely attended and spirit
filled. I had a session with the 6th, 7th and 8th
graders from the school yesterday afternoon which went very well at least for
me. I am looking forward to today’s services! Please continue to pray for the
faith community here at OLPH and for their preacher.
Today I
pray we will all have a great day filled with many graced and blessed moments.
May any struggles be minor ones that quickly are solved. And may God bless us
all with the mercy, joy, faith, hope and love that will make our lives be a
“yes” to whatever God asks of us this day! Have a great day everyone and may
God’s blessing be with you! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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