Claire Smith

Scripture:

Romans 12:5-16b
Luke 14:15-24

Reflection:

 Brothers and sisters: We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another. –Romans 12:5

‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ The servant reported, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out
and still there is room.’ The master then ordered the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled.’ -Luke 14:21-23

What a hard lesson we have in today’s readings. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us that we are one body in Christ. How often do I hear these words, and yet, find them so difficult to live out. Would I take a hammer and smash my own hand because it dropped my favorite mug and broke it? No! And still I fail to see those with whom I disagree as part of myself and treat them as “other.” Nowhere in this passage does Paul indicate that he is speaking only of the members of our Church. He seems to be saying everyone we meet is of the Body of Christ and everyone we meet has gifts to bring to the table. Later in the reading he cautions us not to be haughty. To not hold ourselves as superior to others. It has been said that we judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions: “Well, I didn’t mean to cause harm, so I’m still a good person. But they obviously have it in for me!” There I go again, holding myself superior to others.

Then in the gospel Jesus goes so far as to say “Gather people from all over, even those who weren’t invited, for my home must be filled!” The audacity of the Lord, to ask in—no, “make people come in,”—that I would exclude. In fact, it looks like the only ones who aren’t at home with Jesus are the ones who actively shunned the invitation. And, please note, it wasn’t out of spite! They refused politely! They all had important business that drew their attention away. I ask myself, what business could be more important to me than sitting down at home with Christ?

My prayer for today is that I take time to listen to God’s invitation and follow it wherever it leads.

Along with working as an independent teacher, Talib Huff volunteers and works at Christ the King Retreat Center in Citrus Heights. You may contact him at [email protected].

Scripture:

Romans 11:29-36
Luke 14:12-14

Reflection:

Welcoming One and All

As we move towards our holiday celebrations of Thanksgiving and Christmas, today’s Gospel selection from St. Luke offers a different “take” on the Christian concept of hospitality.  Jesus’ words to the Pharisee challenged both the Pharisee…and ourselves, centuries later!

Jesus had been invited to dine at the home of a leading Pharisee, and Jesus made it a teachable moment.  Hosting a lunch or dinner?  Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind…rather than relatives or friends.  Why?  To be generous to others without the possibility of repayment / being invited in return.  A lesson in the spirit of Jesus’ unconditional love!

We 21^st disciples of Jesus are encouraged to take Jesus’ words to heart.  He came not to be served but to serve…associating with and reaching out to the poor and the lowly – the least, the last, the lost.  Jesus challenges us to go beyond dinners and parties and association with those closest to us; we’re invited to reach out and share life with our needy brothers and sisters.

As the pace of our holidays increases, Jesus challenges us to pause, to look around, and then respond in love to those in need of help and encouragement.  Perhaps a meal for them is possible; more likely we can offer a genuine smile and a kind word to those we meet on the sidewalk or while shopping.  Indeed, our hearts will very likely be filled with the true spirit of the Season as we follow Jesus’ encouragement and reach out…a blessing indeed!

As St. Paul so aptly stated at the conclusion of today’s reading from Romans: “To God be glory forever!”

And we each can add our faith-filled:  Amen!

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

Scripture:

Wisdom 11:22-12:2
2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
Luke 19:1-10

Reflection:

In Sunday’s Gospel reading (Luke 19:1-10), we hear the encounter between Jesus and the tax collector, Zacchaeus. As I reflected on this, it seemed to me that this encounter is a great metaphor for the spiritual life of a Christian. Luke tells us that Zacchaeus was anxious to see who Jesus was. Many people at the start of their spiritual life know about Jesus, but are still trying to figure out who He is.

Being short in stature, Zacchaeus climbs a tree to get a look at Jesus, and Jesus looks up and says, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” While it is Zacchaeus who is seeking to know who Jesus is, it is Jesus who initiates the relationship. Jesus not only sees Zacchaeus; Jesus wants to be with him. Jesus wants to be with us! Can you believe it? As we hear in John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “It was not you who chose me, but I chose you.” Jesus loves us and wants to be with us and have a relationship with us, as imperfect as we humans are.

Being in a relationship with Jesus changes Zacchaeus. When the people grumble that Jesus is spending time with a tax collector, Zacchaeus stands his ground and makes some bold statements: “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” Just think about what that meant for Zacchaeus. He was a wealthy man, and yet he was willing to give over half of it away! Talk about a life-changing experience! And yet, this is what can happen, if one is willing to get close to Jesus.

Note how this life-changing experience manifests itself. Zacchaeus not only has a new relationship with Jesus, he has a new relationship with the world. He’s going to use his wealth to help others. He is going to renounce extortion of others.

When we grow closer to God, and deepen our understanding of God’s love in Jesus Christ, the only visible way we have to express the change God has worked in us is how we relate to others. Zacchaeus shows us that the spiritual life can never just be about God and me.

The encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus can seem to imply that conversion and change is a one-time event. There can be dramatic events in our lives with regards to our spiritual life, but the process of conversion and change is ongoing. The more we share God’s love in Jesus Christ with others, the more we learn the extent of that love, which empowers us to love the world even more, and so on. One thing I have learned time and time again in my spiritual life is that it’s not about me, as maddening as that fact can be for my ego.

Are we willing to enter into a deeper relationship with Jesus? Are we willing to be loved and comforted and challenged, and even hurt as we respond to God’s love and surrender to God’s will? Are we willing to be changed? Jesus is calling us, perhaps to come down from an isolated tower, or up from a deep pit, or in from the cold of fear and hate, or out from the darkness of despair. Wherever we may be, Jesus wants us to be with Him, and learn from Him, and love each other!

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

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

Scripture:

Wisdom 3:1-9
Romans 5:5-11 or 6:3-9
John 6:37-40

Reflection:

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

Faith in eternal life is fundamental to our Christian belief system.

While this promise of Jesus and the gift of his resurrection awaits us we must also acknowledge it as mystery. We do not know the shape and form of ‘life eternal’ we simply know that we shall be with God and that we will know perfect unity and love in God’s presence. The life of heaven that awaits is symbolised by words like ‘eternal’ and ‘perfect’ and imaged numerous times in art, poetry and story. The Book of Revelations remains one of our chief scriptural descriptions, but it is of course overlaid by significant theological meanings and messages to be taken too literally.

Perhaps a ‘visible’ symbol of eternal life is to be found in the vastness of the cosmos. This reality, of which we are but a tiny part, is vast and seemingly endless, is almost incomprehensible and yet we exist within it. Perhaps eternity is somewhat like that – something beyond our present comprehension yet something in which we are destined to participate. Indeed from one point of view eternity has already begun for us all! We are born into eternal life and death is merely our transition into a new state of being ‘in God’.

Thus we see those who have gone before us as still with us, or more precisely as the church in heaven awaiting our entry. The long tradition of prayer for those who have gone before us, and indeed asking them to pray in turn for us, is one of the hallmarks of Catholic life and devotion.

From sources such as the Encyclopaedia Britannica we can learn that the institution of a day for a general intercession for those who had died and gone before us can be traced to a monk Odilo, the abbot of the Monastery of Cluny. Abbot Odilo died in 1048, but the date set for such intercession –   November 2^nd – became practically universal before the end of the 13th century.

Of course we note too that today’s focus – on those members of the universal church who had died was chosen to follow All Saints’ Day. Thus having celebrated the feast of all the members of the church who are believed to be in heaven (the saints), the church on earth turns, on the next day, to commemorate those souls who have gone before us. Our particular focus is broad, on November 2^nd we commemorate all of the Faithful Departed, or All Souls. On this day, we pray that all those who have died. Of course we remember with love and devotion our own family and friends who have gone before us, but in faith too we extend our prayers to so many others, people we may never have met but who we pray for on this day.

Grant to all our dear departed loved ones eternal rest, O Lord.

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

Solemnity of All Saints

Scripture:

Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12a

Reflection:

The feast of All Saints is surely one of the most beautiful days in the Catholic liturgical year.  The “saints” referred to include not only the great canonized saints the Church lifts up in a formal way for our inspiration, but all of the beloved dead whom each of us know who were good and faithful people even as they were truly human with all of the normal faults and failings each of us has.  We trust that these “holy ones” enjoy the fullness of peace and joy in God’s loving presence.

But in the long tradition of the church reaching back to the New Testament itself, the designation “saint” is not limited to those who have gone before us.  When writing to his fellow Christians in the various community he had evangelized, Paul would refer to them in Greek as “hagioi”, that is, the “holy ones” or “saints.”   Paul was convinced that through baptism, every follower of Jesus was immersed in the death and resurrection of Christ.  We die to sin, that is, we are liberated from the radical power of sin and able to be alive in Christ.We become transformed by the power of God’s Spirit and become truly and fundamentally “holy.”

That is why Paul could describe the Christians in such in such remarkable ways—as being “in Christ,” as “temples of the Holy Spirit,” as “members of the Body of Christ,” as “new creations,” and as “daughters and sons of God.”  Even with our lingering failings, Paul believed we are precious in God’s eyes and capable of great virtue and holiness.  We are “saints” in this radical sense.

The Scripture readings for this great feast echo this same perspective.  This particularly true of the reading from the First Letter of John, one of most beautiful books of the New Testament.  The author reminds us at the outset that through the love of God we are able to be called “children of God.”  Our present state as beloved children of God is, in a sense, a warm-up for what we shall become: “We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”  The first account of creatin in Genesis affirms that we were made “in the image and likeness” of God, and the second account of creation describes the human being as a “bag of clay” into which God breathes the spirit of life.  John continues that biblical tradition in affirming that we “shall be like God..”

What should be the characteristics of those who bear the image of God?  The Gospel reading from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel gives us a glimpse of the qualities of those who are the “sons and daughters” of God.  They are those who adopt God’s favor for people who are vulnerable and in need: the poor, those who mourn, the meek or oppressed peoples, those who “hunger and thirst” for justice.  And they reflect the very attitudes of Jesus’ himself: merciful, clean of heart, peacemakers, willing to endure opposition and suffering in witnessing to the gospel.

The feast of All Saints that we celebrate today honors the full expanse of God’s family—those who have gone before us into the abundance of God’s love and blessing; those of us here on earth who have been endowed with God’s own image and strive to live in a way that reflects our true nature as children of God.

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.

Scripture:

Romans 8:31b-39
Luke 13:31-35

Reflection:

Our time on earth is filled with beautiful moments.  Gifts from God of incredible grandeur and also of intense simplicity flood our days and our nights.  From the Great Artist painting every sunrise and every sunset, to the flowers and trees; the love of friend and family to a joyful smile from a stranger, God showers us all with the most amazing gifts.

And yet, there are times – many, I’d venture to guess – we must face things we don’t want… times we must face things which are difficult, things which we know will hurt us.  From something as simple as a awkward conversation with a coworker, or perhaps an honest talk with a friend which hurt you, to more challenging things like standing up to a bully (of any age in life), or jumping in to protect the innocent.  Perhaps being forced to accept a medical diagnosis you just don’t want to hear, or having to watch a parent age quickly.  Losing all you have due to theft or natural disaster.  It can be as terrible as being dragged through the death of a relationship, or experiencing the dying of someone you deeply love.  These are all points when we have to stand on the rubble of the moment, and of all the past moments, and wonder about the journey, the purpose of it all, the plan God has for us.

As ashamed as I am to admit it, I sometimes try to run away.

No-one is immune from the horrors of this earthly life.  Not St. Paul, not the Psalmist, not even Jesus.  This past Sunday, Paul reflected on his situation, being imprisoned and awaiting punishment, saying “I am already being poured out like a libaton.” (II Timothy 4:6)   Today, he declares “We are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered,”  (Romans 8:36), as the Psalmist writes, “My heart is pierced within me.” (Psalm 109:22b)  Even Jesus hears the warning, “Go, leave this place, for Herod wants to kill you.”  (Luke 13:31)

As much as I’d rather run away, Jesus sets the ultimate example.

As terrifying and saddening as these statements – these realities – are, in nearly the same breath we are reminded to not lose hope, to be patient and to seek the great joy and love of God.  Jesus replies standing up and calling Herod a “fox” (the literal translation would be closer to “jackal,” an insult in ancient Greek).  He says “You go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.  I must continue on my way.”  (Luke 13:32-33a)

We can weather the storms of life with Jesus at our side, for, as the Psalmist also writes, “He stands at the right hand of the poor man to save him.” (Psalm 109:31)  Saint Paul, though, says it as completely as I think possible:

“If God is for us, then who can be against us?
All these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 8:31b, 37-39)

As Passionists, as Christians, we know the glorious dawning of life which blasts forth from the tomb of darkness.  Sometimes we have to wade through the muck – sometimes we have to be covered with manure – sometimes we must be nailed to the cross and face our trials.  But on the other side, friends, with Jesus walking with us, is joy, love, and a new life beyond all imagination.

Dear God, thank you for the gift of all the gifts you give us. Grant us the strength to stand on the rubble, hold our heads high, and look to the light as we step forward on the path laid before us. 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:

Romans 8:26-30
Luke 13:22-30

Reflection:

As I remember, my sister and I had a very loving mother.  But when I was ten years old and my sister was thirteen, our mother passed away.  Ovarian cancer.  She was forty-four.  It was a tragedy for my sister and me to lose our mother.  And it was a tragedy for our father to lose his wife.

Our mother was the second of nine children.  As time went on, our father remarried.  He married one of our mother’s younger sisters, our Aunt Mary.  Our aunt became our second mother.  And from this second marriage came a new brother.  He eventually married and blessed our family two beautiful children.

Our second mother was a woman with great faith and a loving heart.  She helped my sister and me through adolescence and was a great help to us in our adult years.  She lived to be ninety-three and left us with a lot of wonderful memories.

Looking back over that experience helps me understand what St. Paul tells us today.  “We know that all things work for good for those who love God…”  Our family loved God. And after great sadness God worked great good for us. The loss of a mother at age ten was a Calvary experience, but many Easter blessings followed.

I knew a woman who was born without any legs.  A great hardship.  She could not walk, run or dance, and do so many things that we healthy people take for granted.  But she had a good mind, received a good education, and eventually became the registrar at our major seminary.

Over the years she became the unofficial counselor to many of us who were fortunate to know her.  Her personal suffering led her to become a person of great wisdom, compassion and insight.  Those of us with strong backs could lift her and her wheelchair up over curbs and stairs. And she helped us over emotional mountains in our lives.  She loved God.  And God worked great good through her.  Again, from death came resurrection.   She now gives thanks in heaven.

The Thirteenth Station.  We see Mary holding the dead body of Jesus on her lap.  Mater Dolorosa.  That day on Calvary Mary must have cried and cried and cried…and then hoped.  She knew in her heart what St. Paul was to later write to the Romans, that “all things work for good for those who love God.”   Mary certainly loved God.  She trusted.  She waited.  And Easter came.

Whenever we face pain and sorrow, Mary inspires us to trust and hope. The power of God who raised Jesus from the dead is at work in our lives too.  Once we realize that, we will live each day with profound gratitude.   I assure you that my sister (now in heaven), my younger brother and I continue to give thanks and praise.

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