Daily Thoughts - 10/09/2015

Daily Thoughts: I have always struggled with this passage in Luke that is our Gospel today (Luke 11:15-26). First of all if Jesus is taking the time to case out demons, why are people upset? Why are they casting a negative light on Jesus and his ministry? You would think that they would be pleased. You would think that they would be open to all the help they can get!

Perhaps the reason for their negativity is that they have become accustom, even comfortable with these demons. How does the old saying go, “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know!” Sometimes we become comfortable with the devils that make a home in us. We look at them and begin to rationalize our encounters with the devils of our life. “They are just small problems, personal things, they really don’t hurt anyone. – Everybody does it. Everybody is doing it.”

Looking at it another way we might say that Beelzebul is the strong man who guards his palace. His possessions are hatred, anger, prejudice, greed, and injustice. Through them he tries to control the world. By ourselves, we are helpless against his power. But this parable is one of hope. It proclaims the gospel message. There is one stronger than Beelzebul who can overpower him and cast him out of our lives if we let him. Christ is our strength, who by his resurrection has defeated the power of evil. We are called to live each day in the faith that Christ can help us overcome our demons. If we do our heart becomes a place where no demons dwell only Christ. O Lord, create in us a clean heart and a faithful spirit!

Have a great day everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, give us today day the wisdom to see which things are important, and which things are not. Show us how best to use the time and talents you have given us. Help us to use all our opportunities wisely, that we may share, through service to others, the good gifts we have received from you. Amen.

A Runner’s Thoughts: “As every runner knows, running is about more than just putting one foot in front of the other; it is about our lifestyle and who we are.” (Joan Benoit Samuelson) The same can be true when we talk about faith. Faith is more than just reciting prayers or going to mass every Sunday, though like putting one foot in front of the other when we run, these rituals are important. Faith is really about how we live our life. Faith is like taking a breath. We need to breathe when we run and when we do anything else. It is the same with faith. A person of faith allies her or his faith to every aspect of life. Faith is about who we are. So today and every day let us be runners but also let us be people of faith!

Daily Blessing: Happy Friday everyone! I hope your day has started out well and that you are looking forward to a good day and a relaxing weekend.

Let us continue to pray for the Synod on the Family taking place in Rome these days of October. May the Holy Spirit guide and direct the discussions of those involved so that they may truly be a bridge to the future and not a roadblock.

My prayer of blessing for all of you today comes for the words of another Paul, a much great Paul than me – Today I say to all of you as you live this day: rejoice! Let me say it again: rejoice! As you live today let your kindness should be known to all. Have faith God is always near. Live today with no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, my friends in the Passion, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in the people of faith around you. If you do this then the God of peace will be with you today and always. (Adapted from the words of St. Paul to the Philippians)

Blessings to all! Have a great Friday! Peace in Christ Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 10/08/2015

Daily Thoughts: Today’s Gospel (Luke 11:5-13) encourages us to pray, to stay connect with God because God is so eager to help us. As Jesus says if a reluctant friend can be persuaded to help, how much more will God be willing to help!

As Kathleen Norris puts it, “Prayer is not asking for what you think you want, but asking to be changed in ways you can't imagine.”

Or as St. Teresa of Calcutta puts it, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.”

Today we are asked to put ourselves in God’s hands and let God change us in ways that we cannot imagine. This does not mean that God will always give us whatever we ask but it does mean that God always hears our prayer!

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, we are often so afraid to open our clenched fists! If we do who will we be when if we have nothing left to hold on to? Who will we be when we stand before you with empty hands? Please help us to gradually open my hands and to discover that we are not what we own, but what you want to give us. Amen!  (Adapted from a prayer by Henri J.M. Nouwen)

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, it knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're the lion or a gazelle-when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.” (Christopher McDougall) And as a friend often says…So to in the spiritual life!

Daily Blessing: Thursday greetings and blessings to all! I hope today has started off well for you and that so far your day has been rich in God’s presence.

May we continue to pray for the Synod on the Family going on in Rome these days that it will truly be the work of the Spirit.

My prayer of blessing for you today is that God will provide you what you need to keep the faith and live this day. And so to all my friends who will stop by this site today and even for those who won’t I ask God’s blessings upon you, your day and those most dear to you.

Loving God, bless family, friends and all your faithful people so that they will always live your truth; express your love by their life; share your passion by their enthusiasm; take action with your grace; walk by faith; dance and sing to the gift of your spirit and embrace your unimaginable blessings. Help us make today worth remembering because we know that you created us out of love. Have a great day everyone! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 10/07/2015

Daily Thoughts: The passage we find in Luke’s Gospel today (Luke 11:1-4) always causes me to remember my father and the morning after my ordination day. The morning after my ordination I was to celebrate mass with my family. It would be my very first mass!

I had not looked at the readings because of all the busyness leading up to my ordination day, so early that morning now some 29 plus years ago, I awakened and wandered down the hall to the retreat house chapel to look at the readings and prepared for my first mass. When I got to the Gospel I could not believe what I read. It was Matthew version of today’s Gospel about Jesus teaching his disciples to pray, specifically to pray the Our Father. I put the book down and tears welled up in my eyes and I just sat there for some time unable to prepare any more.

For you see the Our Father was one of the last prayers I prayed with my “Abba,” my dad, my father, before he died some four years before. It was a December night and I was in my father’s hospital room late at night and as I was about to leave he asked me to pray with him. I was more than happy to do so and I asked him what prayer he wanted to pray and he said, “The Our Father.”

I began to say the words and notice that my dad was not praying so I stopped and asked what was wrong. Dad said, “I don’t remember the words.” His illness had begun to affect his mind. So I said, “No problem” and suggested that I say a few words of the prayer and that he repeat them after me. Do you know how hard it is to say the Our Father when you have to stop and think about what you are saying? Well, we got through the prayer and dad became very peaceful and for the most part remained peaceful over the last few days of his life. I have always remembered that moment.

I had wanted my dad to see me ordained but that was not to be but on that Thursday morning I realized that he was with me and had been with me all along. I have never prayed the Our Father at mass, during the rosary or at any other time and not thought about that moment. What power there is in this simple prayer, what a gift this simple prayer is to all who pray it.

I would invite you at some moment today to pause and slowly, deliberately pray the Our Father. Listen to the words. Realize what God offers you through the words of this simple prayer and what God asks of you.

Just a little thought about the Our Father, Jesus actually uses the word, Abba, which if translated literally would be “daddy or dad.” I wish that the first translators of the prayer had used the informal rather than the formal it might have made a difference in how we think about this simple prayer today. It certain would have made the prayer more intimate!

Before I conclude my musings today I would like to mention that today is the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. I would have to say that I have never been a big fan of the rosary mainly because of the communal experiences that I have had with it. People try to out yell others, some praying fast others slow, adding prayer after prayer rather than holding to the simplicity of the rosary.

In August of 2014 I had the great gift of traveling to Lourdes and praying the rosary each evening I was there in the candle light procession. It was an amazing experience even though it was in many different languages. I walked away from that experience with a greater appreciation for the rosary and I realized that the simple prayers of the rosary, the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be… have often kept me grounded and on the right path.

The rosary is often the formal prayer that I pray when running because of its simplicity and power. So perhaps if you have the time today a simple rosary of  Our Father, ten Hail Marys and one Glory Be and prayed in this sequence five times might just enliven your journey through life today!

Have a great Wednesday everyone and don’t forget to make a joyful noise with your life today!

Daily Prayer:

Abba, who art in heaven hallowed be your name; your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

You might also want to say ten Hail Marys and one Glory be along with your Our Father today…just a thought.

A Runner’s Thoughts: “Not just exercise, but a way to get in touch with and reclaim myself in an often fragmenting world, running also serves as a powerful antidote to clinical depression, a metaphor for the creative process, and, in its most profound moments, a spiritual practice.”  (Alison Townsend)  Be spiritual today go for a run!

Daily Blessings: It is Wednesday everyone also known as “Hump Day,” the midpoint of the work week so greetings and blessings to al! I hope your week is going well and that your day has started off well and that a smile is on your face helping you to bring a little positive and joyful energy to your Wednesday. We have early morning clouds here in Pelham today but I think it is supposed to turn sunny before the day is over. Once again there is a chill in the air which has gotten me moving and put a smile on my face!

I continue to ask for your prayers for the Synod on the family taking place in Rome these days. Let us pray that all who are involved will be open to the gift and movement of the Holy Spirit during these important days of discussion, reflection and prayer. As Pope Francis said in his opening homily may they be bridges not road blocks for the Church.

My prayer for all of you today is that the peace of God which is beyond all understanding will keep your hearts, minds, souls and spirits in the wisdom and love of God today and always. Have a great Wednesday everyone!  Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul