Claire Smith

Scripture:

Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
John 17:20-26

Reflection:

No doubt the Chief Priests and whole Sanhedrin were excited to have a chance to get Paul condemned by Roman authority but surely they must have also been a bit nervous.  After all, the top Roman military commander of their area was personally bringing Paul before them to hear their complaint.  And, the Pharisees and Sadducees had no great love for Roman authority.  But, now was their chance to get Paul condemned and hopefully executed.  So they were ready.

Paul, too, was ready.  He knew that while they were united in their desire to get him condemned, their unity was a fragile thing because there were many other issues about which they vigorously disagreed.  So, as soon as he stood before their condemning eyes, he launched his plan.  “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.”  Resurrection of the dead was a belief firmly held by the Pharisees but hotly denied by the Sadducees.  So the in-fighting began.

The argument became so heated that the military commander grew fearful for Paul’s life so had his troops rescue Paul from the room and bring him to safety, leaving the mayhem in the Sanhedrin going full blast.

Every time I read this account of Paul’s quick thinking, it reminds me of the many internal disagreements we experience in the Church.  We have our factions and our arguments about sometimes important but often enough not essential issues.  We condemn those who don’t agree with us and sometimes treat them with disrespect and even contempt.  We wrap ourselves in our convictions and are confident that those who don’t share our every belief are unworthy.

Paul was a man of deep conviction and strong beliefs.  Yet, he could acknowledge that he had been wrong in his beliefs about Jesus and he could embrace those he had once condemned.  At first he was convinced that the followers of Jesus were heretics and should be condemned, even to death.  After his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, he realized that Christ was the fulfillment of God’s revelation.  And that was just the beginning of the changes in his life.  He continued to grow in his understanding, changing his views on the law, moving beyond the Jewish community to the Gentiles, and recognizing in the sufferings and death of Christ the path to true life for all believers.  Paul is a remarkable example of someone with strong faith who could still really listen to the voice of God coming to him through the people in his life.

We are challenged every day to give an account of our faith.  Unlike the Pharisees and Sadducees, we must not get caught up in internal squabbles and self-righteous condemnations of others but give visible witness to God’s love for all peoples.   May God give us a loving heart.

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is on the retreat team at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

 

Scripture:

Acts 20:28-38
John 17:11b-19

Reflection:

In our yearly liturgical calendar, this is an in-between week whereby we sit in a void between Jesus’ departure while awaiting the power and conviction of the Holy Spirit.  We do this every year.  And for some, this absence  intensifies their desire to call out,  “Come Holy Spirit!”     I reflect on these readings today having celebrated graduations for the past couple of weeks.  Graduations, after all, are times of transition.  Graduates have worked to accomplish all their requirements, and then in a single celebration, they have to move on.    In some ways, this is the story Luke shares with us in the first reading today. We find Paul taking leave from the people he loves in Emphasis.

As I have witnessed leave-taking with graduations, there are plenty of stories which both connect the group together and give definition and identity.  The class belongs together because of the common experiences they hold.  And many of these events defined who they are.   And it’s easy to predict that when their class anniversaries roll around,  the stories which defined their time together will be retold several times over.  Additionally, there is always talk about the future, as uncertain as it may be.

It makes so much sense that Luke would include these elements of Paul’s leave-taking.  His love for the Church of Ephesus is portrayed in his teachings, and his willingness to endure hardships. He speaks of the future, knowing Paul can’t protect them from all the things that will be coming their way.  But he does have the ability to “commend them to God”.   Luke doesn’t have Paul simply walking out of the picture into the sunset like a spaghetti western.  Before the elders walk Paul back to the ship, He reconnects them with prayer, just like we find Jesus doing in today’s Gospel.  Indeed,  Jesus’ prayer is his preparation to take leave as he entrusts his little ones into his Father’s care.

Similarly, Paul does the same:

When he [Paul] had finished speaking
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They were all weeping loudly
as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,
for they were deeply distressed that he had said
that they would never see his face again.
Then they escorted him to the ship.

Maybe it is our turn to think a little about how we take leave of others.  And even as those events happen, we may be surprised to find we can still remain connected to them.   If by chance, you want to go a little deeper, ponder how deeply you are connected because of Jesus’ prayer to his Father for you.

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is the pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Acts 20:17-27
John 17:1-11

Reflection:

Love, Love, Love!

We’re deep in the home stretch of the Easter Season, with the celebration of Pentecost just days away.  Today’s Scriptures challenge us to let the Good News of Jesus Risen come alive in us and through us to meet the challenges of life in the 21^st Century…the Church on the grow.

The Gospel selection is part of the beautiful priestly prayer of Jesus as presented by John the Evangelist.  Jesus is in heartfelt prayer to His Father, with love and devotion flowing forth in His words.  That love overflows into Jesus’ tender love for all of us…those He came to love and serve.

No doubt St. Paul did his human best to follow Jesus’ example of selfless love and service.  The reading from Acts shares a sermon Paul preached to the leaders of the Church he founded at Ephesus.  Paul speaks of his bold yet humble service of the Good News of Jesus…not valuing his own life but fulfilling the mission given him as a disciple.  As he says:  the future?  Who knows?

Both Jesus and His disciple Paul witness dedication to God and service of God’s people…love in the best sense!  It’s our ideal and goal for all of us, whatever our vocation:  Love God…and Love Neighbor.

Jesus is Love personified, and these days He invites us to follow Him…in good times and not-so-good times, in health and in sickness, and never for selfish motives but always in service of God’s glory and the good of our sisters and brothers.  The “vision” of Jesus in the Eucharist and on the Cross of Calvary inspire us to hold nothing back as we “run the race” of Christian life in the 21^st Century.

As the Passionists of Holy Cross Province gather these days for the 35^th Provincial Chapter and seek to shape their Vision and Program for the coming years, may we join in prayer that the Holy Spirit may fill us with generous love and a heartfelt enthusiasm for credibly sharing the Good News of Jesus Crucified.  May God be glorified in our thoughts, words and deeds!

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is a member of the Passionist community in Chicago, Illinois. 

Scripture:

Acts 19:1-8
John 16:29-33

Reflection:

“’Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They answered him, ‘We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’” Acts 19:2

Does this sound like the church today? Actually, I think most Catholics know there is a Holy Spirit, I’m just not sure they know how much the Holy Spirit can help them in their everyday lives. I know that’s how it was for me when I moved to Chico, California, and met some people who were living a lot like the disciples in Jesus’ time. They intrigued me, and I wanted what they had.

Every baptized person has access to the same Holy Spirit. Anyone can go deeper with God by just inviting the Spirit to take over. I recently read about a bishop in South America who said he won’t ordain a new priest who isn’t already baptized in the Holy Spirit, meaning they are aware of the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit and have invited the Holy Spirit to work in their lives.

There is a program currently airing online called the Wild Goose Series by Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR. He explains how the Holy Spirit works, and how we all need the Holy Spirit in our lives. Jim and I are actually on the road as I type this to go see him in person in Oregon City, Oregon. It is his last public conference for now as he was just named the President of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.

When I first started walking in the Spirit, I felt very close to God, and had conversations daily with Him. The Holy Spirit taught me so much and helped me grow in many areas where I was struggling… like  worry, fear, trust and raising our kids to know Jesus. Now, 40 years later and as a grandmother of six, I struggle a lot more in my prayer life, and in hearing from God.

The training wheels are off, and I need to walk by faith more. God is the same, but I am not hearing from Him as easily as I used to. It’s like when our kids are little and we are right there helping and teaching but when they grow up, we have to let them find their own way.

When we find ourselves in this new chapter of life, we are being challenged to go even deeper, and to continue doing what we know to do – go to Mass as often as we can, take time to pray every day, read the Bible and keep believing all the way home to heaven.

Janice Carleton and her husband Jim live in Bainbridge Island, Washington,  and partner with Passionist Fr. Cedric Pisegna in Fr. Cedric Ministries. She is the mother of 4 grown children and grandmother of 6. Janice also leads women’s retreats and recently published her second book: God IS with Us. Visit Janice’s website at http://www.janicecarleton.com/ or email her at [email protected].

The Ascension of the Lord

Scripture:

Acts 1:1-11
Ephesians 1:17-23 or Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23
Luke 24:46-53

Reflection:

In the Eastern Church there is a story of Satan trying to regain entry into Heaven. He sees his chance in the days between Jesus’ death and resurrection and the moment of his eventual return to the Father. Thus before the ascension of the Lord, that is before Jesus re-enters Heaven, the story goes that Satan disguises himself as the risen Jesus, rushes towards heaven and attempts entry.

As he approaches the gates of heaven he announces himself to the angel guarding the gates and claims that he is Jesus risen. The guardian angel simply says – ‘if you are Jesus risen, show me the wounds of your Passion’. And of course the devil has omitted to mark his body with the signs of the suffering and death of Jesus – signs which are also part of his glorified and risen new life. So Satan’s plan fails because he has omitted to relate the return of Jesus to the realm of heaven from his mission to bring the Good News to us, a mission which culminated in his suffering and death for us.

So we might focus on today’s feast in light of its wider meaning.

Indeed in earlier times the feasts of the Ascension of the Lord, Pentecost and the Resurrection day itself were seen as merely elements of the one great feast Easter.

In such a light it is possible to see today’s Feast – The Ascension – as a part of the great mystery of the resurrection. So although this feast has a separate focus it is but one part of a greater mystery.

If we now turn to the gospel chosen for today’s liturgy we can reflect more precisely on the scene depicting Jesus’ return to the Father.

Immediately we see that the gospel invites us to listen once again to the message of Jesus. In his final encouragement and direction to the disciples Jesus commissions them to preach and to witness to a message of reconciliation. They, and we today, are to be about creating harmony, community and peace amongst peoples and to free them of burdens that might threaten to overwhelm them. But Jesus goes further, for the disciples are not be alone in this mission, rather they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who will fill them with power from on high.

The response of the disciples is one of prayerful gratitude. And perhaps that is a key message for us too.

As with the first disciples, so too with us. We are not alone in continuing the mission of Jesus, we have the Spirit to guide us and we are given the very same commission. Let us go about continuing the work of Jesus confident that the Spirit will guide and direct us in very moment of this service.

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

 

Scripture:

Acts 18:23-28
John 16:23b-28

Reflection:

Several years ago, I was invited to give a series of presentations on Scripture in the Diocese of Arusha in Tanzania.  During my stay, one of the Spiritan Missionaries took me to visit some of the remote mission stations on the outskirts of the diocese.  The heavy winter rains turned the unpaved roads in the region to a sea of mud, so travel to these areas was restricted to the dry season.  By necessity, the opportunity for the Spirit missionaries to visit some of these regions was sometimes only after many weeks of absence.  We visited one small village where the missionary wanted to see how a young man (named Paul, by the way) was doing who had only recently expressed interest in Christianity.  To his amazement, he learned that this very new convert was away preaching the gospel in the surrounding villages.  Since the man had had very little instruction, the priest wondered what exactly this Paul was preaching!

I thought of that story when reflecting on the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles assigned for today.  We are introduced to Apollos, also a recent convert and an eloquent preacher from Alexandria.  He was full of zeal, but his knowledge of Christianity was very limited—he had not even heard of Christian baptism!  Fortunately, Pricilla and Aquila, the couple who worked with Paul in Corinth and became valuable fellow missionaries with him, were able to “take him aside” and instruct Apollos “more accurately” in the Way of God.  With their gracious assistance, Apollos would go on to become a powerful missionary in his own right.

Today the Church remembers Justin, who was martyred in the 2^nd century and left a strong impact on Christian memory.  Justin was born in Samaria, the Jewish region situated between Judea to the south and Galilee to the north.  The Gospels remember Samaria where Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman at the well, and the Acts of the Apostles notes that in the early years of the church Christian missionaries from Jerusalem proclaimed the gospel there.

Justin became a Christian after several years of trying to find meaning in Greco-Roman philosophy, but never with full satisfaction.  By chance, Justin encountered an elderly Christian whose wisdom and fervor convinced him that the truth he was earnestly seeking could be found in the Scriptures and in the person of Jesus Christ.  Later he would see that the quest for truth on the part of these ancient philosophers was also worthwhile if incomplete.  Justin became an ardent teacher of the Christian faith, stressing its truthfulness and beauty.  He and some of his pupils met martyrdom in Rome around 162 A.D.

The experience of Apollos and Justin remind us how much we all count on each other to help us be genuine Christians.  Today we might all think back to how the example and encouragement of good people and faithful believers have influenced us and helped us find the truth that counts.

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.

 

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Scripture:

Zephaniah 3:14-18a or Romans 12:9-16
Luke 1:39-56

Reflection:

This Feast Day marks the moment when, after the Annunciation, Mary left Nazareth and went over the mountains south of Jerusalem to Hebron to be with her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with blessed John (the Baptist).  The Gospel describes Elizabeth as being “filled with the Holy Spirit,” as she “cried out in a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”  Even her unborn child “leaped in her womb” at the arrival of the Blessed Mother, who was carrying Jesus inside.

And then Elizabeth says something, which resonates deeply in my heart:

“And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”  ~Luke 1:43

Elizabeth’s declaration of who Mary is, and who the baby is in her womb, is prophetic!  But it’s her humility that strikes most profoundly.  How is it possible that I could be worthy enough to have Mary and Jesus come and stay with me?  I’m a sinner – a professional mistake-maker… Surely there are people who deserve this blessing more than I do.

I’m reminded of a parallel with this and Zacchaeus.  Remember Zacchaeus?  He was a tax collector who, as Jesus was passing by, climbed up a tree so he could catch sight of him.  Jesus stopped, turned to him, and said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”  (Luke 19:5)  At that time, tax collectors were considered some of the worst and most dishonest  sinners there were.  Fully knowing this, Jesus still asked for entry into his home, into his life, into his heart.  And he was healed… he was transformed.

Another passage which jumps into my head is in Mathew 8, when Jesus intends to go to a centurion’s home to heal someone there.  The centurion’s response in verse 8 is one that we prayerfully repeat at every single mass before we approach to receive the Eucharist:  ““O Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”  And again, Jesus transformed, Jesus healed.

No matter our situation or history, no matter how much a sinner, no matter how good a mistake-maker we are, Jesus wants to visit us.  Jesus wants to heal us.  Jesus wants to make himself known to us in the most intimate way.  If only we had eyes open enough to recognize him.

How often have we been visited by Mary, or for that matter, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit?  How often have we overlooked or ignored their appearances in our lives?  I do it all the time.  But God is everywhere, at all times, especially when we least expect it.  As the poet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, writes: “Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God.  But only he who sees takes off his shoes; the rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”

God appears to us all the time, in every moment.  Jesus is constantly waiting – standing at the door of our hearts, knocking and begging to be let in, always waiting to save – if only we would make room and let him in. If only we would take the time to open our eyes and look around, we’d find God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary, and all the Saints and Angels are waiting to visit us and take up residence in our hearts and souls.  Perhaps in great earthquakes, or perhaps in a tiny whispering sound… no matter how they arrive, we are blessed with the most divine houseguest.

Mary brought Jesus to Elizabeth, and then Mary brought Jesus to the world.  And now they’re knocking… Won’t you open the door and let them in?

Dear God, thank you for the gift of your presence.  Grant us the grace to fling open the doors of our hearts and make a place where you can live.  Jesus, live in me. Amen.

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