Claire Smith

Scripture:

Zechariah 8:1-8
Luke 9:46-50

Reflection:

Today’s statement by Jesus is very startling.  “He who is least among you all is the one who is great.”  How can the least among us be great?  Aren’t the great people the rich and famous, the entertainers and sports figures, the elected politicians and business tycoons?  How can a child who just learned how to read and write and hasn’t accomplished anything yet be great?  How can a homeless person barely existing on the streets be great?  How can a humble car wash attendant be great?

The answer comes in the earlier part of Jesus statement.  “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me.”  Jesus unites himself with the poor and lowly, the “least of my people” (Matthew 25:40), as he says in Mathew’s gospel.  True greatness is not the result of accomplishments, good looks, fortune or fame.  True greatness comes from union with Jesus.  We are called to share in his greatness.

At Cana Jesus performed his first miracle, transforming ordinary water into delicious wine.  That was a sign that he came upon this earth to transform us.  He came to lift us up out of our lowly human condition and let us share in the greatness of his life.

Are you looking for Jesus?  Do you want to encounter him today?  Receive a child.  Reach out to the homeless.  Wave at the guy shining shoes.  Praise the gardener for his good work.  Call the cashier by name. Tell a joke to the waiter.  What the world calls “nobodies” are really “somebodies” in God’s eyes.  And these “somebodies” are all around us.  We can encounter Jesus all day, every day.  Wouldn’t that be great?  Wouldn’t that make us great?

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:

Haggai 2:1-9
Luke 9:18-22

Reflection:

For now, hold fast – don’t disclose my identity just yet…wait for the right time.

I have experienced moments in my life that sadden me, from the time I was a child with an abusive brother, a teen with an alcoholic parent who dragged me through the pain of divorce, to adulthood as I try to find where I belong. But, all of those moments have strengthened me, and Christ was always there by my side, through it all. Pray for his guidance for strength, patience, compassion – you are not God, there is only one, and only He can give you the calm you need – the balm to sooth what ails you.

Is he a burden to you? We struggle in our faith to stay true to His word when we become discouraged, disheartened, neglected, or we feel we have been abandoned in our faith by those who we would hope to stand true to their convictions – and in today’s world, it is incredibly difficult to remember His words as we fight our battles. He told us the path would not be easy.  But we are here for Him, we live for Him, we focus on all the good that we do in our lives, and we do all of that good for Him.

Jesus was sent by God as the Messiah – who is Jesus to you? Do you see him as a leader, father, teacher, friend – maybe a combination of several different roles? Pray for clarity in your relationship with Christ. Pray for a renewed commitment to him, through your words and deeds. Stay steadfast in your faith, as you roll through this crazy world, and you may feel you are doubting your faith.  It doesn’t matter to anyone who I say Jesus is, except to me – so, who do YOU say that he is?

Patty Masson resides in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

Haggai 1:1-8
Luke 9:7-9

Reflection:

Images of recent devastations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas and Brazil, among so many other regions of the Earth, remind us of how fragile our lives and the Earth are. Millions of our fellow human beings live at the edge of calamity that one storm, one disaster can unleash. Whether we live in the path of powerful storms or not, all that we build, all that we place our trust in, all that is supposed to protect us…it all can be washed away. A scandal, an earthquake, a virus, a hacker or gunman can take more than our money or home or innocence. They take our confidence and erode our trust.

I am like most, believing that if I do what is right (mostly) and treat people well (mostly), if I am honest (mostly) and keep the Ten Commandments (mostly), then all should be well. Natural disasters and acts of violence, however, do not discriminate saint from sinner. Wrong time, wrong place? Perhaps.

“What now? Where do we go from here?” These really are faith questions. The question of “why did this happen” might well lead us to understand changes in climate or the source of deep-seated hatred some people might have for other human beings. But the puzzle of why bad things happen to good people never gets solved. The real question is, how do I now move forward in life?

Those called to lead us in our faith journeys—just like Haggai in today’s first reading—need to tell us the truth.  Where have we erroneously placed our trust? In structures easily washed away? In privilege and clericalism that too often disappoint? Prophets of yesteryear and today remind us to anchor ourselves only in God who will never abandon us even as storms swirl around us.

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:

Amos 8:4-7
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Luke 16:1-13

Reflection:

Beloved:

First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,
petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,
for kings and for all in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life
in all devotion and dignity.
This is good and pleasing to God our savior,
who wills everyone to be saved….  1 TM 2:1-8

In my most vulnerable time, I felt the prayers of my community in a powerful way. I FELT PRAYERS, it’s hard to explain but I knew that my community was praying for me.  Literally, they were holding me up. That experience of prayer changed my prayer from a casual comment, “I will pray for you”, to a convicted action of prayer.

In 1 Timothy, today’s second reading, we are reminded of the gift of praying for each other.

Supplications: Praying with humility.

Petitions:  Praying with a request.

Thanksgiving:  Praying in thanks for God’s Abundance

If we do this, pray for all authority and everyone…then Saint Paul tells us, we will lead a tranquil life. A life that is good and pleasing to God.

That is the challenge today, to pray for all in authority, those that you like AND those you dislike, or disagree with. To pray for everyone, those that we love and those that challenge you. Pray with humility and in thanksgiving as well as with a petition.

And if you find some time, pray for me, and I will pray for all of you reading this!!

Kate Mims is the Retreat Center Director at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

Scripture:

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
Matthew 9:9-13

Reflection:

September 21 is the feast day of St. Matthew. Before he was called by Jesus to join his apostles, Matthew was a greedy and corrupt tax collector. In The Calling of St. Matthew, Caravaggio depicts the moment written about in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 9, verse 9, which reads: “Jesus saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the customs house, and said to him, ‘Follow me,’ and Matthew rose and followed Him.”

The painting above is the Call of St. Matthew, by the 16th Century Italian painter, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, now recognized as one of history’s most influential artists.

“Jesus and Peter stand on the painting’s right, the former pointing toward Matthew. But which of the cluster of men on the left is this soon-to-be saint? Some scholars have suggested it’s the man hunched over coins, noting that the bearded fellow to his right appears to be pointing his way. However, the most popular interpretation is that this bearded pointer is Matthew, his finger pointed gently to his chest. This theory would explain why the radiant light shines down on his face to show he’s chosen by the light of the heavens. Still, other scholars believe Caravaggio was purposefully ambiguous about Matthew’s identity to suggest God could call upon any of them.” (From Wikipedia, Michelangelo Caravaggio)

Spend a few moments reflecting on the painting and Jesus’ call to Matthew.

Like Matthew God is saying “follow me.” What might God be calling me to do today?

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

Memorial of Saint Andrew Kim Taegŏn, priest and martyr and Saint Paul Chŏng Hasang, martyr, and their companions, martyrs

Scripture:

1 Timothy 6:2C-12
Luke 8:1-3

Reflection:

Most of us are quite familiar with the stories of the growth of faith in the U.S. and in Europe and South America.  But stories of the introduction of our faith in Asia, though less familiar, are equally compelling.  And today we celebrate the early days of Christianity in the country of Korea on this feast of St. Andrew Taegon and Companions.  St. Andrew is a “new” saint for he was canonized by Pope Paul II.  Though St. Andrew and his Companions are new to the liturgical calendar, they are powerful witnesses to living the Gospel in real life.

St. Andrew wasn’t the first Korean Christian by a long shot.  By the time he was born in 1821, Christianity had been growing in Korea for about fifty years.  It is believed that Christianity had been brought into Korea by some Christian Japanese soldiers in the latter part of the 18th century.   The Christian Japanese soldiers baptized the first Korean Christians and the Christian community began to grow quickly.  By the time the first foreign priest arrived in Korea in 1836, there was already a substantial Christian community flourishing there.  The Korean Catholic Church is the only known Catholic Christian community that first developed completely from the witness and work of lay Christians.

The rulers in Korea were not at all pleased to have this foreign religion thriving in their country.  At first, they just discouraged it but soon enough outlawed this practice and began to actively persecute anyone who took it up.  As Christians were arrested, tortured and put to death the Church quickly moved underground

St. Andrew’s parents, members of the Korean nobility, were an important part of that early community and secretly remained faithful to their life with Christ.  Andrew was baptized at fifteen and soon expressed his desire to become a priest.  He traveled to Macau to attend the seminary and was ordained in 1845.  He was the first Korean to become a priest and returned home shortly after his ordination to help organize the Church and bring the sacraments to the faithful.  He ministered in Korea only a year before he was arrested and put to death.

There were intense persecutions of Christians in Korea in 1839, 1846, 1866 and 1867 and 103 Christians were martyred for their faith.  We celebrate these heroic martyrs on this day.

May their faith and courage inspire us to live our lives faithful to the Gospel and have the strength to be a fearless witness for Christ in our everyday lives.

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

Scripture:

1 Timothy 2:1-8
Luke 7:1-10a

Reflection:

Commentators of this passage recommend that we think of it as though it was spoken by Jesus while he was on the cross.  These words are Jesus’ words of saying “Good Bye” to his disciples.  These words are momentous.  There are like Churchill’s famous words to the British Parliament.  It is his “blood, sweat and tears” talk.  It is Garibaldi’s to his troops “All I can offer you is hunger, death, and Freedom for Italy.”

To say “Goodbye” is always difficult.  There are small “goodbyes” such as sending a child off for the first day of school.  There are the “Good Byes” when the child goes away to college.  It can be for parents like a death in the family. Every time you pass by an empty bedroom door the anguish of separation is deep.  Sometimes the only consolation one might have is to think of Mary who after thirty years she also had to let Him go.  Another Good-Bye. Hopefully, parents and child had opportunities to talk together before the leaving.

Maybe the only thing a father can say to his son or daughter is “Good Bye and grow up.”  But behind these terse words are years of sharing love, laughter, and joy.  Both know the depth of each’s love for the other.  It is memorable.

Jesus’ awareness of the Father’s love for Him and Jesus’ love for the disciples is very obvious.  And the test of the disciples love for Jesus’ is proven by their love for the Community. Jesus tells them that their love for each other is the only way they can participate in the joy that is shared by Jesus and the Father.  Jesus asks the Father not to take the disciple out of the world but remain with them and guard them and consecrate them in the Truth. The infallible sign of God in our midst is the joy and peace that comes from Jesus.  Just as Jesus perseveres in His love.  We too must persevere in love since we have been consecrated in His love. We have been consecrated for service to the world.

 

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