Daily
Thoughts:
"The Lord is risen, Alleluia! Happy Easter everyone! Once again I have
chosen the words of Pope Francis gives us some food for thought as we celebrate
this Easter morning – “If we think that things are not going to change, we need
to recall that Jesus Christ has triumphed over sin and death and is now
almighty. Jesus Christ truly lives…. Christ, risen and glorified, is the
wellspring of our hope, and he will not deprive us of the help we need to carry
out the mission which he has entrusted to us.
Christ’s
resurrection is not an event of the past; it contains a vital power which has
permeated this world. Where all seems to be dead, signs of the resurrection
suddenly spring up. It is an irresistible force. Often it seems that God does
not exist: all around us we see persistent injustice, evil, indifference and
cruelty. But it is also true that in the midst of darkness something new always
springs to life and sooner or later produces fruit. On razed land life breaks
through, stubbornly yet invincibly. However dark things are, goodness always
re-emerges and spreads. Each day in our world beauty is born anew, it rises
transformed through the storms of history. Values always tend to reappear under
new guises, and human beings have arisen time after time from situations that
seemed doomed. Such is the power of the resurrection, and all who evangelize
are instruments of that power.” (Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel)
These
words of resurrection today from Pope Francis remind us of what Easter is all
about. He challenges us to believe in the empty tomb and like Mary of Magdala
and disciple whom Jesus loved to believe and proclaim that belief to all we
meet. There is goodness and newness of life today do we believe? The Messiah is among us, the Messiah is one
of us. Are we willing to bring the risen Christ to the world?
I heard
an interesting thought on today's Gospel. The question was posed as to why when
Peter and the other disciple (John) get to the tomb, Peter goes in and John
goes in but it is only John who believes? The answer was that after three years
of traveling with Jesus, seeing him day in and day out when John saw how the
cloths where left he knew that Jesus had risen because Jesus folded his bed
lines in just the same way every day.
It is an
interesting theory, one that is only speculation; however, it does lead to an
important aspect of our faith journey. Believing, having faith is much easier
if we have a relationship with Jesus, with God. If we spend time with God, if
we share ourselves, if we allow God to share himself with us, it is much easier
to have faith, to believe.
The
mystery of Easter is about relationship it is about friendship with God so that
when we encounter the empty tomb we too will believe!
Easter
Sunday blessings to all!
Daily
Prayer:
Loving God, you gift us today with Easter hope. We thank you for the journey
that you made from Bethlehem to Calvary. We thank you for all that you have
shared with us, taught us and lived for us. Grace us now with an Easter faith
that looks into an empty tomb and believes. Enliven our heart to be on fire
with the hope that your love is everlasting. May the Easter mystery make us
proclaimers of your Word and carriers of your Light. May we truly be joy filled
Easter people today and always! Amen!
A
Runner's Thoughts: “Endurance comes to those who put in the time, the effort,
and the heart.” (Kristin Armstrong) So to in the spiritual life…faith comes to
those who put in the time, the effort and the heart when it come to a
relationship with God. Happy Easter to all runners, rest, relax and enjoy family
and friends and believe!
Daily
Blessings:
Happy Easter everyone! I hope this finds you enjoying a beautiful Easter Sunday
morning. It looks to be a cloudy perhaps even rainy morning here in Pelham. In a
little while I am going to head to the gym to get in my daily run and workout.
Then this afternoon I will be going to brunch with some friends.
I thank
all of you for your prayers and good thoughts during my Lenten journeys they
certainly helped to keep me focused and spirit filled. But I need to ask you to
work overtime this year as my ministry on the work will continue into April,
May and June. I will home from time to time but the next three months will also
be busy with missions and retreats so I ask you to continue your prayers for the
Preacher on the Run!
My prayer
of blessing today is that all of us will be touch by the joy of Easter and the
joy of God’s mercy and love. On this
most holy feast of Easter, having journeyed with Jesus through his Passion,
Death to this day of Resurrection may our Good and Gracious God bless us and
protect us from the struggles and perils of life. May the God who so loves us
that he gave us his only Son touch us with that love today and always. And
through the joyous mercy and grace of Christ may God lead us to the banquet of
lasting joy. Amen – Alleluia!
Enjoy
your day and I hope you will get to celebrate today with family and friends!
Peace in Christ's Passion - Joy in the Risen Lord...Fr. Paul
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