Claire Smith

Scripture:

Ezekiel 37:21-28
John 11:45-56

Reflection:

I’m not a theologian, just a human, so I will share with you what this reading brings to mind for me.

From this particular day that the gospel is written, that of John 11:45-56, it was decided that Jesus would die for all of his miracles and beautiful words and deeds. 

So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left… for Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.

Have you been in that place of feeling that you were alone? You gave up something precious – as Jesus did when he no longer walked about in public among the Jews, (you know how precious this was for him) but he left – and it started a longing and heartache that you could not overcome? I think of Jesus often in his circumstance, wandering about, knowing what was waiting from his merciful Father. But, not knowing his plan for me, I am trying to prayerfully find where I should be now, what are my gifts, will anyone listen, or love, or support me in my endeavors? Or will they shun me, turn their backs on me, and desert me? TRUST in God, be patient, give in to his divine mercy, grace and justice. All will be well, and God will overcome all obstacles. I know he will hand over to me what he knows I need in my life. Sometimes it is difficult to know what that plan will be – I thought I knew, but none of us really do, do we?

Continue your Lenten journey with Christ, and never forget His sorrowful Passion. Remind me to be the sorrowful penitent, and help keep my eyes fixed on Jesus!

Patty Masson supports the Passionists from Spring, Texas.

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Scripture:

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10
Hebrews 10:4-10
Luke 1:26-38

Reflection:

When I picture the Annunciation, I often imagine the scene through Mary’s eyes—a young woman, betrothed, soon to leave all that she has known as a girl to begin a new life with Joseph.  In the culture of the ancient Mediterranean world, she would likely never yet have been alone with a man outside her family.  Her marriage would probably have been arranged by her parents, with the intention of joining and strengthening two families rather than the more romantic view we have today of joining two people. I imagine her a young woman on the cusp of transformation from girlhood to womanhood, from daughter to wife–both excited and nervous as she prepares to step into the unknown world of marriage and its many levels of intimacy and expectation around honor and shame dictated by her culture.

Enter the angel Gabriel!  And it’s a good thing he begins with affirming that the Lord is with her and telling her “Do not be afraid” because he is about to announce the most shameful and feared thing that could happen to a young woman of her day: to conceive a child out of wedlock.  Her family would be shamed, and Mary herself would be at risk of death. 

We’re often quick to move on to Mary’s profession of faith: “May it be done to me according to your word.”  But I invite us to take a moment and rest in Mary’s confusion, in what must have been a moment of collision between what her culture had taught her and what God was asking. The cognitive dissonance seems palpable. I imagine Mary struggling to try to make sense of it in the cultural framework she had known her whole life.

But God, through Gabriel, was shattering that framework.  New life was springing from barren wombs. Nothing is impossible with God.

So I wonder, when I see all that is happening in the world: our struggles with racism, with economic inequality, with people being displaced by fire, drought and rising waters, whether we’re being invited to struggle with that same cognitive dissonance. 

Our culture too often teaches us that more is better, that there isn’t enough for all of us, that we should fear people who are different from us, that creation is something to be consumed, and—most painfully—it holds systemic sins like racism.  But God invites us to be part of a different story, the story of “God with us,” with us all.

According to a CBS news poll, nearly 8 in 10 Americans believe in angels.  A “year-round presence” they say.  I wonder if some may indeed look like George Floyd—angels who wake us up and remind us: “Do not be afraid.” We too are being asked to be part of this great birthing process, to bring to life what God has conceived in each of us, and all of us as the people of God. 

Sometimes it feels like a path to certain death of all that I—we—have known, even of ourselves—as it must have for Mary.  Yet isn’t this what the Paschal Mystery is all about?

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

Scripture:

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
John 8:31-42

Reflection:

If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free .   -John 8:32

The Greek work used in the original inspired text for truth is al-ay’-thi-a’.  It comes from a as a negative and lanthano to  hide, “to escape notice,” “be ignorant of, unawares”.  Literally it means to unhide, not hidden, unconcealed. It is treated 183 times with its derivatives’ in New testament.  We can see how important the concept of truth is in the Bible.

We can see its importance to Jesus when He says: “For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37    Pope Benedict pointed out one of the greatest problems facing truth in our modern era.  “We are moving,” he declared, toward “a dictatorship of relativism . . . that recognizes nothing definite and leaves only one’s own ego and one’s own desires as the final measure.” Benedict XVI 

I think today we are facing an escape from truth’ Agnosticism seems the main strategy against Christ now.  We don’t deny Him or embrace Him.  We simply say I don’t know.  We think this attitude will free us from the guilt of not receiving Him or arousing from our religious slumber.  One of the saddest phrases in the Scriptures is: “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. John 1:11  The word receive Him in Greek inspired text is para lambanō which means receive Him with an attitude i.e. with open arms!

Jesus says to us: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6   Instead of the pathetic excuse of agnosticism we should humbly welcome Jesus into our empty hearts!  We never enter a healthy relationship with anyone without inviting them into our life!  The great truth is that if we desire a relationship with Christ we have a standing invitation from Him. ““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28                                                                                                

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

Scripture:

Daniel 13:1-60
John 8:1-11

Reflection:

In ages past (the mid-1960s specifically), a group of fourteen-year-old boys knelt in chapel for the first time as the Freshman Class of Passionist Seminary.  The late afternoon sun cascaded in through golden paned windows high on the chapel walls as Fr. Director stood in front of the altar and addressed us in the thunderous voice of Moses handing down the Ten Commandments…

“There are many rules in the student guides you’ve just been given.  But there are two rules that are more important than any of the those.  Break one of these two and you will be sent home IMMEDIATELY and for good”, he said unsmiling.

We trembled in our pews like rabbits in a lightning storm as Father continued booming…

“You will NOT swim in the lake at any time.  You will never climb the water tower or be anywhere near it”.

The water tower was our 120 ft sentinel which loomed over the Midwest farmlands that surrounded the Prep.  Being terrified of heights, I had no desire to ever break that rule.   It took us at least a week to realize that if your canoe tipped over into the lake, you weren’t really swimming.  To my knowledge, no one was ever expelled for swimming in the lake and no one was ever caught climbing the water tower.

The intentions of the laws were clear.  The professed wanted to keep us safe while we were in their care.

The story of Susanna illustrates the difficulty the Jews were having in balancing the letter of the law of Moses against the intent of those laws, which were ultimately made to keep them safe.  The laws were intended to be strict, but leavened by the merciful nature of God ~  like the love of a Father for his children who will undoubtedly err.  Susanna was falsely accused of adultery, a sin which demanded an execution by stoning.  A young Daniel cried out against this stern sentence which was imposed without justice or mercy.  (Daniel 13)

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me;” (Psalm 23)

This same conundrum is addressed in the trap the Pharisees tried to lay for Jesus.  Presented with a woman caught in adultery, (or perhaps fornication. This is not clear in translation), they asked Him how she should be punished.  If Jesus did not agree to stone her, then He was defying the Law of Moses.  If He did agree to abide strictly by the Law, He would be defying Roman authority which said only Roman justice could apply the death penalty.  

Being caught in adultery, dragged through the streets, and threatened with death by stoning, the woman had been grievously punished for her transgression.  In His mercy, Jesus forgave her while instructing her to sin no more.  (John 8)

We are judged, forgiven, and we will be forgiven again; as long as we strive to sin no more ~  judge others with the same mercy granted us ~ and stand against injustice suffered by others.  Lord, help me not be found wanting…   

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:

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Hebrews 5:7-9
John 12:20-33

Reflection:

Amen, Amen I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. (John 12: 24)

This scripture is from today’s gospel and speaks of death.  What comes to mind when you think about your death?  For the believer, death is a passing from this earthly world to our eternal life with God.  However, this scripture passage talks about death in another manner.  The grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies and begets much fruit.  We are the grain of wheat and by dying to oneself we produce an abundance of fruit.  

An important and hurried and stressed businessman visits a Zen master, seeking guidance. The Zen master sits down, invites the businessman to sit, and pours the visitor a cup of tea. But even after the tea fills the cup, the Zen master continues to pour, allowing the tea to spill. The businessman is taken aback, “Stop pouring the tea! The cup is full and can’t hold any more.” ​​​​​​​The Zen master replies: “Yes. So, it is with you. You will not be able to receive my guidance, unless you empty some space first.” (Adapted from Terry Hershey’s Sabbath Moment Reflection for 3/18/2019)

I can relate to the businessman. ​​​​​​​There is something alluring about filling space. And something very unnerving about being asked to empty (or let go of) whatever I’ve stockpiled to fill that space. ​​​​​​​But I do know this. When there is no empty space, I pay the price. One of my goals for Lent was to spend more time in prayer and reflection.  I fell short of this goal.  My space for prayer filled up with la ist of to-do’s.

First, reflect today on your death. What epitaph do you want on your tombstone?

Second, reflect upon that ways you can die to yourself.  What are practical and concrete ways to let go and let God so as to become new life.

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

Scripture:

Jeremiah 11:18-20
John 7:40-53

Reflection:

Jeremiah, Nicodemus, you and I share a common path to discipleship.

First, we have a powerful encounter with God. It is personal, often intense, sometimes gradual, but always life-changing.

Second, the values by which we’ve been living, in light of this encounter, are re-examined.

Perhaps we reassess time spent away from a spouse, children, or friends in favor of our personal entertainment or demands at work. How much we drink, eat or exercise might get a serious assessment.

Perhaps our household budget gets a second look in light of the needs of the poor.

Or we might rethink the values of workplace associates, friends with whom we lunch or play. This could lead to shifting in our seats hearing gossip, denigrating remarks, or personal, behind-the-back insults.

Thirdly, in prayerful reflection, we decide to honor our encounter with God and…change. This is risky. We might have to speak an unacceptable idea, withdraw from a group, or a long-term friendship. It always means being vulnerable. It also means chancing ridicule, alienation and retribution.

This final stage is what Jeremiah is describing in today’s reading and what Nicodemus experienced. The final stage is also what Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane and on Calvary.

The path to discipleship is similar for everyone who is true to God. The circumstances of each life may be dramatically different; the decisions we make are, in essence, the same.

Regardless of our fear, anxiety, or worry, we are assured that God will be present with us on the path and give us what we need for the journey. This brings a sense of deep inner peace and joy the world can never provide.

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