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Scripture:

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

Reflection:

Today could well be called “Forgiveness Sunday”. The first reading from Sirach proclaims the scandalous contradiction between expecting forgiveness from God while selfishly withholding it from others. In the passage from Romans, Paul succinctly reminds us that we live only because of the freely given mercy of God that is ours through the death and resurrection of Jesus. And today’s gospel, which begins with Peter’s memorable question about the permissibility of limiting forgiveness, unfolds in a parable that emphasizes the disturbing fate that awaits anyone who refuses to extend to others the very forgiveness they have received.

Still, none of us finds it easy to forgive. Christians should be virtuosos of forgiveness because we know that God has been—and always will be—endlessly merciful to us. But sometimes we’re understandably reluctant to forgive because we know forgiveness is both challenging and risky. Forgiveness is challenging because in order to forgive we must be willing to move beyond the justifiable anger, hurt, and resentment we feel when we are unfairly treated by another. And forgiveness is notoriously risky because we can never be sure it will repair relationships that have been damaged by unkindness, carelessness, and thoughtlessness. What if our forgiveness is refused? Even worse, what if the people we forgive show little remorse, accept no responsibility, and do nothing to amend their behavior? No wonder it is sometimes easier to remain estranged than to be reconciled; easier to nurture anger and bitterness over love and forgiveness.

But nothing could be more self-destructive or hopeless. Forgiveness is seldom easy, but what is the alternative? Yes, what was done to us was wrong, unfair, and inexcusable—which is also true about how we sometimes treat others—but do we want our lives defined by anger, hurt, and bitterness? Is that how we want to be remembered? The message of this Sunday’s readings is unmistakably clear: Forgiveness really is a matter of life and death. As the late Passionist priest and renown scripture scholar, Carroll Stuhlmueller, wrote about these readings: “Not to forgive is like not breathing; it is that unnatural and inhuman.” Those are words to take to heart.

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.

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

Scripture:

1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14
John 19:25-27

Reflection:

No mother should have to experience what Mary did as she watched her Son die. Is the actuality worse than a mother can imagine?  Think of the women of the disappeared in Argentina not knowing how their loved ones died, or the pain of the mothers and wives of the men and boys of Srebrenica as the mass graves are dug up. It is often women who must live with the horror of war and violence.

Other gospel writers mention the presence of the women at Golgotha, but it is John who explicitly tells us that Mary and the beloved disciple stood by the cross and who gives us Jesus’ words: “Woman. behold, your son” and to the disciple whom Jesus loved: “Behold, your mother.”

Mary stood, “Stabat Mater” Her eyes must have been riveted on his face, her heart torn by sorrow. Then their eyes meet and Jesus spoke and gave Mary the beloved disciple as her son. Then, addressing the disciple: “Behold, your mother”.

Mary, may I appreciate you as my mother. May I go to you with my doubts and fears. May I confidently trust in your loving care for me. Help me to have a compassionate heart as I see Jesus suffering in the crucified of today.

Be with me always and at the hour of my death. Amen.

Fr. Michael Hoolahan, C.P. is on the staff of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

The cross, the symbol of Christianity.  In our Catholic faith we think more about the crucifix.  It’s more than a symbol.  Our Savior is on the cross.  The one who emptied Himself, humbled Himself, was obedient, even to death, on a cross.  For us.

When I reflect on the cross I think of when Jesus said if we want to follow Him, we need to take up our cross.  Taking up our cross in life is not something today’s world wants to think about.   Today’s world says we can have it all.  There is no place for suffering.  But while that is what our culture promotes,  who of us really wants to suffer, to deny themselves, to do the work necessary to turn away from sin.   Those aren’t things most of us want to do.  We get the “no pain no gain” perspective on some level and intellectually understand that we grow through our challenges, struggles, and suffering, but we still would prefer not to.

In my life I have come to see another saying from Jesus as an accompaniment to the challenge to take up my cross.  Yes, Our Lord asks me to take up my cross, but He also says “My yoke is easy and My burden light”. He invites us to come to Him when we are burdened and He will give us rest.  So we might not want to seek out suffering, but when it comes, if we sincerely go to Him, He may not take it away, but, as Paul Claudel  said, He will fill it with His presence.  Jesus will walk with us in whatever difficulty we face.   I also wonder if there is an added bonus.  What if we knew that in our suffering we could draw closer to the Lord.  Just as increasing our intentional time in prayer, or receiving the sacraments can draw us closer to the Lord, what if we viewed the difficult times or challenges we face, as a time to learn from the Lord, to draw closer to Him?  Might that change our perspective a little?  Give us a little comfort?  Help us?  My experience says yes, and I know drawing closer to the Lord is where I want to be in times of joy or challenge.

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

Scripture:

Colossians 3:1-11
Luke 6:20-27

Reflection:

The powerful and wealthy media mogul Ted Turner, speaking before the American Humanist Society, made this memorable pronouncement: “Christians are bozos and Christianity is a religion for losers.”

Maybe that’s why we sometimes feel like Ziggy, the bald, roly-poly comic strip character who prayed to God: “I just want you to know that the meek are still getting clobbered down here!”

Judging by the values of our culture, Ted Turner may not be far off the mark.  Wealth, success, power and prestige are obvious signs of God’s blessings.  In biblical times the same held true, as did the signs of God’s curses like poverty, disease and weakness.

But in today’s gospel, Jesus shocks us.  He turns our values upside down.  His words fall like bombshells exploding around the crowd, us included.  What we call blessings are in fact curses.  And what we call curses, Jesus calls blessings!  Blessed are the poor and hungry and woe to the rich.

Luke’s beatitudes differ somewhat from Matthew’s.  In Matthew, Jesus delivers his Sermon on the Mount.  He uses the third person “Blessed are they…” And the beatitudes speak to the spiritual: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”  Not so with Luke.  His sermon is on the plain.  Jesus speaks to us at level ground, face-to-face, eyeball to eyeball.  He speaks bluntly about material and economic conditions: “Blessed are the poor…”

As for the rich, Jesus says: “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.”  The word “have” in the Greek is “apechete,” meaning “to have in full.”  It was commonly used on business receipts to mean “paid in full.”  No payment or service was expected to follow the close of the transaction.  In other words, what the rich wanted and received on earth is all they will ever get.  This indeed is a chilling curse.

So what are we to do with this unsettling Good News?  Megan McKenna, in her book, “Blessings and Woes,” says it challenges us to conversion.  It’s “about seeing as God sees, not through rose-colored glasses but in the light of God’s kingdom that emerges in the world as a vibrant force to be reckoned with in the person of Jesus…”

These are kingdom values designed to shatter earthly values.  They call us, as Paul does in his letter to the Colossians, to “think of what is above, not of what is on earth.”

This may not feel like Good News.  The world will ridicule us as bozos and losers.  Nevertheless, Jesus is looking at you and me eyeball to eyeball and challenging us with his words: I’m about to bless you.  Get ready for one of my bombshells.

 

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

Scripture:

1 Colossians 2:6-15
Luke 6:12-19

Reflection:

Today the Church honors the name of Mary, a name responsive to  the needs of the Church. Mary’s role in our salvation is immortalized in the human discipline of “lifting our minds and hearts to God”- prayer. “For God wonderful in power, has used that strength for me.” (Lk. 1:47)  Her words in the Magnificat summarize the role of prayer in her life, and in the life of her Son whom she first taught to pray.

Her intimate interaction with the Spirit of God, brought Jesus into the world. Her continual actions of letting go (“be it done unto me according to your Will…” “…do what He tells you to do.”) gives us a lesson in surrender for a greater good, that is, allowing God to work through, with and, even, despite me! Throughout her life she would be present in the midst of the disciples, in ways that she would model fidelity and hope amidst the people being formed as the Body of her Son on this earth.

In the Gospel, it is described how Jesus and his newly chosen disciples came down from the mountain where he had spent the night in prayer, and he “stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people.”  Again, in Mary’s prayer, she acknowledges with gratitude how God “regarded her humble state.” Jesus is teaching his disciple their humble state as to being on level ground with their fellow human beings. No pedestals, privileges, power or popularity. Would not Mary, too, stand at the foot of the Cross, and, eventually stand in the midst of His Body, that is the Church on earth, in the upper room on Pentecost?

As in the spirit of Mary, we seek to recommit to our own personal discipline of prayer, for the sake, of those to whom we are sent everyday.

Fr. Alex Steinmiller, C.P. is president emeritus of Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School, Birmingham, Alabama.

Scripture:

Colossians 1:24-2:3
Luke 6:6-11

Reflection:

“I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”

Is the power of good really greater than the power of evil?  Or is the power of evil greater than the power of good?  As I think back over the past few weeks, looking at numerous situations and events, I can certainly see how the good is more prevalent than evil.  I’ve heard about communities rallying together in evacuation of towns and cities in anticipation of hurricane Harvey and hurricane Irma. Indeed, I’ve witnessed some truly good people expressing their goodness.  The flip side is certainly true as well.  I’ve seen people in need and I have watched others responding to these needs in selfish and cruel ways.  Both of these dynamics are active in the gospel today.  Again, Jesus asks, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”

Of course, Luke also tells us who Jesus is talking to.  He is talking to scribes and Pharisees who were watching him closely.  Their agenda was clear.  They were looking for a reason to accuse him.  I suspect we run into conflicting motivations and people with different agendas every day.  And these different motivations frequently lead to conflicting behaviors and differences of opinions.

For the scribes and Pharisees, if Jesus really is the messiah, then he must follow the prescribed Jewish law.  Yet Jesus implies how ignoring someone in need, or not making something right is an evil unto itself.  This is a very difficult teaching. Most of the time it is so much easier not to get involved, or even to choose ignorance.  Frequently we may find ourselves using phrases such as, “I don’t have time, it’s not in my job description, or I don’t know how”, thereby justifying our own agendas.

I suspect the first step here to get us beyond our personal excuses is to begin trying to accurately listen to the needs of others.  If we are capable of doing this then perhaps we are capable of stretching our understanding of the sacred.  When the Pharisees limited their ability to do work because it was the Sabbath, perhaps we could stretch our ability because it is what is sacred.  It is the right thing to do, just as Jesus realized when he saw this man’s hand.  The Sabbath expands from being a day of the week to being a realization of the sacred in our midst.

I’m left wondering today what would happen if Jesus wrote a specific job description for each of us.  It certainly would force us to modify our daily agendas.  And it may even change our perceptions of what is right and what is sacred.

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is the pastor of St. Agnes Passionist parish in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Ezekiel 33:7-9
Romans 13:8-10
Matthew 18:15-20

Reflection:

I have heard many people lately say that they are sick of the politics of our society. They can’t stand to see or read any more of it. They have started tuning out, turning off the news or refusing to read about the latest developments. They sadly shake their heads when there is yet another affront on dignity, morality, civility, respect, and truth. They lament the mess and misplaced priorities of our leaders. And then they go on with their daily business.

This in itself demonstrates a harsh truth. If you can afford to just tune it out, then it means you are in such a privileged class that you don’t believe you will personally be affected by it. I struggle mightily with this, because I do realize my privilege. I am white. I am a Catholic Christian. I am heterosexual. I make a good living with meaningful work. I own a nice house in the suburbs. I encounter some obstacles and uncomfortable situations because I am a woman. But clearly, I’ve got it easy in so many ways.

Yet this life is not all about me. As Jesus constantly reminds us, we are all connected. We are all children of the one God. We are called to live out the Gospel in this world. So I have a responsibility to defend those who don’t have my privileged status – those who are Jewish, Muslim, immigrant, black, Latino, poor, refugee, marginalized, or oppressed. I want to shake sense into those who believe that this country ought to be “white again” or that the primary legislative purpose of a political party is to tear down everything ever done by the other party. I want to stand up for those who need healthcare, food, decent housing, education, and work assistance. I want budgets that cut back on military spending and that quit enriching only those who are already wealthy. I want a government with checks and balances that upholds the dignity of all people and of the earth we call home.

This does not mean choosing a particular political party or politician. It is a choice for the principles we are called to uphold as followers of Jesus Christ. Pope Francis proclaims all of these as part of discipleship, and in our scriptures today God warns us that we must speak out when we see injustice, oppression, and evil. In fact, God tells us that if we do not speak, we ourselves will die for the evil we failed to call out. That’s pretty serious stuff!

In practice, it won’t take a lightning strike from God to inflict that “death” upon us. The more we ignore and stay silent now, as these evils emerge from the shadows and while we still have hope of countering them, the more they will indeed take over and eventually affect us, too. Our nation is on the verge of changing our very identity, our core values and beliefs, and the basis of our system of government. As those things erode, they are very hard to get back, and we will not emerge unscathed.

Where do I start? How can my voice be heard? Dear God, it is so much easier just to turn off the news and live in my own little world!

It helps me to know that Jesus was never concerned about questions of what effect one person could possibly have. He just started doing things, speaking out, witnessing, and teaching people. He spoke the truth to powerful figures even when they didn’t want to hear it. He didn’t stop in the face of threats or trials. He stayed true to the message of God’s love and compassion, of the inherent worth of every person, of the common good, of healing and inclusion, until the only way they could silence him was to kill him. Of course, not even that worked! God does not give up. God is not defeated by death. We must not be either.

Therefore, in order to follow Christ, I must start somewhere. Personally, I choose to begin on two fronts. I will speak out, march in protest, write and call my representatives, and do everything I can to fight against the white supremacist, neo-Nazi movement. People fought and died to be free of those ideologies. Millions died because of them. I will be peaceful, but I cannot, will not, stay silent.

My second cause is healthcare. I know and work with too many people who will be without health insurance, necessary medications, or services if the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) is repealed. I see too many disparities between the treatments afforded to the rich vs. that given to the poor. Yes, the law is flawed, but so much of it is still good. If our political parties worked together to improve it and fix the flaws, it could be an amazing system that upholds all of us and protects the most vulnerable. I pray that we can collaborate to create a just law and claim this as a joint victory, coming together as God would have us do, for the good of all.

You may start elsewhere, whether because your primary concerns vary from mine, or because you outright disagree with me. That’s fine. As Jesus says, you owe nothing to anyone except to love, and there are, unfortunately, plenty of issues to go around. Just choose something and start making your voice heard in love and compassion. God is holding all of us to account for our actions and especially for our inactions. We will be judged for our failures to work against the evil that exists in this world.

Will you speak out? If you don’t, who will? God is calling. Let’s answer.

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/.

Memorial of St. Peter Claver

Scripture:

Colossians 1:21-23
Luke 6:1-5

Reflection:

 A Colossian from Cartagena?

Yesterday the Letter to the Colossians spoke in cosmic terms of Jesus, the image of the invisible God, who has reconciled the things of heaven and earth in himself through the blood of the Cross. Today Paul is not ‘cosmic’, rather down to earth. In his mortal body Jesus died; as if we were brides the Bridegroom presents us to the Father. We must be unshaken in our faith, unshaken in our hope promised by the Gospel.

Today as we celebrate the feast day of St. Peter Claver, SJ, Pope Francis is visiting Columbia where Peter arrived in 1610 at the age of 29. As the ‘slave of the slaves forever’, limited by the barrier of language and health problems, he served the continually arriving slave ships at Cartagena, a hub of the slave trade. He tended the sick and baptized the dying among the terrified and poorly treated slaves who had survived the middle passage, often of several months. Peter once said, “We must speak to them with our hands before we speak to them with our lips”. Columbia honors today, having made it yearly celebration of the Day of National Human Rights. In Peter’s day his work was recognized and supported by some officials, others found him bothersome, and there were some who refused to enter the same church or confessional as the slaves Peter was serving. Before his death Peter had been ill and was unable to minister, but at his funeral there was a great celebration for his holiness and work among the people of Cartagena. What he did was not unseen; others besides the slaves heard the work of his hands.

Before Pope Francis concludes his trip he will go to Cartagena tomorrow visiting the shrine of Peter Claver and blessing a homeless shelter. The background of the Pope’s visit is Columbia is the fragile peace that is ending 52 years of civil conflict in which 220,000 have died. Children, one of whom was born while his mother was captive for six years, met the Pope’s plane on arrival, not the usual military honor guard. He has visited Villavicencio, the agricultural region greatly affected by the war where he met with wounded victims. The pope is a spokesperson for peace, social justice and the marginalized by his presence as much as by his words.

Modern day slavery, issues of race, dominance, care for the poor and reaching out to people on the margins need people inspired by the example and basic approach of St. Peter Claver. Today many find a ‘Peter Claver’ bothersome and would not associate themselves with those who resemble the ones he reached out to in tender love. Pope Francis’ visit may be seen as a making visible the words to the Colossians: Jesus reconciles us through the blood of the Cross. This is cosmic but also in our everyday relationships. We must be unshaken in the gospel, in the faith and hope that it gives us. In his mortal body Jesus died. But Paul, Peter Claver, Pope Francis, missionaries and all of us as we follow Jesus proclaim the victory of the Resurrection in Jesus’ death and the reconciliation we strive to live.

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