Claire Smith

Scripture:

Ephesians 6:10-20
Luke 13:31-35

Reflection:

Today’s gospel is a reading from Luke 13:31-35:

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to Jesus, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’

Jesus wasn’t afraid of Herod – I don’t believe Jesus feared anyone; the closest thing may have been the feeling of separation from his heavenly Father as he hung on the cross and was hit by the realization of all of the sins being laid upon him. But Jesus knew what his purpose was going to be in these last three days, and he knew he had things to do before the third day. He knew he was surrounded by pain and suffering, and his mission was to heal, to share his beautiful mission with those in his path. Jesus cannot be swayed from his role as he enters into the last stages of his journey here on earth.

Reading on,

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you.”

Jesus loved Jerusalem, and he wanted to protect those who lived there. The Jerusalem of today is not far different from then – there is still a need for his loving protection in that place where so much of our faith history was experienced firsthand.

Jesus so easily could have run away, fled from the hands that would take his life. But he knew there was a plan. He knew these would be the last days on earth for him, and nothing and no one could force or reason with him to escape from the inevitable. That is faith, trust, and love. 

I think of Saint Pope John Paul II as we celebrated his feast day this past October 22. How he suffered in the throngs of World War II, how he worked so hard to open the paths of communication through socialism, through the Nazi persecution, even as he became a Priest and continued to fight for the less fortunate. He was a voice for the people, and he, like the hen, and like Jesus himself, did his best to gather his children as the hen gathered her brood under her wings.

And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’

Patty Masson supports the Passionists from Spring, Texas.

Scripture:

Ephesians 5:21-33
Luke 13:18-21

Reflection:

Jesus said “What is the Kingdom of God like?”

What a wonderful question!  How often do we take the time to ponder what the Kingdom of God is like? Today’s reading is an opportunity to imagine into a future not dictated by the front-page headlines or our current political leaders, but by who and what God calls us to be, both individually and collectively.  

Walter Brueggemann writes in The Prophetic Imagination,

The prophet engages in futuring fantasy. The prophet does not ask if the vision can be implemented, for questions of implementation are of no consequence until the vision can be imagined…Our culture is competent to implement almost anything and to imagine almost nothing….[E]very totalitarian regime is frightened of the artist. It is the vocation of the prophet to keep alive the ministry of imagination, to keep on conjuring and proposing futures alternative to the single one the king wants to urge as the only thinkable one.

And this is exactly what Jesus is modeling for us today: a ministry of imagination, conjuring images that will open us into what we already are in God’s eyes, and propel us toward that which together we are called by God to be: the Kingdom of God.

It’s hard to miss that both images that Jesus “conjures” are transformative processes, grounded in mystery.  We may have observed a seed growing or maybe even studied the scientific process of a seed growing into a bush.  We may have experienced baking bread or even analyzed the chemical reaction which occurs in the process of adding yeast to flour and water. But we really do not know how the generative mechanism actually works.  The mystery of becoming precisely what God has intended from the first moment of existence—whether for a seed or a human being–is God’s alone.

And then there is the surrender.  There is a surrendering to the process of becoming that a mustard seed fulfills so effortlessly.  There is a surrendering to its purpose that the yeast performs so gracefully, leavening the whole batch of dough. It is, perhaps, for a mustard seed or yeast organism, not really even a question of surrender but rather of a natural, inevitable fulfilling of its nature. Yet for us human beings, our lives can become a conscious practice of surrendering, of listening to the Spirit within us and among us, and surrendering to its movement and invitation.

I like to imagine that each of us can be yeast for the whole. There may be times when any one of us is tired or discouraged. Yet within the whole, when even some of us are listening for the Spirit and surrendering to its movement, the entire batch will continue to leaven.  Together, we are part of an inevitable process of becoming what God has intended: the Kingdom of God.  That seems to me something worth imagining into being.

Lissa Romell is the Administrator at St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Ephesians 4:32-5:8
Luke 13:10-17

Reflection:

Precious Love of God

Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love,
as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us
as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. EPH 15:19      Ps 36:7

Psalm 139:7 states one of the most beautiful sentences in the Scripture.  “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!  And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.”  One of the most romantic scenes in movie history, Casablanca, is Humphry Bogart’s words to Ingrid Bergman “here is looking at you, kid”!  Could you even in your wildest imagination see God taking you by the chin and saying this to you?   Saint Augustine describes our relationship with God: “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.”  

The ultimate word about God’s love for us is that He gave His Only Begotten Son to die for us.  We must never stop being startled that we mean so much to God!  We must be humble enough to realize we are not in the loving eye of God only because of our good looks.

There is the story of a little girl I saw when visiting her parents.  I asked her to show me her favorite doll.   She had lots of beautiful dolls, but the one she showed me was the ugliest one I ever saw!  It was old and wore out.  The hair was mostly gone and an arm was missing.   “Why is this your favorite doll?”  She answered: “If I don’t love this doll, nobody will.” 

I think the little girl’s answer was very insightful.  Nothing attracts God’s mercy like humility.  Pope St John XX111 has a beautiful quote on our need of God’s merciful love.  “I live by the mercy of Jesus, to whom I owe everything and from whom I expect everything.”  God loves us with merciful love. “Pope John continues “There is nothing more man needs than Divine Mercy – that love, which is benevolent, which is compassionate, which raises man above his weakness to the infinite heights to the holiness of God.”  “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!”

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

Scripture:

Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14

Reflection:

In the Gospel reading for today, Jesus addresses a parable “to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.” Do we know anyone like that? Have there been times when we’ve been someone like that?

I would like to focus on the prayer of the tax collector because these words can lead us to a consideration of our whole lives.

First, these words lead us to humility. The truth is that we are all sinners. No one can claim perfection or total righteousness before the Cross of Christ. We are sinners, and we need the love and mercy and grace of God in our lives!

Second, this prayer can lead us to gratitude. Acknowledging our sinfulness need not lead us to shame and despair! Instead, we can be grateful, because while we were still sinners, Jesus died for our sins on the Cross! Not only do we need God’s love and mercy and grace, God pours out these things for us time after time after time! As I often say, God is not just the God of the second chance, but of the fifth chance and the tenth chance and the hundredth chance! There’s no way we can pay back God for all God has done for us, but the remarkable thing is that God has done and continues to do all these things for us, simply out of love! All we can do is be grateful and respond, which leads us to the next two things.

If we acknowledge our sinfulness and our reliance on God, how can we look at anyone else with judgment and condemnation? It is true that we determine that some things are wrong and unjust, but we cannot presume to say that someone is out of the bounds of God’s love and mercy. The tax collector was not beyond God’s love. No one is beyond God’s love, even when they go against God’s will. They may suffer judgment in the next life, but that is God’s decision to make. There is nothing we can do to make God stop loving us, even though we may have made the choice to stop loving God. We are called to look on others with compassion, love and mercy, just as God looks on us.

And finally, the prayer of the tax collector can lead us to testimony. Probably the best testimony I can give to the Good News of Jesus Christ is to say: “God did this for me in Jesus Christ. I did not deserve it. I did not earn it. But God loves me, and I know God loves you;” and to treat my brothers and sisters, and indeed the whole planet, accordingly, so that others may not only hear the Good News but see signs of it in our lives.

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

Scripture:

Ephesians 4:7-16
Luke 13:1-9

Reflection:

Lord, I strive to understand. 

In today’s Gospel, you are presented with the dilemma of why a loving God allows evil to happen, even to the most innocent.

Pain and suffering are neither deserved nor inflicted by God. The story of Job is a Jewish morality theme in which Old Testament suffering is seen in direct ratio to one’s disobedience of God’s commandments. 

I cannot understand your ways, my Father. It’s as if I were a sentient fig tree which would feel the pain of the gardener shears without understanding that pruning does not diminish, but rather increases the productivity of life.

Our global village, born of instantaneous worldwide communications, makes us aware of every suffering in every corner of the globe – hurricanes, school shootings, forest fires are presented incessantly, so much so that we become immune to suffering or even lose the ability to bear it long enough to understand it’s significance.  Today’s headlines are truly Yesterday’s news.

Understanding should not be my goal as it is surely unattainable for us to understand the mind of God.  WHY something occurs is not the right question, but whether my goal ultimately should be grasping HOW I can better know, love and serve you, no matter what the world presents.

Ray Alonzo is the father of three children, grandfather of two, and husband to Jan for 45 years. He is a USN Vietnam Veteran, and a 1969 graduate of Mother of Good Counsel Passionist Prep Seminary. Ray currently serves on the Passionist Alumni Council.

Scripture:

Ephesians 4:1-6
Luke 12: 54-59

Reflection:

Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? (Luke 12:57)

I remember in Catholic grade school we were taught” let your conscience be your guide”. In those days I imagined an angel sitting on my left shoulder and the devil sitting on my right. The angel saying to me No! Carl No! and the devil encouraging me saying Go! Carl Go! Today, I have an adult version of the meaning of conscience. Conscience is the final practical judgment determining which actions are morally right or wrong; that is, which actions will fulfill a person and meet human needs in a balanced manner. Conscience comes from two Latin words “cum scientia” which means “with knowledge.”  Conscience doesn’t mean flying by the seat of your pants or “a do-your-own-thing approach” to conscience.

 “Why do you not know how to interpret the present time…judge for yourselves what is right” (verses 56, 57). How should you and I go about discerning what is right? We said the literal meaning of conscience is with knowledge. So here are the steps for discerning what is right: 1)  Knowledge of the scriptures. Paul says” live in a manner worthy of the call you have received…with humility, gentleness, patience, compassionate love through the bond of peace.” ((Ephesians 4: 1-3)  2)  Knowledge of the Catholic Church’s teachings pertaining to the issue you are trying to resolve. 3) Knowledge of scientific or essential elements of the issue you are trying to determine right or wrong. 4) A relationship and prayer life with God. 5) Being sincere; acknowledging your faults, failings and asking forgiveness 6) Being community minded and loving your neighbor as yourselves.

These six sources are the criterion for determining the answer to the question: Am I doing right? The tendency is to choose one source as a determinant of morality such as prove it to me from the bible.” We need all six in our search for truth and discerning what is right. Conscience formation is a lifelong journey. O Lord, grant me the grace and wisdom to judge what is right and holy.

Carl Middleton is a theologian/ethicist and a member of the Passionist Family.

Scripture:

Ephesians 3:2-12
Luke 12:39-48

Reflection:

Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

I can recall the first time I came across this Scripture from Luke, and it left me quite terrified. Yikes! Who wants to be punished or beaten? Not me! Even Peter asks for clarification, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” Yet the reality of what Christ is trying to get across is not punishment, but it comes down to service: service to God and service to one another. What will we be “doing” when He comes? Are we utilizing the gifts we have been given to build up the kingdom here on Earth? An even better question to ask ourselves is, “will we be serving one another faithfully?” Christ tells us, “Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.” So, what is there to fear? What is there to lose?

Christ offers blessings to those that follow His example of service to God Our Father. It is a promise that unites us closely to Christ, to share the very gifts that we have been given. If we are doing so, there is no need to worry about the “unknown hour” but rejoice always in our service to God.

Lori Kananen, LMC, is a lay Pastoral Associate at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:1-10
Luke 12:13-21

Reflection:

“Avoid greed in all its forms.” Jesus’ admonition in today’s gospel leaves us no room to barter or squirm. Jesus didn’t say that it’s okay to be a little greedy, just don’t let it get the best of you. No, Jesus declares that even a tidbit of greed is unacceptable. What makes greed so dangerous? So morally and spiritually deadly? Today’s gospel parable provides an answer.

It is the story of a rich man who clearly has more than he could ever possibly need. When the parable begins, he’s celebrating an unusually bountiful harvest, but the superabundance presents a problem: what will he do with it all? The obvious answer is to share it, but that never crosses his mind because he’s greedy and the first lesson of greed is that we never have enough. If there’s any rule of life the greedy take zealously to heart, it is “more is always better!” But he also never considers giving his surplus to others because the greedy are incapable of thinking beyond themselves. Thus, a second rule of greed: “Think only of yourself!” Greedy people follow this rule religiously because greed blinds them to the needs and sufferings of others. And because greed tightens the grip of the greedy on what they own, it is no surprise that the rich man can imagine no other solution to his dilemma than to build even bigger bins in which to store his grain. What also cannot be overlooked is that greed isolates us from others. The greedy person is so alone that he talks only to himself. He will relax. He will eat heartily. He will drink well. He will have blessings for years to come. There’s nobody else in the picture.

But he will enjoy nothing of that good fortune because at the end of the day he will be dead. His assessment of his future was wildly off the mark, but that is not surprising because greed warps our perception of reality, especially of what will truly give us life. Jesus’ declaration that the greedy man was a fool may sound harsh, but it is utterly accurate. After all, greed is like a robber that ransacks a home of all that is truly valuable. But with greed, we are the thief and the home is our own soul. Jesus is right. Greed should be avoided at all costs.

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