Daily
Thoughts:
Spy Wednesday, (Isaiah 50: 4-9a and Matthew 26: 14-25), the day when we pause
to remember Judas’ actions many years ago. A companion, a friend of Jesus yet
he allows the forces of darkness, the forces of evil to become more a friend
than Jesus.
We do not
truly know what motivated Judas. Was it his desire for money? Was it that he
truly thought he would scare Jesus into changing his approach to life? Was it
that he saw Jesus as a threat? Was it
that he was angry with Jesus? Had he been caught stealing money? Was he upset
that Jesus challenged him at Lazarus’ house? We just don’t know the motive.
What we
do know is the Judas sold Jesus out to the religious leadership. What we do
know is that Judas could not admit to Jesus what he was about to do. He could
not tell the truth and that until the end he continued to see himself as Jesus’
friend.
We pause
to reflect on the events of the Gospel in light of the attacks in Brussels
yesterday. Terror is a betrayal of one human against another. Hate is a
betrayal of one human against another. Terror and hate are all too common in
our world, our country and our own hearts these days. Before we point our
finger at others, before we vent our anger on social media, before we betray
another by our words or actions let us pause to remember who has given us life
and what we did to him many years ago. Let us not make the same mistake once
again!
The
Prophet Isaiah today reminds himself of who his friend truly is, God. That no
matter what happens God is there to protect Isaiah in his ministry as prophet.
It is not easy but Isaiah is faithful to his ministry and God is faithful to
Isaiah, helping him through the struggle.
We
encounter Isaiah’s words and in them we see Jesus. We listen to Isaiah’s words
and hear Jesus speaking. Jesus is the servant who suffers, the servant who
trusts in God, the servant who is abandoned by everyone except by God.
The
questions for today – Are we with God or against God? Can we remain friends of
Jesus or will the trappings of the world, will anger and hate cause us to
betray him once again? Can we trust in God even in the midst of our struggles?
It is often said that every person has her or his price, what is our price?
Blessings
and peace to all on this Wednesday of Holy Week!
Daily
Prayer:
At the name of Jesus every knee must bend in heaven, on earth and under the
earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God
the Father! Loving God, help us to always be faithful and may the gods of the
world not temp us into betraying our friendship with you. Grace us with the
strength to always trust in your presence especially when we struggle. Help us
to keep hope and joy alive through your word and sacrament! Amen!
A
Runner’s Thoughts: If, in running we desire is to connect with God, to pray,
then that is what we are doing. Keeping that desire at the forefront of our
thoughts and remaining conscious of our intent is very important. Remember seek
God and you will find God in every good thing!
Daily
Blessing:
Greetings and blessings to all on this Spy Wednesday. I hope your day has started
well. The sun is not up yet here in Pelham, but it is to be a partly cloudy day
with the temperature rising into the 60’s. Spring continues to touch each day
at least here in the northeast.
I would
like to send a shout out to my niece Bridget, who celebrates her birthday
today. Happy Birthday, Bridget even though you are far from family hopefully
you have good friends around you who will help you celebrate the gift of this
day! Many blessings today and always. Love your Uncle Paul!
I would
also like to pause to remember the victims of the attacks in Brussels yesterday.
I remember in prayer those who died and their families and friends who now live
in grief because of their lose. I remember those who were injured physically
and emotionally. I remember in prayer the people of Brussels and all of Belgium
as they struggle to understand and live with the events of yesterday. I
remember in prayer those who planned and carried out the attacks that the hate
and evil will leave their hearts.
I would also
like to remember in my prayers today the Missionaries of Charity (also known as
the Sisters of Mother Theresa) who were brutally killed in Yemen and Fr. Tom, a
Salesian priest who was kidnapped by ISIS from the Missionaries of Charity Home
during the same attack. According to some reports Fr. Tom is being tortured and
is going to be crucified on Good Friday. Again humankind is betrayed by itself.
Please Lord may this violence stop in your mercy helps us to find peace!
On a
lighter note, I am making my final preparations today for the next three days
ahead of me. As I have already mentioned I will be preaching the Triduum, Holy
Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in
Pelham Manor. Tomorrow I will be preaching the 7:30 pm Mass of the Lord’s
Supper, then on Good Friday I will preach the 3:00 pm Service of the Lord’s
Passion and on Holy Saturday I will preach the Easter Vigil beginning at 7:30
pm. So if you happen to be in the area come and celebrate with us.
Hopefully
your day, will be filled with God’s many blessings and I pray that you will
take some time to enter into the holiness of these next few days. If not, if
you are too busy, please know that as I journey through them you will be held
in my prayers. My prayer of blessing today is that God will bless you with the
trust, the faith, the hope, the love, the mercy and the joy to never give up on
your relationship with God. That you will always know even in the midst of your
struggles and the struggles of the world that God is with you and that God will
never leave you to face life alone! Have a blessed day. Peace in Christ’s
Passion…Fr. Paul
No comments:
Post a Comment