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Scripture:

Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2
Luke 11:15-26

Reflection:

“But if it is by the hand of God that (I) drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come among you.” (v.20). This verse simply takes my breath away! My tendency in reading this Gospel is to feel frustration at those who miss the miracle and seem spiritually blind. I want to ask, what is holding you back? What is the obstacle which prevents you from seeing the Savior of the world before your eyes? I wonder, if I placed myself in this scene, would I experience the kingdom or would I miss it like “some of the crowd?” How would I know?

The opposite of faith is not doubt—doubt can and does exist with faith. In fact, it is good to question, to test everything as we read in the First letter of John, “Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits” … (1 John 4:1). The opposite of faith is certitude, the kind of certitude demonstrated in this text. Here the debate ensues about which spirit is involved in Jesus’ driving out the demon in the mute man.  We have examples of certitude as we observe Jesus’ encounters with some Pharisees. They come off sounding so certain as to what the Messiah would look like and are unable to reconcile that understanding with the person of Jesus. Peter had some of those traits when he decried Jesus fate, “God, forbid, Lord!” This was not his idea of the Messiah either. And Jesus tells him to “Get behind me Satan, you are an obstacle to me. (Matt 16:22-23) Peter’s personal experience of Jesus continued to open his eyes.

As I reflected further, I became conscious of the humanity of Jesus. Do we miss his humanity here? Might he have experienced doubt, sadness, disappointment, deflation, rejection, and frustration at not being able to get through to everyone? Surely these thoughts are possible in his humanity?  Yet, as he spoke from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34), clearly, he demonstrates his love for humanity. Real love conquers all; real love loves all regardless of the circumstances. Real love has the ability to look at another and see the Imago Dei within them even as they do everything in their power to reject this reality. Real love never fails.

At the beginning of this chapter, Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray and further, he suggests that persistence in prayer and asking for what we want is good. Next, he frees the mute man to do just that. As the Gospel suggests, Jesus is the stronger man and once he heals us, the rest is up to us, to fill that free space with the power of his presence as a safeguard against all future storms.

Lord, Jesus, I ache for your experience of rejection by our humanity, by our fears and by our certitude. Thank you for your freely offered forgiveness. Fill us with the power of your love and set us free. 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.

Scripture:

1 Timothy 6:13-16
Luke 8:4-15

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear Jesus tell a parable about a sower and the seed he sows in various areas. After He tells the parable, Jesus explains it to His disciples. The seed is the word of God, and the various areas correspond to the various ways in which people respond to God’s words.

What I’d like to focus on is the last category of seed. Jesus says: “But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.” Of course, we are called to embrace the word and bear good fruit. But maybe the perseverance Jesus is talking about is not only perseverance through tough times or, as the first readers of Luke might have understood it, persecution.

Perhaps Jesus is also talking about a perseverance with ourselves. For instance, there may have been times when we may have let the “anxieties and riches and pleasures of life” keep us from embracing God’s word as fully as we would like. But by the grace of God, we don’t need to be stuck among the thorns! God can lift us up out of anxiety. The challenge might be whether we are willing to be lifted up out of being seduced by things that don’t last. If we are willing to come closer to God, and keep striving to bear good fruit, we can do so with trust that God will persevere with us.

May we embrace God’s love in Jesus Christ. May we embrace God’s word and bear good fruit.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Scripture:

1 Timothy 1:15-17
Luke 6:43-49

Reflection:

From the time we were young, we were always taught to act toward others how we would want them to act toward us.  Even if those actions toward us are evil, we are taught to forgive as Jesus did.  As Timothy stated in today’s reading, “Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.”  Even the person with hatred in his heart can, in time, open his heart to accept the grace and goodness of the love Jesus has for us.

In the gospel, Jesus speaks of the goodness or evil in our hearts,  “every tree is known by its own fruit.”  In the goodness of our hearts, we can be the source of goodness toward others.  But, if a person has only evil and hatred in their hearts, they are the source of evil and hatred toward others.   We see the goodness of the actions of others; we want to get to know them because of their goodness.  When we seek out the goodness in others is it our way of seeking Christ?

How is the foundation of our faith?  Is it strong enough to withstand any crisis or storm that seeks to shatter that faith, or will it be completely destroyed?  Can we allow ourselves to be enveloped in God’s grace knowing that his love for us will ultimately save us?  Who in our lives do we need to forgive?

Claire Smith is the Director of Communications for Holy Cross Province in Park Ridge, Illinois.

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Matthew 18:15-20

Reflection:

Matthew is concerned about members of his Community who have departed from their first fervor.

The Community needs to make every effort to help these persons before giving up on them. If there are no signs of repentance, the Community needs to separate itself from these members who arrogantly   refuse to repent.  Mathew assures the faithful the presence of Jesus guarantees the efficacy of their prayers for this situation.  Matthew suggests a process that can be a blueprint for all to be followed.

Matthew offers a process and encouragement to those members who are willing to reach out and help those who have gone astray.  First, the Community member needs to approach the offender privately.  He needs to confront and correct the offender in kindness with hopes for a conversion.  Second, if this does not happen the member must take another member of the Community and see if this is not persuasive?  The Book of Deuteronomy recommends two or three witnesses.   (Dt. 19:15). The facilitator helps both parties to listen to each other.  If this does not bring about a conversion, the Third, the next stage is that the member is to take the Offender to the “whole Community.” Ordinarily, the larger the Community the more liberal or generous is the conversion. Repentance is possible when Jesus is in our midst.   If there is no change the Offender must be “expelled.” Excommunication takes place when the welfare of the Community is at stake.

Matthew’s Gospel is speaking of real sin, not just social offenses.  Jesus tells us He has  the power to forgive.  Jesus also transmits this power to his disciples.  Communal forgiveness is primarily private and pastoral.  Matthew is concerned about his present Community but also the eschatological Community.  Also this is the only time Matthew uses the term “Church.” Matthew in Chapter sixteen is directing the instructions directly to Peter and in Chapter Eighteen Matthew directs the instructions directly to the disciples in general.

The Gospel tells us that we must forgive, and we must seek conversion.  The First reason the Gospel gives us to do this is so the Community can prayer together!  Second, we cannot manage our faults and our virtues without each other. Third, forgiveness and conversion radicalizes the goodness in each other. Fourth, the evil in each of is challenged when we live in Community.

Community is best when virtues triumph over evil.  The Mennonite tradition has an axim when confronted with differences.  “Don’t argue, Don’t deny, Don’t withdraw.”  Peter Drucker, the father of modern management: “Be fair, Be firm, and Be friendly.”

Forgiveness is an extraordinary gift.  Matthew recognizes this.  The rabbis use to say “you can forgive up to three times.  After that God take care of the forgiveness.”  When Peter asks if he should forgive seven times, Jesus responds 70 times 70 times, in other words. Forgive without end!  The disciples respond “Help our unbelief!”  Forgiveness is not easy, and we can’t give up on repentance

Fr. Ken O’Malley, C.P., is a member of the Passionist Community at Sacred Heart Monastery in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Exodus 14:5-18
Matthew 12:38-42

Reflection:

They repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. Matthew 12:41

The word for repent in the original Greek NT is metanoeō. It is used some 56.  It’s etymology is composed of two words.  Meta means after or along with, and vous mind or thought.  It means thinking differently.   At the preaching of Jonah who was coughed up by a sea monster, the people were astonished and turned to God.   Jesus reminds us that a far greater person was with them now.   He was trying to get our minds and hearts straight on the depths of God’s care and availability for us!   On the very first talk Jesus gave He proclaimed: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Mk 4:17

Perhaps the best word in English for metanoeō is conversion, or turning from sin and worthless things to the wonderful God Who loves us!  It takes a lifetime to turn our lives completely to God.  We see this long and difficult journey in the Book of Exodus.  In our first reading, we see the journey begins with God’s promise to clear our way through near-impossible odds. “As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.” Ex 14:16

It takes a tadpole 2-3 months to become frogs but it takes our whole lifetime for us to be like Christ!  It takes about 19 days for a caterpillar to turn into a butterfly.  There have been some very graced people in a very short time that achieved the holiness of Christ.  But in one way or another, it takes a lifetime of grace and response to experience conversion.

Christ Himself told us: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” ³³ But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.^”   John 12:32  Christ on the Cross is God’s greatest Theophany to literally drag us to Himself.

The story is told of a priest who bought a rather large crucifix and was stopped by guards at airport.  “This might have a bomb inside! We have to X-Ray it.”   The priest thought if they only knew how explosive the crucifix really is!   This massive act of love certainly needs to be X-Rayed by us to be thoroughly converted to God!

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Exodus 1:8-14, 22
Matthew 10:34-11:1

Reflection:

Fear can make us do terrible things; it can lead to unspeakable violence.

That’s one inescapable lesson from today’s first reading from Exodus. The Egyptians, following the example of their king, are alarmed because the Israelites, who were immigrants, were growing so rapidly that the Egyptians feared they might turn against them and try to take over their country. Thus, instead of welcoming them—instead of seeing them as human beings with dignity whose gifts could enhance Egypt—they forced them into slavery. On account of fear, they turned an opportunity for hospitality into a decision for oppression. On account of fear, they chose to see themselves as “taskmasters” of the Israelites rather than friends. The distressing story ends with Pharaoh commanding that “every boy that is born to the Hebrews” be thrown into the river to drown, a chilling declaration that reminds us of how quickly the persons we fear can become expendable, the loss of their lives a relief rather than something to grieve.

Lest we see this story as ancient history that has no relevance for ourselves, we only need to consider all the many ways one human being can enslave another. Like the Egyptians, we can become “taskmasters” who slowly squeeze life out of others—sometimes those closest to us—by our attitudes, by cruel and thoughtless remarks, by acts deliberately designed to hurt, or by persistent refusals to love, to encourage, or to offer any kindness. Like the Egyptians who made life “bitter” for the Israelites, we make life miserable for others, crushing their spirits and destroying their hopes, when we constantly belittle them, deviously work against them, gossip about them, or continually find fault with them.

There are “Pharaohs” and “Egypts” everywhere and everywhere there are taskmasters and slaves. It’s not surprising because we’ve all lived long enough to know that it is much easier to be cruel and malicious than it is to love.

Paul J. Wadell is Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the extended Passionist family.

Scripture:

Genesis 18:1-15
Matthew 8:5-17

Reflection:

The Old Testament selection for this Saturday’s liturgy is from Genesis 18:1-15, one of the most powerful and intriguing stories in all the Bible.  Abraham and Sarah, the great Patriarch and Matriarch of Israel, are camped at Mamre, a settlement near present day Hebron.  Sitting in the entrance to his tent on a hot day, Abraham sees three men approaching and, in the tradition of desert hospitality, invites them to join him, offering to have their feet washed and take some rest, while a meal is prepared for them.  Right from the start, Abraham seems to sense that these are not the usual kind of travelers but mysteriously represent the divine presence.

He urges his wife Sarah to prepare a fine meal of meat and bread and milk and serves it to his visitors while they enjoy the shade of the great Terebinth tree next to his tent.  When they have finished their meal, one of the visitors astounds Abraham by promising that when the visitors return next year at this time, Sarah will have given birth to a son! The biblical narrator reminds us that both Abraham and Sarah were very old–so old that Sarah, listening to this conversation behind the tent flap, laughs out loud: “Now that I am so withered and my husband is so old, am I still to have sexual pleasure?”

A scene very similar to this had taken place in the preceding chapter of Genesis, but this time it was Abraham who laughed, burying his face in the crook of his elbow and laughing when God promised him that he would bear a child with Sarah: “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old?  Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?“ (Gen 17:17).  In each case the prospect of new life in such old bodies seemed preposterous.

But the mysterious visitor at Mamre hears Sarah laugh and now the biblical text explicitly says it is the Lord who responds: “Why did Sarah laugh?”  Fearful, Sarah tries to deny it, “I did not laugh.’  But the visitor will not relent: “Oh yes, you did laugh!”  And then the story’s great conclusion is driven home: “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?”  These will be the very words the Angel Gabriel says to Mary when she wonders how she a virgin could bear a child: “Nothing is impossible with God.” (Lk 1:37).

The lessons of this story are beautiful.  First of all, Abraham’s hospitality is rewarded with the marvel of God’s presence.  I think of the words of the Letter to the Hebrews which reminds us of the need for hospitality: “Let mutual love continue.  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:1-2).  But beyond this, the story of Abraham and Sarah and their mysterious visitors reminds us that God brings life where we think that no life can appear.  One of the great fears of the biblical people as a traditional culture was that of barrenness—the shame of not being able to engender life.  But the God of the Scriptures—the God revealed by Jesus—is a God of life and love, one who can bring life and joy into situations we believe are empty and barren.  Even in our moments of suffering and loneliness, God’s presence can be felt and renew us.  Here is where the reminder to be hospitable and the bringing of new life can meet: offering kindness and respect even to strangers can bring a sense of hope to them and make us an instrument of God’s love.

Fr. Donald Senior, C.P. is President Emeritus and Professor of New Testament at Catholic Theological Union.  He lives at the Passionist residence in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.