Daily Thoughts - 10/04/2013

Daily Thoughts: Some of the thoughts and wisdom of and about St. Francis of Assisi.

“Blessed is the servant who loves his [or her] brother [or sister] as much when he [or she] is sick and useless as when he [or she] is well and maybe of service to him [or her]. And blessed is he [or she] who loves his [or her] brother [or sister] as well when he [or she] is far off as when he [or she] is by his [or her] side, and who would say nothing behind his [or her] back he [or she] might not, in love, say before his [or her] face.”  (St. Francis of Assisi)

“The good Bishop of Assisi expressed a sort of horror at the hard life which the Little Brothers lived at the Portiuncula, without comforts, without possessions, eating anything they could get and sleeping anyhow on the ground. St. Francis answered him with that curious and almost stunning shrewdness which the unworldly can sometimes wield like a club of stone. He said, 'If we had any possessions, we should need weapons and laws to defend them.” (G.K. Chesterton, Saint Francis of Assisi)

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of one single candle - St. Francis of Assisi.” (G.A. Zanni)

“It is not fitting, when one is in God's service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look.” (St. Francis of Assisi)

“Always tell of God's love. If necessary, use words.”  (St. Francis of Assisi)

St. Francis of Assisi is truly a man, a saint for all seasons! Have a blessed and peaceful Feast of St. Francis of Assisi!

Daily Prayer:

Lord, make us an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek

 to be consoled as to console,
 to be understood as to understand,
 to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
(Adapted from the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi)

Runner’s Thoughts: “Running is a thing worth doing not because of the future rewards it bestows, but because of how it feeds our bodies and minds and souls in the present.” (Kevin Nelson) Feed your soul today!

Daily Blessing: Happy Feast of St. Francis of Assisi everyone! May the gentle, loving and peaceful spirit of Francis be with you today! May the richness and beauty of God’s creation that Francis so loved, touch you as you walk through this day. May the grace of God’s loving presence that Francis so lived be present to you as you journey through this day. And may the gentleness of God’s peace that Francis gave to the world, guide you through this day.

Have a wonderful day everyone! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 10/02/2013

Daily Thoughts: I have always had a special affection for our feast today, the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. Perhaps it goes back to my childhood, when in the first and second grade we always had to save room at our desk for our guardian angel. It was a way that the good Felician Sisters could teach us about the spiritual life but it also helped them keep distance and order in class, especially between those sitting side by side in our rows desks. I have to say, sometimes it worked but most of the time it didn't!

But then last night another childhood memory came to mind. One of my favorite movies as a kid was Angels in the Outfield, (the original 1951 version with Paul Douglas, Janet Leigh, Keenan Wynn, the voice of James Whitmore and cameo appearances by Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio and Bing Crosby, just to name a few. I loved the movie because it took place in Pittsburgh and centered around the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates and how the Pirates overcome their last place woes with the help of Heavenly Choir Nine, a celestial team of deceased ballplayers, who begin bestowing "miracles" upon the Pirates—but only on the condition that their loud mouth manager Guffy McGovern put a moratorium on swearing and fighting. It is a wonder and funny story. Perhaps it came to mind last night as I watched the once woeful Pirates win their first playoff game in 21 years. Maybe there were a few angels in the outfield and infield last night helping them too.

The point of my walk down memory lane is that the spirits of God's presence that we honor and celebrate today, Guardian Angels, play an important role in our life. Whether we acknowledge them by saving a seat for them at our desk as a kid, or laugh and cry with them as Hollywood brings them to life in movies like Angels in the Outfield or It's a Wonderful Life, we all have had moments and experiences in life when we sense that God has sent someone to help us. It might be a person who walks into our life at the right moment to help us overcome a struggle, an obstacle, and a difficult moment. Someone who gives us a good word that sends us on our way in the right direction. Someone just lets us know that we are not alone, we are loved, we are important, we are special and that makes all the difference at that moment in our life.

Throughout the scriptures God send his spirit, his messengers, to help people on their journey of faith. Why should this moment in time be any different? I can remember a special time when my guardian angel kept me going. It was the second time I ran the Boston Marathon. I was at mile 25 and out of gas. I could barely walk and just trying with any strength that I could find to keep moving forward. A young woman stepped off the sidewalk and began to walk along side me. I didn’t know her. She asked me my name and then put her hand on my shoulder and said, “You can do this! Let’s run!” She began to run and I began to run. She asked me if this was my first marathon and I said “no.” She said, “Then you know that you can do this so let’s run!” And we began to run faster. In the next moment as I seemed to get new energy I looked to my side and she was gone. I never got a chance to ask her name or to say thanks! I am sure though it was my guardian angel just making sure I kept going and she has done now for almost 60 years. You might say I have gotten her, her wings, many time over!

So as you journey through today remember to save a little space for your guardian angel and take a moment to thank her or him for the journey so far!

Daily Prayer:

Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

Runner’s Thoughts: “Your body will argue that there is no justifiable reason to continue. Your only recourse is to call on your spirit…” (Tim Noakes, Lore of Running) Perhaps it forces you to call upon your guardian angel!

Daily Blessing: Happy Wednesday afternoon everyone! I hope the day is going well for you, if not hang in there, home and rest will come soon! It was a late night for me as I was into baseball last night. It has been a morning and early afternoon in front of my computer working on a project for our 160^th Anniversary Mass that will take place on October 20^th.  But all you have not been far from my thoughts and prayers and so I am taking these few moments away from work to ask God’s blessing upon you as you continue your journey of faith and life!

May love and laughter touch you afternoon and evening, and warm your heart and bring you home to those you love. May good and faith filled people touch your life, wherever you go.  May love and peace bless your world with joy that long endures. May the closing of this day bring you rest and comfort in the company of those you most love and may God bless you this day and always!

Friends let us keep in our prayers those who are finding it hard to encounter God’s blessing and grace today. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 10/01/2013

Daily Thoughts: Happy Feast of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus! St. Thérèse of Lisieux is one of the most wonder saints we have. She has much to tell us about living a life that reflects the presence of God. I am looking forward to my journey to France in August of 2014 and having a chance to visit Lisieux. I still have plenty of spots open on the pilgrimage so if you are interested just drop me a line and I will send you a brochure. Now one to a few thoughts for today!

 “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” As I read this sentence from the Gospel (Luke 9:51-56) today I thought of Congress. I wish we could call down fire to consume them and start all over again and I am thinking Jesus might give the request just a little more thought this time! But in the end we would get with the disciples got a rebuke.

Jesus never confronted violence with violence, for him there was always another way, a better way. It isn’t always the easy way but in the end it is better than violence, anger, negativity and abuse of power. It is the way that will invite, welcome and make God present to the people around us and to the world. Are there risks to Jesus’ way? Absolutely! But the risks are worth it.

Jesus shows us in the Gospel today that meeting rejection with rejection, or hate with hate, or violence with violence is not the way. When we are treated poorly, when we are disappointed, when we are attacked, violence, anger, hate are not the way forward. Jesus’ suggestion is to take a deep breath, and then take our next step in faith. This is the way all disciple can complete their journey of faith.

In living life this way we can give meaning to the words we find in first reading for today from Zechariah (Zechariah 8:20-23). If we live as people of faith, then others will grab hold of us and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” Isn’t this Pope Francis’ message on how to be a Christian, a person of faith? It is our action, our treatment of others. It is our making God present so others can see and experience God that will change the world.

But Jesus couldn’t you make just one exception and call down fire to consume Congress! Have a nice day everyone…

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus we do believe, help our unbelief! Amen!

Runner’s Thought: “Run in places you love with people you like. Enjoying your surroundings and training partners will strengthen your commitment to running and bring out the best in you.” (Deena Kastor) This is especially true if you run with God!

I’m Back! Happy Tuesday everyone! Yes, I am back! Did you miss me? In many ways it was a great weekend. I got to spend some quality time with family. And let me say I am very grateful to all the family that made it to Columbus, IN this weekend. It was great to be with you and I am very grateful to my niece and nephew Mindy and Paul for hosting the weekend. They provide a wonderful place to gather, great food and a welcoming home. I am also grateful to all the family who traveled and took time out of their busy schedules just to stand around and watch people running especially when it took over four and a half hours for one of the people to make it across the finish line. When family makes that commitment you know you have an awesome family! So many thanks, Mindy and Paul Hengesbach, Sarah and Dominick Saguto, Bernadette and John Hengesbach, Rosemarie, Jim, Bridget and James Fagan! I am truly blessed!

Now as for the runners, Sarah and Dominick did great in the half marathon and 5k respectively but this old runner had a very bad day. It was the worst marathon I have ever run time wise (4 hours 41 minutes 55 seconds). And I had to do it with my family there. It was depressing to say the least! But in many ways that is life. You are not always at your best but the important thing is that you push on, you finish and live to run another day!  I cannot tell you what went wrong. I just had a bad day. It was a beautiful marathon course for the most part, the weather was great though a little on the warm side for runners and a very smoothly run race with a lot of support. So now I need to let this one go and move on to the next marathon in Scranton, PA on October 13^th.

I hope you all had a good weekend that you got to enjoy a little rest, relaxation and family/friends time. I did pray for all of you during my run and I had a little more time at prayer than I thought I was going to have so you got some extra prayers!

Daily Blessing: Have a great Tuesday everyone and let all say a prayer that our politicians in Washington get their act together and do some things that help rather than hinder. There are many people affected by this shutdown and as often happens the people affected can least afford it. Doesn’t seem fair or right!

And so I pray today for all affected by the arrogance and stupidity of Congress that their loss of work and pay will be short lived. I pray for all of you that you will have a great day filled with many blesses, much love and feelings of peace. May you all be rich in faith, hope and love which God has planted with in you. And may the wonderful spirit of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus guide you through the day! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 09/24/2013

Daily Thoughts: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on [life] it.” (Luke 8:21) I added the word life to Jesus’ word today because I truly believe that is what he means.

The picture that the Gospel (Luke 8:19-21) paints today often creates concern and questions. Why would Jesus treat his family this way? Why would Jesus treat his mother this way? Isn’t family first? However if we think about today’s Gospel in these terms we are missing the point. Jesus loved his mother greatly. Jesus was a good member of the family. But in the Gospel today Jesus shows all the boundless amounts of God’s love. We are all mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers in Christ. There are no exclusive places, no special privileges.

Today’s Gospel is a Gospel of hope. We are reminded of God’s great, unconditional love. Today’s Gospel gives us great comfort in knowing that God await all of us, accepts all of us. We can all be part of the family; we call be part of the body of Christ. All it takes is hearing the word of God and living it!

That is what Jesus is calling those gathered around him today to, that is what Jesus is calling us to. Do you hear the voice of Pope Francis in the Gospel today?

Daily Prayer:

Loving God, we pause for a moment and ask you hear and accept our prayers of praise for you today…

Be praised, loving God, through all your creatures, especially through my Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And Brother Sun is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, loving God, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, loving God, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, loving God, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, loving God, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, loving God, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, loving God, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for they will be crowned; happy are we today for in hearing your word you call us all to be sisters and brothers in you. Amen!

(Adapted from a prayer by St. Francis of Assisi)

Runner’s Thoughts: “To me, there is no greater way to achieve clarity than to run alone, or share miles with a trusted friend. Epiphany comes as we sweat it out, or if epiphany is out of reach — then peace.” (Kristin Armstrong, "Bless Your Heart," Mile Markers column, RunnersWorld.com)

What a wonderful reflection about running and the spiritual life. We need solitude and community as people of faith. We need that time alone with God and we need that time with God in the midst of community, family and friends.

The definition for epiphany is: 1. a revelatory manifestation of a divine being; 2.

a sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something; 3. a comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization.

In the spiritual life, like in running, our epiphanies come when we sweat it out, when we struggle and discover who we are and what we are made of. Even when the light doesn’t seem to go on when God seems out of reach, yet we believe that God is with us so there is peace.

Daily Blessing: Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope your day has started off well, if not hang in there I pray that it will get better!

My thoughts and prayers continue for the people of Kenya as they live through terror. I remember the people who died and all those affected by this act of evil. May if come to an end and may there be peace.

I ask God’s blessings upon all of you today. May today be rich in the gift of family, friendship and peace. May you find the road today flat, smooth and easy to travel. May you find the gift and grace of God in everyone you meet and in everything you do. Most importantly may you find the gift of God within you as you live your life today! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

PS Go Pirates!

Daily Thoughts - 09/20/2013

Daily Thoughts: “If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for.” (Thomas Merton)

You can hear Pope Francis’ voice in the first reading for today’s mass (1Timothy 6: 2c-12). If fact we have been hearing his voice through our reading of Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. Paul and Pope Francis are telling us what it takes to be a good leader, a good minister, a good person of faith. Today, Paul remains Timothy to be a person that lives for something important and life giving. Paul also reminds Timothy to always reflect on what is holding him back from living to the fullest.

In perhaps a similar way we hear Pope Francis’ voice in the Gospel for today (Luke 8:1-3) also. We are reminded of the importance of women in Jesus’ ministry. They were their supporting, taking care of, helping Jesus with their resources, their gifts, their talents, their faithfulness and their faith.

I don’t think hearing Pope Francis voice in the scriptures is going to be all the unusual in the days, weeks, months and years ahead. He speaks from the scriptures more than any other Pope I have encountered and so each time we go to the Gospels, each time we hear the scriptures read or read them for ourselves, we will hear God’s voice, Jesus’ voice, the Spirit’s voice and Pope Francis’ voice! Because of that I will continue to look forward to the Word of God each day.

Make sure you know what you are living for and what at time hold you back from living fully. Friday blessing everyone!

Daily Prayer: Loving God help us to be grateful today. Help us to recognize your love in everything you have given us, because we know, we believe that you have has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of your love, every moment of existence is a grace, because it brings with it immense graces from you.

Gracious God, in gratitude we must never take anything for granted. We must never be unresponsive to your love.  We must constantly be awakening to new wonder and giving praise for your awesome goodness. We want to be grateful people because we know that a grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And this is what makes all the difference. Amen!

(Adapted from words by Thomas Merton)

Runner’s Thought: “Finally, I could see with startling clarity that the time I had spent experiencing pain on a run was outweighed by the amount of time that I felt good about it. I was aglow. I was invincible. I was thinking I might be able to do it again.” (Alexandra Heminsley – Running Like a Girl)

Might we also say this about our faith, our relationship with God? Yes, we do experience pain, struggle, doubt and difficulty but they call can be outweighed by the grace, the blessings and the joy we encounter with God. In the glow of God we become aglow, we become invincible, we want to continue the journey. So if you are a runner think of your runs as those times when we have a chance to get some clarity in our relationship with God. When we have some time to pray, when we have a chance even in the exhaustion of the end of a run to feel aglow in the presence of God, to feel invincible and to continue our journey of faith!

Run strong…run with God!

Daily Blessing: TGIF everyone! I hope your Friday has started off well and that today will be a somewhat easy day for you. If not and you have many challenges and/or struggles ahead before the day is done hang in there and know of my prayers for you. Remember it is only a day there is a lifetime ahead!

For all of you I offer a prayer of blessing as your journey through this day. May whatever kind of roads you take today be smooth and not crowded for your journeys, may the wind be gentle and always helping you along, may the sun shine warm upon your face helping you to smile, and if it rains may it fall gentle as you journey and, until the sun rises again tomorrow, may God hold you and all you whom you love in the palm of His hand so nothing will harm you. Amen! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 09/19/2013

Daily Thought: “If I wait to be perfect before I love myself I will always be unsatisfied and ungrateful. If I wait until all the flaws, chips, and cracks disappear
I will be the cup that stands on the shelf and is never used” (Joyce Rupp)

A little wisdom for your afternoon and evening!

Daily Prayer: Loving God, sometimes we look in the mirror we are not too happy with what I see. We see imperfection, self-centeredness and ego. Please help us to see the person you created in your own image and likeness, a person of beauty, compassion and love. Help us to hold this image in our mind and heart as we live the journey of life in our own unique way. Allow others to see your image within us as we live with confidence, grace and a smile on our face. Amen.

Runner’s Thought: “The task ahead of you is never greater than the strength within you.” (Unknown)  Our journey of faith through life is never without the presence of God.

Daily Blessing: Happy Thursday everyone! Blessings upon your afternoon and evening, upon your work, upon the people you love and upon you, please know as you live life you are in my prayers! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Thoughts - 09/18/2013

Daily Thoughts: I think we have all had the experience of not liking a person. I certainly have and if I don’t find a way to see some good in the person at some point I struggle. When there is something about a person that I don’t like it begins to color everything they do. Because of this I then find it easy to criticize, make fun of or dismiss them. No matter what they do it is wrong. If I or someone else does the same thing it is just fine, but because this person does it, then it is wrong.

When I catch myself in this mood or judgmentalness I feel embarrassed and ashamed.  I know it is a human behavior, a human feeling and sometimes the person involved has done things that validate these feeling, yet I know that my behavior, my judgmentalness is wrong and because of it I push God away.

Jesus seems to be remaining us of this in today’s the Gospel (Luke 7: 31-35). No matter what he does the religious leaders and some of the people of his time do not believe in him or his message. John the Baptist and Jesus approach life from two distinct directions. John does not eat or drink, he fasts and is austere in his lifestyle, while Jesus does eat and drink, he is always going to someone’s home for a meal. His lifestyle is more socially oriented. Yet for the religious leadership and some of the people they both, John and Jesus, are wrong. John is crazy, possessed and Jesus is a glutton, a drunkard, a friend of sinners.  No matter what John and Jesus do to help people encounter the presence of God they are wrong.

The religious leadership and some of the people in the crowd are closed to the gift and presence of God that John and Jesus bring. Their eyes are blinded by attitude and judgment. When I find myself like the religious leadership of Jesus’ time my eyes too are blinded by attitude and judgment and I miss the presence of God in that moment, in that person.

We are remind to be open to all the possibilities of God today even in the people, situations and experience that often seem to make our life hard and difficult. We are reminded that God can come to us in many ways through many people. Let us not be judge, jury and executioner. Let us be children of wisdom and hope open to the gift of God in others and ourselves!

Have a great day everyone!

Daily Prayer:

Loving God help us to remember that you are with us today.
Help us to bring to mind your loving presence within us and around us.
Never let us be closed to your loving presence in the world, in others and in ourselves.
Never let us be closed through judgmentalness, negativity and anger.
Open our minds to remember your presence.
Open our mouths to speak your wisdom.
Open our hearts to extend your love.
Open our hands to serve you generously.
Open our whole being to you this day and always.
Amen!
(Adapted from a prayer by Joyce Rupp)

Runner’s Thoughts: “There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be.” (George Sheehan – Runner’s World Daily Kick in the Butt)

Yes, there are many reasons to run. I run because I am a man of faith, created in the image and likeness of God, a Passionist, a priest, a human being who wants to be the best person I can be. I run because God is present in nature, it people, in the gift of a new day and if I am running I encounter all these things. I run because with each breathe there is hope, there is beauty and there is life. So as George Sheehan says above, “Find your own play, your own rewarding compulsion, and become the person you are meant to be.” Become the person God has created you to be.

Daily Blessing: Uh-oh! Guess what day it is?? Guess what day it is! Whoot Whoot! It is Hump Day! So happy Hump Day everyone! Yes, I am as happy as a camel on Wednesday! And you thought I had forgotten it!

Well I hope everyone’s day has started out well. It is another beautiful day here in Pelham. The air is crisp and energizing. It will be a good day for a run. I hope where you are life is full of energy today too.

My thoughts and prayer remain with those who lost loved ones in Washington, DC on Monday and those who were touched and are still affected by those events. I would like to hope something like this will never happen again but that is a hard thing to hope for given our world and the violence we encounter throughout it each day. Let us pray that one day we will encounter an all-inclusive peace!

My prayer of blessing for all of you today is that today will be rich in the gifts of love, hope and peace in your life and that if you encounter anger, violence and negativity it will be short lived because you are blessed with loving, caring people in your life. I pray that you will be open to the many ways that God will touch your life today and that you will trust in the gift of God that you are and bring that gift to every person, to every place and to every experience you have. May God bless you and be with you today and always. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul