Claire Smith

Solemnity of Christ the King

Scripture:

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
Matthew 25:31-46

Reflection:

I was hungry and you gave me to eat.
I was thirsty you gave me drink…

At this moment in time, everyone is suffering.   In historic numbers worldwide, layoffs continue for those least able to stay afloat financially, breeding anxiety, domestic violence and suicidal behaviors.  Even two-career families blessed with jobs working from home, are still struggling, trying to care for and educate their children.  With many schools now offered only virtually, there is the attendant loss of free breakfasts and lunch which were the only guaranteed daily nutrition for many young families.  This has led to dramatically heightened incidents of childhood psychological and physical illnesses in just the past three months of pestilence.  

The elderly are severely at risk from the virus and in protecting themselves, or being protected by others, must be isolated more than ever before.  Programs and charities to attend to them are stretched beyond their capabilities or even the vision planning for that assistance which occurred in normal times without envisioning the need for the scope of a whole wide, or community wide need for food and companionship.  Meals on Wheels, which typically delivers 200 million meals a year to American seniors, finds itself overwhelmed not only by the surge of need but also by seventy-five percent decline of corporate volunteers as businesses shut down or reduced employee hours.  Many of the average volunteers are over age sixty-five themselves.  They must think first of themselves and their immediate family, leading to an immense drain on the source of help from those wonderful, giving people.  

All these are hungry for sustenance and human comfort, are thirsty for knowledge and guidance, are alone, depressed and have lost hope.  I cannot deny that I have seen them, know them, or know of them.  “What you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for Me”.  

If today you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.  -Hebrews 3:15     

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:

Revelation 14:1-3, 4b-5
Luke 21:1-4

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus observes some wealthy people “putting their offerings into the treasury.” Then He notices a poor widow putting in “two small coins.” When it comes to fund-raising and development, one always wants to acknowledge any donation, but occasionally one may want to bring some special attention to the largest donors and recognize their generosity.

But Jesus draws attention to the poor widow. To me, it is about dedication to our mission as disciples. When Jesus takes note of what the widow did, He says, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

Even though the widow was in need, she gave of herself. That to me, is the lesson here. St. Louise de Marillac once wrote: “To share what one has is nothing if one does not give oneself.” This goes beyond monetary offerings. We are called to give of ourselves in sharing the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ. We are not perfect. We may think we have nothing to offer. That is our “poverty.” But like the widow, we are called to give, from our “poverty,” to help others. And in fact, it may actually be (it usually is) our “poverty,” our woundedness, our brokenness, that enables us to help those who are poor, or wounded, or broken.

Like the widow, we are called to trust in God, let go of fear, and give of ourselves in love. It can be daunting. It can be difficult. But God’s grace is offered to us time and time again. God truly loves us! May the One who became broken to make us whole, lead us to give as He has given to us.

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

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Scripture:

Revelation 11:4-12
Luke 20:27-40

Reflection:

The feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on the ancient tradition of presenting Mary in the temple in Jerusalem and dedicating her to God. At our Baptism all of us were dedicated to God.  To what degree do we daily live this dedication to God?

The first reading and the Gospel is about heaven and our afterlife.  The tricky Sadducees put Jesus to the test.  “In heaven people will not marry or get married.” Mortality is a passage from mortal to eternal life, and November’s feasts of All Saints and All Souls remind us of our own passage. (Earth Healing, Daily Reflections, Fr. Al Fritsch, SJ, Eco-spiritual reflection on the month of November 2020,” Experiencing a New Creation”).

This month of November is a good time to reflect on our own future death.  Here are some things to think about and share with our loved ones: Advanced Directives and appointing a health care surrogate to make decisions for us when we are no longer capable; what kind of funeral we want; the place of our funeral, wake and disposal details, person designated to conduct the services, songs, stories and other tokens of remembrance for wake or funeral service;  choice of pallbearers and funeral directors, details of public viewing or its omission, and even elements of an obituary notice.  Preparing these matters ahead of time is a blessing for our family.  (Adapted from Fr. Al Fritsch, Earth Healing Reflection, “Dying with Dignity” November 2, 2012).

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

Scripture:

Revelation 5:1-10
Luke 19:41-44

Reflection:

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it. -Luke: 19:41

Do you remember the last time you wept? Were they tears of joy or tears of sorrow? Were you overjoyed by the generosity and love of the people who gathered around you, surprising you with great expressions of affection, or were you overwhelmed by a crushing betrayal, being discounted like a ripped candy wrapper or a banana peel? Tears, like smiles, are truly a window into our inner self, brought about the high and low points of life, by those looks of love or those stares of hate.

With this Gospel, we see Jesus weeping bitter tears over a city that he dearly loved. Jesus was not unaccustomed to weeping, weeping as an individual or weeping with people he loved and who seemed inconsolable. In our four Gospels, there are 26 references to weeping: fathers weeping for ailing daughters, widow mothers burying their only sons, a sinful woman weeping at the foot of Jesus and a contrite Peter weeping bitterly for denying Jesus with curses. Jesus blesses those who weep, for they will be consoled. Jesus comforts the weeping Martha and Mary by raising their brother Lazarus to life. And Jesus turns Mary Magdalene’s tears into joy as he meets her at the empty tomb, as the Risen Jesus. Tears are part of the Gospel accounts and tears are also part of our own lives and our human condition. If we haven’t wept, it may be because we have deliberately denied our human reality and our human condition.

For me, this Gospel invites me to think about the reasons I weep. Do I cry for myself, the wrongs that I have suffered and the failures I have endured? Or do I cry for those who have been crushed by life and injustice, by unavoidable tragedies by being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Do other people’s tears lead us to compassion? Do they move us to cry with them, to identify with their pain and their suffering, and do we take the time to console them as Jesus did to those women who were weeping for him as he made his way to Calvary and his death on the Cross?

So, when Jesus came upon the city of Jerusalem, he wept. He wept because he had done all he could to bring them to his loving Father, with the Spirit of Love everlasting, and felt completely rejected, willfully rebuffed by the religious leaders, the elders of the people, the learned and the wise. Oh, how he wished that they would embrace him as the Son of God! Nevertheless, he doesn’t abandon his beloved city. He embraces the Hour before him, the Cross of Crucifixion and the Resurrection from the Dead, so great is His Love for us!

No matter how many times Jesus has wept for us, his Love is Everlasting!

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

Scripture:

Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22
Luke 19:1-10

Reflection:

“Today salvation has come to this house.” Those words from today’s gospel are the most important we will ever hear. But when Jesus comes to our house, how do we respond? Do we eagerly and joyfully welcome him in or are we afraid to even open the door?

Today’s gospel is the well known, and almost comical, story of Zacchaeus, the tiny tax collector of Jericho who will not let his short stature keep him from seeing Jesus. With his view obstructed by the crowd, Zacchaeus is so curious about Jesus that he scrambles up a sycamore tree and waits for Jesus to come his way. When Jesus spots him, he says, “Zacchaeus, hurry down. I mean to stay at your house today.” Here “house” is a metaphor for our lives, so Jesus is asking Zacchaeus to welcome him into his life, so much so that there will be no point of his life that is not transformed and transfigured by Christ. Without a second’s hesitation, Zacchaeus opens his life to Christ, welcoming him “with delight.” Moreover, this scrappy tax collector who was despised by his neighbors, becomes the model disciple for us to emulate because he completes his acceptance of Jesus by vowing to give half of what he owns to the poor and to repay anyone he has cheated four times the amount he took from them. With Zacchaeus, the call to discipleship is followed by true conversion.

By contrast, today’s first reading addresses two early Christian communities, Sardis and Laodicea, that have “the reputation…of being alive,” but in reality, are dead. Yes, the gospel was preached to them and they momentarily accepted the faith; however, they soon drifted away from it into mediocrity and complacency. They are “comfortable Christians” who think all is well with them, but in fact they are more dead than alive because they never fully welcomed Jesus into their lives.

In today’s gospel, people were shocked that Jesus invited himself “to a sinner’s house as a guest.” But isn’t that the point? Isn’t each of us a “sinner’s house” Jesus wants to enter? That’s why the real tragedy is not that we are sinners, but that we could hear Jesus say, “Today salvation has come to this house,” and never once open the door.

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

Scripture:

Revelation 1:1-4; 2:1-5
Luke 18:35-43

Reflection:

This passage from Luke’s Gospel places us on the Road to Jericho, which is about twenty miles from Jerusalem.  It is a very narrow and rocky road which was difficult to maneuver.  It is also the refuge for bandits and thieves who use it to vandalize their victims. This episode also reminds us of the Good Samaritan and his victim.  Frequently, people would line the road begging for alms, food, handouts.  On this occasion there was a man who was afflicted with blindness.  He heard the commotion and asked what was happening. He was told “It is Jesus of Nazareth passing by.  So he cried out “Jesus Son of David, have mercy on me.”  Again, he shouted out the louder “Son of David, have pity on me.”  Jesus asked him “What would you have me do for you?”  He replied, “Lord that I might see.”  Jesus responded, “Be healed your faith has made you well.”  He received his sight and followed Jesus.

The first thing that strikes one is that it is often in the most difficult and cluttered situations that we can sense the presence of God.  We have to stand our ground and cry out “Son of David” have pity on me.”  When we are told to be quiet, God has more important things to worry about.  There are others who are more deserving of the “pity and compassion” of God.  The gospel assures us our cries and needs are heard by a listening God. We just have to have courage, faith and persistence. 

It is striking that what the man with blindness asks for is not eyesight.  He asks for mercy.  He asks for compassion and then asks to be healed. In Luke’s gospel the author tells us another healing.  It is the parable of the ten men with leprosy. They are healed because of their faith.  However, they were told to present themselves to a priest.  After this one a Samaritan, a foreigner returns to thank Jesus for the miracle. Jesus asked “weren’t ten healed? Go your faith has saved you.”  One thing Luke tells us is that gratitude is the surest measure of our character.  Let us give thanks.  

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

Scripture:

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
Matthew 25:14-30

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading for Sunday, Jesus tells a parable about a man and three of his servants. I would like to focus on two of the three. So, the parable begins with the man, before leaving on a journey, giving one servant five talents (coins of high value), another servant two talents, and the third servant, one. The first two servants used the money that had been given them and made twice the amount. The third, however, decided to bury the talent given to him. When the man returns, he rewards the first two servants but punishes the third, taking the one talent from him and giving it to the first servant who now has ten.

When we hear this parable, we know that the word “talent” represents money, but we also see the parable about how we are to use our “talents,” in the way we usually use the word today. The parable calls us to use the gifts and talents we have been given. For what purpose? To continue the theme I’ve been looking at the past few weeks, we are to use our talents for the sake of the Gospel; in order to obey the commandments to love God and to love our neighbor; to help build up the kingdom.   

The parable tells us that the third servant buries the talent he has been given. Why? In the parable, the servant tells his master that he buried it out of fear, knowing that the master was a “demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter.” Fear can be an obstacle to us in using our talents. I don’t believe God is as ruthless as the servant perceived his master, but people can be afraid to fail, or even afraid to succeed. Or we may not want to seem foolish, using our gifts, not to amass wealth for ourselves as the world would expect, but to serve others. Or, out of a false sense of modesty, we may be afraid to stand out or draw attention to ourselves. All these kinds of fears can get in the way of answering the call we have from Jesus.

Instead of the third servant, we need to be more like the second. Why do I refer to the second instead of the first? Mostly because I aspire to be like the second servant. He does not succumb to another common obstacle to using one’s talents: comparing ourselves to others. The servant who received two talents did not seem to resent that the first one received five. He also does not seem to consider himself superior to the one who received one. He simply uses what has been given him and makes the most of it he can. What a model servant, not to let ego or jealousy get in the way of using one’s gifts! So often we can use up a lot of energy wondering why we aren’t as gifted as the next person, or deciding that, because we aren’t as gifted as someone else, that we don’t have anything to give. May we not fall into this trap! We all have been given gifts and talents, no matter how insignificant they may seem to others and even ourselves. Even in this pandemic, we can find ways to use what we have been given.

At the end of the parable, the master says, “Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” I think very often these words are used as some kind of rationalization for the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. But I believe what Jesus is really saying is that the more we are willing to use our talents to love God and neighbor, the easier it will be to use those talents, and we will even discover talents we didn’t know we had!

May our talents be used to witness to the truth of God’s love in Jesus Christ.

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