In the
first reading we have the familiar story of the people of the Exodus grumbling
and complaining as they wander through the desert. This grumbling comes from the very people
that God rescued from horrific oppression in Egypt, under a Pharaoh who consumed
their lives to feed his false god persona, is grossly ungrateful. Not only had God rescued them from slavery
but God also provided food to eat and a fresh stream of pure water to drink,
(from a rock no less). God is taking
them to a land “flowing with milk and honey” where they will be God’s people,
protected and loved.
However,
they are a whining group, who can’t seem to see their own dependence upon God
and the need to be grateful for all that God has done for them. Their sin of ingratitude is as twisting and
venomous as a poison snake which kills with its bite, but it can’t be
recognized until it is lifted up on a pole and each person has to look at it
and see his or her own darkness of heart to be “cured” of its effect.
In John’s
Gospel the serpent on a stick becomes an image for Jesus’ crucifixion. When, battered and bleeding, he is “lifted
up” in front of us. It then becomes possible for us thankless sinners to see,
to know, to recognize, and to understand, through God’s grace, the nature and cost
of our sin for ourselves, our world and to our loving God. Jesus took our sin into his own human
personhood in order to put it to death and be the instrument for our release
from the sin that condemned him and all its death-dealing consequences.
Our
challenge today and always as we live our lives in the pursuit the life of
grace is each day to stand before the cross and ask Jesus three questions:
“What have I done for you? What am I now
doing for you? What can I do for you?”
Have a
blessed Tuesday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
We put
between us and all evil, the Passion of Jesus Christ.We put between us and all struggle, the Passion of Jesus Christ.
We put between us and all disappointment, the Passion of Jesus Christ.
We put between us and all loss, the Passion of Jesus Christ.
We put between us and all weakness, the Passion of Jesus Christ.
We put between us and all sinfulness, the Passion of Jesus Christ.
We put between us and all violence, the Passion of Jesus Christ.
We put between us and death, the Passion of Jesus Christ.
May the Passion of Jesus Christ Be Always in Our Hearts...Amen!
A
Runner’s Thoughts: “Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation
determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” (Lou Holtz) Running
can become a tool that helps us deal with the difficulties that we face. It can
be a time to release the negative energies in our life. It can be a time to let
go and let God!
Daily
Blessing:
Tuesday greetings and blessings to all. I hope your day is getting off to a
good start. As the sun is not up yet I am not sure what this day will bring
weather wise but I think it is to be a cloudy day with mild temperatures, not
as much wind as yesterday and only a slight chance of rain. I hope your weather
day will be a good one.
We had a
good beginning to the mission here at St. Joseph’s Parish yesterday both in the
morning and the evening. The community is enthusiastic and spirit filled which is
what is most important. So please continue to keep the faith community of St.
Joseph’s in your prayers and if you have the time please offer a short prayer
for their preacher!
I pray
that your day will be truly blessed with many good things and many encounters
with God’s grace. If it hasn’t been a good start to the day I pray that your
day will only get better and become rich in the presence of God.
May you have
a faith filled day with many blessings and much peace. As always you are in my
prayers. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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