Claire Smith

Scripture:

James 5:1-6
Mark 9:41-50

Reflection:

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble (skandalizō), it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. MK 9:42

Jesus made great efforts to heal sinners.  He was greatly criticized for His welcome to sinners.  He kindly healed them if they “sinned no more.”  But in today’s Gospel, make no mistake about it, He speaks with utmost severity about the horror and the destructiveness of sin. “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into ^bhell, into the unquenchable fire”  

Humans do not determine what is or is not sin.  That has been determined by God when He created us.   Sin is always highly venomous and destructive even when one might not be guilty.  The judgement of God will be merciful when the person is ignorant, but terrible damage will be done.   If one swallows poison and believes it will cure him, he will still die.  One of the most dangerous things one can hear is “if you think it is OK.  it is OK”.

In Scripture one of the main names for sin in Hebrew is “awon”.  This word means iniquity, depravity.   It is a perversity that is an objective reality that does not change.   The whole nation for years has been terrified by Covid-19.   Sin can do infinitely more damage to us more than any virus.   It can destroy our loving relationship with God which is our most beautiful gift from God.

“And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye
than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”   -Mark 9:47

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

Scripture:

James 4:13-17
Mark 9:38-40

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading for today, we have a lesson that speaks very much to our times. John the apostle goes to Jesus and tells Him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” And Jesus replies, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”

To say, “For whoever is not against us is for us” seems so foreign to our ears today. There seems to be so much of “us vs. them” in our country and in our world. But the danger in that is that we can get so caught up in identifying who we are in terms of being opposed to who “they” are, that we actually get in the way of doing good. I doubt that John saw it that way, but that is what he and the others were doing. They found themselves trying to prevent the driving out of demons, in Jesus’ name, just because the person doing it wasn’t part of their group! And Jesus had to tell them not to do that.

Personally, I have had experiences of working with ministers of other churches to do some good for the wider community. It was a real way of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Even in these times of division, there are groups making the effort to bring people together. With the threat of war looming in Europe, and conflicts going on in so many parts of the world (look at our first reading from the Letter of St. James), is it possible that Jesus is calling us to work together to drive out the demons of fear and hate with the love He has for all of us?

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

Scripture:

1 Peter 5:1-4
Matthew 16:13-19

Reflection:

Lord, it seems so counterintuitive to love my enemy.  Somedays I feel surrounded by the opposite message.  

News outlets, social media, neighborhood protests, someone screaming over the back fence…  The way information is communicated is irrelevant.   Marshall McKuen way back in the 60’s stated eloquently that “the medium is the message”, which if you buy into that…  then the subject matter becomes irrelevant as well whether it’s Gun Control, Pandemic responses, Parental control over school curriculums, or politicians who placate rather than lead.     

What it’s really all about is fear, right Lord? The fear of loss of control, loss of security, loss of comfort, even the loss of freedom from fear. You say that we must love our enemies and be good to those who hate us.    But we fear to do so because of what we may lose, just as some may fight against us for fear of what they may lose or not be able to gain.   And yet, You want us to let go, to trust in You, our perfect loving Father.  We must keep your greatest commandments:  To Love God with our whole minds, hearts, and all that we are.  And to love our neighbors as ourselves.   (Never has it been more obvious than with instant global communication that we are all truly neighbors).  

We must trust that life is not a zero-sum game, as if I can only gain if you lose, and you gain only when I lose.   Isn’t this, in essence, the same message you gave us in the Sermon on the Mount?  Blessed are the meek, those who hunger, mourn, long for righteousness… for they will gain. 

Help me to see, Lord, that You ask me not to just seek understanding, but to understand, not to just speak but to listen, not to only wish for acceptance but to accept, and to share what I have without the fear of loss.  Because in this way I can love my enemy.  I will fear no loss because I know You love me, beyond understanding.  

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.

Feast of Saint Peter Damian

Scripture:

James 3:13-18
Mark 9:14-29

Reflection:

In the first reading from the letter of St. James there are some key take aways. 1) It is important to pray for wisdom daily as an important element in my life. 2) When we are in love with our ideas and in promoting ourselves, we will not be perceived as having wisdom. 3) Believers with true wisdom avoid envy and selfish ambition and focus on being persons of peace and love. 4) Wisdom from God is pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant full of mercy and good fruits”. (Seeking Our God: A Journey in Seeking Jesus James3:13-18 by taylor.matthew.n July 2, 2020?

How would you grade yourself in consistently living these four elements of living wisdom?

In the Gospel reading Jesus and his three disciples leave the Mount of Transfiguration and on the way down encounter an epileptic boy.  The father is desperate because the child is now throwing himself in to fire and water.  The disciples who did not go with Jesus, Peter, James and John are unable to exorcise the evil spirit and heal the boy.  The father says to Jesus “…if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.  Jesus said to him, “ If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” (Mark 9:22-23)

Examine the quote in italics and notice the use of the word “if” which showed the father’s doubt. How many times do we have those “if” moments doubting whether God will hear us and come through for us? Read the first italicized line again and this time strike the word ‘if”.  It now reads “you can do anything.”  Is our faith a “can do anything” faith with God’s power and grace.  “Lord, I do believe, help my unbelief! Let me pray with courage, confidence and faith because “You can do anything.”  (Living Faith, January, February, March 2022, Monday, February 21, 2022, Kathleen Swartz McQuaig)

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

Scripture:

I Samuel 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
I Corinthians 16: 45-49
Luke 6: 27-38

Reflection:

The readings today really do pull us way out of our comfort zones! 

In the reading from Samuel, we have the story from the early days of David.  A time before he has become King.  He has been serving Saul who was first to unite the people of Israel and begin to mold them into a nation.  But God, through the prophet Elijah, has rejected Saul as the king and has favored David.  Saul is not planning to go peacefully into retirement and has begun to hunt David down even though David has continued to be faithful in his service to Saul.  During Saul’s hunt to capture David we have this story about David’s nobility of character.  During the night, David comes upon Saul asleep.  David has every advantage even to having Saul’s spear handy for his use.  However, David remains faithful to Saul by letting him live.  He does let Saul know of his narrow escape by asking Saul to send a servant to him so that he can return Saul’s spear.  An embarrassing moment for Saul, but a revealing glimpse into the character of David…and into the character of God.

And then, of course, there’s this famous Gospel passage.  Of all the teachings of Jesus, these are among the most challenging: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic.  Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.  

And the list goes on:  But rather, love your enemies and do good to them; …lend expecting nothing back….  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Stop judging….  Stop Condemning….  Forgive….  For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.

Wow!  Jesus has just moved the bar not just higher but, humanly speaking, out of reach!!  St Paul, in our second reading, pulls us back to earth with the reminder that we also have a spirit filled life given us by Christ.  It is through Christ that this way of loving becomes a possibility for us. 

What do you think?  Is Jesus just making things impossible for us or is he inviting us into a deeper way to love?  His way, God’s way.

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

Scripture:

James 2:14-24, 26
Mark 8: 34-9:1

Reflection:

We all have gone to a funeral home and viewed the body of a loved one or friend.  They are lifeless, their spirit has departed.  In today’s first reading, James makes it clear that faith without good works is not really living.  Bodies which don’t breathe are dead. The spiritual implications are clear; works-less faith is not a viable spiritual life. Good works can take many forms.  James emphasizes love of neighbor and oneself which includes meeting each other’s physical needs especially the poor.  What good deed might I do today to enliven my faith to all I meet? (Bible Ref https://www.bibleref.com/James/2/James-2-26.html)

In Psalm 112, the psalmist calls us to praise God and to give God the glory for any good we have experienced. “Well for the person who is gracious and lends and who conducts his affairs with justice…Blessed is the person who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands.”  How often am I grateful and daily praise God? (Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, Psalm 112 https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/psalms/112.html)

In Mark’s gospel we are challenged: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”(Mark 8:34) Lord, help me to carry my crosses in life  and follow you living in your service.  (Living with Christ, February 2020, Today’s Good News: February 21, 2020 Mary Marrocco, p. 161.)

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

Written by Wally Fry  for “Truth in Palmyra”  @   https://truthinpalmyra.wordpress.com

Original post @  https://truthinpalmyra.wordpress.com/2018/04/09/faith-in-action-true-faith-serves-2/

Scripture:

James 2:1-9
Mark 8:27-33

Reflection

Today’s gospel begins with Jesus and his disciples making their way to “the villages around Caesarea Philippi.” As they are walking, Jesus poses a question that would make any of us pause: “Who do you say that I am?” It is perhaps the most unnervingly straightforward question that Jesus asks in the gospels and certainly the most important. And it is a question that anyone who claims to be a Christian must answer. Indeed, how we respond to that question determines the shape, direction, and ultimate significance of our lives.

Who is Jesus for you? Many of us will joyfully confess that he is the one who knows everything about us and yet unfailingly loves us; the one who comforts and consoles us, who accompanies and guides us, who calls and commissions us, and who never abandons or gives up on us no matter how many times we fail. Who is Jesus for you? He is the one who is compassionate and merciful to us, will never deceive or mislead us, and whose fierce love sees beyond our sinfulness to the goodness God’s grace always makes possible for us.

All that is blessedly true, but it is not enough. “Who do you say that I am?” To be a Christian is to give the very same answer that Peter did as he walked with Jesus and the other disciples that day: “You are the Messiah!” For Christians, Jesus is not just another prophet, religious teacher, or miracle worker. Jesus is the Son of God, the redeemer of the whole of creation, the savior of the world, and the answer to our deepest hopes and longings. Jesus is the way to life.

Most of all, as the last line of today’s gospel makes startlingly clear, to follow Jesus as Messiah is to live not by human ways of thinking and acting, but by God’s. Everything Jesus said and did throughout his life reveals exactly what that means. Like Peter and the other disciples, every follower of Christ is called to that seemingly impossible, but endlessly hopeful, way of life every day.

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

Scripture:

James 1:19-27
Mark 8:22-26

Reflection:

When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked, “Do you see anything?” Mark 8:22 – 23

When I reflect upon this passage from Mark’s Gospel, I’m reminded of the first lines of, Amazing Grace: “I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.”

At this point in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is portrayed as a healer and teacher, but also as a very mysterious person, doing and saying things that no one understands.

We are introduced to Jesus by Mark at his baptism by John the Baptist, who was preaching a baptism of repentance and conversion. After John’s arrest, Jesus began his public ministry in Galilee by preaching that the Regin of God is at hand. And he makes a name for himself by a ministry of healing. He heals many illnesses, again and again, those possessed by demons, lepers and paralytics. And he heals many women as well.

However, Mark gives us only two accounts of Jesus healing blindness. This one, brought to Jesus by friends and the other, the one who cries out from the road. (10:46)

Several things strike me in this brief passage. The first is that “people brought to (Jesus) a blind man. . .” Who were these people? We are not told. Who was the blind man? We don’t know. The name of the second blind man Jesus heals of blindness is Bartimaeus. In that case, Bartimaeus initiates the contact and has to fight the crowd for him to be noticed by Jesus.

This healing was very different. Having been brought to Jesus, then Jesus takes him by the hand and leads him away from the village. Unlike the healing of Bartimaeus, this one takes place with no one watching. What can all of this mean? We need to take this to prayer.

Blindness is a human condition, not just a physical infirmity. Jesus addressed this social condition many times in his teaching and preaching. Jesus was especially harsh on the religious leaders whom he called “blind” over and over again because they were unwilling to recognize what was before their eyes: people suffering on account of their selfish human laws, justice ignored because they would have to admit to their compliance with injustice and to their own personal corruption and sin. This, too, we need to take to prayer!

While Jesus may have been healing a physical ailment, he was also pointing out to us the deeper significance of the blindness. With this particular encounter, Jesus is letting us know how difficult it is to regain a clear vision of our reality, much less comprehend the reality that sight and insight give us. Jesus will often refer to a passage in Isaiah that says, “they may look and see and not perceive.” Is. 6:9. He is also speaking to us.

It is only when we become acutely aware of our blindness do we go looking for the grace of sight and insight. It is then that we find meaning in a popular Church hymn: “Open my eyes, Lord, help me to see your face. Open my eyes, Lord, help me to see!”

Fr. Clemente Barrón, C.P. is a member of Mater Dolorosa Community in Sierra Madre, California.