From the Hermitage
Dear Friends,
Good morning. I hope the sun is shining wherever you may be as you join me in praying for God's blessings upon all of us today especially in moments that might try patience, stretch imaginations and demand reconciliation.
Jesus' words: Yesterday's efforts, today's challenge, tomorrow's reconciliations. Love one another and love your enemies! It is to this calling from Jesus that we might be inclined to utter in despair, "You gotta be kidding." Yes, this is one of Jesus' strongest and most challenging teachings for all of us. Not satisfied with the Jewish directive, Jesus takes us a step further to what might be a monumental challenge. Surely it is not easy to love the family member whose teasing jokes have been an insult in front of others. What Jesus asks of us is almost impossible when another person has negatively influenced a sought after advancement at work. Yes, if we stop and think about our daily activities and encounters with others, there could be many "enemies" that impact our daily experiences of life.
Each day, as you swing your legs from the mattress to the floor, look at your feet. Ask yourself, "Where will you take me today? To whom will you lead me that will be challenging? Then offer a short prayer for the loved one who insulted you. Ask God to bless with goodness today the one who bring to your day some frustration or disappointment. This is what Jesus teach us as the part of our journey to the Father. So, as you start each day, ready to walk those feet wherever God wants them to take you, take just one minute more, just 60 seconds to write one resolution for the day: Jesus let me keep my cool today when I encounter Mr. Know-it all of have to listen to Ms. Gossip at the coffee station.
Yes, these are just some of the challenges we might meet today. Then this evening, before retiring, allow a moment or two of reflection: Did I do what I should have done today in those challenging moments? Then ask God to bless those people who may have tried all of your goodness and your efforts to bring peace into you corner of the universe.
Oremus pro invicem!
Fr. Milt
