Daily Thoughts - 01/23/2016

Daily Thoughts: The Gospel today is an interesting one. It is short and to the point. The crowds are pressing in on Jesus, he does not have a moment to breathe, pray or eat and his family and friends are not too sure about all that he is doing, they go so far as to say, "He is out of his mind." Which is what I said about one of my brother Passionist when I heard the garage door open this morning, but I digress.

I have always found “He is out of his mind.” an interesting line in the Gospel. I don't think we often, if ever, use the phrase, "He us out of his mind." to describe Jesus. It almost seems irreverent! Yet that is what his family and friends thought and in a way it is comforting. I don't know for sure but I do believe that people have thought that "I am out of my mind," because of the things I have done or because of the busyness of my life or the thoughts that I have expressed or the stands that I have taken. It is comforting to know that at least for a moment Jesus and I share the same struggle concerning how people see us.

Perhaps many of the things Jesus did, experienced and lived out seemed crazy. How often today does someone point out that Jesus would have done it this way and because it doesn't fit with how we live life and we think or say the person is crazy. Jesus asks us to do a lot of crazy things, love our enemies, pray for our persecutor, forgive, be in the company of sinners, accept people for who they are, step across boundaries in order to bring about healing and life. It may seem crazy, in doing these things it might seem like we are out of our minds, but remember we are in good company!

Have a great Saturday everyone!

Daily Prayer: O God, we are out of our mind in love with you today. Help us to stir into a flame the fire of this love so that we may never be ashamed of our friendship with you. Entrust us with the power and hope of peace and your love in this life and the gift of eternal life with you. Amen!

A Runner's Thoughts: “Vary your training, your running partners, and your environment. Only your imagination limits the ways you can spice up your running routine.” (Bob Glover) Try to transform your run today from just a run to a sacred experience by letting God run with you!

Daily Blessing: Saturday greetings and blessings to all. Snow, snow, snow, snow! Well it wasn’t a bust but a true storm now it remains to be seem if it is a blizzard. I wakened to the sound of wind this morning and as I look out my office window the snow is coming down pretty heavy. There looks to be a good 4 inches so far. I am sure there is more in places south and west of here where it has been snowing longer. I guess it will be an in the house day. However, one of my Passionist brothers with whom I live with went out about 7:30 am. I have no clue where he was going but he got a Jeep Wrangler about two months ago so he is probably out seeing if it does what they said it would do!

I pray your Saturday will go well and that you are navigating through whatever Mother Nature and life are throwing your way. My prayer of blessing for you today is this wherever you are today, whomever you are with or will encounter and whatever you are doing or will do - I prayer that you will be blessed with the grace, mercy, love and presence of God. Enjoy your day, think positive thoughts, wear a smile and trust that God journeys with you! Blessings to all on your journey through this Saturday see you on Sunday! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 01/22/2016

Daily Thoughts: In the Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 57: 2, 3-4, 6, 11) for today’s mass we are presented with the image of a mother bird protecting her young. She shelters them with her wings until the danger passes. But what happens once the danger passes, well the children need to grow and move away from the nest until they finally take that step off the limb and fly on their own. In learning to fly they now take on the responsibility of caring for themselves and eventually having their own little ones whom they will protect.  It is the cycle of life.

Jesus names his twelve closes friends in the Gospel today (Mark 3:13-19). They are moving toward the end of the limb and soon they will be flying on their own. They will soon will be proclaiming the good news to all the world. Part of the Good News that they will proclaim is mercy, the mercy of God and the mercy we need to have in living life. It not always easy to live by mercy as David finds out in the first reading (1 Samuel 24:3-21). Yet that is what we are called to as the children of God.

So what is our challenge today? Perhaps it is to trust in the ongoing care and concern of God for us but also to know that through that love and care we are sent forth into the world to proclaim the Good News, a Good News grounded in the mercy a God.

Have a great Friday everyone!

Daily Prayer: O God, as we live this new day, please send the gift of your hope into our hearts so that we can turn our moments of anger into healing, life and your loving presence. May we always be people who celebrate life in the midst of a world that often seem focused on taking life. May we never let anything stand in the way of an opportunity to heal and celebrate life. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.” (Oprah Winfrey) Always run open to discovering the strength that you did not know you had, let that strength be the very Spirit of God's presence in your life!

Daily Blessing: Friday greetings and blessings to all. I hope this finds you beginning you Friday with energy and enthusiasm that will take you through the day and bring you to the gift of another weekend!

It has been a long yet not so busy week here in Pelham, but a good one. The weather may be changing drastically tomorrow. They are calling it a major storm however they are not too sure how major. Will it be some snow? Will it be a lot of snow? Will it be a dud? Only the Lord knows for sure and God is probably worried about many other more important things! Right now it is a sunny but cold morning here. So as always we wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

May prayer of blessing today will be a simple one. I would like to first remember all those who are in Washington, DC today for the annual right to life march. I just would like to pray for all who attended that their journey will be safe and that the gift of life will be celebrated and honored in a life giving and respectful way. I also pray that the storm will hold off until the march is finished so all can get home safely.

I pray your day will go well and that you are navigating through whatever Mother Nature and life are throwing your way. My prayer of blessing for you today is this – wherever you are today, whomever you are with or will encounter and whatever you are doing or will do - I prayer that you will be blessed with the grace, love and presence of God. Enjoy your day, think positive thoughts, wear a smile and trust that God walks, runs, works, plays and journeys with you! Blessings to all. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 01/21/2016

Daily Thoughts: As I reflected on today’s Gospel (Mark 3:7-12) this morning the thought that came to mind was "A Day in the Life." This is the title of a 1967 Beatles song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. While the Gospel and the song have nothing in common I thought of the title in terms of what picture the Gospel paints for us today, A Day in the Life of Jesus.

It is interesting, I did a little research about the song, Lennon and McCartney wrote their sections of the song at different times, Lennon using accounts from the newspaper and McCartney using memories from his youth. The two sets of lyrics were then put together with orchestral glissandos. What does this have to do with the Gospel, well think about how the Gospels were put together? The days of Jesus' life, not a daily rendering but events tied together by the overarching story of his life.

Today, we have a day in the life of Jesus, crowds coming from every corner of the world it seems, healing with every touch, demons proclaiming he is "the Son of God," people everywhere!  No room, no time for himself, no space to breathe. When you think about it Jesus had a very difficult life long before he got to Calvary. He was always in demand. How did he do it? How did he balance his ministry and his need to just be, to pray, to connect with friends? How did he stay focused? Stay refreshed? Stay motivated?

Sometimes seeing a picture of a day in the life of Jesus can be inspiring, sometimes it can be troubling, sometimes it can be tiring, sometimes it can be overwhelming. What does today's picture of a day in the life of Jesus say to you? To me it says he loved us very much!

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, help us in the midst of our busy day to see what is truly holy, life giving, and of you. May we always find the time to be grateful for your gifts and your presence in our life. May this day in our life truly reflect your love. Amen!

A Runner's Thoughts: Remember the little miracles of God that we encounter during a run are not because we finish but are because we find the courage to begin!

Daily Blessing: I hope everyone is having a good day! It is a sunny and cold day here in Pelham, however we might say it is the calm before the storm that is if the storm that they say is coming really happens.

I would like to send a special shout out to my good friend Randy Wieck on his birthday! Many blessings today and always Randy and have a great day. I hope you get to celebrate at least a little and have one on me!

May prayer of blessing today will be a simple one. I would like to first remember all those who are gathering in Washington, DC today for the National Prayer Vigil for Life beginning today and annual right to life march tomorrow. I just would like to pray for all who will be attending these two events that their journey will be safe and that the gift of life will be celebrated and honored in a life giving and respectful way.

So I pray for God’s blessings upon all of us today that our day will be successful, life giving, safe and be gifted with peace and love; may those amongst us who are struggling, suffering or hurting find the peace and solace of Christ who bore the struggles, suffering and hurt of all of us in his Cross; may those amongst us who face the sadness of tragedy find comfort in the loving presence of God. May all of us come to realize the fragileness and value of life from the first moment of conception to its last breath through the grace of living this day and return home tonight to those we most love. Many blessings to all this day!

Have a blessed and grace filled day everyone! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul