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Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31a
John 19:25-27 or Luke 2:33-35

Reflection:

Behold your Mother! In life we never quite know what tomorrow holds, whether our next days will be bright and sunny, painful and challenging or full of sorrow is a mystery. But one thing that we as Catholic Christians can count on is that there will always be hope. There is always hope because we have a Mother and a Savior who love us in a way that we will never quite understand. He loves us so much that He gives us His Mother and she loves us so much so as to point us back to Him, this is a true love triangle!

Today we celebrate the feast of the Sorrowful Virgin Mary, by apostolic letter, Pope Paul the VI constituted and proclaimed the Sorrowful Virgin Mary as the principal patroness of the Passionist Congregation. The celebration of this feast of our Lady of Sorrows offers us all the opportunity to deepen our participation with her in the mystery of Christ’s passion. From the very instrument of His crucifixion, the cross, Our Lord offered His mother to all of humanity as He proclaimed, “Behold your Mother” and His Mother in turn points all of humanity back to her son offering reconciliation with him.

In the hymn, Stabat Mater which we sing on this day we hear the line, “at the cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last” and it reminds us of the ultimate sorrow of a mother who witnesses the pain and suffering of her only son who is fully human and fully divine. In His divinity He is the Alpha and the Omega and in His humanity He feels the nails, the wounds, and the pain that cut to His very being. She is close to Jesus to the last and as such He offers her to us, to heal our wounds, to bring us hope and to love us. So, Behold your Mother!

Deacon James Anderson is the Administrator at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

https://passionist.org/daily-scripture-september-15-2020/

Scripture:

Numbers 21:4b-9
Philippians 2:6-11
John 3:13-17

Reflection:

In the complexity of these times with anger and division, violence in both actions and words, how am I called as a Christian to find a different way? Not to turn a blind eye, or to shrink from standing with what is right, rather to rise as a new creation with a conviction that is transformative.

In times of great oppression Jesus, is nailed to a cross to die. True to His mission and Word. Falsely accused. Triumphant after death. What was supposed to destroy Him becoming a pathway in which all people could walk. Holding the challenge that is so hard to understand or see without the intricate knowledge of His heart and the meaning of the cross. 

Who, both past and present, will come to stand with Him? Who as a follower of Christ will inspire us to rise with and through the cross on the path laid before us? Who are the saints in waiting? Will we istand with Our Savior who asks so much more of us emptying His life on the cross, in brutal, unrelenting suffering so that there could be a new way paved with forgiveness, redemption, mercy and compassion for all. 

I found one such person, a priest, whose life is a testament to the struggle of standing with and overcoming. A life story to be read slowly to take in the gravity and the grace. Father Augustus Tolton, was born in the United States into the brutality of slavery and through the courage of his mother, took the harrowing path to freedom. In a surprising twist, his family was all baptized Catholic, by slave owners, which gives deep pause for thought on how one lives out their faith. Augustus’ mother and the children landed in Illinois and sought out a church. 

His vocation would arise and be lived out in the very country of which he was and had been subjected to brutality and his own diminished sense of identity in the outer world. He felt the magnitude of both the ramifications and the outright prejudice that tried to be a stumbling block. Some out of ignorance. Some out of fear. Some spread too thin and afraid to grow thinner. Moved by his desire, hard work and passion, a few immigrant priests and a religious sister with a heart for the mission, helped him prepare for his call in any way they could when there was no clear vision of a school or seminary willing to accept him. 

Beaten as a young slave Father Tolton, ministered relentlessly, fervently, faithfully persevering, emptying his life, despite every entanglement of the harsh faces of bigotry, both in systems and in persons. His heart was made heavy by the lives he so wanted to help as they fell deeper into the void that brought despair. A place he understood, yet rose from, as he began following the only way and vocation he believed could bring hope and redemption.

He learned who he was through the eyes of God. Through the gift of a sacramental life. Through the love of his mother. Through those who believed in him and acted in his behalf. It is from this place of conviction that he chose to pick up and carry the cross. 

Christ did not die on the cross for us to dissolve into the divisive ranks of separation. Christ died to unify us under his singular redemptive sacrifice for all times, inviting, commanding, those who follow to remain strong in compassion, forgiveness, healing and the ongoing conversion of heart. 

How will I respond to the call of the cross in these times? 

M. Callahan, written with deep gratitude for the Passionist community and their charism with prayers for vocation. 

https://passionist.org/daily-scripture-september-14-2020/

Scripture:

Sirach 27:30-28:7
Romans 14:7-9
Matthew 18:21-35

Reflection:

Recently, I caught an interview with a Holocaust survivor. He was in his 90’s and if I remember correctly, he was the only one in his family to survive. What struck me at the time were his comments on forgiveness. When asked by the interviewer about his approach to his captors, he offered that his journey to forgiveness was an act of self-healing. He shared that he had lived with hate for many years and discovered that he was the one keeping himself in prison. Forgiveness, according to this Holocaust survivor was a journey to “self-healing, self-empowerment, and self-liberation.”

Today’s Gospel, taken from the end of the 18^th chapter of Matthew is Jesus’ fifth discourse, or teaching, to his community. Scholars suggest that this discourse is connected to Chapters Nine and Ten where Jesus is teaching the disciples about mission, his disciples are named and summoned into mission. We come to the end of this chapter which began with Jesus teaching on becoming like little children and encouraging us to take great care not to cause any harm to the little ones. We hear about the parable of the lost sheep, where the shepherd leaves the 99 to go find the 1. Being in community is that important to the shepherd. Each of us counts in the eyes of God. Today’s text corresponds with Jesus reminding the community about how they are to behave towards each other. We are to live in harmony with the community, always in right relationship because this is our true freedom. One commentary I read recently suggested that perhaps Jesus knew well the challenges of living in community and how our personalities would clash. We hold on to unforgiveness like a dear friend. When we are out of step with our true nature, we are essentially off-balance and out of harmony with God’s desire for our lives.

We are reminded of a debt that is impossible to repay and like the unforgiving servant, we can often impose that debt of unforgiveness on others. We put them in prison even while we know we have been released from our debt. Does this make sense? Jesus’ warning is clear, we have been forgiven and so we must make every effort to offer that freedom to others. This is how we are to conduct ourselves; this is true liberation. 

The Book of Sirach reflects the same idea in our first reading, taken from the Wisdom writings of the Hebrew Bible. It offers a reflection of Jesus’ teachings which would not be new to his audience. In our journey to forgiveness, we learn more about life and ourselves. It asks us to offer mercy to each other and in so doing we can recognize mercy for ourselves. The psalmist endorses this, “The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger and rich in compassion.” Similarly, Paul’s words to the Romans build on this, “no one lives for oneself… whether we live or die, we are the Lords” (v.7). As Christians, we are all called to live in unity. Jesus offers us his final teaching on how to be community. We must be awake and prevent our humanity from getting in the way of abundant life. (John 10:10) 

May we live in such a way as to recognize the gift of mercy and offer that to others. Come, Lord, change our hearts and make us truly united in your Spirit. Amen.

Jean Bowler is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California, and a member of the Office of Mission Effectiveness Board of Holy Cross Province.

https://passionist.org/daily-scripture-september-13-2020/

The Most Holy Name of Mary

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 10:14-22
Luke 6:43-49

Reflection:

We honor the holy Name of Mary today, the bearer of our Savior. Let’s explore the wonderful grace that flows from that name and invigorates us, even to this day. Hail, Mary! Full of grace, the Lord is with you. We acknowledge this day as holy by invoking the holy name of Mary.

Honoring her name is a way of calling her into our presence! And what a presence it is! And to heighten our awareness of that grace in our midst let’s recall that her presence, in person or virtually, accompanied the disciples from the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through His Passion and Death, burial, Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven. 

She was “there” through all of it. 

St. Paul reminds us today that “a good person, out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good fruit.” Some of those who had been at the crucifixion came to the tomb to bury him properly. This was Mary’s Son, after all! They went to the tomb to wash and clean him, to anoint Him. They knew that he had been buried in a hurry. Before sunset there had been no time to do anything but put him in the tomb. He had to be taken care of. This was Mary’s Son.  Simple acts of compassionate kindness made them do this. They just could not leave him like that.

Mary was present in their hearts, and thus greater initiative to do this act of respect, which they had learned from Him! Even though they knew about the resurrection, his life had begun in them, a life that manifested itself not only in all kinds of extraordinary things, but the ways their lives had changed.

The awareness of Mary’s “presence” enabled them to find new meaning and immense joy,

Thus, we continue to honor and proclaim the name of Mary, in everything that we undertake for we are furthering the salvation of the world, that is, living for others and promoting peace, forgiveness and justice from the store of goodness inspired through Mary.

Hail Mary, full of Grace!

Fr. Alex Steinmiller, C.P., is a member of the Passionist Community in Detroit, Michigan.

https://passionist.org/daily-scripture-september-12-2020/

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22b-27

Luke 6:39-42      

Reflection:

I love baseball. I have fond memories of playing short-stop on my little league team.  I remember how our coach made us practice the double-play over and over and over.  Ground ball to the third baseman who throws to second, out one; second baseman throws to first, out two. Then, it was my turn.  Ground ball to me at short-stop, I toss to second, who throws to first.  Next, a grounder to second, while I run to cover second and take the toss, then I throw to first.  We did this over and over until we grew tired and cranky of repeating the drill.  By game time, however, we were ready.  We didn’t have to think about what to do when a grounder came our way.  We moved quickly, almost automatically.  It’s called muscle memory.  And, of course, muscle memory is what all athletes must build up if they are to support the team.

That is what Paul is talking about in his letter to the Corinthians.  He urges them to condition their spiritual muscle memory.  They are to live their faith just as intensely as the athletes in an arena.  He warns against easy shadowboxing or aimless running.  Rather, he encourages them to follow his coach-like example in pursing their faith lives with the commitment of a true athlete.  They are urged to work on their game – their spiritual skills, their strengths, and weaknesses, if they expect to contribute to the team effort in building up the Body of Christ. 

Jesus warns in today’s gospel that our failure to condition and discipline our spiritual muscle memory is like the blind leading the blind, or like an athlete criticizing a teammate’s weakness, but blind to his or her own failures.  This spiritual muscle memory is not something we can do solely on our own, any more than my little league team could learn without our coach.  We need God’s grace to overcome our failings through the sacraments and daily prayer.  In the Eucharist we take Christ’s body and blood into our own body to strengthen us and nourish us for the race we are running – or completing that double play.

Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 8:1b-7, 11-13
Luke 6:27-38

Reflection:

It seems that we have increasingly been sucked into an “us” vs. “them” state with no middle ground. So many people act as if anyone who disagrees deserves to be villainized, demeaned, ridiculed, accused, and cut off. Even scientists receive threats, sometimes against their lives, when objective facts they present are inconvenient or not consonant with already-determined beliefs. There is no reaching across, reaching down, reaching out and bringing in. 

This is the absolute antithesis of what Jesus taught! It is more centered on protecting individual or group power than on living the Gospel and working toward the common good of all. It is anti-Christian, anti-Catholic, and sinful.

As usual, any time I make a commentary on our society or our Church, I must examine myself for ways in which I contribute to the very things I decry. And then I must start the desired change with myself, deciding what I can do to work toward a better end goal in my own life while encouraging that change in others. 

So, I begin looking at my interactions with those who disagree with me. Do I truly listen? Do I want to understand where they’re coming from, or am I “listening” to determine how I can contradict, disprove, or argue with them? Most especially, am I focused only on their words, or can I hear the deeper emotions behind those words? What is it that the other person is clutching closely enough to defend it against challenge or change? What are they terrified of losing? If I can go deeper, truly hearing another person, there is at least a chance for understanding and common ground. I must remember, too, that if I am so set in my ways that I refuse to open my ears to hear another’s pain, hurt, fear, or personal experience, how can I ever expect them to listen to mine? 

Jesus always went to the heart. That’s why he preached love of enemies, doing good for those who persecute you, refusing to condemn and instead offering peace and understanding. As he said, “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

There’s so much more to do beyond this. Yet I believe this is where we need to start, and this is where I plan to start. How can I listen with the ears and mind of Christ? How can I look at a person I oppose and see that we are part of the same body? How can I learn to truly, deeply listen, and then work for the good of all? May God help me, and all of us, to do a better job. Our communal life depends on it.

Amy Florian is a teacher and consultant working in Chicago.  For many years she has partnered with the Passionists.  Visit Amy’s website: http://www.corgenius.com/.

https://passionist.org/daily-scripture-september-10-2020/Daily Scripture, September 8, 2020Daily Scripture, September 8, 2020

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 7:25-31
Luke 6:20-26

Reflection:

A Time for Beatitudes

Yesterday was the prelude to Luke’s Beatitudes that we will read through Saturday.

He showed us Jesus praying. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus prays at important moments of his life – his Baptism, when he taught the forgiveness of sin, at the Transfiguration and beginning of the Passion. After this prayer, Jesus selects the twelve who will be apostles. Having prayed and called the apostles, they come down the mountain and are surrounded by a large crowd. Jesus heals everyone. Then he looks at his disciples, his followers, and speaks the Beatitudes.

Jesus began his ministry, announcing the fulfillment of Isaias, ‘to bring good news to the poor and liberty to captives.’ Through word and deed, he is at work proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Speaking as a prophet, he now describes the values necessary for those who will work for the Kingdom of God. They will believe that the poor will be rich, the hungry satisfied, the weeping will laugh, and those whose values are rejected, who are pushed to the margins and called evil, they will be like the prophets of old. They will receive the reward of the prophets.

For Luke, Jesus is a prophet, and those who follow Jesus will share his calling. Expect a surprise; there will be a great reversal. Woe to the rich and satisfied, those now laughing, and the false prophets!

We might imitate Jesus this week and surround our reflection on the Beatitudes with prayer. The Beatitudes are real and among us today. It is not just those trapped in war or made refugees who are poor and hungry. The pandemic has spread hunger and poverty along with illness. Weeping is close at hand. Weeping follows suffering and pain, but anger follows next – for the good of for the bad – to redress the causes of suffering. We are dealing with the anger of much frustration. Values are rejected, people are marginalized, and judgments passed. Many ‘deaths,’ not just the physical deaths, but things that touch the control of many aspects of life that we take for granted, cause us sorrow. The pandemic we expect and hope will bring with it new scientific understanding and health. We hope there will be a deepening knowledge of our human family that even as values are tested, we will grow closer together in community.

The Beatitudes tell us we shall ‘laugh.’ The only use of that word in the New Testament.

And we will ‘dance.’ The word used when John ‘leaped’ in the womb of Elizabeth upon the visit of Mary, who carries the Savior in her womb. Strong but simple words in the Beatitudes. Let us read them alongside our newspapers these days; hopeful blessings alongside worrisome news. Jesus said them looking at his disciples; let us surround them with prayer and turn our hope-filled faces to Our Lord.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Peter Claver. He lived the Beatitudes among slaves, the poorest of the poor. He never saw a system that was a daily contradiction to living the values of Christ change. We don’t know his weeping or deepest hungers or frustrations. He believed the Beatitudes and in living them did what makes one holy.

Fr. William Murphy, CP, is the pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Jamaica, New York. 

https://passionist.org/daily-scripture-september-9-2020/

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary  

Scripture:

Micah 5:1-4a
Romans 8:28-30
Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

Reflection:

Sister Mary Jean (+1988) quoted her in the perfect sense, “Morning Star,” we call her in the litany; in the Canticle of Canticles she is prefigured by the words, “Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising?”

To us looking back, as to those patriarchs looking ahead for the long four thousand years, Mary is the dawning, Christ the perfect day. Dark as the world may seem today, it can never be quite dark again since Mary came on earth. Mary, whose birth was the dawning hope for mankind, brought to us the light of the world.

Sister Mary Jean Dorcy, O.P.

Mary, Mother of God. Wow what a title. God is the creator, the almighty, the beginning, the middle and the end. To be born full of grace is indeed a blessing from God. To carry God in her stomach for 9 months is a blessing. To raise Jesus Christ the Son of God is a blessing. Blessed are you Mary, mother of God. Hail Mary full of Grace. Our new Eve. Mary’s yes was the biggest leap of faith a human being can make. God bless the day you were born. Through you a Savior was born. Through you we have everlasting life. Through you we offer up our prayers. Through you our sins are forgiven by your Son, Jesus Christ.

Happy Birthday, Mary.

Deacon Peter Smith serves at St. Mary’s/Holy Family Parish in Alabama, a religion teacher at Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Birmingham, and a member of our extended Passionist Family.