"A grief not witnessed is a grief not addressed."
As both a Passionist and as a therapist, these words resonate deeply with Fr. Johnson Emmanuel, C.P. Grief is not a stranger to any of us. It is a universal experience, yet too often, it is carried in silence.
Hear more from Fr. Johnson as we begin our Lenten journey of Grief and Grace. May this Lenten season be a time of deep healing and renewal for all of us.
Turning off the electronics tonight, I need some quiet. I long for true silence.
We have had too much noise lately.
Everywhere I turn, there is more noise—voices, shouting, accusations, confusion and fear. Why do some believe that raising their voices louder will make them heard? The question is not who can be the loudest when so few are listening. And here we sit at the door of Lent. Tonight, I sit in silence, thinking about St. Paul of the Cross, and in my silence, I realize that Pope Francis’ time with us is now limited.
St. Paul of the Cross petitioned the Holy See to extend to the global Church a day to remember the glorious Passion of Jesus and to raise this event to the level of a Solemnity. Going back to Paul’s letters, his hope was for this day to be September 16.[i] Sadly, Paul did not live to see this promulgated for the universal Church. It was only after his death that Pope Clement XIV added the Solemnity, placing it before Lent rather than in September.
As Passionists, we continue to honor the Church’s tradition of celebrating the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion on the Friday before Ash Wednesday, as a doorway leading us into the Lenten Season.
For most of us, this is not the first time down this path. Yet, isn’t it different this year? Personally, I seem more attuned to a restlessness, a unique uneasiness within people, balancing on the uncertainties and questions the tomorrows may bring. Sometimes, it feels like we are stepping on perpetually shifting sands, longing for some solid rock to support the next step of our sojourn.
Those elements of life which provided an assuredness and security for so many years, namely politics, economics and religion, all suddenly feel unstable. Where can we find solid ground to stand on? Various individuals are gazing into their crystal balls projecting out uncertainties which only escalate and spiral anxieties and fear.
As Passionists, we are called to share in the suffering of our sisters and brothers worldwide. They struggle with violence and war, and their lives are shaken by political oppression. They strive for justice and a share of the basic goods of the Earth, as they deal with natural disasters including earthquakes, floods, fires and mudslides. Undoubtedly, we live in a global village filled with suffering. But how is this good news? Beyond these big global issues, are we willing to help bear the cross of a person’s sickness or loneliness? Even the simplest things have become confusing. For example, have you tried to buy eggs this past week?
A few months back, The Passionist Province of St. Paul of the Cross hosted a Charism Day, inviting Sr. Maria Pascuzzi, CSJ, to reflect on the Passionist charism. In the third section of her presentation, she asked a simple question: “What do the people of God need from the Passionists today?” In an enjoyable manner, she commented on Paul the Apostle: “Preaching Christ crucified was already a hard sell in Paul’s day. Preaching Christ crucified as the greatest work of God’s love may be an even more difficult sell today.”
She explored how the majority of believers, whether churchgoers or not, can find the benevolence and love of God in the awesomeness, beauty and majesty of creation in a multiplicity of forms. What people struggle to make sense of is how a good God can be present in all the suffering we see around us today. And her challenge to us was this: Is Jesus Christ Crucified even relevant to the crucified of today? Just like Paul the Apostle, we know this truth is relevant. Yet, that certainly does not make the challenge easier.
Pope Francis’s most urgent and persistent request through his entire pontificate has emphatically called us to go to the poor. Be with the poor! We are not asked to be agents of humanitarian aid. Rather, we are asked to be agents of God! We are not asked to proselytize the poor, nor shall we have any attitude of advantage or superiority. We are asked to move against the direction of our natural inclinations of safety, security and comfort. In doing so, we discover grace, a grace that does not come from us but from God. Intuitively, it moves us out of our comfort zones, forcing us to stretch and trust. Jesus’ Passion moved contrary to the direction others thought he should go. Even Peter advised him not to go that way. From Jesus’ stepping into the unsafe and uncomfortable, the Church receives grace and salvation.
Back in my theology days, one of my favorite teachers used the phrase “Mission-in-Reverse.” A truly reflective person or group of people will discover that it is not what you are doing but how you are being changed by doing it. This is the catalyst for transformation. It is a purely incarnational moment of change when we meet Christ where we were not expecting because we stepped away from our false securities, surrendering ourselves, only to find that Christ is holding our hand. At that moment, the churchy word “Salvation” becomes more personal. I believe this has been the deepest teaching Pope Francis has tried to encourage us. And it is our invitation as we pass through the celebration of this Solemnity into the season of Lent.
God is not here to help us achieve our personal achievements. Lent is not here for us to set a list of goals for the next forty days. St. Paul of the Cross would come home for Lent after preaching many missions. It was a time for him to experience deeper listening and deeper contemplation.
As we celebrate this Solemnity, do your spirit a favor. In your personal prayer over the next four weeks, take time to read and pray through each of the four Passion narratives in the Gospels. This is part of Paul’s expectations for each of us as we journey down the Passionist Way.
Wishing you a very blessed Solemnity on the occasion of our Passionist titular feast.
In the Passion of Christ,
V. Rev. David Colhour, C.P.
Provincial Superior
P.S. I welcome your thoughts and reflections.
[i]Paul of the Cross, Letters of Paul of the Cross, ed. Mercurio-Sucher, no. 1165, Letter to John Mary Cioni of Saint Ignatius (San Angelo, September 27, 1758). Note, September 14th is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. September 15th is the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. Adding a Solemnity on the 16th would create a trilogy of days for the Passion of Christ.
Scripture:
Reflection:
Wisdom. We do not often enough reflect on this virtue. We are more familiar with “Faith, Hope, and Love.” But wisdom in today’s reading from Sirach is full of rich images, not the least of which is the reference to wisdom as a mother who “breathes life into her children.” We are called to be in this kind of intimate relationship with Wisdom.
More often we talk about someone being wise, usually someone with a perspective on life that’s been forged through long years with all the trials and triumphs that accumulate along the way. I think of a wise person finally getting to a place in life where she doesn’t have to prove herself and impress others. The wise are clear-sighted about what is right and what is wrong, and that relationships are more important than possessions.
Saint Thomas Aquinas believed that wisdom was the habit of choosing well, or “the right reason about things to be done.” It is not only knowing what is right but doing what is right. This means knowing and acting as best as we can by trying to see the world from God’s perspective.
But you might well ask, how can we know that perspective? It is not really that hard. Every day, we see beauty and recognize it as beautiful. Every day, we see the good in the goodness of others. And every day, we see sin and cruelty and greed, and we recognize it as an affront to God. We all know what is right and what is wrong when we see it—just look around and don’t turn away. So, the challenge is to take what we know is right and put it into practice.
Robert Hotz is a consultant with American City Bureau, Inc. and was the Director of The Passion of Christ: The Love That Compels Campaign for Holy Cross Province.
Scripture:
Reflection:
In the Crucible of Humiliation
Some time ago I had a layover in the Denver airport. To pass the time I wandered over to a bookstore and noticed the titles of books in the window: “Think and Grow Rich,” “The Simple Path to Wealth,” “See You at the Top,” and “Strategies for Winning” were just a few of the covers that caught my attention. We may judge the disciples for their superficiality in today’s Gospel (“…they had been discussing among themselves along the way who was the greatest.”) but are we any different? While Jesus tries to prepare them for his suffering and death, they argue who is the most important, who is the big shot. And competition and winning seem to be our constant goal as well.
Perhaps it is because Pope Francis’ health is fragile now, but so many of his conferences and phrases come cascading over me these days: “to move to the margins”, or “a culture of encounter vs. a culture of indifference”, maybe “to smell like your sheep”.
Today’s readings truly are counter-intuitive, counter-cultural as we experience today. Phrases like “in the crucible of humiliation” or “in fire, gold and silver are tested” remind us to spend time pondering the richness of God’s dream.
Maybe we should write a book; we could entitle it “The Simple Path to Poverty” or “See You at the Bottom”!
Fr. Jack Conley, CP, is the local superior of St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.
Scripture:
Reflection:
Encountering Christ
I have often thought about some of the most impressive people I have encountered. It had to be Cardinal Ratzinger. Years ago he came to our monastery in Germany where I had a private concelebrated Mass with him and his sister. He was a great theologian and held a very high position in the Vatican. After our Mass, we had breakfast with him and his sister, with just me and another German Passionist. He asked me about my ministry and conditions in the United States. His English was very good and easy to understand. He was very kind, and it was a memorable experience. But I had no idea he would soon become our next Pope. If I knew I would have brought my camera and made extensive notes of our conversation.
In the Gospels, we find a long list of encounters with Christ. I counted 32 examples of people meeting and experiencing a personal encounter with Jesus. I am sure there are many more. In today’s Gospel in Mark, we find a distressed father of a possessed son meeting Christ and pleading for help. MK 9:22
Is this situation similar to when we meet Jesus? We believe He is close, but like the distraught father, we say: “But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” Jesus answers: “If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” What a great answer the father gives! “Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” The word “help” in the Greek-inspired NT is bo ae (cry out) and theo (run) . Run to my crying out! It is one of the beautiful words for prayer in NT
I did not realize what a wonderful presence the future Pope Benedict was to me. How very much more do we fail to recognize the constant and amazing presence of Christ with us twenty-four-seven! “Help” is a great prayer. What an opportunity when we encounter Jesus! “Until we’re convinced that prayer is the best way to spend our time, we will not find the time to pray”. Pope Benedict X111
I love the beautiful words of Pope Francis. “Every encounter with Jesus changes our lives, always! It is a step forward, a step closer to God. Thus, every encounter with Christ changes our lives. It is always. Always this way!”
Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.
Scripture:
1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Luke 6:27-38
Reflection:
In the midst of political divisions in our country and in the world, including war and violence, in the midst of people interpreting what is going on in vastly different ways, in the midst of condemnation all around, we have Jesus saying in our Gospel reading for Sunday (Luke 6:27-38): “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
As a Passionist, as a pastor, as a preacher, as a Christian, I ask myself, “Should I risk alienating some people by choosing sides? Does choosing sides give me the license to condemn others? And did not Jesus say, ‘Do not condemn?’”
And so my approach to these words of Jesus is to ask more questions:
When Jesus speaks challenging words to us such as those in our Gospel reading, do we listen, or do we dismiss them as too naive, or impractical, or even dangerous? Is Jesus a “voice in the wilderness” when He challenges us about our judgment and condemnation of others? Have we decided that it is a sin to “be merciful?”
Are we to listen to hate and fear, or even worse, apathy and indifference, or are we to listen to Jesus’ commandment to love? Does it matter what happens to others as well as ourselves?
Are those we consider “other” because of the color of their skin, their legal status, country of origin, first language, religious beliefs, or non-belief, sexual orientation, political opinions, gender, age, economic status, and other considerations, necessarily enemies? Look again at how Jesus defines enemies: those who hate us, curse us, mistreat us. Are those we are tempted to hate really doing those things to us? Even if they were, we are still told to love them.
To love our enemies is not to condone wrongdoing or injustice. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, we do not have to like our enemies or go along with what they’re doing, but we are called to love them because God loves them. As Jesus says, “But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” In love, not self-righteousness, we are called to work for justice and strive for peace. Whether we approve of what is going on in our government or not, real people’s lives are affected. In our first reading (1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23), David has been pursued by Saul, and there is an opportunity to kill Saul. But David says, “Do not harm him, for who can lay hands on the Lord’s anointed and remain unpunished?” Why would we be so eager to disrupt and uproot the lives of God’s beloved?
May we take the words of Jesus seriously, no matter how unreasonable they may seem.
Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.
Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle
Scripture:
Reflection:
So much of today’s readings reference shepherding. Psalm 23, with its familiar and comforting words, reassures us of God’s love and protection. The Chair of St Peter symbolizes Christ’s intention to provide His church with His own earthly successors, shepherds of His flock, a rock so strong in faith that it will withstand “the gates of the netherworld”, that is, Satan and his evilest works.
“Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church”. Christ used the conversant Syrian language including the word “Cephas,” leaving no doubt of His purpose in renaming Simon. Peter is the rock, and the Church is our faith, which he and his successors defend and protect ~ shepherding Christ’s church from all that Satan mounts against it. Peter’s understanding of Jesus is from Devine revelation, which Christ immediately marks as His Father’s selection of Peter as the next shepherd of our Church. “What you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven”. With these words Our Lord provides for the succession of shepherds who will follow Peter through the centuries.
All vision is parochial and the crosses we bear today are only different from those suffered by those who came before us because of our view of the difficulties. The pandemic, the sexual abuse scandal, the embezzlement of church funds, the loss of faith of so many this century, all these catastrophes have been weathered by our Church before. Our faith is in our Shepherd, placing our trust in Our Lord and His promise that nothing evil will prevail over His goodness, mercy and love. Just for today I will trust in God and lay my concerns in His hands.
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.
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Reflection:
Sometimes what seems the best and most promising path to take reaps consequences utterly different than we anticipated. And sometimes the path we initially want nothing to do with is precisely the one that opens to fullness of life. That’s one indisputable conclusion to today’s readings.
The passage from Genesis recounts the familiar story of the building of the Tower of Babel. It begins with a scene flush with harmony, unity, and peace. We’re presented with a people in whom there is no animosity, no conflict, and no disheartening divisions. As the writer of Genesis comments: “The whole world spoke the same language, using the same words.” But then everything changes. They decide to replace God’s vision for the flourishing of the world with an ambitious plan of their own. They will “build…a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name” for themselves. Instead of praising and glorifying God, they thirst for glory for themselves. They forget that they are not gods, but creatures who are forever dependent on God. Thus, it is no surprise when their heady project leads not to the security and fame they envisioned, but to chaos and dissolution. The harmony and peace they enjoyed is forever shattered as they are “scattered…from there all over the earth,” no longer able to understand one another.
By contrast, in the gospel story from Mark, Jesus asks us to find life by following a path that goes against the grain of everything we’ve been taught to believe. Jesus invites us to find life not through self-promotion and self-aggrandizement, but by taking up our cross and following him. It’s a life characterized by self-denial, generosity, sacrifice, and a love that endlessly calls us out of ourselves for the sake of others.
Babel and Calvary. They symbolize two very different ways of life. Which one we choose to follow makes all the difference not only for ourselves, but also for the world.
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.
