Claire Smith

Scripture:

Exodus 20:1-17
Matthew 13:18-23

Reflection:

In our weekday readings for Mass, we see a progression through certain books of the Bible for our first reading, and then a progression through much of the Gospels for the Gospel reading. Very often they are not related to each other. But I believe there is some connection between our two readings for today.

In our first reading from Exodus, God delivers the Ten Commandments to the people. I like St. Paul’s summary of the Ten Commandments in his letter to the Romans (13:8-10): “The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,’ and whatever other commandments there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.”

In our Gospel reading, Jesus explains to His disciples the meaning of the Parable of the Sower and the Seed. As He explains the images of the types of soil on which the seed does not grow, I see those explanations as illustrations of what gets in the way of us following the commandment to love, especially the images of the seed sown on rocky ground and the seed sown among thorns.

When it comes to the seed sown on rocky ground, in countries like the U.S., there may not be outright persecution of Christians, but there is sometimes pressure to go along with the crowd, or even get into a mob mentality and demonize those who are considered “other.” When it comes to seed sown among thorns, worldly anxiety and the lure of riches can lead to stealing and lying and coveting, and even killing.

But when we follow the commandment to love, we grow in our understanding of God’s word, and when we share that love, the word “bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” May the seed of God’s love in Jesus Christ bear fruit in us.

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

Scripture:

Song of Songs 3:1-4b or 2 Corinthians 5:14-17
John 20:1-2, 11-18

Reflection:

Today’s gospel clearly pictures Our Lord’s frustration with the men and women who had walked daily with Him for almost three years. He is astonished that the apostles understood neither the true meaning of the parable which He had just given that morning, nor the reason he used parables in the first place; Parables He had used since the first early days of His preaching.  Why had they not asked Him about using parables long before this moment?    

Having created us, Christ knew that humans are better able to comprehend and remember instruction presented in story form rather than dry enumeration of fact or direction.  The parable is a form of Aristotle’s method of teaching: drawing the learner to comprehension of the subject being taught rather than simply presenting it. The parable is a gift to unwrap, a mental puzzle of sorts that increases the true understanding of Christ’s message. 

If these, His hand-picked followers, could not grasp His meaning or the way it was presented, how much more must we strive to understand His words?  The Sower of seed may appear nonchalant about broadcasting his precious seed amongst the rocks and thorns.  But the Holy Land is a desert country of rock strewn, dusty, parched fields.  Good land is rare and must be sought out and cared for. Even then the seed may fall on rock, bare baked earth, or among the weeds.  Rock, weeds, thieving birds, poor earth are always a challenge to a good harvest.  So Christ’s truth is that the sower, having been given the gift of good seed, must care for the way it is sown, watered, cared for, until it brings forth a bountiful harvest.  We were each given gifts which must in turn be cared for, increased, then brought to full harvest.  

Just for today, I will sit in the quiet of this summer evening and think of all the gifts I have been given, the talents I have received, and how I am using them.  Then as twilight slowly overcomes the day, I will thank Our Lord for all that He has given me and remember that those gifts are merely entrusted to me. I must account for them at the final Harvest.       

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:

Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15
Matthew 13:1-9

Reflection:

In today’s first reading the children of Israel are grumbling against Moses and Aaron. “…you lead us into the desert to die of famine!” Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will now rain down bread from heaven for you.”  (Exodus 16:2,3,4)

After complaining and grumbling they noticed a white substance on the early morning ground.  It was manna to make bread.  For many of us this past Covid year may have seemed like a desert journey easy to grumble but “each of us challenged to search for manna daily to nourish our spirits”. (Patricia Livingston, Living Faith, July, August, September 2021, July 21, 2021.)

What are the ways that you and I can nourish our spirit when we might feel sad, depressed and down?  Some examples would be increase time for prayer, practicing mindfulness of the moment, taking relaxing walks, taking time to read scripture daily, volunteering to help others. 

The gospel of today is about the Sower and the seed.  St. Lawrence of Brindisi, whose feast we celebrate today, states “The seed is the Word of God, who is the highest good and supreme goodness.  The seed which he sows, therefore, cannot be anything but good seed”. (From Lenten Sermons, , Volume II (Part I)Vernon Wagner, O.F.M. CAP. Tr. Pp. 54-55, 56,57, 58. Copyright 2007, Media House, Delhi India, www.mediahouse.online.) The important question is what kind of seed have I been sowing?  I have found by performing “random acts of kindness” such as opening a door for others or unhooking the grocery cart, sanitizing the handle, and giving it to an elderly person brings a warm smile to their face.  To me, this is sowing the good seed and receiving manna to nourish our spirit.

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

Scripture:

Exodus 14:21-15:1
Matthew 12:46-50

Reflection:

The great adventure begins!  Moses had finally been able to convince the Jewish people, the slaves of Egypt, to seek freedom from their oppression.  He had also finally been able to convince Pharaoh that it was in the best interests of Egypt to let the Jewish people go.  So, the children of Israel have begun their great journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, from oppression to freedom, from living as slaves in Egypt to living as the Chosen People of God.  What a great adventure!

But such a momentous journey turned out to be a much more difficult one than anyone, including Moses, had imagined.  As soon as the Jewish people left Egypt, the Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his armies to re-impose his will by bringing back the slaves, at least those who would survive the confrontation.  The army caught up with the slaves as they camped by the sea.  The slaves were caught between the army and sea so there was nowhere to flee.

The Egyptians were elated, and the Jewish people lost heart and were in despair.  They turned on their leader, Moses, with anger and berated him for bringing such calamity upon them.  Moses turned to God.  God responded, “Why are you crying out to me?  Tell the children of Israel to go forward….”  God created a path for them, a path that turned out to be a safe path for the Israelites but a path to destruction for the army of Pharaoh.

This story marks the beginning of the great journey (the forty-year Exodus) of the children of Israel.  This crisis that marks the beginning of the journey, is only the first of many.  Again and again the people will lose heart and believe that their journey is impossible to complete because of outside forces: the hostility of their environment, lack of food and water, attack by other peoples, devastation by wild animals, and most tragically their infidelity to God.  But God remains faithful throughout, patiently responding to their cries for help by meeting their needs and encouraging them not to lose heart.

As we live our lives, we, too, often fear that the obstacles we meet, the betrayal’s we experience, and the frailty of our faith will destroy us.  This story of Exodus reminds us that God is always faithful, ever ready to hear our cries for help and give us new courage “to go forward” in our personal journey.

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

Scripture:

Jeremiah 23:1-6
Ephesians 2:13-18
Mark 6:30-34

Reflection:

“Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while…he saw a great crowd…like  sheep without a shepherd…he began to teach…”

Today’s readings speak to me of rhythm and balance.  The rhythm and balance of what it means to live the Christian life.  The rhythm and balance of self-care…of soul-care!

The disciples had been sent by Jesus, they were out doing his work, being his presence.  This presence/work takes intentionality, discipline, compassion, and energy.  They returned with stories, experiences, new understanding, they were eager to share with him.  Yet he noticed that the work is tiring, depleting even and invites them to step away by themselves and rest.  Replenish the soul.  Breathe in anew the very presence of the Lord to rekindle their spirit within.

How long were they in the boat, going to the alone place – we don’t know.  Likely not too long as the crowds could travel on foot and beat them there – but long enough to refresh and renew. 

These readings give us an insight into the love and care Jesus has for all of us.  Through our Baptism, we are sent as disciples – do his work, be his presence – wherever we go, in the midst of our everyday lives.  While life-giving, the work takes energy that can deplete us if we lose sight of the rhythm. 

Like the first disciples, we are sent by Jesus and we return to Jesus.  We share our experiences, we sit at his feet, we go off by ourselves – even if only for a few minutes – a breath, a pause, a quick conversation with the Lord.

The invitation always includes the balance or rhythm of doing and being.  This gospel affirms for us that Jesus notices – he takes care of us and gives us what we need.  We need rest, we need to be taught, we need to notice, we need to trust the Lord’s nudging and respond to the call wholeness, holiness, balance and rhythm.

Faith Offman is the Associate Director of Ministry at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

Exodus 12:37-42
Matthew 12:14-21

Reflection:

What would it take to make us pleasing to God? Our readings today provide an answer.

In the first reading from Exodus, the Israelites embark on their long journey out of Egypt. They are not an assembly of the polished and the privileged, but a group of migrants and refugees escaping the crushing oppression of slavery in Egypt. That a “crowd of mixed ancestry also went up with them” tells us that the Israelites were a motley mix of racial and ethnic backgrounds, a hodgepodge of the poor and desperate. Hungry and exhausted, they are people in search of a home that nobody wants to welcome and everyone finds easy to ignore. Of course, this is not a story locked in the distant past because today millions of migrants and refugees, like the ancient Israelites, wander the earth in search of a home where they will be welcomed rather than cursed, embraced rather than scorned, blessed rather than imprisoned. The message of the scriptures is clear: we move from strangers of God to friends of God when we eagerly extend to them the justice, love, mercy, and compassion God wants for everyone.

A similar scene is depicted in today’s gospel from Matthew. We hear that “many people” followed Jesus “and he cured them all.” Every day we encounter people in need, people who yearn to be restored to life. How can we, like Jesus, be instruments of God’s healing and peace? We can do it with an encouraging word or a well-timed act of kindness. We can do it when we are willing to listen to someone who yearns to be recognized. Even a smile can cure, even a friendly hello can heal. 

What makes us pleasing to God? The answer is so obvious, how could we not have known?

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:

Exodus 3:13-20
Matthew 11:28-30

Reflection:

As I read today’s Gospel, I am struck by the personal invitations Jesus gives us in this brief passage. Our Lord starts with such a beautiful, open invitation to come to Him. Not when we are filled with self-reliance, feel like we have our ducks in a row or our life in order but when we are in need, laboring, struggling, or going through difficulty. Maybe on our knees.

It is in these more challenging moments when He invites us to come to Him. How often I make things worse by not coming to Him in these moments thinking my challenge is too insignificant, that He doesn’t care, or I can handle it. No, He asks, come to me. Rest in me.

From there He gives us a second invitation, to

take His yoke. A yoke is a wooden collar made for 2, which really doesn’t sound so inviting. And yet, His tone seems one of assurance. He will be close to us. He will carry His share and more of our burden. He will stay with us, and we will be close to Him. Always. Where we go, He will be, where He goes, we will follow. Jesus is telling us, “We are in this together “.

There is another aspect to the invitation to take His yoke. He is giving us what is His. There is something very tender in that. The Lord then invites us to learn from Him. He who is truth, who is wisdom, who is Love, says, learn from me.

We might feel uncomfortable being so close, so connected to the Lord with our burdens, our struggles, and our sin. With no place to hide. Maybe I would rather not have the Lord see me in this way. Almost anticipating our worry about being so close, or opening and revealing so much to Him, He speaks to us, “I am gentle and humble of heart.” As if to say, “don’t worry, I know you”.

Such a beautiful invitation to be with Him, close to Him, to bring everything to Him. How much He desires that we live this way. For He knows, only being close to Him, connected to Him and trusting in Him will we truly find rest. A rest only He can give, rest for our souls.

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