Claire Smith

Scripture:

2 Timothy 4:1-8
Mark 12:38-44

Reflection:

A tragic reality in our world is the great economic struggles of our brothers and sisters who lack the necessities of life: clean water, food, housing, education, clothes and healthcare. Sources tell us almost half of the world’s population–3.4 billion people–still struggles to meet basic needs.

Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si, examines the causes of this misery and their links to the imminent destruction of our environment. He condemns the evil forces of greed, military might, discrimination and domination.

The pope, in his wisdom, is doing what Jesus did in today’s selection from the Gospel of Mark.

Traditional biblical scholars interpret this passage as a contrast between the piety of the poor widow with the hypocrisy of religious establishment…the scribes.

More recent commentators recognize this passage is more a dramatic condemnation of the religious economy of Jerusalem.

Scribes, powerful men in Jewish culture, were often given the task of being trustees of the finances of widows…a practice noted for embezzlement and abuse. Indeed, the affluent lives of the religious leaders and the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem were built on the exploitation of the poor.

Jesus didn’t mince words about this travesty: “They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

These victimized widows were the same women who dropped their pittances into the collection basket of the day. Jesus decried the economic system that depleted the resources of a powerless widow: “she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

His new Way does not permit economic exploitation and opportunism.

This is the same message delivered by our Holy Father.

As People of God, we are called to lives of economic justice, honesty and love. Our lives must have no room for exploiting the sick, the weak or workers. Racism, classism, sexism or any form of domination of people or natural resources is evil.

As I pray over this Gospel I must examine my conscience to discern areas of my life where prejudices blind me to reaching out to the frail, the powerless, the exploited, the mentally ill and addicted, the frightened and the poor.

Do I stand in solidarity with workers struggling with poverty wages? Do I give generously, not just from my surplus, but from my essential resources? Do I respect and love, in my heart, the ones who are different from me in color, in language, in heritage, in income?

These questions are the ones Jesus and Pope Francis want us to ask ourselves. The answers will determine how closely we are walking with Jesus.

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

Scripture:

2 Timothy 3:10-17
Mark 12:35-37

Reflection:

This has been a most difficult week for many of us.  We weren’t even comfortable dealing with a Covid-19 pandemic when now violence, looting, murder, and demonstrations have erupted in our cities and our neighborhoods.  There is a tremendous amount of pent up emotion, prejudice and anger festering in our brothers and sisters, and it is being expressed very loudly.  As I’ve been praying through this 12th chapter of Mark’s gospel, I’m in touch with the anger and hostility the religious leaders had toward Jesus.  His way of life didn’t fit with their vision.  And instead of listening to his message.  It was easier to get rid of him.   Mark lays out three confrontational stories back to back “to catch him in his speech.”   First the Herodians and Pharisees were sent to set a trap him in a cleverly planned situation.  It failed.   Then, the proud Sadducees challenged him, and Jesus corrected their theology, calling these experts, “mistaken.” Third a scribe, recognizing Jesus’ skill approached him with a question of the greatest commandment.   Mark concludes this section with by stating, “And no one had the courage to ask him any more questions.”  That is the line preceding today’s gospel.  And this sets the context for understanding this gospel text.  Now Jesus gets to speak. And those gathered round, having been silenced can do nothing but listen.

Jesus is speaking to a group of people who believe they are the authentic interpreter of scripture, especially the messianic texts.  They also believe that King David was under divine inspiration at the time of writing Psalm 110.   So Jesus uses this knowledge.  Throughout the gospel Jesus doesn’t refer to himself as the messiah.  But it is the mystery for those who believers to ponder.  So is this group willing to ponder the mystery, or to use a phrase from John’s gospel, will they refuse to believe?   Writing about the messiah,  Mark quotes Psalm 110, “The Lord said to my lord….”   In other words the one who is God said to the one who is Messiah,  sit at my right hand…  Thus, how is this Messiah supposed to be David’s son?  So when Jesus asks, “If David himself addresses him as ‘Lord’ in what sense can he be his son”   they couldn’t answer his question.  Nor could they see the messiah when he was staring them in the face.

In all these confrontational encounters Jesus creates something new.  The old categories were too small to hold what was emerging.  And perhaps that is where we are in society today.   For many of us the world has become smaller as it has become more global.  International exchange happens instantaneously.  A murder in Minnesota leads to demonstrations in Europe and Japan.   Something different is emerging.  For many people of the earth, the old categories are too small.  Personally, I don’t believe we can solve our conflictual challenges merely with human achievements or politics.  I think human beings on their own accord are too selfish.  I believe we can get there only if and when we allow Jesus to stretch us which requires faith and trust in the person of Jesus.

Our Universal Church celebrates this day the feast of Boniface, a great Missionary in Europe who was instrumental in reorganizing the church in Germany and the Frankish kingdom. Living in the eighth century as a Benedictine monk, he was sent to preach the Gospel in Germany, earning the title “Apostle of Germany.” His respect earned him greater responsibility as he was named Abbot and eventually Archbishop by Pope Zachary.  As I read about his life, his ability to convert great numbers amidst tremendous civil chaos, it parallels our world this week. I ask, did he bring about a utopia?   No, he brought people to Christ, and not everyone believed.   He died as a martyr when a group of barbarous pagans interrupted the confirmation of a group of neophytes.  It wasn’t a storybook ending.  Boniface was person living in a conflictual society and devoutly focused on Christ.

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

Scripture:

2 Timothy 2:8-15
Mark 12:28-34

Reflection:

The Core of our Faith

Today’s two Scripture selections combine to offer us a much-needed reminder of the core of our Christian faith:  Love.  Pure and simple:  Love.  Love received…Love lived…love shared.

In the Gospel selection from St. Mark one of the Scribes comes to Jesus and asks Him the truly basic question: “Which is the first of all the commandments?”  No doubt this is the question which goes to the heart of Jesus’ life and ministry.  Interestingly, Jesus’ response cites the statement from the Book of Deuteronomy:  love God with your whole being…AND He joins to it the corresponding statement from the Book of Leviticus:  love your neighbor as yourself.  Jesus combines the two commandments into one:  the love of God, neighbor, and self, go hand in hand.

The first reading from 2 Timothy sees St. Paul putting the words of Jesus into practice.  Love is unselfish.  Love involves sacrifice, a dying to self, a genuine living witness in both word and deed.  Love is about life, a sharing of God’s life – a positive spirit of energy and vitality that transforms both people and situations…even suffering and death!

Application to life today is encouraged by the Responsorial Psalm from today’s Eucharist.  Based on Psalm 25, it prays: “Teach me your ways, O Lord.”  That prayerful request should be on our lips these days as we face the challenge of COVID-19 and the tension and destructive violence resulting from the recent racially related human tragedies.  We prayerfully call upon Jesus Crucified to help us LOVE as He loves, in both word and deed, in good times and tragic times.  Our love for God intimately involves a down-to-earth love for neighbor and self…as imperfect as we each are.

Jesus:  May the Great Commandment of Love motivate each of us and our needy world this day!

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

Scripture:

2 Peter 3:12-15a, 17-18
Mark 12:13-17

Reflection:

One of the defining features of the life that Jesus led was that he was constantly surrounded by both faith and unbelief which often revealed itself as either support or opposition.

We see this powerfully once again in today’s reading from Mark’s gospel.

Here the pharisees and Herodians have joined forces to plot against Jesus.

There is something revealing in the mere fact that these two parties would even join forces! While both pursuing the goal of a restored Israel their deeper intention and interpretation of this same go was very different. They would not normally have reason to join forces and so the fact that they do is some indication to us of the depth of opposition and resistance the message of Jesus caused them to act out of.  While many found the vision and life-giving message of Jesus liberating, other feared it and opposed Jesus for daring to share such thoughts.

Thus, fear drives them to be allies and they put aside differences and antipathy to devise a trap.

On the surface the question might seem clear if not political. The tax denoted in the text was a specific tax, instituted in A.D. 6 and one which had evoked very strong reactions and even riots. The tax was controversial and so the question is a ‘loaded’ one.

There are numerous interpretations about Jesus’ answer – “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”  My favourite is that since they are already carrying Roman money on their person, then they admit by this very act that they see themselves as partly living under the Roman realm and so should live by the tax rules that are set by the Romans and to whom they have acquiesced by their own actions!

But, for today and for our spiritual life, I think it is of importance to notice that Jesus does not carry these coins, nor does he elevate the power of the oppressor up or over that of God.  In the vision of Jesus, and the true answer to the question asked of him, it is to God that the peoples’ true allegiance lies and even if oppressed or occupied the people are free to give to God what is deeper within – the allegiance of their hearts.

I think it is an important answer and one that can be the measure of our own stance in life. No matter what our circumstances (and certainly no matter what our economic status is) we are first and foremost precious in God’s eyes and this is our true wealth. God asks of us no tax, but rather that we give our hearts and wills to God’s vision for our world, for our neighbours and for the everlasting life that is promised to us in Jesus life, death and resurrection.

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

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

Scripture:

Genesis 3:9-15, 20 or Acts 1:12-14
John 19:25-34

Reflection:

Today the church celebrates one of the most beautiful honors ascribed to Mary— “Mother of the Church.”  This title goes back at least to St. Ambrose in the fourth century and it has been cited many times by various popes and councils over the years.  In 2018, Pope Francis made it a universal feast of the Church’s liturgical calendar, to be celebrated the Monday after Pentecost.

The Scripture readings for this feast day explain the meaning of this title for Mary.  There are, in fact, alternate first readings, one from Genesis that recalls Eve and names her “the mother of all the living.”  The other choice is from the Acts of the Apostles and recalls the Pentecost event we just celebrated but focuses on the fact that among the disciples present for this great event was “Mary, the mother of Jesus.”  Finally, the gospel selection is from John’s account of the last action of Jesus on the cross where he entrusts his mother to the care of the Beloved Disciple and, in turn, declares to this disciple “whom Jesus loved” that Mary was now his mother.

All these readings are richly symbolic and affirm powerful things about Mary within Catholic tradition.  Commentators have long suggested that Mary is like a “new Eve” because she has brought Jesus into the world.  Her giving birth to Christ has earned her another astounding title, that of “theotokos,” a Greek word literally meaning, “God bearer” or “Mother of God.”  This title was affirmed of Mary at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD and is the most fundamental and profound title given to her.  This is a reflection of the Church’s faith in the incarnation—the basic conviction of Christian faith that in Jesus, the divine became truly human—giving humanity and all the created world incredible new life and dignity.

In this way, Mary, through whom the divine entered our world, is truly a “new Eve”—the “mother of all the living.”  And as that ultimate mother she is present at key life-giving moments marked by our faith: the total act of love for us expressed in Jesus’ laying down his life for us on the cross, and the dynamic burst of new life brought by the Spirit at Pentecost that would create a world-wide community of faith

This feast not only honors Mary for her unique and beautiful role as “Mother of all the living” and Mother of the Church”—it also celebrates our dignity as daughters and sons of God.  All these festivals from Christmas to Good Friday to Easter to Ascension to Pentecost remind us of God’s tender and astounding mercy toward us.

Fr. Donald Senior, C.P. is President Emeritus and Professor of New Testament at Catholic Theological Union.  He lives at the Passionist residence in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Pentecost Sunday

Scripture:

Acts 2:1-11
1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13
John 20:19-23

Reflection:

Happy Pentecost!

One of my favorite paintings is by an artist called Glenda Dietrich.  She’s named it, calling it,  “Pentecost Dance.”

(here’s a link to her page and the painting)

http://www.glendadietrich.com/brighter-pentecost-dance-web/

I’ve always wondered what the miracle at Pentecost must have been like for the people who were actually there to experience it.  I have to admit to some disappointment when the proclamation of the amazing events of Pentecost does little to convey the kind of wonder, awe, excitement, and astounding confusion which certainly must have accompanied such an incredible event.  In this painting, the artist depicts the people illuminated and dancing, celebrating.

I’d sure like to know what that miracle feels like.

I wonder if, really, they really understood what was happening and began to dance around?  For many of them, I suspect the changes may have felt sudden and even unwanted… a new language, reaching out to the unknown and unwelcome members of foreign communities… essentially turning their lives upside-down.  Wow, that must have been incredibly mystifying and difficult to process – to come to terms with changes so immediate, so unexpected yet absolute, and so profoundly unclear.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll admit to being hurt; being changed, surprised at something or someone.  A car accident – broken bone – problems in marriage – the death of a parent, sister or brother, your child – the diagnosis of a disease which will never go away, and may probably kill you.

So many things shake up our journey… so many things become enormous earthquakes which destroy the road ahead of us.  Let me tell you, friends, I *hate* detours.

Maybe it’s that tragedy which breeds the change needed to uncover the very miracle we long for.  Maybe we already *do* know what that miracle feels like…

Dear God who works in uncountable ways,
thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit with us.
Please, grant us the grace to see Your transformative miracles in everything,
no matter what it is. Amen.

Paul Puccinelli is Director of Liturgy & Music at St. Rita Parish in Sierra Madre, California, and a member of the retreat team at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center.

Scripture:

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31
John 21:20-25

Reflection:

In the gospel of Matthew we hear Peter exclaim, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).  This was a statement of faith by Peter, spoken from his head.  But this faith didn’t stand up.  On the night of Jesus’s arrest, Peter denied him three times.

After the resurrection, Jesus confronted Peter on the seashore and asked him three times, “Do you love me?” (Cf. John 21: 15-25), and three times Peter responded with a strong, “Yes”!  This was a statement of faith by Peter, spoken from his heart.

Then in today’s gospel Jesus tells Peter, “You follow me.”  And Peter did.  He served the Lord faithfully, even unto martyrdom.  The rest of Peter’s life was a statement of faith, spoken from his will.

Yes, full faith involves the total person, the head, heart and will.  Faith is not an accent to a dogma.  It is a relationship with the person of Christ.  It is a commitment of our whole human being to God,

At Sunday Mass we all recite together the Creed, affirming what we believe with our heads.  At Communion time, we say, “Yes,” to receiving Jesus, affirming our love for him.  Then at the Dismissal Rite we are told to go forth to love and serve the Lord.  We say, “Yes,” committing ourselves to put our wills to work.  We choose to act and help bring about the Kingdom of God more fully upon this earth.

Professing our faith with our minds, hearts and wills involves our total person, and brings about a sense of wholeness. We know who we are and to whom we belong.

Fr. Alan Phillip, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.   http://www.alanphillipcp.com/

Scripture:

Acts 25:13-21
John 21:15-19

Reflection:

“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.
Jesus said to Peter, Feed my sheep.” -John 21:17

Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St Paul VI, Pope. Since I was a child I have been fascinated by the Papacy. A many years ago I had read three or four books on Pope John XXIII. Then a few years ago I was curious about the background of the Second Vatican Council and read about Pope Pius XI and Pope Pius XII. From my readings, I have come to realize the importance of the papacy in world history. Up until now, I had not considered reading about Saint Paul VI. From the short research, I have done for this reflection it has inspired me to read at least one book this summer about Paul VI.

The Gospel reading for today as well as for the Memorial both have Jesus giving Peter the message about the leadership of the Church. The Memorial Gospel is from Matthew where Peter proclaims that Jesus is the Christ and Jesus then gives Peter the “keys to the Kingdom of Heaven” showing that Peter has authority on earth and that as his vicar, extends to Heaven. In the daily Gospel Jesus asks Peter three times to feed the flock. Commentaries that I have read say that this is to redeem Peter from the three times he denied Jesus. Yes, and along with that an instruction as to how to lead the Church.

The Popes throughout history have helped to give spiritual guidance to the People of God as the events of the time dictate. Pope Paul VI was no different. June 21, 1963, he found himself leading the Church at the beginning of the Second Vatican Council. He would spend the next 15 years focusing on World peace, social justice, World hunger, illiteracy, brotherhood under God and international cooperation. Themes that even speak to us today. We see John Paull II as a great world traveler but Paul VI was the first to visit India and the United States. He was the first to make an extended 10-day journey that included several countries in Africa. He wrote several important Papal Encyclicals such as Ecclesiam Suam (His Church) on concern for workers and the poor; Humanae Vita which addressed birth control; and Popularum Progressio (Progress of the People’s) on social justice; and many others. He looked to what was happening in the world and spoke to that just as any other pope has done. It is not until Pope Francis that I have become most interested in reading papal encyclicals. Pope Francis’ writings are very easy to read and use as a reflection. Their words are written for us to reflect upon and learn more deeply about our faith, our Church. How is Pope Francis feeding the flock these days? What words does he have for us that might comfort and console as we move through this pandemic? On the Vatican website, you can find his daily and Sunday homilies. They are there to feed us. Pull a seat up to the table and enjoy the feast.

May you and your families stay safe and healthy during this time.

Linda Schork is a theology teacher at Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky.