Claire Smith

Scripture:

1 Kings 21:17-29
Matthew 5:43-48

Reflection:

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. Matthew 5:43

A few years ago, I celebrated a home Mass for our Community of Passionist Partners in San Antonio, Texas. As all were going to celebrate Father’s Day the following day, there was a reflection on how God, being a good Father, will always offer us an opportunity to start over again. While this teaching was very well accepted in our personal lives, it was difficult to apply it to our current social situation. We are bombarded by examples of how unjust and hateful our enemies are and how difficult it is to love them. Some were saying that it is easier to forgive them than to love them. Some were feeling that in loving them, we were affirming their unjust ways.

One of the reasons why our faith is such a challenging one is because it calls us to live in ways that go counter to our feelings and our sense of justice. As long as we continue to look at Christian Love as painless and as justifiable, we will feel good about our efforts to love as Jesus loved. But the more we delve into how Jesus loved us, then the more difficult it becomes to love the way Jesus loves. We fail to understand fully the insight that Paul the Apostle had when he wrote in Romans 5:8: God proves his love for us that while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. This insight gives us great personal consolation. God’s love and Jesus’ love is unconditional.

There are no human words that will persuade us to love our enemies that way Jesus loved his enemies and gave up his life for them. All we are left with right now is the invitation to love as Jesus loved us, not in theory but in practice. We need to be able to name our enemies and make the decision to love them.

It is only with God’s help that we can do this!

Fr. Clemente Barrón, C.P. is a member of Mater Dolorosa Community in Sierra Madre, California. 

Scripture:

1 Kings 21:1-16
Matthew 5:38-42

Reflection:

The gospels operate by a different logic, a startlingly different understanding of what makes sense, and nowhere is this more vividly displayed than in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount from which today’s gospel is taken. Once again, Jesus calls us to be renegades of the conventional by completely rethinking what we take to be normal and reasonable. Outside the world of the gospel, when someone treats us unfairly—when they injure us by thoughts, words, or actions—it seems perfectly sensible to respond with more of the same. In a rough and tumble world, the logic of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” seems fitting. Similarly, to share with a neighbor in need before calculating if we can afford to give them anything at all strikes us as terribly irresponsible.

But, as he always does, Jesus turns our usual patterns of thinking and valuing upside down. In place of always settling scores, Jesus demands nonviolence and peace, forgiveness and reconciliation. And when Jesus insists that we offer a pestering neighbor our “cloak” as well as our “tunic,” he’s asking that we replace the language of “I” and “mine” with “we” and “ours.” By the logic of the gospel, instead of clinging tightly to what we own, we should regularly look for ways to share it. Indeed, in the world Jesus envisions, we should customarily give away more than we keep.

The Sermon on the Mount presents Jesus’ outline for a truly good and happy life—and we spend most of our lives resisting it. It’s hard (and more than a little scary) to replace retaliation with nonviolence, grudges with forgiveness, and our own comfort and security with joyful generosity. But deep down we know Jesus is right. There’s a revolution stirring in today’s gospel—a revolution Jesus calls the reign of God—and Jesus invites us to be part of it. How we respond to that invitation is the most important decision we will ever make.

Paul J. Wadell is Professor Emeritus of Theology & Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the Passionist Family of Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Ezekiel 17:22-24
2 Corinthians 5:6-10
Mark 4:26-34

Reflection:

In our Gospel reding for this Sunday (Mark 4:26-34), Jesus tells two parables about the kingdom of heaven. I would like to start with the second parable first. In that parable, Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. A mustard seed is tiny, but “when it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”

When I think of that image of birds dwelling in the shade of the mustard plant, I think of the church. Maybe the Church is to reflect the kingdom of God for people. And along these lines, I was drawn to the imagery we find in our first reading from the prophet Ezekiel (17:22-24). In that first reading the prophet uses the image of a great cedar tree to represent God’s promises of restoring the kingdom of Israel. Again, the image of a great cedar speaks to me of the church, and I would like to explore that with you. In these quotes the italics are mine:

This cedar “shall put forth branches and bear fruit” – As a church, we are called to bear fruit, to proclaim the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ, and meet the needs of people.

“Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it” – We are called to be a welcoming church, opening our hearts to those who are seeking some meaning in their lives; those who are hurting; those who have no voice in the world; those suffering from addiction; those who know they need to be grateful for all the blessings they have received.

“every winged thing in the shade of its boughs” – The Church is not here to “clip the wings” of its younger members or silence the voice of its prophets, but to give each a home, and share with them the wisdom of the community.

“And all of the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord, bring low the high tree, lift high the lowly tree” – For me, this is a warning to us, and a call. When we as a church get caught up in ourselves, and not in our mission, God will find a way to humble us and bring us back to Himself. When we are humble enough to know it’s not about us, but about God and about God’s children and God’s creation, God will lift us up and guide us in the way we are called to go.

I do not profess to know how God might lift us up. But as St. Paul says in our first reading (2 Corinthians 5:6-10): “we walk by faith, not by sight.” We are to put our trust in God. In the first parable Jesus tells in our Gospel reading, He uses the image of a person scattering seed “on the land.” How the seed grows and bears fruit, he doesn’t know, but when it comes time to harvest the fruit, he does. We can only scatter the seeds of God’s love in Jesus Christ, as individuals in our own lives, and together as a church. We do what we can to bring others to Jesus; to work for justice and make peace, but we can’t control other people’s response or what will happen. We can only trust that God knows better than we do.

May the Holy Spirit guide us. May we be open to bear fruit, and scatter the seeds of God’s love, wherever and with whomever we are.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Scripture:

1 Kings 19:19-21
Matthew 5:33-37

Reflection:

Sometimes the Lord surprises us with just the kind of push we need once in a while!  And not all of us like surprises either! 

Samuel was in the cave and the Lord called him several times.  Thinking it was Eli, who was also in the cave, he ran to him, but the wise old man told him to return to his bed.  It happened again and then again.  Finally, the holy man told him that him that if he heard the voice once more, simply say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”  And, thus, we have the call of Samuel, who would do great things for the Lord and his people. 

Today, in our reading from 1^st Kings, once again we have the Lord calling another great soul to follow him.  This time it is Elijah who was also in a cave, feeling very despondent and frustrated about how he was seemingly unable to convince the people to place their belief in the one true God.  He needed help!  And with God’s grace, he found that help in Elisha, a hard worker who was being called to leave all things and follow the prophet, which is to say, to follow the Lord.  What is so wonderful about this call is that Elisha knew that he could not delay.  He knew he could not hesitate.  The task before him was to leave all things immediately, to hurry home and kiss his father and mother, which is about getting their blessing, and then to go forth without a second thought.  His call was to trust and to respond wholeheartedly.  And he did. 

Surprisingly, dear friends, it is no different for us today.  The Lord continues to call us but the hard part is to listen.  Now, it is true, no one dwells in a cave awaiting the Lord’s call.  Instead, we find ourselves in a world that is so much with us, and so very full of noise and distraction.  

My ministry at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center in Detroit is all about inviting people of all ages to come and to listen, to stand still and to free themselves of all the distractions that keep us from hearing the voice of the Lord.  Day after day, week after week, we are so blessed here at the retreat center to watch what happens to so many people who are courageous enough to simply tune out of all the media and noise, and to open their hearts to the wondrous voice of the Lord.  And the Lord speaks!  Again and again.  And he will for you, as well, but first, dear friends, like the prophets of old, we have to be still.  We have to trust and let go.  We have to listen!  And when he speaks, we have to be ready to respond as did those holy ones of old:  “Speak, O Lord, for we, your servants are listening!”

Fr. Pat Brennan, C.P. is the director of Saint Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

1 Kings 19:9a, 11-16
Matthew 5:27-32

Reflection:

As empowering and liberating as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount was, he made no bones about adultery and divorce. “Tear out your right eye,” he said. “Cut off your right hand,” he said.

Gee, that sounds a little harsh, we might respond.

Among the sacraments, the commitment made at marriage is more than a wish or a hope. It’s a covenant, a profound promise, a vow. It is something more sacred than almost any other promise: a solemn promise witnessed by a packed church of witnesses and, dare we forget, by God himself.

Self-mutilation was more likely a metaphor, but why might Jesus have suggested mutilation at all?

Let us think about the children born of the vowed marriage. When divorce happens—often because of adultery—let us reflect on the thousands of books written by adults whose memoirs detail the lifelong pain that resulted from their parents’ divorce. Divorce scars the psyches of children and their adult selves. It engenders brutal destruction: the destruction of their belief system, trust in other human beings, confidence, and one’s entire belief system. The children might witness their role-modeling parents disintegrate into shallow versions of themselves. They can feel abandoned entirely for a lifetime. The feelings inside the mind, heart, and soul might be illustrated as the pillars of the Parthenon crumbling in front of their eyes. The ground has collapsed. There is no longer any centeredness.

So, yes, who among us, when breaking a solemn vow or not working hard enough to avoid adultery and divorce, would not look back and say, “If I could have prevented this devastation on my children by tearing out an eye or cutting off a hand, does that sound so harsh?”

Jack Dermody is the editor of the CrossRoads bulletin for the Passionist Alumni Association and a member of the Migration Commission for Holy Cross Province. He lives in Glendale, Arizona. 

Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua

Scripture:

1 Kings 18:41-46
Matthew 5:20-26

Reflection:

Today’s gospel continues moving through the Sermon on the Mount. Here we are presented with the first of six “antitheses,” which essentially are a fuller understanding of the Commandments. We recall in 5:17-19, Jesus affirms that he has come to fulfill and not abolish the Law. Therefore, having stated its basic principles, he now offers six concrete examples of how Christian justice is expressed and lived. We recognize the familiar pattern of “you have heard it said…but I say to you” as he invites us to a deeper reflection on each one.

In this text Jesus is asking us not to move too swiftly beyond the commandment, “You shall not kill” but to reflect on the movements involved that result in this action. We pause to realize that the act of committing murder generally doesn’t happen in isolation. While the act of taking a life is never our desire, most of us can relate to being angry with another person and even to name-calling—even if only in our thoughts. I know, for example, silly little things like someone who cuts me off as I drive along or rudely jumps the line in a crowded grocery store finds me challenged to keep my attitude in line. Normally, I can let these things go, however, if I’m late for an appointment or stressed about getting my errands finished, it can easily unravel all my good intentions.

So, Jesus is asking us to consider our actions against another in an attitude of “nip it in the bud“ because lack of care, respect, and appreciation of our brother and sister kills. Maybe not physically but spiritually, it creates a rupture in relationships and increases the darkness. This idea paints a whole different understanding of our responsibility towards another, and I know that I am guilty of this “crime” daily…hourly, even.

Notice how the directive to be reconciled centers around ritual worship. “Therefore, if you bring your gifts to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gifts at the altar and go first to be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (v. 23-24). Throughout the Old Testament, God insists on authentic, heartfelt gift offerings, Jesus is highlighting the same by encouraging self-reflection.  Reconciliation is key to offering an authentic gift at the altar when we do so with our hearts fully engaged. In taking care to heal any breach in relationships, we increase the light of Christ.

In reality, there may be times when our request for forgiveness is rejected. Some wounds can take longer than others to heal, and we can feel at the mercy of another. However, in reaching out, we begin the process of reconciliation regardless of how much time it may take. Essentially, it’s our call to work towards unity and right relationship. God desires our full flourishing as humans living lives on this one planet. How beautiful to know that this directive is not only for the person I may have hurt but also for me. In repairing bonds, we bring the kingdom of God among us. On this feast of St. Anthony, we pray to find forgiveness, healing, and wholeness. That is certainly not a lost cause!

Jean Bowler is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California, and a member of the Office of Mission Effectiveness Board of Holy Cross Province.