40 Days with St. Paul of the Cross: “By the mercy of the Sovereign Good, peace of heart did not leave me, I mean that I did not feel my heart troubled with scruples but truly at peace with God.” (St. Paul of the Cross – December 15, 16, 17, 18, 1720 – Retreat Reflections)
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Today’s Thoughts: Just a note before I begin today. Yesterday I got a little confused early in the morning and got ahead of myself. As often happens my faithful followers pointed out my mistake rather quickly. What follows is the reflection on today’s readings which I posted yesterday morning. In early afternoon yesterday I deleted the following reflections and posted my reflection for yesterday’s readings.
So, if you don’t want to reread my reflection for today’s readings again then go to yesterday’s “Today’s Thoughts” and read what I should have posted yesterday morning. Sorry for the confusion. My only excuse is that sometimes early morning is not my best time! Advent Peace…Fr. Paul As I read the first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 45: 6c-8, 23c-25) early this morning a song by Fr. John Foley, S.J. came to mind. The song is “Turn to Me.” The refrain for the song comes right out of our first reading today, “Turn to me, oh turn and be saved says the Lord for I am God. There is no other, none beside me, I call your name.” Isaiah tells us today that there is one God, who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. There is no other, and the best thing we can do is to turn to God, acknowledge our creator, and praise our God with all our heart. If we do this Isaiah tells us, we will be saved. In our Gospel today from Luke (Luke 7:18b-23) we encounter a scene between Jesus and two of John the Baptist disciples who have been sent to ask Jesus if he is the one that they are waiting for or should they look for another. Jesus simple says look around, tell John what you see happening. Those who cannot see, see, those who cannot hear, hear, people are being cursed, people cannot walk, now walk, marvelous things are happening! In other words, the one God that Isaiah has told us about in the first reading, has brought forth a savior for his people. And those who acknowledge him will be blessed. Each Advent we wait, but perhaps like John we know we have found the answer. We know that Jesus is the one to come and we do not have to look any other. We just have to “turn and be safe” for we know our God and are blessed in this knowledge. Have a blessed and holy Wednesday everyone! 40 Days with St. Paul of the Cross: “During these days I was dry, distracted with uneasiness and conflicts between the spirit and the flesh…” (St. Paul of the Cross – December 15, 16, 17 and 18, 1720 – Retreat Reflections)
Today’s Thoughts: “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.” (Thomas Merton) I thought of this quote from Thomas Merton as I read our readings today. Zephaniah (3: 1-2, 9-13) reminds us that no matter much we think of ourselves, there is someone greater in the life than humanity. And in our Gospel (Matthew 21: 28-32) Jesus confronts us with the question, what is more important the words we speak or the actions through which we live? Merton reminds us that it comes down to being grateful. If we are grateful for our live, for the people we encounter, for everything that is around us then we know something, someone is greater. If we have gratitude, then we are open to the wonder and grace of God. If we are grateful, then our actions will always be a positive response to what we are asked to do and whom we are asked to be. Thus, the key word for our journey through this Tuesday and every day is gratitude. May we truly be grateful for life today because that will make all the difference! Have a holy and blessed Tuesday filled with joy, mercy and gratitude everyone! 40 Days with St. Paul of the Cross: “I remained recollected and I also experienced dryness and distracting thoughts, and likewise the above-mentioned sufferings, but not violence. (St. Paul of the Cross – December 14, 1720 – Retreat Reflections)
Today’s Thoughts: In the book, Thoughts in Solitude, Thomas Merton writes, “If our life is poured out in useless words, we will never hear anything, never become anything, and in the end, because we have said everything before we had anything to say, we shall be left speechless at the moment of our greatest decision.”
Merton’s words remind me of the chief priests and elders in the Gospel today. They always had a lot to say to and about Jesus. They constantly questioned him, trying to catch him in a “slip of the tongue.” Yet, in today’s Gospel they were left speechless. I have always thought these religious leaders were not bad people. They were just fearful people. They were people afraid to stop long enough to listen, to hear and to recognize God’s gift in their midst because it might mean they would have to change. Perhaps our reflection today might be to ask ourselves if we are willing to stop and listen. Each day we encounter God in many ways. Are we like the chief priests and elders afraid to listen to, and acknowledge God’s presence? Are we afraid that if we do, we might have to change? Advent can be a busy time, perhaps not as busy as in years past, but there are still lots of things to do before Christmas. Even in this unusual year do we dare stop the rush and take some time to listen, to hear, to recognize God’s presence? Let’s hope so because if we do this just might be one of the greatest moments in our life! Have a blessed and holy day everyone! 40 Days of St. Paul of the Cross: “But by God’s mercy, I kept on saying that I wanted to hold out even if I had to be carried away in little bits.” (St. Paul of the Cross – December 10, 11, 12, and 13, 1720 – Retreat Reflections)
Today’s Thoughts: "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus “(Words from Paul). The anticipation of Christmas is probably getting to us by now. We have been in and out of stores, fought the crowds, looked for bargains, yet not all the shopping or preparation is done. The tree is up the decorations are out and we have caught the Christmas spirit. However, it is still Advent, we are still in anticipation. We are asked today to be joyful, to pray and to be thankful all of which will prepare us for the gift of Christmas!
There is a joy and happiness to the fact that Christmas is coming but we still have to deal with everyday life. There is still work to be done. The Third Sunday of Advent always seems to bring these two feeling together, the joy, the rejoicing and the anticipation of what is coming - Christmas and the patients and investment in everyday life that is needed because Christmas is not here yet. The mixing of emotions can be difficult and stressful. We can sometimes let on emotion overcome to other. Yet patience and joy are the essence of what makes life livable! In the Gospel today, (John 1: 6-8, 19-28), the people want to know who John the Baptist is. They think he might be the Christ or Elijah, or a Prophet, but John says he is not any of these he is “the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord.” John is a preparer. John is a person of hope. John is pointing the way to Christmas and to our relationship with God. If we believe, if we have faith, then what is it we are looking for out of life? What do we expect from our relationship with God? Can we find joy in it? Are we prepared, are we ready, can we be patient and let the story, let the journey play out? Yes, Christmas is coming it will be here in twelve days. We must continue to prepare by praying, by giving thanks, by keeping the gift of the joy alive, by living in the moment. Can we rejoice in the hope the God is always near? Have a blessed and holy Sunday everyone and don’t forget to give God a little time today! 40 Days with St. Paul of the Cross: “I Know I understand that this kind of prayer of suffering is a great gift which God grants to my soul to make it a spotless robe of purity, a rock in the face of suffering, such a point that it no longer takes account of it.” (St. Paul of the Cross – December 10, 11, 12, 13, 1720 – Retreat Reflections)
Today’s Thoughts: Today’s Gospel (Luke 1:39-47) reminds us that Mary was truly a believer. Even though she did not know the full extent of her “yes” she proclaimed it anyway. She trusted in God. It was a trust that could be seen. Elizabeth saw it as Mary entered her home. For Elizabeth, Mary was blessed among women and her voice proclaimed the presence of God even to the baby in Elizabeth’s womb. Our God is not only a God of sight but also of sound.
Not having a clear vision of the road ahead is not always an easy way to live life. It demands trust, it demands faith, and it demands a sense of hope in all that one does. Mary certain defines this way of living. She did not know the implications of her “yes” but she had trust, faith and lived by an unrelenting hope. As Calvin Miller puts it in his book The Christ of Christmas: Readings for Advent – “We must look to Mary's example to know how to deal with the glorious impossibilities of God. Look how she turned the world upside down by making one simple statement.” Today we remember that Mary turned the New World upside down when she appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian convert, as a beautiful young woman on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City on December 9, 1531. Just another reminder that if we trust, if we believe, if we live by hope we will encounter God most often when we least expect it but always when we are most in need! Have a holy and blessed Saturday everyone! |
Fr. Paul R. Fagan, C.P. "Preacher on the Run"Just a few thoughts to help you on your journey through life...let me know from time to time what you think... Archives
April 2024
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