Daily Thoughts - 04/27/2016

Daily Thoughts: There are two things that strike me in today’s readings. First in the Acts of the Apostles we encounter a moment of struggle within the early Church. Some want to keep things as they are. They don’t want to break with tradition, while others see no need for past tradition. The struggle focuses on past Jewish traditions and the emerging new Church into which gentles are entering. Paul and Barnabas decide to go to Jerusalem and talk about the problem. What a novel idea, sitting down and talking about issues, problems, struggles and differing views of Church. Perhaps Pope Francis has taken a page from the Acts of the Apostles over the last three years!

My second thought comes from the Gospel. Not too long ago Jesus offered us the image of the Good Shepherd – God as the shepherd always watching out for us, always taking care of us, always walking with us. It is a comforting image of God’s presence in our life. Today the image is of God as the life giving vine extending out into the world through us the branches. God becomes the vine running through our life offering us grace by which we grow into the person we have been created be so that we can produce the fruit of God’s presence and love in the world.

As a branch of God’s presence and love in the world we don’t have to know everything. We are a branch running from the Vine. It is the Vine that offers us everything that we need as long as we stay attached. We cannot do it on our own we must depend on the Vine – God’s presence, grace, love, mercy, forgiveness and joy to produce good fruit.

Jesus through the image of the vine and the branches reminds us today that the more we are connected to God, the more we lean on God, and the more we learn from God and experience God’s presence in the world around us, the better we will be at living life – the more fruit we will produce!

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Daily Prayer:  Loving Jesus, you have no body now on earth but mine, no hands but mind and no feet but mine. Mine are the eyes through which you look out with compassion on the world. Mine are the feet with which you go about doing good. Mine are the hands with which you bless people now. Jesus you have no body now on earth but mine so through me bless the world today. Amen! (Adapted from a prayer by St. Teresa of Avila)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “There is a lesson to be learned from running in various emotional states, just as there are lessons to learn from running in a wide range of environmental settings. Don’t shy away from running in an unaccustomed state of mind or an unusual situation. Opportunity for enlightenment often waits in the unfamiliar.” (Roger Joslin) And another thought, “Run often. Run long. But never outrun your joy of running.” (Julie Isphording)

Daily Blessing: Wednesday greetings and blessings to all. I hope your day has started off well. We had a good second day of retreat yesterday here at Holy Family Convent in Manitowoc, WI. The weather is still on the chilly side but today we are to see the sun and perhaps that will warm us up a bit. I would ask you to please continue to pray for the sisters on retreat and it you get a chance to say an extra prayer for the preacher it would be greatly appreciated.

My prayer for all of you today is that you will be have a great day, one filled with many blessings. May God bless your work, your travel, your encounters with others, may God’s blessings be upon those whom you love and upon you! May God bless you so that you can get over any “hump” today in peace and joy! Peace in Christ’s Passion and Hope in the Risen Lord…Fr. Paul