Just in case you haven't heard I am on retreat from June 28th until July 31st. I will be back God willing August 1st! You are in my prayers during this special time...

​Today’s Thoughts: Once again, before I offer you my thoughts for today just a reminder that this is my last posting until August 1st. My Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Retreat begin formally this morning with mass at 9:00 am. If you have a chance over the next month to offer a prayer or thought for me it would be appreciated. Hopefully we will connect again August1st!
 
In today’s Gospel Jesus warns the disciples to be aware of false prophets, who come in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves.  Jesus tells the disciples, “by their fruits you will know them”. Perhaps in other words, Jesus is telling us to be attentive, because if we are not then we will begin to compromise our values, our convictions, our faith. Most likely not all at once but little by little in the face of daily challenges and temptations. Remember a tree does not die all at once, unless it is cut down. Rather trees die little by little, gradually giving in to decay that comes from within.
 
The false prophets, the wolves in sheep’s clothing plant the seeds of decay that can cause us to turn away from the presence of God in our life. The glitz and glitter of the world. The empty promises that we encounter every day that on the outside sound so good while on the inside are hallow and lifeless can begin to eat away at our faith.
 
There always seems to be new ideas that will make life easier, more fulfilling – just take this pill, eat this food, wear these cloths, drive this car and you will have arrived, life will be all it can be, you will be successful. Vote for me and I will fix everything that is wrong. I will bring back the good old days. Life will be easy again!
 
Life and faith are never easy. They are full of challenges, struggles, temptations and problems. In order to survive we need to stake our life on the promises of God. In our first reading today from the Book of Genesis that is exactly what Abram and Sarai are asked to do. Image being told after a long life and difficult life with no children that in your old age you will be father, mother of a whole nation that your children will be as numerous as the stars? Sounds like a con job to me! But it’s God’s promise and Abram and Sarai choose to stake their lives on it!
 
There are many things that can cause us to look beyond God’s promises for greener pastures. There are many false prophets with loud voices and answers for everything. Our scriptures today remind us to be attentive, alert, discerning and faithful. They ask us like Abram and Sarai to stake our lives on the promises of God.
 
Have a blessed and holy Wednesday everyone!

Today’s Thoughts: Before I get to my thoughts for today let me give you a little heads-up. Tomorrow will be my last Today’s Thoughts until August 1st. Tomorrow morning at 9:00 am with the celebration of the Eucharist I begin a 30-day retreat here at the Jesuit Retreat House in Gloucester, MA. Until August 1st I will not be posting anything on my website or on social media. I am going quiet for 30 days. I know some of you like to begin your day with my thoughts, reflections, prayers and words of inspiration and I am sorry that they will not be available until August 1st. This is a very special retreat that I am entering into and I want to make the most of it. You might say for the next 30 days it will be just God and me along with my spiritual director. So, you get a break from me beginning tomorrow but I hope you will return on August 1st to encounter perhaps some new wisdom!
 
Now for today’s thoughts…I think today’s Gospel (Matt 7:6, 12-14) is about reverence, and respect. Jesus seems to indicate that the road to reverence and respect is a narrow one that is a difficult journey but certainly one that is worth the struggle.
 
There are always people out in the world that find it easy to disrespect us. As Jesus seems to indicate the road of selfishness and “me first” is wide and has many travelers.
 
Perhaps the focus of today’s Gospel rests in these words by Thomas Merton: “To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.
 
Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”
 
If we recognize the Love of God in ourselves and in others we will be on the right road!
 
Have a blessed and holy Tuesday everyone!

​Today’s Thoughts: We could approach today Gospel (Matthew 7: 1-5) from a negative perspective after all that is what Jesus seems to do. We could look at it as the don’ts of life. We are not to judge so that we will not be judged. But I would like to look at Jesus’ words in a more positive light.
 
Perhaps the intent of Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel isn’t just to say, don’t judge so that you will not be judged but that Jesus is asking us to stop and take a look at just how we look at others. Do we look at others through what they or maybe we do wrong?  Wouldn’t it be better to first try to find God’s goodness, God’s presence in others which just might lead us to finding God’s goodness and presence in ourselves?
 
Judging is easy. We are all imperfect, so we will always find flaws. We will always find moments of weakness. We will always find actions that don’t measure up, not only in others but also in ourselves. I think sometimes we judge or are hard on others because we know our own mistakes, our own shortcomings and if we can take the focus off our faults, our failings and look for them in others we think we can feel better.
 
However, the opposite is true, if we look for goodness, if we look for God’s presence in others it often opens the door to finding God within ourselves. I think this is what Jesus is getting at today. Yes, perhaps he puts it in the negative but if we walk by faith, if we trust in God’s love then Jesus’ words can be turned into a positive way of living life. After all, if we take the wooden beam from our own eye then we will have better vision not just to see the splinter in others, but to find the goodness in ourselves and others. If we can find God in ourselves, we will be able to find God in others and vice versa!
 
Have a blessed and holy Monday everyone!

​Today’s Thoughts: Our readings today seem to present us with a great deal of negativity however they also present us with much hopefulness.
 
In our first reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, we get a chance to investigate the heart and soul of the prophet. Today reading in Jeremiah, is one of five “confessions”. These “confessions” come from the personal diary of Jeremiah that probably were never to be read by someone else. These “confessions” are highly personal reflections. However, in the editing of Jeremiah’s writing someone found these “confessions” and included them in the book.
 
We become the beneficiaries of these personal reflections. Who of us have not felt at times like Jeremiah? Things are not going well, people are making life difficult for us and in the depth of our hearts we want vengeance, we want them to pay for their negativity, for their hurtfulness, for their disrespect, for their faults and failings. We may think this but then we catch ourselves and remember what out faith calls us to and we try to turn our own negativity or need for vengeance over to God.
 
This is what we heard from Jeremiah today. He is being attacked, by the community of faith, by friends, even by family. They do not like what he has to say. They are looking for him to fail. They are making is work, his ministry impossible and he in the depth of his heart is asking God to punish them. But after he expresses his deepest feelings he pauses and rights himself and places his trust in God.
 
St. Paul presents us a similar reflection. He is reminding the community at Rome that Jesus has died for us. That Jesus has brought the world from death to life. St. Paul is challenging the Romans not to give into the trappings of the world, but to remember what they believe, to remember what Jesus has done for them.
 
Jesus in our Gospel today is instructing his disciples on the struggle of discipleship. Jesus challenges the disciples to be faithful, to not fear, to not let anyone intimidate them. The journey will be difficult, the challenges at times will be overwhelming, but God has so much love for them, for us, that in the end there will be eternal life. Jesus reminds the disciples and us of God concern, of God’s knowledge of us, of God’s care for all. God know every hair on our head. God is concern about each and every sparrow. How much more is God concerned for us.
 
All that God asks of us, is what God asked of Jeremiah and Paul to be faithful, to not give up, to not give in to the world, to not fear, to not be intimidated. We can always, like Jeremiah, express our inner most personal feelings to God but then trust that God is always with us and will not leave us to face our struggles alone!
 
Have a blessed and holy Sunday everyone!

Today’s Thoughts: Perhaps one of John the Baptist’s most profound sayings which can be found in John’s Gospel (John 3:30) goes like this, “He (Jesus) must increase, and I must decrease.” Why is this so profound? Well because John shows us a humility not found very often.
 
Think of our world, when someone rises to power, fame, fortune the last thing they want to do is let go of control, step out of the spotlight, and turn things over to someone else i.e. Mr. Trump and to be fair many others. Yet, that is exactly what John the Baptist does. He is “the man” all eyes are focused on him; he has center stage and yet once Jesus enters John is willing to step out of the bright lights and let Jesus take over.
 
Today we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist. We remember his coming into the world and how he was dedicated from conception to be the forerunner, the announcer of Jesus’ presence in the world. From the very beginning John knows that at some point his presence will no longer be necessary, his mission will be completed, and he will have to decrease.
 
Remembering John, the Baptist reminds us of our challenge to live as prophets, as disciples of Jesus. Life is not about us and if we take on the journey of discipleship, of proclaiming the presence of God we too will all be called to decrease so that God can increase.
 
Yes, our feast today reminds us that like John the Baptist, we too are wonderfully made so let us praise God with the living of our life today so that like John we can be ready to proclaim God’s presence to whomever we encounter!
 
Have a holy and blessed Saturday and may you receive many blessings in the spirit of John the Baptist today and always!

Today’s Thoughts: There is a poem by Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, who was the Superior General of the Society of Jesus for almost 20 years, which I like very much.
 
Nothing is more practical than
finding God, that is, than
falling in love
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.
It will decide
what will get you out of bed
in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, who you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with
joy and gratitude.
Fall in love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.
 
I thought of it as I read today’s Gospel (Matthew 6:19-23). Where is your treasure? Who or what do you love? Seem to be the questions of the day. Is it God? The words of the Gospel today challenge us to find our treasure in God, but also to move beyond simple academic statements about God and love.  Jesus asks us to allow our living of life to reveal to us what we really believe and value. The path we take in life can be a helpful, important, and challenging window in helping us recognize where our hearts are, what and who we are in love with, and where our treasure truly lies.
 
Have a blessed and holy Friday everyone!

​Today’s Thoughts:  Each time I encounter today’s Gospel, Jesus teaching the disciples to pray the Our Father I can feel the emotions well up within me. For you see I have a special memory that centers on this prayer. The Our Father was one of the last prayers I prayed with my father before he died 40 plus years ago. It was a December night in 1982, I was in my father’s hospital room late that night and as I was about to leave, when 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 would repeat them after me. Do you know how hard it is to say the Our Father when you must 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 weeks of his life. I have always remembered that moment.
 
I would like to add little anecdote to this reflection on the “Our Father” and my own father. Four years after my father died, I was ordination to the priesthood on June 18th. The day after my ordination I celebrated mass for my family who had come to New York for my ordination. It was a Thursday morning just like today. I awakened early that morning and wandered down the hall to the monastery and retreat house chapel to look at the readings and prepared for my very first mass with my family as a priest. When I got to the Gospel, I could not believe what I read. It was today’s Gospel from Matthew 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 about an hour unable to prepare any more. All I could do was remember that evening in the hospital four years earlier.
 
I had wanted my dad to see me ordained but that was not to be but on that Thursday morning 41 years ago, 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.
 
By the way thanks Dad! Have a holy and blessed Thursday everyone!

​Today’s Thoughts: “God loves the cheerful giver.” This little sentence from our first reading today St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians seems to really sum up today’s Gospel (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18). Like the challenge of yesterday Gospel focused on loving our enemies, today’s first reading focused on being “cheerful givers” can be at time rather difficult. Our humanness at times takes the cheerfulness our of giving. However, in our Gospel Jesus offers us the formula for being cheerful givers. All we have to do is be humble people of prayer and service.
 
In the Gospel we hear those familiar phrases. “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.”  In each case the most important reward comes not in the world knowing that we do good things but in God knowing.
 
I think the grace and the challenge of the message of our Gospel is that what we have is a gift from God and in sharing this gift it becomes far more profound than we ever thought it could be. However, for this gift to have power, impact and abundance we need to share it – not for our glory and praise but for the glory and praise of God.
 
Have a blessed and holy Wednesday everyone!

​Today’s Thoughts: “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.” Perhaps this simple refrain often connected to Psalm 51 might be a key to understanding and living out Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel (Matthew 5:43-48). To love one’s enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, we first must realize that we too are sinners; we too have hurt others and at times made life difficult for others.
 
There are no perfect people out there in the world, no one can claim perfection, thus if we wish mercy and forgiveness, we need to be willing to offer it too. Now I am not saying it is easy, if it were easy, Jesus would never have included it in his teaching, and I would not be writing about it this morning. Living a life of faith is often difficult and always challenging.
 
Perhaps the key to making it work is prayer. If our first response to the challenge, to the difficulty, to the struggle is prayer rather than anger, resentment, and judgment then we have the chance to imperfectly live the Gospel message.
 
Today’s Gospel is not about excusing offensive acts or being lenient with people who hurt us. It is not about looking the other way and letting people just do what they want. Today’s Gospel is about how we trust in the presence of God as we live in the midst of an imperfect world. It is about how we react to people and situation that hurt us. Do we seek vengeance, do we expect to extract our pound of flesh or do we pause and through prayer place the person, the situation in God’s hands?
 
Prayer can be a way of offering another Christian love. It can be a way of seeking mercy and forgiveness and a way of also offering mercy and forgiveness. Prayer is not going to make our world perfect, but it can be a starting point for us becoming the people of faith that Jesus asks us and calls us to be today!
 
Have a blessed and holy Tuesday everyone!