Claire Smith

Scripture:

2 Samuel 7:4 – 17
Mark 4:1 – 20

Reflection:

Hear this! A sower went out to sow. –Mark 4:3

We are in the midst of winter and I have recently received my favorite catalog from a rose grower. I love growing roses and have about eight bushes that I tend. I hope to add a couple more this spring. Digging in the dirt, pruning, mulching, feeding are all a part of nurturing a healthy bush. I look forward to the middle or end of February when it is time to prune back the bushes. March and April is time to feed the roses to bring them out of their winter slumber. If I have done those things correctly and the weather cooperates the blooming will begin its cycles. So much of rose gardening depends on these things. And when it all comes together the fruit of my labor are beautiful roses to share with my friends.

The Gospel for today is also about planting, pruning, feeding and nurturing. The parable of the Sower is more than about working the dirt. It is about caring for our soul. How do I nurture my soul? What do I plant? What do I prune away? How do I feed my soul? Just as a rose bush or most plants have cycles of growth, blooming and dormancy so do our souls. Jesus relates the seed the sower sows to the Word of God. The Word the Sacred Scriptures are a great source of food for our souls. In the Benedictine tradition, feeding on the Word of God is called Lectio Divina. This is taking time to read a scripture passage thoughtfully. This can be one from the daily readings or of your choosing. As you read the passage is there a word or phrase that catches your attention? Read it again. What word or phrase catches your attention? Read it a third time and then hold on to one word. Let it soak in like a gentle rain. This is feeding or nurturing your soul. This may also be done with music lyrics or instrumental music. Spiritual reading is another way to feed the soul. It takes me a while to get through a book I choose for spiritual reading because I stop when something catches my attention and I ponder that for a day or two before returning to the book I am reading.

Pruning the soul may not be as pleasant as feeding the soul but just as important. Cutting away or cutting out the dead rotting parts changes us just as it changes the shape of the bush. This soul pruning can be through Reconciliation, prayer, fasting and almsgiving. This also allows us to continue to grow into the person that God has created us to be. Resting is also part of the growing process. Taking time to rest our bodies in quiet or taking in nature in a gentle walk is good for the soul as well.

Jesus is the Master Gardener and taking time with him allows us to grow closer to him. Doing our soul work allows us to prepare ourselves for the Word of God to be planted in our hearts.

And as he sowed, some seed fell on . . . -Mark 4:3

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

Scripture:

2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19
Mark 3:31-35

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church.  Thomas is probably best known for his theological work, the Summa Theologiae, an explanation and summary of the entire body of Catholic teaching.  Because he was regarded as one of the greatest theologians and teachers of our church, he is most often associated with academics, schools and universities.  One of my favorite places on the campus of Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, my alma mater, is the Thomas Aquinas Chapel.

There was another side of Aquinas that I suspect is less known about this famously acclaimed Doctor of the Church!  While he is best known as a great scholar, there are those close to him that have shared the personal story of Thomas.  He was a person of prayer, modest and a model of childlike simplicity and goodness. He believed everyone was as innocent as he himself was.  He suffered with the poor and needy and devoted his life to easing other’s pain and suffering.

In our gospel reading from Matthew, we read,

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
But whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

It seems this passage highlights the virtue of humility, the same virtue practiced by Thomas Aquinas. Near the end of his lifetime, Thomas Aquinas stopped writing after having a vision of the glory of God, claiming that ‘All that I have written seems to me like straw compared to what has now been revealed to me.’  Maybe it would behoove us to step back and reflect on how we practice this virtue of humility and resolve to be less proud and more humble, more prayerful and simple and good.

Saint Thomas Aquinas, model of humility and goodness, pray for us!

Theresa Secord is a Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10
Mark 3:22-30

Reflection:

There is so much power in forgiveness. If we carry our hurts and disappointments with us – those things that have driven us through fits of anger and depression – and relinquish ourselves to a life of unforgiveness, we have failed in our Christian journey. In forgiving we find joy, strength and most especially peace, and our hearts are enlightened with a spirit of love. Joy can then return to us once more.

Through our unforgiveness, we deny ourselves the grace to be and to do our best for others, as we strive to be as Christ to others. Don’t carry that unclean spirit – release yourself from the chains that keep you bound, separated from the love of Christ, and release the gifts that God has had planned for you all along, whatever those gifts may be.

Patty Masson resides in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

Isaiah 8:23-9:3
1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17
Matthew 4:12-23

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading for Sunday from Matthew (4:12-23), we hear the account of Jesus calling His first disciples: Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. When we look at what happens, it boggles the mind. Jesus seems to simply walk by, stop, and say to them, “Come after me,” and they drop what they’re doing and follow Him right then and there!

Right before this, Matthew tells us that after John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus moves to Capernaum, and basically begins His public ministry, proclaiming as He goes, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For Matthew, this is a fulfillment of the prophecy that we hear in our first reading from Isaiah (8:23-9:3), about the restoration of the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, where Capernaum was, and where we hear those beautiful words which we also hear at Christmas: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.”

As I reflect on what seems to be two distinct parts of our Gospel reading, they come together when we reflect on our lives as disciples. What moved Peter and Andrew, James and John, to drop what they were doing and follow Jesus? Maybe they recognized in Him the light shining in the darkness.

For me, this gives a good description of the spiritual life and our development as disciples. The more and more we are willing to live in the light of Christ, the more we are able to drop the things and attitudes that get in the way, and the more we are able to serve God and each other. And the more we serve God and each other, the more we are able to walk in the light of Christ, and the process continues.

May we be able to see that there is light in the darkness and that we do not have to live in gloom. May we live in faith, and without hesitation let go of fear and resentment and despair, and follow Jesus in loving God and the entire world. May we help bring light into darkness and hope in the midst of gloom.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is a member of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.

Scripture:

1 Samuel 24:3-21
Mark 3:13-19

Reflection:

“He appointed twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach.” Mark 3:14

Discipleship is simply and lovingly described by Jesus as “being with Him” and to “proclaim” the Gospel. The first requirement is to be with Jesus.  I think it is a terrible problem if we try to do and proclaim the Gospel without a meaningful friendship with Jesus.

A relationship with Christ means a vigorous personal encounter with Him.  This deep friendship makes our faith a joyous loving experience!  The traditional name for this experience with the Lord is strongly attested to in Scripture and is called prayer.  The beautiful and most common word for prayer in the original Greek SS is pros-eu-cho-mai which means wishing of God for me and I for Him.  All prayer begins with God’s deep desire for me and in return my desire for Him.  The noun and verb for pros-eu-cho-mai is used 129 times in SS.  Besides, there are many other words for prayer in OT and NT!

Today we celebrate the feast of St Francis de Sales who greatly encouraged all to prayer.  Prayer means much more than asking God for things.  For him, it was a heartfelt meeting with Jesus which he called meditation. One of his famous quotes: “Half an hour’s meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed. In prayer, more is accomplished by listening than by talking. Let us leave to God the decisions as to what shall be said.”  St John Chrysostom 1,600 years ago gave us the advice of a lifetime, “There is nothing more worthwhile than to pray to God and to converse with him, for prayer unites us with God as his companions.”

As for preaching, this too is very important or discipleship.  It is much more than being a social worker as important as that is.  We are wise to remember there is no worse poverty than not to have Jesus! The most important thing that every human being needs in life is Jesus!  It is a disaster not to have Him in our lives.  Each of us needs to evangelize but according to our particular vocations.  If we truly love Jesus and His Church we will find our opportunities.  St John Chrysostom made this observation: “Hard indeed must be the heart of one who is not concerned about the salvation of another”!

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

Scripture:

1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7
Mark 3:7-12

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading for today, crowds of people come to see Jesus, having heard about all the things He was doing. Mark tells us that “whenever unclean spirits saw him, they would fall down before him and shout. ‘You are the Son of God.’ He warned them sternly not to make him known.”

Why would Jesus not want to be made known like this? I think it has to do with what kind of relationship He wanted and still wants with people today. I think He might have reasoned that if people only related to Him in terms of what He could do for them, they would miss relating to Him as He is.

That’s still true for us. In our first reading from 1 Samuel, we hear the beginnings of Saul’s jealousy of David, even to the point of wanting to kill him. This jealousy eventually overtook Saul, and in a real way destroyed him. If we look at others and wonder why he has this or she has that, and we don’t, and wonder why God hasn’t blessed us that way, we lose sight of what Jesus did do for us on the Cross, and the unfathomable mystery of God’s love for us.

We can ask God for material or physical blessings, and we may or may not receive them, depending on how God wishes to answer our prayers, and give us what we need. But I do believe that when we ask for spiritual healing: healing from jealousy, from fear, from anxiety, from resentment, from despair, we will receive it.

May we not lose sight of what Jesus has done for us and what He continues to do for us. May we not be overtaken by jealousy or fear or anger, but instead put our trust in God and be at peace.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is a member of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.

Scripture:

1 Samuel 16:1-13
Mark 2: 23-28

 Reflection:

In the first reading from the Book of Samuel, the Lord asks Samuel how long he will grieve for Saul.  Saul disobeyed the Lord’s instructions to put all of the Amalekites to death and destroy their goods.  Samuel knows that God has rejected Saul and he is grieved for his friend and king who failed.   So, the Lord tells Samuel to get over your mourning and get on with selecting the next king but rely on Divine Guidance.  Like Samuel are we able to move past our failures and look for new possibilities? (David G. Garber, Jr.  Commentary on 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Working Preacher, Preaching This Week)

In Mark’s Gospel Jesus is passing through a field of grain on the Sabbath and his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain which was legal. This passage confronts us with certain essential truths which we sometimes forget. 1) Religion does not consist of just following rules and regulations.  Sunday observance is important but there is a great deal more to Christianity than Sunday observance.  2)  The gospels teach us about responding to human need with mercy and compassion even on the Sabbath. Prayer: Lord, assist me in not fixating on my faults and failings and assist me to see you in the people I meet and serve today.  (William Barclay, The Gospel of Mark, Daily Study Bible series, Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1956, p. 64)

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

Scripture:

I Samuel 15: 16-23
Mark 2: 18-22

Reflection:

“Old habits die hard!”  Now, there’s a truism!

As I’ve gotten older I’ve noticed that conversations, and even disagreements, with long-time friends and family often take a very familiar path.  Whatever the topic, I tend to say similar kinds of things as I have before, and the person I’m talking to responds in familiar ways.  This pattern is especially true in our long-term disagreements.  Perhaps it is just easier to repeat ourselves because then we don’t have to really think much!

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus surely challenges that very human expectation and habit.  In His examples of a garment patch or a need for new wineskin, Jesus invites his disciples to be open to new ways of thinking and acting.  In his response to those asking about the fact that his disciples don’t fast, Jesus claims that the reason his disciples don’t fast is his very presence with them.  He’s the difference!

Jesus constantly invites us, his disciples, into new ways of thinking and acting.  He asks us to trust God in every aspect of our lives because God is our loving Father.  Jesus wants us to realize how deeply he loves us, so gives his very life ­­­­for us.  He tells us that love and forgiveness, even or maybe especially, for those who have injured us or are our enemies are the only paths to peace, either personal or communal.  Jesus teaches us that it is in caring for the poor, homeless, hurting, oppressed or outcast that we build the Kingdom of God.  Many of us disciples of Jesus cherish these teachings but few of us are able to live them fully.  It seems our ways of thinking and our imaginations are just too small to free us to risk living fully the example and teachings of Jesus.

Let us pray today that we are able to recognize any of our beliefs or attitudes that keep us from embracing fully the life-giving teachings of Jesus.

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