The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Claire Smith

Daily Scripture, December 19, 2020

Scripture:

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a
Luke 1:5-25

Reflection:

The Dawn from on high will visit us, guiding our feet in the way of Peace. Luke 1:78-79

Have you ever longed for something so unattainable and yet so desirable? I certainly have. Over the years, I have longed for miracles that would never come about, for favors that had no fruition, for good things that never took place.

From the earliest days of my ministry, people have asked me to pray for them, people who wanted healing from a terminal illness, people whose family members have turned away from God and the Church, people who wanted a good spouse, a happy marriage and, most of all, people who wanted children, but couldn’t have them.

As we enter the fourth week of Advent, the Mass offers us to very similar stories, two families who were childless, two good families who had been faithful to God all their lives, but felt cursed because they did not have children; two families that prayed for the impossible and unattainable, but prayed nevertheless.

The first reading is taken from the Book of Judges. We meet a woman but not given her name. She prayed for a child, and God heard her plea. Not only did God gifted her with a son, but one who was to save his people from their enemies. God may keep us in the dark for a while, but “the Dawn will break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1: 78 – 79

The second reading gives a similar story, this time taken from the Gospel according to Luke. Again, we enter the intimate lives of two good people, husband and wife, now elderly and childless. By this time, they may have given up on their dream to have a family. Yet, they remain faithful to God and God’s covenant. Again, God breaks into their lives by granting them their greatest longing, a son. Again, this son will have a special place in the Salvation of the World.

Fr. Ron Rolheiser says that Advent is more about “longing” than a time of penance. There is no contradiction here. The more we long for something, the more penitential we become. We long to lose weight, and we curb our appetite. We long to take a well-deserved vacation, and we save accordingly. We long for Peace, and we become Peace-makers, setting aside anger, revenge, and retaliation. We long to be with God and we discipline ourselves to pray daily. It is our longing that makes our penance meaningful.

Let us join our faith community, who longs for the coming of Christ, by preparing prayerfully and wholeheartedly for the coming of the Baby Jesus!


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

Daily Scripture, December 18, 2020

Scripture:

Jeremiah 23:5-8
Matthew 1:18-25

Reflection:

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about…the angel of the Lord appeared to him is a dream…”

This is how it happened folks…Joseph’s world is turned upside down – his bride to be is found with child – not his…

But not only his world, Mary’s world too.  Unbelievable news!  Paralyzing news!  How did this happen? How is it even possible that this is happening?  What am I supposed to do?  Can you imagine what everyone else is going to think?

Haven’t we all found ourselves at some time or another, in such an overwhelming place – it doesn’t take much imagination for us to remember that we too have experienced the emotions and anxiety that Joseph must have felt.

How did we respond?  Maybe we too, just wanted to numb ourselves, retreat, just sleep and forget about it – at least for a little while.  We make a plan – I will divorce her quietly – then will sleep and when I wake up – I’ll feel better.

But Joseph had a dream – to trust, to protect, to love.  I can only imagine that this dream was nearly as unbelievable as his situation.  I have a plan – it will work – we can save face…but the message of the dream was trust – trust God for He is in this.  The message was to lean in to the reality, protect Mary and the child, the message was to love. 

Love is not always easy, it means we have to be willing to be vulnerable, we have to be willing to step out in faith, it takes courage to love.  We too have dreams, God sends messengers to cross the threshold of our life experience (even when we are overwhelmed) to invite us to  trust so that we too can lean into life and respond – to that we too can protect and love [Mary and child]. 

We never love alone – God invites and equips us to make present the love of Christ in our little corner of the world.  What dreams or messengers has God blessed you with this Advent – how will you trust, protect and Love?   This is how it happens folks….love emerges when life is turned upside down.

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

Daily Scripture, December 17, 2020

Scripture:

Genesis 49:2, 8-10
Matthew 1:1-17

Reflection:

In eight days, Christians will again celebrate the miracle that forever changed the world. When God became one of us in Jesus, being born into our world in Bethlehem, we received a promise of hope we never thought possible and a blessing of joy we never believed our hearts could know. This is why Christians profess that in Jesus we meet our king and redeemer, our savior and messiah.

But Jesus will be a king dramatically unlike other kings and a savior it is easy to overlook. The reading from Genesis foretells the royal life of Israel. Jacob announces to his son Judah that he, like other kings, will conquer his enemies, receive homage from the people, and be like a lion, “the king of beasts,” that everyone fears to approach. By contrast, the psalm response envisions the reign of God that will break into the world in Jesus. Jesus will rule with the wisdom, mercy, and goodness of God. Under his kingship, the world will overflow in justice and peace. The poor will not be trampled, crushed, and forgotten, but liberated. The suffering will not be overlooked or ignored, but comforted and healed.

The gospel passage from Matthew recounts the genealogy of Jesus. What can seem like a bewildering chronicle of names nearly impossible to pronounce reveals something wonderful: God works through human beings—including some who were dramatically flawed—to bring about something extraordinarily blessed. But it is easy to miss the blessing because God, who is savior and king, enters our world not in wealth and majesty, but as a helpless child in a family looking for shelter.

Today’s scriptures remind us that to prepare for the coming of Christ we must look for Jesus where perhaps we least expect to find him. Jesus is right before us, once more beseeching our help, in the stranger, in migrants and refugees, in the poor and  homeless, in people of other races and cultures and religions, who, like Joseph and Mary and Jesus, are in need of assistance. Are our hearts open to receive them? Are our hands ready to help?

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.

Daily Scripture, December 16, 2020

Scripture:

Isaiah 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25
Luke 7:18b-23

Reflection:

The theme of the two brothers is one that is familiar to all of us. It is a favorite biblical theme.  The stories of Cain and Able, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, etc.   In literature we have Steinbeck’s East of Eden, on Broadway ca. 2000 we have the popular play with the John C. Riley and Philip Hoffman in Exit West.   In Matthew we have the story of the two brothers, one refuses to carry out his father’s request, but repents and does.  The second agrees to carry out his father’s request but doesn’t do it.

Matthew’s community some want the community to be an exclusive elite strictly Jewish membership.  Others want to be open to Gentiles.  Some of the members have unsavory reputations, they are prostitutes and tax collectors.  One group says these are beyond redemption. The other says that God works with the humble of heart.  No one is beyond God’s mercy.

No one knows why the one brother refuses to help his father.  Nor do we know what caused the other brother to disobey his father.  Whatever the reasons might be, this is clear.  1.  The invitation to life is rejected by some and accepted by others. 2. Families never give up on each other.  3. Intentions are not sufficient they must be backed up with actions. 4. God’s mercy is without boundaries.   I have heard parents say: “There is no pleasure comparable to that which one’s children bring you.  Nor is there any  pain comparable to the suffering one’s children bring you!”   Neither one of the brothers would seem to be capable of bringing  joy into a parent’s life, even though one in the end did his father’s request.  Still joy seemed to be lacking in the giving.

Pope Francis is encouraging all of us to develop a “Theology of the Other.”  It is in the voice of the other that we hear God’s voice, we hear God’s will.  St. John Paul II called this the mysticism of the face, Johannes Metz called it the mysticism of the eyes. It is in the voice, the face, and the eyes of others that we encounter the Other, God.

Fr. Ken O’Malley, C.P., is a member of the Passionist Community at Sacred Heart Monastery in Louisville, Kentucky.

Daily Scripture, December 13, 2020

Scripture:

Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the third Sunday in Advent, typically referred to as Gaudete Sunday. We see this reflected throughout our readings beginning with the final chapters of the book of Isaiah in the first reading. Also, today we hear about John the Baptist as he prepares the way for Jesus’ ministry. In the first reading, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” Isaiah 61:1, offers us a look at a very ancient prophecy during a time when the Hebrew people were liberated from Babylon by Cyrus of Persia. Upon returning home, they discovered Jerusalem had changed. It was not how they remembered, their dream of rebuilding the temple is stalled. They were still unable to worship God—in essence, they were still captive. Certainly, amid these Covid days, most of us feel captive in our homes as our landscape has changed dramatically.  Like the Hebrew people, we wonder, will life ever return to “normal.” This reading is a foreshadow of the coming of the anointed One, the focus of Advent. In Jesus, our joy, we see all those elements revealed, in Jesus, we see the Father’s Glory. We are close to welcoming Jesus among us—once again. He truly is driven by the Spirit of God.

We see the Spirit of God at work in the humility of John the Baptist by his declarative statements, “I am not the Christ.  I am a voice crying out in the desert.” Further, John offers that “he is among you, whom you do not recognize”…. Which is an interesting insight for us. Catholic teaching suggests that  we are fashioned in the imago Dei, then isn’t that true? We are all an image of Christ. We might ponder, how well do we respond to the Spirit of God at work in our lives?  

Mary understood the promise of liberation in her Magnificat suggesting that “my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord” in our responsorial psalm. She recognizes the Spirit of God at work in her life and the life of the community. St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians offers us this challenge, “Rejoice always.” It’s a very simple recipe as outlined by St. Paul. “Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God for you.”

Especially in this time of virus desolation, we could all use a little bit of joy. Our call in these readings is to rejoice, pay attention, to be ready, to always give thanks and trust that the “one who calls you is faithful, and he will accomplish it.” Whatever the Spirit of God calls forth in our lives, may we respond in faith so that Jesus may come again—in us. And may the Spirit of God protect all our healthcare workers and those suffering with Covid and their families. 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.

Daily Scripture, December 11, 2020

Scripture:

Isaiah 48:17-19
Matthew 11:16-19

Reflection:

“We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.  We sang a dirge for you but you did not mourn.”  There was just no pleasing these petulant children.  They wouldn’t join in whether a happy game was played or a sad game.  That is how this generation is behaving, Jesus says.

John the Baptist lived in the wilderness, wore camel hair clothing, ate wild grasshoppers, taught his disciples to fast, and called everyone to repentance.  Some looked at John’s austere way of life and judged him as one who is “possessed by a demon.”

By contrast, Jesus was known for his eating and drinking.  It was his way of entering into personal relationships with men and women.  He shared meals as an expression of fellowship.  But, he was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard, eating and drinking with the wrong crowd.

No matter whether the message was John’s coming judgment or Jesus’ message of God’s mercy, there were those who labeled, who judged, and who condemned.  Like petulant children, there was no pleasing them.

But, “wisdom is vindicated by her works,” Jesus declares.  Jesus, the agent of God’s wisdom does the work of God.  The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the imprisoned are freed.  For all the petulance and judgment, Jesus is vindicated by his works.

We are an Advent people.  We await the Second Coming of our Messiah.  But in the meantime, we can’t stand around worrying about the petulance, the judgment and condemnation of the world.  We don’t have time to be labeled too conservative, too liberal.

We have work to do. Specifically, we are called to advance the Kingdom of God, right now, right here.  The Kingdom of God is not some escape hatch from this world.  God’s reign is a present reality.  People need healing, forgiveness, love and compassion.  By our works we are vindicated.  We put skin, incarnational skin, on the Good News.  We are to do this, even as we await the Coming of the Messiah.


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

Daily Scripture, December 10, 2020

Scripture:

Isaiah 41:13-20
Matthew 11:11-15

Reflection:

The writings of the prophets resonate so strongly in our hearts right now. Everyone I know is weary of the coronavirus with its isolation and separation, of the deep polarization that is tearing our country apart, and with hearing about the cruelty we humans can inflict on one another. As Jesus puts it, “the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent are taking it by force.” Of course, the “prosperity preachers” say that if you follow Jesus, God will shower you with wealth, happiness, long life, and all good things. But Jesus promised peril, persecution, and the sword, with fractured families and loved ones turning against each other. In this milieu, Jesus’ words ring truer than those preachers.

Yet, amid enough suffering and tragedy to lead anyone to despair, the prophets hold out a promise: God will always have the final word. Even when we go so far astray that God has reason to call us “worm Israel” and “maggot Jacob”, God remains faithful. That is the message of Advent. When all is dark, we wait for the light. When hope seems lost, it is only obscured from our view.     

The challenge is to change our hearts, attitudes, minds, and actions in ways that make us worthy of a better name and allow us to not only see but to spread that light. God can’t do it without us. So perhaps our task for the remaining two weeks of Advent is to examine whether what we have done in the first two weeks has gotten us any closer to that goal. In what ways have I softened my heart, truly listened? How have my actions protected those most vulnerable to COVID-19 so more people can live? What have I read that has opened my eyes to the pervasive and deepening suffering in our own country, and what have I done about it? Where have I most closely adhered to the teachings of Pope Francis and the Church that call for mercy, compassion, and inclusion and how can I align myself more closely to those teachings?

Christ is waiting to be born in you, in me, in our country, and in our world so the light can shine in the darkness. We need to change ourselves for that to happen. So, what are we waiting for? Time is short. Let’s act.

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/.