Claire Smith

Feast of St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

Scripture:

Ezekiel 43: 1-7ab
Matthew 23: 1-12

Reflection:

Some people are just worth remembering.  They live their lives in such a way that their peers, both friends and foes, respect them.  As a result, they have a profound influence on the very best that emerges in their time.  We celebrate the feast of such a remarkable man today, St. Bernard of Clairvaux.  He lived in the 12^th century (born in 1090 and died in 1153), a time of great turmoil in the Church and in society. 

He was born into one of the noble families in Burgundy, France.  He had a great future before him in the society of his day but chose instead to give his life to God.  Against his family’s wishes, he rejected the ambitious plans they had for him and, instead, followed his heart and at age 23 entered one of the most austere religious orders in the Church, the Cistercians.  He was already so influential among his peers that he brought a total of 30 young nobles (among whom were several of his brothers) with him into religious life.  Even at the early age of 23, he was a man of prayer and his prayer life deepened quickly under the guidance of the Abbot of Citeaux, St. Stephen Harding.  Though the Cistercians lived a very austere life, they were growing so rapidly at that time that just two years after he entered, he and fifteen other companions were sent out to found another abbey.  Bernard was elected the first abbot of this new abbey located in the Clair Valley.  He remained Abbot of Clairvaux until his death in 1153

As abbot, Bernard emphasized three important spiritual disciplines:  an austere and simple form of life, lectio divina and personal prayer, and finally, a deep personal devotion to Our Blessed Mother.  His Abbey flourished and Bernard founded three additional abbeys with the monks from Clairvaux.

But it wasn’t just within the confines of the Cistercians that Bernard exerted enormous influence.  He participated in several Church Councils, brought unity to the Papacy (persuaded most of the secular rulers to accept Innocent II over Anacletus II), and overcame several heresies that were rampant during his time.   In short, Bernard became one of the most significant religious figures of 12th century. 

As you remember St. Bernard today, I hope you have a chance to read more about his life.  He is a true example of a faithful disciple of Jesus who uses all his considerable gifts to build up the Kingdom of God.  We thank God for this remarkable man and ask for the grace to live our lives in a way that builds the Kingdom of God.

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director of retreats at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary

Scripture:

Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab
1 Corinthians 15:20-27
Luke 1:39-56

Reflection:

Today we celebrate a great feast in the Church, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.  In the celebration of this miraculous event, there are two special themes that can help all of us as we try to live out our faith in more meaningful ways.  First of all, this feast is a reminder that our God is a faithful and steadfast God.  God will not let us down.  No matter how dismal and disappointing events around us may be, God will be there for us and not forget to guide us in every moment.  How can we be so sure of this?  It was God who called Mary to participate in the great event of salvation, to be the “tabernacle”, the bearer of divine life, when she bore within her own womb the long-awaited Savior of he world.  And this was all accomplished when Mary uttered those simple words, “Be it done to me according to thy word.”  In this simple utterance, Mary was declaring that, though she could not possibly comprehend the mystery that would be unfolding within her, the whole aim of her life would be an unending, uninterrupted litany of saying yes to the Lord.  In every moment Mary would be placing her trust in God.  And, at the same time, God would be present for Mary, guiding her, comforting her, showing her the way.  And, as our feast celebrates today, in the end, after the mission of her beloved Son was accomplished, Mary would be assumed into Heaven.  Mary was faithful to the end.  And her God was faithful to her, raising her up to new and divine life.  One great message for us all today.  Our God is a faithful God.

There is another special message on this feast day, however, one that I love to share with others when leading the rosary, specifically the glorious mysteries, when we meditate on the fourth and the fifth mysteries.  In the fourth mystery, of course, we remember the feast we celebrate today, the Assumption.  In the fifth mystery, though, we go even further as we declare that Mary, the faithful one, was crowned queen of Heaven and earth.  Now, I would really like to believe that this happened.  I would love to think of this moment as it has often been portrayed by great Italian and Flemish artists, and even before these great ones, similar images found painted in monasteries and on various manuscripts. Without fail, they portray Mary seated on a golden throne, surrounded by choirs of angels, dressed in beautiful garments.  Truly a queen!  But I have no doubt that this is not the moment when Mary became our queen, queen of angels and saints, queen of Heaven and earth.  Rather, the first throne of Mary was hardly one of gold.  Isn’t it true that Mary became our queen when she was sitting in the dirt and mud at the foot of the Cross, holding in her arms the broken, lifeless body of her beloved son, Jesus?  We see Mary dressed in rough blood-stained garments, barefooted with callouses on her feet and gentle hands marked with the blood that flowed from the Cross.  Isn’t this the moment when Heaven and earth stood still, even as Mary cried out her fiat, her eternal yes to the will of God, and Mary truly became our queen, the one who was assumed into Heaven because of her unending fidelity and trust in God?  And so for us today!  We are invited to remember these moments in the life of Mary and imitate them in our own way, day by day, always remembering that our God is faithful, if only we say yes again and again, and put our trust in Him.

Fr. Pat Brennan, C.P. is the director of Saint Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
Hebrews 12:1-4
Luke 12:49-53

Reflection:

Living in these divided times, I found myself struggling with the words of Jesus in our Gospel reading for Sunday (Luke 12:49-53): “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

Personally, I feel called to help bring people together, not push them apart. Is Jesus really asking me and all of us to promote the divisions that exist between peoples? In light of what we read in the Gospels; I would say the answer is no.

What I do believe Jesus is saying is that His message is not to be diluted for the sake of “not rocking the boat,” or “not stirring things up.” He encountered opposition from almost the very beginning of His public ministry. Much like the prophet Jeremiah (See our first reading: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10), there were people, mostly people in power, who didn’t like what He had to say, and eventually these people plotted to kill Him, just as their ancestors looked to do with Jeremiah. Jesus did not come to establish comfortability or complacency or “peace” with what is.

For many early Christians, their decision to follow Jesus not only put their lives in danger, but put them in conflict with members of their own families, as Jesus says when He talks about fathers against sons and mothers against daughters, etc.

To follow Jesus is to take a stand, which can lead to conflict and the cross. But when we look at how Jesus dealt with and related to the Samaritan woman at the well, or the Syro-Phoenician woman begging for help for her daughter, or the synagogue official, or the Roman centurion with the servant who was ill, we can see that Jesus was not looking for us to be so divided that we lose sight of the humanity or the sacredness, in God’s eyes, of the “other.” That is what I fear our divisions have brought us to: questioning even the humanity of the “other.” It is this kind of mentality that has led to slavery and injustice and human trafficking and attempts at genocide. We are not called to promote this kind of division, no matter how righteous we think we are.

Instead, as it says in our second reading from Hebrews (12:1-4): “let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us [Doesn’t prejudice and violence seem to cling to us?] and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.” I suppose that the “joy that lay before him” refers to the Resurrection. But I also wonder if that joy has to do with our salvation. He endured the cross for the sake of the joy of saving us all, not just some.

Jesus says, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” May we be set on fire for love of the world, even love for those we consider “other.”

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

Scripture:

Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32
Matthew 19:13-15

Reflection:

Recently, my husband and I traveled to Ireland to attend a family wedding. While there we were joined by our son and his family. It was the first trip for our grandson who is two years old. And he seemed to take to the idea of farming and cows and tractors with glee. As I reflected on the readings for today, I was struck by those memories of how he walked purposefully over the field with a goal to see the cows. Something inside me resonated deeply as I watched him walk with his dad and grandfather and uncle over the fields of his heritage as if he felt at home.  Paying attention to the movements of God in our life seems important. The first reading from the prophet Ezekiel simply suggests that. We are not responsible for the sins of our fathers, rather we walk purposefully towards our heritage. We are invited to be virtuous in life. Our Gospel offers a similar idea, let the children come to Jesus, it is he desires to have a relationship with them, with you and me.

In Sunday’s readings, the Gospel of Luke suggests, “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father, is pleased to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)”

To me, the readings of today offer us an invitation to pause and reflect on how we can integrate Sacred Scripture into our lives.

Often, we are so busy that we hardly take time to pause and truly reflect on the readings; myself included. Can we imagine how we might approach life if we understood that we are not to be afraid and that our Father is pleased to share the kingdom? Is that what Jesus meant all those years ago as he went about proclaiming the Kingdom in Galilee and Jerusalem?

When I reflect on the scene with our grandson, I am reminded of the abundance of God’s presence in our lives. A God who moves in and through to get our attention.

What do you see the readings offering you today? What thought comes to you?

While I have no idea how our grandson understood this experience, safe to say, I trust him to the providence of the kingdom.

Dear Jesus, may we always trust in your love and guidance. May you be before us and beside us (Psalm 139:5).

So, when we look to the right or left, in confidence, we will hear the voice of God saying, “this is the way, walk this way. (Isaiah 30:21)” 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:

Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63 or 16:59-63
Matthew 19:3-12

Reflection:

The Word of God for us today is meditation on the sacredness of a covenant, especially as regards marriage. It is a plea to encourage, affirm, pardon and be faithful to every marriage relationship in your life. Whether you are single, married, or, vowed in religious life, I believe that it is our responsibility to pay attention to and pray for the married couples in our life.

This is our sacred task and responsibility to verbally acknowledge the importance of what two people must do to maintain their faithful love.

We are actually working in cooperation with God, the source of all genuine love and grace, when we affirm, encourage and reinforce every marital commitment with whom we come in contact. Is it not God who declares today in the Word that “I will re-establish my covenant with you, that you may know that I am the Lord that you may remember and be covered with confusion, and that you may be utterly silenced for shame when I pardon you for all you had done, says the Lord God…” (Ezek. 16:63)

I am suggesting something that is counter to the American culture where love is the most misunderstood and misinterpreted word in a loveless age.

In the words of Catherine de Hueck Doherty, foundress of Madonna House Apostolate, in Combermere, Canada, “If we want to restore the world to Christ, we must first clarify what marriage really is to a world that has forgotten the very meaning of the word love, let alone that sanctity of marital love.

I suggest that we act upon our meditation today and every day, with the deliberate and intentional act of acknowledging the importance of each sacred relationship in whose presence we encounter. Maybe you will get their attention as to who and what is most important, and you will make their day!  At least you got their attention!

Make this a pleasing act to God, as God is able to heal, enlighten and transform each relationship with whom we come in contact.

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

Scripture:

Ezekiel 12:1-12
Matthew 18:21-19:1

Reflection:

We can best understand today’s gospel by knowing that Matthew organized his gospel into five discourses, or teachings.

They are:

1. The Sermon on the Mount (teachings on the kingdom)
2. The Mission (sending out the disciples)
3. The Parables
4. The Care of the Church
5. The Olivet discourse on the last days

Today’s gospel is part of the fourth discourse, Care of the Church – how are we to care for one another, how are we to live in harmony as community?  Two stories examine those issues and the challenge of forgiveness: Peter’s question, and the king and two servants.

Why would Peter suggest forgiving the other specifically seven times.  It may have been that Peter was familiar with rabbinic teaching of the time, and taught by Rabbi Jose bar Hanina, which held that one must forgive the other three times, but not the fourth time.  In answering his own question – how many times must one forgive another? – was Peter attempting to exceed rabbinic teaching?

Another possibility may be that Peter selected the number seven for its Jewish symbolic meaning.  Seven is the perfect number.  It symbolizes completeness and wholesomeness, the eternal.

Whatever the reason, Peter, hopeless braggadocio that he is, wants to impress Jesus.  And, as usual, Jesus is strikingly unimpressed with Peter.

“Not seven times,” Jesus responded, “but seventy-seven times.”  Through this Jesus episode, the evangelist Matthew is exhorting his Jewish-Christian community to forgive one another without limit.

To underscore this teaching, Jesus presents a parable, which compares God’s forgiveness to ours.  The story is about a king and his slaves.  The king, with great generosity, forgave the one slave the entirety of the immense debt he owes him.  That same slave, however, refuses to forgive a relatively minor debt that a fellow slave owed him.   Instead, he had him thrown in prison until he paid back the debt.  When the king heard of the slave’s refusal to forgive a debt as his own was forgiven, he had him thrown into prison

What then is Matthew’s community – and we today – are to understand from this discourse on the Care of the Church?  Just this:  living in community is often, perhaps all too frequently, can be difficult, calling for great patience, and the need to forgive.  Certainly, we see this today in a highly contentious and toxic climate of within the Church.

We, the Church today, are called to care for one another to build up the Body of Christ.  We must forgive, not seven times but seventy-seven times, that is, without limit.

It is because of God’s limitless forgiveness to us, undeserving people, that we in turn cannot claim the right to withhold forgiveness from our fellow disciples.

Like the king who first forgave his slave, the initiative is with God.  It is because God has first forgiven us, that we are expected, and through God’s grace, enabled, to forgive one another.  We, as community of the forgiven, must be a forgiving community.

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