Daily
Thoughts:
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” I am not sure how many times I
have uttered these words in my own mind over the last 36 plus years. It seemed
very simple 36 years ago, I got rid of most of my possessions and packed up
what was left in my little orange Chevy Vega and headed east from St. Louis to
Philadelphia to begin my journey into religious life and priesthood. At the
time it seemed freeing, liberating. Yet not long after arriving in Philadelphia
did the doubts and struggles started, the challenges of letting go of people,
possessions and a way of life.
And to
make matters more challenging throughout these 36 plus years there have been
amazing moments when I have paused and said, “Why am I here? Depart from me,
Lord, I don’t deserve this, I am a sinful man!” It is the ebb and flow of life
that makes who I am, who any person of faith is a challenge. One moment we are
in the midst of everyday life, doing what is expected, doing what we always do
and then God seems to step in, in a profound way and we feel humbled, we feel
undeserving.
I had one
of those moments last summer when I was the sitter for my three grand nieces,
ages 9, 5 and 1for about 30 hours. Encountering the gift of life, of creation,
the gift of love and the gift of family that these three little women offered
me was a humbling experience. The 30 hours with them was a challenging and at
times a struggling experience for someone like me who usually only experience
this kind of love and family life from a distance. But then you get the
opportunity to be with three wonderful little women and you recognize the
profound presence of God just like Peter did. And you think to yourself “I
don’t deserve this, I am a sinful man!”
However
even though undeserving like Peter and the rest of the crew on the seashore
that day each morning I rise and follow Jesus once again. If you happened to
encounter God in a profound way today and have that feeling that you don’t
deserve it remember you are in good company!
Have a
great Thursday everyone…
Daily
Prayer:
Loving Jesus, you are the love that gives love. You are higher than the highest
star, you are deeper than the deepest sea; you cherish us as your own family;
you embrace us as your own spouse; you grace us as your own people; you welcome
us as your own dearest friends. Let us and all the world praise you today!
Amen. (Adapted from a prayer by St. Hildegard of Bingen)
A
Runner’s Thoughts: The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals,
the struggles within yourself – the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of
us – that’s where it's at. (Jesse Owens) So too in the spiritual
life…
Later
this morning I will head to the Wartburg Home for mass at 11:00 am and then it
will be on to our parish in Jamaica for the delivery of a new organ for the
Lower Church and a meeting about our first taping day for the Sunday Mass. If
any of you in the New York area know a painter who is looking for some work could
you give them my name and phone number. We need some painting done in the Lower
Church and I am having a hard time connecting with a painter.
My prayer
of blessing for you on this first day of September is that like Peter in
today’s gospel God will bless you with a profound experience of his presence
and if it makes you consider your unworthiness that God will give you the
strength and courage to continue on! May God bless your day with the richness
of love, hope and joy! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
I just love when light enters the night of a faith desert time in my life... Faith indeed is a journey, not all or nothing... But one I too, must keep working at... Thank you, Paul for your work... Hope to see you soon.
ReplyDelete