Daily
Thoughts:
In today's Gospel reading, Mark considers the problem of life after death and
its implications. Jesus takes the side
of the Pharisees, believing in resurrection from the dead, as opposed to the
view of the Sadducees. This is one of
the reasons why Jesus frustrated the Pharisees so much: although he seemed to be one of them
according to this criterion, he refused to interpret Scripture as literally as
they did or to put as much importance on a strict and literal interpretation of
the Law. He goes beyond (not against)
what many Old Testament texts seem to assume concerning both life after death.
The wider
question which Jesus is addressing here is how we are to interpret
Scripture. A literal interpretation is
easy for us to understand and so to follow, at least insofar as our having
confidence in doing the right thing is concerned. Anyone who is actually willing to come to
grips with Scripture, however, soon recognizes that this approach has its
problems.
The interpretation
of the Scriptures is best left to the scholars, what is important for us is how
we as individuals read Scripture and draw sustenance from God through it.
What I am
referring to here is prayer. If we are to have a living friendship with God we need
to be in conversation with him.
Scripture, as the Word of God, plays an important role here but cannot
be taken literally or assumed to have only one "message" in a given
passage. Scripture is rather a place where we listen to what God says through a
particular passage. The Spirit will lead
us to pay attention to one aspect of that reading, to a word or expression, or
will inspire us with a new understanding of ourselves and who we are.
What is
most important here for us is first that we actually pray, regularly, with or
without using the Scripture, and then that we reflect on what we are doing and
what we experience in prayer. And then
go on to live in the strength of that Word.
Mark’s
Gospel today ends with the great affirmation that God is the God of the living
and we encounter this living God first and foremost through prayer. God is not just
waiting for us to just survive life, God is actively nudging in the midst of
prayer and other ways to give life to his kingdom each and every day.
Have a
great Wednesday everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
Jesus, fill us, we pray, with your light and life that we may show forth your
wonderful glory. Grant that your love may so fill our lives that we may count
nothing too small to do for you, nothing too much to give, and nothing too hard
to bear. Amen (Prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola)
A Runner’s
Thoughts:
“If someone could find a way to bottle motivation, he [or she] would make a fortune.” (Hal Higdon) and in honor of Global Running Day – “I’m more of an alone kind of runner. When you’re by yourself, it’s you, the trail, and your thoughts.” (Reggie Miller) I have to agree with Reggie on this one!
“If someone could find a way to bottle motivation, he [or she] would make a fortune.” (Hal Higdon) and in honor of Global Running Day – “I’m more of an alone kind of runner. When you’re by yourself, it’s you, the trail, and your thoughts.” (Reggie Miller) I have to agree with Reggie on this one!
Daily
Blessing:
Wednesday greetings and blessings to all. Welcome to June! I hope your day and
your June is starting off well. It is another warm beautiful sunny day here in
Pelham and I hope the weather is just as nice by you! Though I know that in
some parts of the country, like Texas, people are struggling with Mother
Nature!
I would
like to send a shout out to my sister-in-law, Rosemarie and my brother, James
on their 31st Wedding Anniversary. Many blessings today and always.
I hope you will take a little time to enjoy the memories of this day!
My prayer of blessing today is that your day will be blessed with many wonderful and life giving experiences. I pray that you will take sometime today to smell the flowers, to enjoy the colors of creation and to let yourself be loved! I also pray that sometime today you will spend a little time speaking with God. So may the blessings of God’s love be with you today and always. Have a great day everyone and continue to know that wherever you are and wherever your life brings you today you are in my prayers! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
PS Today is Global Running Day, I know that to most of you this has no meaning whatsoever but I have pledged to run at least 8 miles today. So to all runners across the globe happy running today!
My prayer of blessing today is that your day will be blessed with many wonderful and life giving experiences. I pray that you will take sometime today to smell the flowers, to enjoy the colors of creation and to let yourself be loved! I also pray that sometime today you will spend a little time speaking with God. So may the blessings of God’s love be with you today and always. Have a great day everyone and continue to know that wherever you are and wherever your life brings you today you are in my prayers! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
PS Today is Global Running Day, I know that to most of you this has no meaning whatsoever but I have pledged to run at least 8 miles today. So to all runners across the globe happy running today!
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