Daily
Thoughts:
Today’s Gospel begins with Jesus entering the Temple area but it was late, so
Jesus went to Bethany for the night only to return today to drive out the
buyers and sellers in the Temple area.
Before Jesus took it upon himself to clear the Temple of business he
first paused to look around. What did he
see? Did he see beauty, as well as
distortion?
Often we act before thinking; we jump in with both feet before we really know what
we are landing on. We act as though we know what the real circumstances are.
Our actions at time are based on our memory or worse yet, based on how we might
prefer to perceive reality. Pausing and
looking again can be difficult. It might
cause us to change our understanding.
Pausing might even cause us to ask for help even from God so that we can
see things correctly!
In the
Gospel today Jesus asks us to pause but also to persevere in prayer and
forgiveness. In fact, it is our willingness to forgive that helps our prayers
find their way to God. Jesus pauses today in the Gospel to put into perspective
just what the Temple was all about. As Jesus says, “my house shall be called a
house of prayer for all people!”
Have a
blessed Friday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
O God, give us insight into our friendships. Help us to see your gift of love,
your presence in them. Help us to be faithful friends to others, loyal,
generous and kind. Grant us the gift through our friendships to love and be
loved. Bless our friends this day and always with the richness of life and the
faithfulness of our love. Amen!
A
Runner’s Thoughts: If we run as a spiritual runner let us remember that it is
being a runner that matters, it is not how fast or how far we go. The joy, the
gift is in running, in the journey and not always in the destination. We have
the best chance of encountering our friend God, in the midst of our run when we
remain focused in the present and don’t think too far ahead! (I adapted this from a quote by John
Bingham, the author of No Need for Speed: A Beginner's Guide to the Joy of
Running.)
Daily Blessing: Friday greetings and
blessing to all. I hope your Friday has started off well and it will be a short
one that will take you into a relaxing and fun Memorial Day weekend. The sun is
out here in Pelham and it looks to be another warm day. I hope the skies are bright, the sun is out
and the air is warm wherever you are today.
I will be
heading out to a funeral mass this morning and then the rest of the day is free
and clear. Hopefully I will get a run in this afternoon or at least a trip to
the gym so that after the run I can work on the weights a little.
I
continue my prayers for expectant mothers, especially my niece Sarah. I know
that waiting is difficult especially when you are waiting for new life. May you
find peace in your time of waiting and when the time come may you give birth to
the beauty and mystery of God. I am also praying for expectant father and
grandmothers waiting to help!
My prayer
today is that all will encounter the wonderful tiny whispering sound of God’s
presence in your life today. That all of you will be renewed in your journey,
your mission in life and that in being honest with yourself you will overcome
fear, hurt, anger, loneliness, jealousy and fatigue to be the person of joy,
hope and love that God has created you to be! Enjoy your Friday and know you
will all be in my prayers today and always. May your day be safe and may your
evening be blessed with rest and peace! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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