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Scripture:

Deuteronomy 4:32-40
Matthew 16:24-28

Reflection:

What does Jesus mean when he says to his disciples – including us – “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”?

Does it mean that we are to accept with patience our trials, aches and pains that are part of life, to “offer it up to God,” as the good Sisters taught us to say?  Yes.  But it means so much more than dealing with life’s choppy waters.

It means that Christ demands, not suggests, a commitment of faith that is ready to embrace God’s will, wherever it may lead, even unto death. Such a commitment of faith means that we are ready to affirm life despite what life brings, and even in the face of doubts and fears.

Another question: does Jesus mean we must be ready to suffer a physical death of martyrdom?  Again, the answer is perhaps yes.  But it means something even more difficult than martyrdom.  When we embrace the will of God, we must let of own will, our ego, self-centeredness – even unto death.  We must die to ourselves.  This can be quite painful and difficult to accomplish without God’s grace.

Undoubtedly, this is what the Apostle Paul meant when he proclaimed “I am crucified with Christ!  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20).  To follow Christ in this way means losing our false self, false life, in order to truly find ourselves, to be who we truly are, to be wholly ourselves.

Christ’s demand is unequivocal.  If we wish to follow him, we must take up our cross – with the kind of faith in which Jesus can say to us: “Your faith has made you whole.”

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

Scripture:

Numbers 12:1-13
Matthew 14:22-36

Reflection:

Several years ago, I led a reflection/prayer day, and on the altar we were using, stood a candle enclosed in a large glass cylinder. What was catching my attention was the fact that the flame of the candle was being mirrored exactly on the inner surface of the glass so that from the outside one would have thought that there were two flames, not one.

However, the mirror image of the flame was ‘reversed’ i.e. it was displayed in a way that was exactly the opposite of the real flame. As the actual candle flame moved to the left then the mirror image moved to the right and vice-versa. It was as if the two flames were dancing around each other! Coming close but never joining to be the one flame.

It became an image for me of what can happen in life and indeed in our faith life too – that we often ‘dance’ close to, but don’t join with, the Other when they are inviting us to come closer. This dance might be seen in relationships, sometimes in our marriages, our friendships or even in our ministry or service to, and for, others.

While we so often desire and seek intimacy and closeness, it is also frightening to surrender in loving trust to another – even if this surrender is but the gateway to deeper relationship and intimacy. We are indeed strangely made; in our heart of hearts we seek to be ‘at one’ with another and are deeply attracted to this very reality, yet something within us resists – perhaps fuelled by a strong desire to ‘preserve’ the self!  So there are times when our partner, friend or loved one is inviting us to be closer, to be the one flame together, but we are holding back from fully surrendering to all that a loving relationship can offer.

Of course, and thankfully, we do experience other moments when we overcome all fears and two hearts burn as one. We embrace the other and find the intimacy we most seek, and it is a flame that warms us and lights the pathways for our relationships and life itself.

Thus in our reading today, for me to see Peter invited to step out into the deep and to come to Jesus, is to see an instance of Jesus inviting him to be ‘at one’ in relationship. Indeed it is the very thing that Peter seeks “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Yet at the same moment, we see Peter wrestling with and being overcome by his natural fears …. “Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened and began to sink…”

Perhaps this is the lesson for us in today’s liturgy. Like Peter let us give assent to our own desire for intimacy with Jesus.

But let us also acknowledge that to do so means we too must overcome any fears and resistance within.  But here again, let us note that it is Jesus himself who helps and enables us to come to him. Like Peter we have only to ask, only to cry out “Lord, save me!” and he will help us to enter into his loving embrace to experience that which we most desire…. “Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him…”

It will be so for us.

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is the Provincial Superior of Holy Spirit Province, Australia.

Scripture:

Exodus 2:1-15a
Matthew 11:20-24

Reflection:

It will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon and for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you…

This gospel begins with some strong words and emotions from Jesus, where is this coming from? What could make Jesus so upset?  I once heard Bishop Ken Untener from the Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan say that if you are ever uncertain what the message of the Scriptures for the day are, look to the Psalm – he said “the Psalm is the ‘key’ to unlock the lectionary”.

I have to admit when I read this Gospel passage, my first thought was ‘Oh my, what do I do with this!’  Then I turned to the Psalm, Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

Jesus had been to Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, the people there knew him, they had met him, experienced him, witnessed his very presence and yet they were indifferent, they didn’t care, they weren’t changed.  They simply bought in to the ‘group think’ of the society around them.

Our faith invites us to know Jesus, to experience him, witness his presence in our world today.  How do we respond to that challenge of faith?  Are we willing to ‘turn to the Lord’ in difficult times?  Are we willing to stand with him in the face of oppression, despair, hopelessness and speak the truth that calls us to be brothers and sisters in Christ?  To work for justice, equality and life for all people.  The choice is ours, are we willing to know Jesus enough to build his Kingdom or are we going to hear “Woe to you…”

Faith Offman is the Associate Director of Ministry at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26a
Matthew 10:24-33

Reflection:

A Happy Ending Just Out of Reach

We conclude today our reading of the Book of Genesis. It’s ending is the ending of the story of Joseph, which we have read for four days; a profoundly meaningful and tender story, hard to read without a tear. Joseph himself cries each of the four days, as do his brothers with him today.

We may think of creation when we hear the Book of Genesis. We have wondrous beginnings indeed, but it lasts only two chapters! The other forty-eight chapters are taken up with a great mystery. How can creation not love the creator? How can it not love the rest of creation? Things get bad: Cain and Able, Sodom and Gomorrah, the flood and the Tower of Babel. Is there a way out?

The final fourteen chapters of Genesis are the story of Joseph. Sold as a slave by his brothers, he is presumed dead by his Father, Jacob. Joseph finds himself a powerful man in the land of Egypt. There is the refrain, “God meant it for the good, to achieve his present end, the survival of my people” (50:20). Our story on Wednesday began when Joseph’s brothers stand before him; he recognizes them, they do not recognize him, but see a severe man of authority. His tenderness is revealed when unable restrain himself he bursts out crying, “I am Joseph…Is my father in good health….I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into slavery…do not reproach yourselves…God sent me here ahead of you.”

As Genesis ends it would appear that we have found the solution to all the bad we have heard in the Book of Genesis. Joseph is a man who can forgive those who have sinned against him. He is like God, “a God-fearing man”(42:18). Are our problems resolved. Have we come to a happy ending? Unfortunately, no, we have not.

Jacob dies. The brothers of Joseph are so afraid that they imagine Joseph has kept them alive so as not to upset their elderly, infirm father. They concoct a story saying that Jacob’s final request is a plea for mercy, a plea for their lives from Joseph. Joseph breaks into tears. The brothers throw themselves on the ground before Joseph begging that they become his slaves!

As we conclude our meditation on brokenness in God’s wonderful creation we find a man who forgives injustice and the wrongs against him. He may forgive better than anyone in the Scriptures? But it is not quite enough. His brothers cannot grasp his mercy and forgiveness. Truly this is something to cry about.

We leave Genesis now having seen God’s mercy, and the mercy of a God-like man, Joseph. We are invited to ponder how we the daughters and sons of Eve and Adam, will accept this mercy. It may not be easy? But in the beginning there is creation, there is mercy, and there is the need to embrace that forgiveness.

Fr. William Murphy, CP is a member of Immaculate Conception Community in Jamaica, New York.

Scripture:

Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30
Matthew 10:16-23

Reflection:

I am always struck by the number of people in the Old and New Testament who respond so decisively to the call of the Lord.  In today’s first reading we hear, “Jacob, Jacob.”  “Here I am Lord”.  “Go down to Egypt.”  And off he goes.  Same with Abraham, same with Simon Peter and the apostles, same in the most complete way with Mary.

Is it the same today?  We see it for sure with men and women who respond to the call to priesthood and religious life. We see it in the lives of the saints of our time like Mother Theresa.  But what about me?  Would I respond with such a resounding yes?  I wonder.  Am I too entrenched and too comfortable in my life?  Is there a tendency to think these sort of radical calls are for others and not me?  Then again is my life so busy I might not even hear the call?

Are these big life-changing calls the only way Our Lord calls us?  Doesn’t He also call us in little ways?  He calls on us daily to love, to forgive, to listen, to lend a hand.  I think of a time in my own life when in the course of a very short time I was “called” or “challenged” by two different priests to pray more, to take prayer more seriously in my life. I set out to do that, to say yes, to make prayer a more intentional and certain part of each day.   My life has not been the same since. My relationship with the Lord is so much deeper and real.

Isn’t that the way He works in most of our lives?  Calls us to the smaller things, helps us in our efforts when we say yes, and builds our foundation of faith and trust that if or when a larger call, or bigger challenge comes our way we are better able to hear and say yes to the Lord.

We may not know much about Jacob or the apostles before the Lord called them, but my guess is the Lord had been working in their lives preparing them before their “big call” to serve Him.  Might that then be our real call, to say yes in every opportunity and way we are called as disciples of Jesus Christ and as Catholics, and thus be more prepared for the ways that Our Lord may call on us to serve Him?

Steve Walsh is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, and a good friend of the Passionist Community

Scripture:

Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a
Matthew 10:1-7

Reflection:

When I read over Jesus’ summoning the twelve and giving them authority to expel unclean spirits and to cure sickness and disease of every kind, it struck me that the very power to proclaim such a bold mission was actually in the wake of the greatest events the world has ever and will ever known, namely, The Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He could announce that the reign of God is at hand, because His obedience to the Father ushered in the Age of Redemption and full access to Eternal Life. So what am I waiting for? Am I taking full advantage of the graces that flow from the Paschal Mystery?

In the Egyptian world of Joseph’s time the country was able to provide enough food to provide for the inhabitants of most of the known world. In fact in God’s Kingdom the world produce was to be shared with each person. Later in history there would come a time when the kingdom of Israel was to deny this right of sharing in world resources.  Justice was violated. In the words of one commentator, “when the poor are neglected, then prosperous people have to worship gods other than Yahweh.” The prophets would raise their voices to express God’s anger and the despair of God’s neglected people.   That prophecy continues today in the face of massive world-wide, unwelcome and often, cruel treatment of immigrants forced to leave their homelands only to find additional poverty and abuse in the areas of the world in which they find themselves. At least, we can educate ourselves, locally, as to what is happening to our brothers and sisters who have been forced to resettle in the midst of hostility. And we can raise the consciousness of others.

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

Scripture:

Genesis 27:1-5, 15-29
Matthew 9:14-17

Reflection:

I’m sure many readers watch programs like CSI and other TV, Cable or Netflix series with some kind of ‘investigative’ sub-theme running throughout the 45 minutes of entertainment. Often the characters are police or forensic investigators delving into a scene and piecing together a narrative with only a few clues as their starting point. But from such small things they manage to re-build not only the sequence of events that led to the particular tragedy they are investigating, but they seem to find the culprit too (and all in forty five minutes!)

Sometimes when reading the stories that surround the ministry of Jesus we too have to be a little like investigators. In noticing small details and from various ‘clues’ we too are able to build up a fuller picture of what initially might be hidden from our sight.

Today we see one such moment.

It leads us to observe that one of the defining factors in the ministry of Jesus was his even-handedness. By this I mean that he was most sensitive to his audiences and responded accordingly. In particular he responded to both the men and women who made up is audiences and who were attracted to his message. Perhaps that’s not surprising since he spoke in a way that drew upon their own experience and made God relevant in a language – often of story and image –  they could understand and appreciate.

More particularly let’s note today that Jesus speaks to his audience (and to us) not so much about fasting – even if that is the initial question – but about the need to embrace a much bigger vision. Jesus is offering a totally new way of seeing God and of living in this light.  To try to restrict or interpret this new vision of Jesus in ‘old’ paradigms will not work.

To illustrate this Jesus speaks of new wineskins (for new wine) and of shrunken patches (for the repair of a garment).  And it is here we can return to the above theme of noticing a detail – for in fact Jesus gives two illustrations of the need to embrace ‘the new’. One illustration concerns making and using only new wineskins for wine preservation which would be all too familiar to his audience, and let us imagine familiar to the men in particular. But then Jesus goes on to speak of stitching and repairing garments with patches – something that would be all too familiar to the women listening to him at the time.

Noticing the two illustrations, for both the men and the women, is a small detail, and we must note that it is only a means to illustrate the central message, but it’s a detail that I notice and admire about Jesus. He is there unapologetically for both the men and women of his time.

In this we see a call within the call. Of course the primary message of our gospel today  is to embrace the totality of Jesus’ call to live in the light of a new vision of God and not to be bound by what may be familiar and safe, but in the end will not meet the needs of the present moment.

But beneath this too is a call to be open, non-sexist and mutual in all our relationships as men and women of today’s Catholic Church, and as the present disciples of Jesus.

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is a member of Holy Spirit Province, Australia. 

Scripture:

Genesis 12:1-9
Matthew 7:1-5

Reflection:

A few years ago, when a good friend called, I was not surprised at the news she shared. She told me that she and her husband were separating. I had sensed that this might happen and it was important to listen and to love. What she focused on was not the past or all the reasons for the decision. She talked more about the scary future, the uncertainty, the unknown.

Abram and Sarai in today’s reading are called in their senior years to take a journey filled with uncertainty and unknowns. “The LORD said to Abram: ‘Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.’” All this at 75 years old, as scripture says. And he goes. He knows he must go. He becomes a migrant.

Think about all those today who are leaving the land of their kinsfolk in today’s massive migration of peoples. For whatever reason, they leave knowing the journey is dangerous and the destination uncertain.

Would I have had the courage of Abram? Can I imagine what impels a person to become a refugee? Can I guarantee that all will be well for my friend? No. What I can do is, as the Gospel requires of me, “Stop judging, that you may not be judged…. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?” I pray that I can be attentive to those who embark on an arduous journey and place them all into the care of a merciful and loving God. May He lead them safely to wherever their journey takes them.

Robert Hotz is a consultant with American City Bureau, Inc. and was the Director of The Passion of Christ: The Love That Compels Campaign for Holy Cross Province.