Claire Smith

Scripture:

Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12

Reflection:

“Count your blessings” was the theme of a retreat season several years ago at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Sierra Madre.  During one of my conferences, I would ask our retreatants to share a special blessing in their lives.  Their responses ranged from “my wife,” “my children,” “life,” to “faith,” “good health,” and “family.”  Wonderful blessings, all.  But, then I noted that no one said they were blessed when calamity struck, when they lost their job, or when the doctor told them they have a serious illness

All too often we fail to recognize that God blesses us at all moments in our lives – in our struggles, trials, and grief, as well as in our joys.  We have only to gaze on the crucifix, to see that it was in the moment of Jesus’ greatest suffering that he bestowed on us his greatest blessing – our redemption, and his love for us.

The beatitudes in today’s gospel make this abundantly clear.  The first four blessings are for those who are suffering.  “Blessed are the poor;” Blessed are they who mourn;” Blessed are the meek;” “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

The beatitudes also reveal another important dimension.  They too are blessed who care for and comfort those who are suffering.  “Blessed are the merciful;” Blessed are the clean of heart;” “Blessed are the peacemakers;” Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.”

It’s easy to speak of God’s blessings when all is going well.  The challenge is to recognize God’s blessings even in difficult times.  With his beatitudes, Jesus challenges his followers – and us (after all, Jesus says “blessed are you when they insult or persecute you”) – to see life from God’s viewpoint, not the world’s, and from the “mount.”  And which mount is that?  It can only be Mount Calvary, the place of the cross, the place of greatest blessing.

In issuing his beatitudes, Jesus declare we have a mission to fulfill.  That mission is to comfort one another, to alleviate pain and suffering wherever we find it.  We are called to heal, to repair this crucified world however and whenever we can.  Those are blessings we can count; blessings we can count on.

Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Genesis 3:9-15
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Mark 3:20-35

Reflection:

Dreams are an important part of our prophetic and biblical tradition, and modern psychology asserts that dreams can be indicative of issues we’re working out in our lives. Many people (in fact, 4 out of 5) have a recurring dream in which they find themselves naked in front of a crowd or as they’re walking down the street. A small percentage of these dreamers find they are quite comfortable being naked, which shows they are unafraid to tackle difficult tasks, have great confidence in their own abilities, and feel they have nothing to hide. This is the way we were meant to be, and it’s the way Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden.

Far more people experience their nakedness as a source of embarrassment or discomfort. Jungian analysis sais this can indicate things like fear of having one’s true self exposed or the realization of trying to be something one is not, fear of being vulnerable, a sense of not living up to expectations, guilt over some action or fear of having a wrong deed exposed, a sense of not being prepared for something crucial, etc. Interestingly, Adam and Eve didn’t experience any of this until they sinned. Then they realized they were naked and took action to literally and figuratively cover up. Then they had something to hide. Then they were afraid, and couldn’t truly be themselves. Then they were no longer free.

It is because of sin that we develop unhealthy pride, jealousy and envy, a desire to be better than others, and a tendency to want to locate sin and evil outside of ourselves as if no such thing exists in our own hearts. This was evident in the Gospel, for instance, when the Pharisees saw Jesus doing great things and driving out demons. They couldn’t handle the threat to their power and beliefs, and they dared not be so vulnerable as to look inside to discern what personal demons they needed to drive out of themselves. So instead they defended themselves, built walls of exclusion, and accused Jesus of being a disciple of Satan.

In reality, Jesus is the antidote to this pretension, the reminder of who and whose we are. Jesus tells us we are all worthwhile and intrinsically worthy of respect and dignity. We don’t need to be someone we are not. Even as we are challenged and coaxed to be better, we are thoroughly loved and supported just as we are.  In God’s eyes, there is not a hierarchy of lovability – even Jesus’ own mother is on a level field with anyone else who follows the will of God.

So how does this apply to me? I admit to having the “naked dream” many times in my life. Sometimes it occurs when I don’t feel sufficiently practiced for an important talk that’s coming up, and I fear failing in front of everyone. More insidious, though, are the times when I’ve been afraid to let people know what I really think or who I truly am inside for fear of being judged, being “found out” as the imperfect person I am, and being unloved. It can cause me to feel defensive and guarded, to blame others, and to build a safety net around my heart.

Yet, God calls to that tender heart within me. As I open myself to God, I have gradually experienced the reverse process of Adam and Eve.  Sometimes more easily and sometimes with great struggle, the sinful me accepts that I am worthwhile, lovable, and “enough” just the way I am. I discover anew the unconditional love and perfect acceptance of God. I realize that God created each of us (including me!) as a unique and uniquely beautiful creation, with talents and gifts that on one else has, and with no need to hide or cover up. This is good news!! If only we could hear it.

I’m still uncomfortable being naked in my dreams. But can I continue working to allow myself to be “seen” as who I am without judgment? Can I believe in my own worth, while also constantly discerning the sinful aspects of my life that need to be removed? Can I reach out to others, even those I consider haughty, hurtful, or greedy, knowing that their sins exist in me, too, and they are also worthy of respect and dignity? Can I work to change systems that require those on the margins to be unseen, unclothed, and unloved?

This seems like quite a challenge, and sometimes I feel like a really slow learner. After all, it has taken over 60 years to get me as far as I am now!  But with the help and grace of God, I’ll keep trying. It’s worth if at least some people can have just a little more Garden of Eden in their lives because of me.

Amy Florian is a teacher and consultant working in Chicago.  For many years she has partnered with the Passionists.  Visit Amy’s website: http://www.corgenius.com/.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Scripture:

2 Timothy 4:1-8
Luke 2:41-51

Reflection:

The Immaculate Heart – a Tender and Real Heart

Today we celebrate the Immaculate Heart of Mary. With yesterday’s celebration of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus we have a beautiful couplet. The origin of the feasts can be found in St. John Eudes’ (1680) devotion to the hearts of Jesus and Mary.

The readings for the 9th Saturday from Timothy and Mark show responses of the heart. The poor widow who gives from her heart is a fitting and the final weekday reading from Mark’s gospel. Monday we will begin reading Matthew. The readings for the Immaculate Heart of Mary give us the finding of Jesus in the temple from Luke.

Caryll Houselander expresses in a few words the meaning of the first part of the couplet, the Sacred Heart, ‘we are called to love others, those who do not love us, all sinners, because Jesus loves all, even those who hurt and despise him. Our hearts are to grow to the size of the heart of Jesus, full of the love of all. In the love of Jesus for us we want to love as Jesus loves.

Does it seem easier to feel and respond to the heart of Jesus that is full of boundless love than to respond with affection to an “Immaculate Heart”? Perhaps we see Mary the dawn and Christ the perfect day, Jesus the bright sun and Mary the shadowed moon? Mary the quiet woman who like the ‘reed of God’ (Caryll Houselander) is open to receive the breath of God, God’s will

In this vein today’s feast may draw us to the love of Mary, by her not calling love to herself but to her Son. Mary our mother, humble and empty before God, teaches us how we are to love God. She directs us not to herself but to her Son, such is her love. A love to imitate. Our love grows from Mary’s yes to God, her will, her Immaculate Heart. Our love for God grows as we honor Mary today.

Augustine says, Mary was more blessed having borne Jesus in her heart than in having carried him in the flesh. It is dangerous to take quotes out of context. But with Augustine’s thought, and hearing how Mary leads us to God’s love can we lose sight of the heart part of the Immaculate Heart of Mary? Can we get too heady? The abstract idea of ‘will’ becomes visible in the mess, joy, tears and touches, the shoves and embraces of daily life. The gospel tells a story that we step into, there we can join with Mary. Maybe we can use two women’s insight so we do not dissect love too much. May I conclude by offering a quote from a book published in 1945  by Maise Ward and Caryll Houselander, “The Splendor of the Rosary”.“[Finding] …Through Mary, seeking her lost son, may we be given grace always to seek for the Christ Child and always to find him. Let us find him in all children, and in all who have a child’s needs – the helpless, the sick, the simple, the aged; in all who serve and are trusting and poor; in all who are lonely or homeless. Let us too become as little children to find the Divine Child in our own hearts.” Mary is leading us to her son with a human heart full of love. That woman we love and want to love like her as she leads us to her Son.

Fr. William Murphy, CP is the pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Jamaica, New York.

Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus 

Scripture:

Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9
Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19
John 19:31-37

Reflection:

Across the centuries writers of prose and poetry have taken such liberties with the word ‘heart’, so much so that in the English language we are swamped by the use of ‘heart’ to describe so many varied situations. One can be ‘heart-broken’,  emotions can be heart-felt, one can love with all one’s heart, a cruel person can be cold-hearted and a kind person warm hearted, secrets or another person can be held in one’s heart, compassion seems to flow from the heart or when we want to speak at our deepest, most vulnerable level we speak ‘from the heart’.

Perhaps because a heartbeat is the first sound a baby ever hears (that is, the beating of a mother’s heart is very loud within the womb), we tend to unconsciously associate the heart with the reality of love, protection and belonging as well.

Of course, and this seems true across all cultures, the heart represents the life force or essence of a person.  And why not, for from the moment of its formation in our developing body within the womb till our dying breath, this muscle beats unendingly and faithfully keeping our body alive and well.

Today’s’ scriptures utilise the image of heart in similar ways. Hosea speaks of God’s heart being full of love and of God as the one who lifts an infant to his very cheek in an embrace. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians speaks of Christ dwelling in our hearts. And in our gospel text John speaks of blood and water rushing from the side of Jesus which in itself bears witness to the physical pain he bore and the heart’s role in keeping him alive till it was overwhelmed and he had breathed his last.

Today’s Feast – that of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – places our prayers within a similar, symbolic setting.  The Feast celebrates the fact that all through the gospel passages we see Jesus’ ‘heart’ revealed to us in a myriad of ways which one might best interpret not necessarily as theologians, but through the lens of a poet. Jesus feels peoples pain and is moved to reach out to them from his very heart, he constantly interprets the law and life itself through the lens of a compassion that we associated with heart-felt love of others. He is particularly attuned to the situations of women and children, the poor and dispossessed, the outcastes and sinner – all of this awareness flows from a heart full of love. His heart is our safe haven, let us welcome him into our hearts in turn.

O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. (from the prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus).

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is a member of Holy Spirit Province, Australia.  He currently serves on the General Council and is stationed in Rome.

Scripture:

2 Timothy 2:8-15
Mark 12:28-34

Reflection:

I attended a weekly community meeting the other morning where we discussed a current political issue and as is often the case, the conversation got quite lively, to put it mildly. At one point I shared my experience as a child growing up, recalling the women of my local parish collecting old sheets, cutting them up and sending them to the missions where they could be used as bandages. Another attendee responded that Catholics just want to convert everyone.  I’m afraid my response to him was not a very loving one. I snapped: “Well, I’m sure you know a lot more about that than I do.” (he’s not a Catholic) I apologized the following week admitting my response to be sarcastic and not called for and he accepted my apology.

I certainly realize why he might think that way, especially realizing I was referring to the 1950’s. We truly were a zealous church wanting to fulfill Jesus’ command to go out to all nations, baptizing them…  Certainly some people could rightfully interpret that as promotion, rather than what I believe was the true intent of those Catholic women who gathered, that is, a loving and caring for people they didn’t even know. When asked by a Pharisee in today’s Gospel selection, what is the greatest commandment, Jesus responded:

Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.” (MK 12:29-33)

I love the words attributed to St. Francis: “Preach the Gospel and when necessary use words.” I pray today that my words and actions will demonstrate the peace and love I have learned to be at the heart of the Christian message.

Dan O’Donnell is a Passionist Partner and a longtime friend of the Passionists.  He lives in Chicago. 

Feast of St. Boniface                                                                      

Scripture:

2 Peter 3:12-15a, 17-18
Mark 12:13-17

Reflection:

Our Universal Church celebrates this day the feast of Boniface, a great Missionary in Europe who was instrumental in reorganizing the church in Germany and the Frankish kingdom. Living in the eighth century as a Benedictine monk, he was sent to preach the Gospel in Germany, earning the title “Apostle of Germany.” His respect earned him greater responsibility as he was named Abbot and eventually Archbishop by Pope Zachary.  He died as a martyr when a group of barbarous pagans interrupted the confirmation of a group of neophytes.

The strongest connection I see with Boniface’s life and today’s gospel is the integrity and zeal for righteousness and truth.  As we continue today in this twelfth chapter of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus has already ascended to Jerusalem and we are in the final week of his life.  Jesus’ popularity has grown.  He has great influence over people which is threatening to the religious leaders.   The last line of yesterday’s gospel was, “They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd,”   Thus, in an attempt to discredit Jesus they concoct a plot involving a yes/no question which will lead Jesus into a trap regardless of his answer.

The question  is very straight forward.  “Is it lawful to pay the tax to the emperor or not?”    Notice how smoothly Mark mentions the Herodians, the people who would have sided with Herod and would stand with the emperor. Their purpose for being in the questioning was to witness to Jesus’ answer.  If Jesus speaks against paying taxes, Herod could charge Jesus as an act against the state.  Thus the political authorities would take care of the Pharisees’ problem.

If however Jesus says “Yes,” you must pay the tax then many who have been his followers will be disheartened by this message and they will begin falling away as Jesus’ credibility will be in question.   They hope to create a rift in Jesus’ group thus opening an opportunity for the Pharisees and Sadducees to win back some who have been influenced by Jesus.

What does Jesus do?   He understands that two is not an option.  And so he creates a third option which isn’t so limiting.   Those setting the trap never expected this.  There were only two options; Jesus creates something new.

I recognize how reflection on this reading after the lengthy seasons of Lent and Easter, and most recently our celebration of Pentecost gives a new expression to its meaning.  This really isn’t about trying to outwit your opponent when somehow the conversation leads into a Jesus talk.  It is far more about being in tune with how the spirit gives you wisdom and guidance all aspects of day to day life.  When we are in tune with that, our lives have a more pleasant sense of direction, purpose and joy.

 

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

Scripture:

2 Peter 1:2-7
Mark 12:1-12

Reflection:

All of Life is God’s Gift…and our Thanks?

Today’s first Scripture Reading from the 2^nd Letter of St. Peter invites us to ponder the wisdom – and challenge — of a rather “hidden” part of the New Testament.  Peter’s opening words:  “God’s divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power.”  Peter goes on to encourage us:  “…for this reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love.”  All life is gift…pure and simple!  Treasure the gift!

There’s a special challenge in today’s selection from Mark’s Gospel.  Mark shares Jesus’ parable of the vineyard and the evil tenants…a pointed story-with-a-message which Jesus addressed to the religious leaders of his day that were out to get Him.  The parable was a powerful indictment of those leaders who were seeking to arrest Jesus…but who also feared the increasing crowds that were attracted to Jesus’ teachings.  The “gift” of the life of Jesus was too much for those religious leaders; they rejected Him and His message of love…and they ultimately crucified Him.  The words of Jesus’ parable were on-target!

We are invited to generously respond to God’s gift in the Person of Jesus in our lives and our world.  We can half-heartedly say “yes” to His offer of love and encouragement and go our merry ways; we may even turn away from Jesus in our moments of sinfulness and selfishness, OR we can wholeheartedly embrace Jesus as our Savior and our Love.  How do we respond to Jesus these late spring days?

May we respond as did the author of Psalm 91:  “In you, my God, I place my trust.”  May God’s grace and peace be ours in abundance, through Jesus, for lives of love and generosity.  Amen!!

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

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

Scripture:

Exodus 24:3-8
Hebrews 9:11-15
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

Reflection:

I don’t know about you, but I’m really glad that we don’t have to do animal sacrifices at church and then be sprinkled with blood for our sins to be forgiven! Can you imagine the mess and stench? Thank You Jesus for shedding Your own blood for us. Not only did He pay the price because He was the perfect sin offering, the spotless Lamb, but He also gave us His Body and Blood to be our spiritual food.

How blessed are we? We are the only church that believes in the True Presence and we are even able to receive Jesus in the Eucharist every day. As always, there is a danger when we do something often – it can become rote, and lose its meaning. It’s very important to be aware of the importance of what we are doing if we go to communion every day, or anytime we go. It’s easy to miss how great a mystery happens every day on altars around the world.

I read recently in a reflection by St. Faustina that many people receive Jesus as a “dead thing” when they go to communion. Either by not believing in the True Presence, by being distracted and just going out of habit, or by not being recollected. Apparently there are many Catholics who don’t believe in or understand transubstantiation.

I googled: “How many Catholics believe in the True Presence?” This is what I found: “About half of U.S. Catholics know the official teaching, and half do not. Of the half who know it, about 90 percent believe it. So, that translates to about 46 percent of all survey respondents.” In the second article from the National Catholic Register (2015) I read: “About 65% of practicing Catholics said the Eucharist is ‘the true presence of Jesus Christ,’ but a similar number of non-practicing Catholics said it is ‘a symbol.’”

Maybe it’s time to take a good look at how we receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Let’s ask Him to help us be more aware if necessary so that we can open ourselves up to the amazing grace available to us each time we go to communion. Let’s cherish this great gift Jesus offers to us each day and never take it for granted.

One more thing – if you have never read about the Eucharistic Miracles, I invite you to do so. You will be amazed.

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].