Claire Smith

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 9:6-10
John 12:24-26

Reflection:

As children, we are all taught to share. It’s one of the hardest lessons for young kids to learn, especially when they really want to keep the requested item. For instance, when my grandson is asked to share a certain set of toys, he frequently offers a totally different (and usually unacceptable) toy that he doesn’t want, so he can keep the desired ones all to himself. “Mine!” is the cry of the child.

Have we really outgrown that impulse? So much of the message of Jesus, and indeed of all scripture, is about generous, big-hearted, selfless giving. But what a challenge! Even as an adult, it’s easy to give or to share when I have more than enough for myself or when I don’t much care about the requested item. What about when I have to sacrifice something I want in order to give it to someone else? Too often, my inner toddler comes out and I suggest other alternatives or try to finagle my way into getting to keep what I want. If I simply must give something up, I am not the “cheerful giver” that God loves; I give with resignation or downright resentment. Then I am tempted to keep track of who gave what and when, so in the future, I can call in the favor and balance the scales.

Interestingly, despite that difficulty with physical giving, on the emotional side I’ve frequently been known to “over-give”. I want to make others happy or I want to be liked or I want to uphold my treasured image as a good person, so I sacrifice myself to such a degree that I have nothing left – no energy, no strength, no reserves. When I am so depleted, I am not a cheerful giver nor an effective one. It is just as unhealthy and un-Christian as the refusal to give in the first place, although it is often harder to discern because it seems so virtuous.

How can we achieve balance on both ends of the spectrum? We need to adopt the heart of Christ. We need to pray and allow God to transform our hearts into God’s own, to join our will to the will of God. Remember, Jesus didn’t cling to possessions, people, or even life itself. Yet he didn’t over-give either; he took care of himself as the valued son of God. I am slowly and sometimes painfully learning to give generously and cheerfully both physically and emotionally, and yet to respect the dignity and value I have as God’s beloved child by also generously and cheerfully tending to my own needs. I still find the latter more difficult, but I’m learning.

What about you? Have you sacrificed too much of yourself and left yourself depleted? What are you doing to ensure you have the strength and resources you need to serve God and others well? Let’s work together to give with open arms and hearts, while also allowing ourselves rest and replenishment so we can continue the journey.  

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/.

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 10:12-22
Matthew 17:22-27

Reflection:

Surprising Graces

Walking down the first-floor corridor of the monastery this morning, where the men who use wheelchairs have their rooms, I had a prayerful experience. From one room I heard an aide say, ‘It’s a lovely morning. Yes, God wants us to be fully alive.’ As I moved out of hearing range of that conversation, my ears locked onto a televised mass, ‘This is my body which is given for you’, followed by a litany.  Even before reaching the chapel for morning prayer, I thought, what a wonderful orientation to begin the day.

Graces were being scattered this morning. I sometimes avoid the first floor because of feeling helpless when I hear someone calling for help or for an aide. There are graces there too, of course. It seems sometimes God shouts out to us, so we don’t miss something important, that our sail catches the breeze or our little boat doesn’t miss a current.

But we do get used to beautiful things, we can miss the cues. Matthew has told us often to get used to parables, be ready for the surprises. Our ears and eyes and lips were touched at baptism and primed for the wonders of God. We need to remind them of their joyful task.

It is a question can we always be attuned to the graces around us or are these simply special graces, gifts, that pop up? Can we cultivate them like a farmer or be like an astronomer ready to catch them when they shoot across our horizon?

Strolling through the lectionary these days we celebrated the Transfiguration last week, the anniversary day that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, today we remember St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein, who died with her sister and several men and women religious in Auschwitz, and the 14th of this month we celebrate the Martyr, Franciscan Father, Maximillian Kolbe, also a victim of Auschwitz. These feast days bring the shadow of war and the destruction of life to our prayer. The same is set before us in the daily news with its litany that calls out for forgiveness, hope, help, and compassion. God’s grace speaks to us.

Today’s gospel gives us the last word. Who is going to find the money to pay their taxes in the belly of a fish? As unexpected as the appearances of God’s grace can be, and our need then to be on the lookout for grace, as coins in a fish’s belly, so comes this prayer from the women’s concentration camp in Ravensbrook, Germany. It is appropriate as we look for grace, and as we celebrate the startling appearance of grace in the holy life and death of Theresa Benedicta of the Cross, Carmelite.

“Lord , remember not only the men and women of good will but all those of ill will. Do not only remember all the suffering they have subjected us to. Remember the fruits we brought forth thanks to this suffering – our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, our courage, and generosity, the greatness of heart that all of this inspired. And when they come to judgment, let all the fruits we have borne be their reward and their forgiveness.”

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

Scripture:

1 Kings 19:4-8
Ephesians 4:30-5:2
John 6:41-51

Reflection:

The background to our first Scripture reading for this Sunday (1 Kings 19:4-8), is that it takes place after the prophet Elijah has demonstrated to the Israelites that God, not Baal, is the true God. But since the prophets of Baal were killed, the queen Jezebel seeks revenge, and Elijah flees for his life. Because he has not won over the people like he thought, Elijah considers himself a failure, and asks God to take his life, and falls asleep. But God chooses not to take his life, and instead sends an angel to tell Elijah to get up and eat. Elijah does just that, but lays down again. This time the angel says, “Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you.” Elijah gets up and eats, and “strengthened by that food,” starts out on a journey to “the mountain of God, Horeb.”

To reflect on food giving strength for the journey is a good way, I think, to look at our Gospel reading from John (6:41-51). As we continue listening to the “Bread of Life” discourse, Jesus keeps referring to Himself as “the bread of life.” He says: “Your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Jesus is referring to the sacrifice He will make for our salvation. Later on, the references will be more Eucharistic, but right now, Jesus is trying to get the people to understand who He is for them.

This sacrifice of Jesus demonstrates the incredible love and mercy and grace of God poured out for us. In giving of Himself, Jesus is the food that strengthens us. But strengthens us for what?

I think we find an answer in our second reading (Ephesians 4:30 – 5:2). St. Paul writes: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” It seems that today “fury,” “shouting and reviling” are seen as signs of strength and fortitude. But are they really? It seems to me that it takes inner strength to be forgiving in a non-forgiving world. Not to say there might not be a place for anger. This is something I read in some Twelve Step literature: “Often, we can only do that [not perpetually being victims] by giving ourselves permission to vent anger as an affirmation of self-worth, and not a contradiction of all we have been taught about being tolerant, forgiving and peace-loving. It is possible to hate the deed but to forgive the doer. We have the right to … be angry at people for their aggressive, hurtful acts, while being ready to forgive them as people who need love as much as we do.”

The sacrifice and love of Jesus strengthens us for the journey towards justice, reconciliation, and peace. Sometimes it seems like too long of a journey, but like Elijah, may we turn from despair, and strengthened by God’s love in Jesus Christ, continue the journey towards the kingdom.

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

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 6:4-13
Matthew 17:14-20

Reflection:

…Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you.

-Matthew 17:20

Despite the fact that my mother died in 1956, (I was ten years old) I can still hear her saying: “Nothing is impossible”. That voice and assurance has made for a nice adventurous life for me. You see, I actually believed her then and still do today. I guess it helps to have grown up hearing John F. Kennedy spurred on by the Soviet Union’s unmanned moon landing in 1959, saying: “We (the United States) choose to go to the moon!” That was a dream in 1962. Then in 1969 I witnessed Neil Armstrong’s step off Apollo 11 Lunar Module onto the moon famously saying: “That’s one small step for man…”. Or (and this one blows my mind) hearing that we would one day be able to “see” the person we are talking to on the phone. Phones looked much different in the 1950’s, and my imagination saw pictures coming from the “dial” face of the corded landline rotary dial phones then.

I don’t need the Soviet Union, China or any other national power to challenge me today. I look around my world and see many “impossible” dreams that still need realizing. Two dreams come to mind. The first is the movement of the mountain blocking individuals to learning. That mountain consists of many fallacies, but two I believe I can do something about are: 1) you must go to school building to learn; 2) “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. The second mountain that I believe needs moving is the axiom that learners should be grouped homogenously, i.e. rich people with rich people, accomplished persons with other accomplished persons.

God give me the faith to keep dreaming and doing my little part to make this world a better place for all of its inhabitants.

Dan O’Donnell is a Passionist Partner and a longtime friend of the Passionists.  He lives in Chicago.  

Feast of the Transfiguration

Scripture:

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
2 Peter 1:16-19
Mark 9:2-10

Reflection:

At exactly 8:15 in the morning, Japanese time, on August 6, 1945, everything changed forever.

At that moment the bombardier on an American B-29 plane unloaded a weapon more destructive than any in the previous 200,000 years of human existence.

With the unleashing of the first A-bomb, more than 100,000 Japanese lives were instantly obliterated.

But more than the tragic deaths, the event at Hiroshima altered forever how we humans understand what we can do to each other and to our fragile planet. We, the only rational beings on this orb floating in lonely space, now know we forever hold the ability to destroy all life…microorganisms, sea creatures, trees, butterflies, domestic and wild animals, and every man, woman and child.

Never before had people known the immense power they hold to produce evil.

Now, despite 76 years to reflect on our potency and curb it, we have still failed to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Six popes have pleaded for nuclear disarmament, yet it remains an idealistic fantasy in the minds of political leaders. The strongest calls for laying down these weapons have come from Pope Francis, who asks all nations to abandon the insanity of deterrence by nuclear buildup.

What our Catholic leaders have preached is more than the destruction of these idols of death. The more radical message they offer is that, as much evil unleashed in a nuclear weapon, there is an even greater capacity of humans for good.

The Providential communiqué on this feast could not be clearer: the evil of Hiroshima is the extreme opposite of the event the universal Church celebrates on August 6 every year. At the Transfiguration, God the Father let the lead apostles glimpse the authority, power and transformation in the life of Jesus. But the peek at the glory of Jesus was but a foretaste of what His disciples themselves would be.  We, Jesus’ followers, are capable of doing good deeds beyond what even Jesus Himself did. We are charged with transforming our world from fear, hatred, divisions, destruction of one another and the earth into a world as God wants: peaceful, flourishing, fully alive in love.

Our work is serious and may cause suffering, setbacks, disappointment and even death. But, in doing our part in our spot on the earth we are assured of being united with the efforts of billions of good people around the globe, filled with grace, moving toward unity with each other and God for good.

What is your job today in this universal effort?

Jim Wayne is a board member of the Passionist Solidarity Network (PSN), and author of The Unfinished Man. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Numbers 20:1-13
Matthew 16:13-23

Reflection:

Could the church possibly give us two readings that are more opposite?   Here in the book of Numbers the people rise up against Moses and Aaron.  Their physical needs are not met; they need water! Rather than ask politely, and trust in the one who delivered them from the demanding Pharaoh, they react with rash emotion.  They quickly have forgotten all the LORD God has done for them.  In their impatience they hold a council against Moses and Aaron who have been their intermediaries through this whole experience.   As I listen to their rash emotion, I can’t help but think this is the same rash emotion which shouted those clear and precise words at Pilate’s face, “Crucify Him!”   Today, the language and behavior in my city stems from the same rash emotion.  People act without thinking.  Emotion and rage overwhelm common sense.  Innocent people get hurt.  Finger pointing and blame are quick to be dished out.    Its true in my city as well as yours, my neighborhood as well as yours, my family as well as yours, my heart as well as yours. 

The Gospel begins with the other extreme. There is nothing hurried about this.   For some time now the disciples have been witnessing Jesus doing the work of his Father.   Jesus wonders how much of this they have put together.  Can they see beyond human limitations?  Can they transcend this piece of mystery which is more phenomenal than their sacred Torah?  By this time the disciples have seen him do many miraculous healings.  He seems to even have an authority over demons.  They have heard his teaching on the hillside by the Sea of Galilee and the question which each one has been churning in his heart is, “Who is this man?”    And Jesus asks them.  But first, he gives them even more time.  He takes them to an out of the way place, Caesarea Philippi, where they will have more time to reflect on all these pieces they have witnessed.   How do you come to know who Jesus is?  The answer is, by taking time to see the works of God in your midst.  

The Israelites experienced first-hand the mighty works of God as they moved from slaves of Pharaoh to their freedom in the desert.  Yet as time moves on they forgot.  Today’s first reading is another testimony to their forgetfulness. Their fearful human reaction overcame their common sense.  This is a re-occurring theme.  Sometimes it seems like we never get beyond it.   Peter is always caught in this pendulum. Today’s Gospel, look how quickly Peter goes from comprehension of the Messiah to putting his foot back in his mouth. 

Some may choose to excuse this by simply saying this is part of our human condition.  Yet Paul the Apostle doesn’t let it slide.  Amidst whatever is going on in the community of Galatia, he writes encouragement to them.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

-Galatians 5:22-23

We all know that we are better people when we allow the fruit of the Spirit to flow through our lives.  Maybe today is an opportunity to allow God’s grace a higher place within us than our human rash emotions, and the scriptures in their holiness remind us to patiently tend the fruits of the Spirit.

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is the local superior of St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Numbers 13: 1-2, 25-14:1, 26-29, 34-35
Matthew 15:21-28

Reflection:

Great Faith, Reconciling Love

In today’s Gospel, Jesus encounters a Canaanite woman who wanted help for her afflicted daughter.  This woman had faith to come and beg Jesus for help — while Jesus’ disciples urged Him to send the woman away!  Jesus’ first words to the woman seemed to be a put-down, yet they likely represented the feelings of contemporary Jews towards the Canaanites.  Jesus’ ultimate response was one of love… “Woman, great is your faith!…”:  He granted her request, and cured her daughter.

The woman in this story stands for anyone who is disliked or despised.  Jesus constantly preached that love is all-inclusive:  for those dearest to us, as well as our enemies and persecutors.  Jesus set the perfect example of love:  a love that forgives, encourages, welcomes, and gives life.

Today we celebrate the life of the 19^th century saint, St. John Mary Vianney.  He was especially known for his gracious and generous ministry of the Sacrament of Reconciliation at his parish in Ars, France — regularly spending long hours sharing God’s love through the Sacrament with thousands of penitents who traveled great distances for a few graced moments with him.  His loving ministry flowed from an intense spiritual life based on prayer and mortification.  St. John Mary Vianney truly witnessed his faith in Jesus which enabled him to love and serve all God’s people.  In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named him worldwide patron of priests and parish ministers.

Jesus and St. John Mary Vianney challenge us today:  How do we welcome the stranger?  Or offer forgiveness?  Are we prejudiced?  What about our “enemies”?  Do we really listen to those who come our way?  Do we zealously and tirelessly give of ourselves in service to our sisters and brothers?  With God’s grace, today is a welcome boost to our spiritual lives.

And, as a Passionist Vocation Director, I invite you to pray for priests, parish ministers, and religious – active, retired, deceased – and for those discerning a priestly or religious vocation.  Jesus and St. John Vianney encourage us all to a deeper faith and a greater love!

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is the Vocation Director for Holy Cross Province. He lives at St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois. 

Scripture:

Numbers 13:1-2, 25–14:1, 26a-29a, 34-35
Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14

Reflection:

Sending people ahead to reconnoiter the land (a theme taken from our first reading) might be a guide to our understanding of the gospel passage we have today.

Not because we encounter Jesus moving into a foreign area, but because in a strange way the woman who appeals to him serves as our guide and helps us to see Jesus in the light of his humanity and capacity to change and adapt.

Jesus has set his heart and will on the proclamation of the good news and indeed feels for those he is sent to – initially his own people. To this end, he has dedicated his energies, his heart and will to faithfully carrying out the commission he has received from God. But today the woman leads us to see that he also opens his mind to see more and to embrace a new call to even greater scope for his mission.

The woman is a formidable advocate for her daughter. She sees only the real need her loved one has for liberation and freedom from evil and she turns to the only one who can achieve this. She is determined and she is unafraid to challenge Jesus. It is an extraordinary encounter; one in which Jesus first holds fast to his vision of the mission, but then proves he is adaptable and open to all needs.

The woman shows us also a model of prayer and trust. When we meet situations that are beyond our power to control, we can be encouraged by this story. For here in this encounter, we learn that we can always turn to God and to appeal with all our hearts for that which we need, or those dear to us need. The woman’s prayer will appeal to all parents and to those who have prayed from the depths of their being for those they love. In the response Jesus makes, let us take real heart and comfort.

Quietly hidden away in this encounter too is the very human and quick-witted banter between Jesus and the woman.  It is a wonderful example to us of our freedom to be ourselves in our communications with the Lord.

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