Claire Smith

Scripture:

Isaiah 29:17-24
Matthew 9:27-31

Reflection:

One of our men in the Passionist Mexican Province of Cristo Rey writes his own kind of “blog” to those who ask to be on his mailing list. Rather than using blog-software, he simply sends an e-mail narrative of his week’s ministry and reflections on his Passionist vocation of service to the poor. He also includes a batch of 4-7 pictures to help those unfamiliar with his area of Mexico to visualize what he writes about.

In this last week’s installment, he spoke of how Advent is divided into two parts. The first part, from the First Sunday of Advent to December 16, features the contextual scripture passages that are seemingly cosmic in scope. The human race earth yearns for its savior who will restore the hierarchy of God among believers. Peoples’ fortunes have transited from power and victory to weakness and subjection…and back! Human history seems as fickle as any human being can be.

However, from December 17 to Christmas Eve, he tells us that the Church’s Advent liturgical prayer focuses on the Savior who is to be born. The marvelous “O Antiphons” of the Vesper prayer inspire us to hope for the transformation about to enter into the human way of life through the Incarnation of Jesus.

The first reading, from Isaiah reminds us of this longing for a day of deliverance from the tyranny of sinfulness…”And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

The Gospel passage from Matthew, the restoration of sight to blind persons, puts an exclamation point on the hopes of the human race, Our Savior will respond to our need out of the measure of our faith.

As we move forward in the Advent time of 2016, we see the pressing need around us to become a people of hope and confidence that in the measure of our faith, is the measure of our share in the Incarnational gift of this holy season.

Fr. Arthur Carrillo, C.P.,  is the director of the Missions for Holy Cross Province.  He lives in Chicago, Illinois. 

Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle

Scripture:

Romans 10:9-18
Matthew 4:18-22

Reflection:

Did you know that half the bones in our body are in our feet?  Amazing things, our feet.  They enable us to stand and not fall over. With our feet we dance, play football, or kick the can.  Some people stand in the footlights, get a foothold, or are just footloose.

There are footmen, foot soldiers, and footnotes. Sometimes we put our best foot forward, put our foot in your mouth, foot the bill, or live in the foothills.

Amazing things, our feet. The most amazing thing about feet, be they small or big, dainty or calloused, is that they can be…the feet of Christ.  It was Teresa of Avila who said that.  She said,

“Christ has no body but yours…
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours.”

In our first reading today from Isaiah, we heard the words, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings.” (Isaiah 52:7)

Today we honor St. Andrew who was the first to hear and answer the Call of Jesus and walk with him.  St Andrew would eventually go on to use his feet to bring good tidings to many places.  How beautiful was that!

According to Wikipedia, “Eusebius in his church history 3,1 quoted Origin as saying that Andrew preached in Scythia. The Chronicle of Nestor states that he preached along the Black Sea and the Dnieper river as far as Kiev, and from there he traveled to Novgorod. Hence, he became a patron saint of Ukraine, Romania and Russia.”  

May the example of St. Andrew inspire us to walk with Jesus.  May we go forth each day using our feet (and our hands, eyes and bodies) in the service of the gospel.  “Christ has no body now but yours.”

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:

Isaiah 11:1–10
Luke 10:21–24

Reflection:

Father . . . for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Luke 10:21

 We are in the first days of Advent and the scriptures continue to challenge us to see life in a new light. Isaiah reminds us of the gifts of the Holy Spirit; “wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord”.

Gifts, this is the season for gift giving, and children and adults alike are making their gift suggestions to Santa or family and friends. And God has gifts to give as well. Many gifts to give and all we need to do is to take time to ask through prayer and reflection. We need to be “childlike” in our request. A child is curious, willing to try something new, sees the world as a place to explore and learn about. So too for our faith life. To be curious enough about our faith that we want to learn something new about the scriptures, Church teachings, or a new way to pray. To want to explore our world to ask about other faith traditions, cultures or try some different food. We don’t know what gift we have been given until we unwrap it and start playing with it or using it. When we are “childlike” we can see new possibilities to the world around us. God gives us courage, wisdom, understanding, strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord. (Just another way of saying wonder and awe.)

A gift that has been given to me this Fall came through my eldest stepson’s motorcycle accident. He was very fortunate to have only broken his right knee cap and right upper arm. He lives alone and needed care. Over that past two and a half months he has given me the gift of being a mother figure. Something I have not had an opportunity to experience. The changing of bandages, making him comfortable as best as could happen, picking up things at the pharmacy, cooking supper and learning a new card game which was not Old Maid or Go Fish. I have a good idea of what he likes for meals and he is into online gaming. He has introduced me to Game of Thrones, which now I am addicted to, and the watching of various car shows and formula one racing. It is now coming to an end this week when he returns to his home and my life returns to the routine I had before his stay with us. Or maybe not. Time to reflect on the many gifts this experience has given me. Perfect timing for Advent!

What experiences have changed you? How will this Advent be different from past ones?

Linda Schork is a theology teacher at Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Isaiah 4:2-6
Matthew 8:5-11

Reflection:

On November 24, 2013, Pope Francis issued a pastoral exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (“The Joy of the Gospel”) which urged a joyful proclamation of the Gospel to the world.  On this Monday of the First Week of Advent, our scriptures are filled with words of joy.

“For over all, the Lord’s glory will be shelter and protection:
Shade from the parching heat of day,
Refuge and cover from storm and rain.”   IS 4:5-6

Our Lord gives us shelter protecting us from the elements that can cause us distress.  Our God is a refuge from the storms that interrupt our lives.

‘Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.  PS 122

The responsorial psalm we pray today reminds us of the peace and joy which can be found in the house of the Lord.  As we journey through these days of Advent, let us set our focus on spreading this message of peace and joy among God’s people.

“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.”

In the Gospel of Matthew, we find Jesus approached by the centurion with a request to heal his son who lay ill.  In response, Jesus was willing to go to his home and cure the boy.  The faith of the centurion amazed Jesus prompting him to single him out and cure the boy from afar.  Is our faith as strong as that of the centurion?

Can we take time this Advent to rest in the shelter of God’s love and protection amidst the busyness of the season?  Will we take time this Advent to share the peace and joy of the Lord?  Is our faith as strong as that of the centurion?  Will anyone notice, especially our God?

In our parish, the theme of this Advent season is:

The Joy of the Lord Transforms

For the past year we as a nation have been surrounded by so much negativity and division it has made us a wounded and frazzled people!  May this Advent season be a time of renewed faith, hope and love as we rest in the joy of the Lord which transforms us so that we are truly able to enter into and celebrate the joy of the miracle to be found in the birth of that small child in that stable in Bethlehem!

Blessed Advent to All!

Theresa Secord is a Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.

First Sunday of Advent

Scripture:

Isaiah 2:1-5
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:37-44

Reflection:

I love Advent. Maybe it’s the anticipation and hope of being closer to God by the time it ends. Maybe it’s the wonderful quotes from Isaiah in the readings combined with our own hope for a better world. Or maybe it’s just plain old anticipation of better things to come amidst the uncertain and ominous signs of our times.

Advent promises change.  Advent opens up the possibility of somehow softening my own heart in the presence of God.  On this beautiful fall day in Louisville, with a hint of winter in the air, I raise my arms to the heavens and join in singing an old hymn, “Here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it, Seal it for thy courts above.”  “Whoa there Terry!  Looks like you’re missing the tree for the decorations.”

Advent creates new visions.  Advent offers the vision of a world where we all stand with and support the crucified of the world.  Advent calls me to stand with immigrants.  Advent invites me to stand up for those who are discriminated against in our world and then steers me toward those who are in poverty.  Advent propels me to take a stand for justice in an often unjust world.  Advent demands that I “beat my sword into a plowshare and my spear into a pruning hook” declaring that violence of any kind is not an answer to any issue.

Advent is not 4 weeks of fantasy.  Advent requires real change of heart.  Pretty hymns, poetic words and sentimental feelings are not enough.  They can be a distraction.  Advent is hard and risky work.  So as I reflect at the beginning of this beautiful season, I remind myself that changing my heart will be an uncomfortable and challenging process.  Join me in prayer.

Let us pray for one another as Passionists, that during Advent we may open ourselves to real change in our lives, in our hearts and especially in our actions!

Terry McDevitt, Ph.D. is a member of the Passionist Family in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Revelation 22:1-7
Luke 21:34-36

Reflection:

Today is the last day of the Liturgical Year, and the readings selected for today’s Mass certainly reflect this moment. The scriptures call us to be attentive, to stay awake, and to be prepared to see the Son of Man when he comes in judgment.

Images of the “end times” that fill the Book of Revelation bump up again to the call in the Advent readings tomorrow to prepare a place for the Lord in our hearts, homes, and communities. This juxtaposition of the final days with hope for a new day may have even more meaning for us today who look around anxiously at our world to see the seams of civil society coming a part. Discourse gives way to name-calling. “We” are becoming “us” versus “them.” Community gives way to fear of those who look or pray or speak differently that we do.

Perhaps this transition to Advent comes at a purposeful time. We look around at all the divisions and ask, “What can bring us together? Where is our Savior?” No politician, no social policy, no national boundary can give us what we really need and deeply want.

We must believe that it is Jesus who heals and forgives. It is Jesus who calls us to community and service. It is He who welcomes the stranger and sits with sinners. We place our trust in Him and Him alone. We might well be feeling we are in the midst of the “end times” as expressed in scripture or in today’s newspaper or newscast. But we are called now to move into Advent with hope to find the one who is the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, God-with-Us, Jesus our Lord.

Robert Hotz is a consultant with American City Bureau, Inc. and is the Director of The Passion of Christ: The Love That Compels Campaign for Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Revelation 20:1-4, 11-21:2
Luke 21:29-33

 

Reflection:

Proof Is in the Pudding

 Luke’s twenty-first chapter begins with Jesus’ commentary on the contribution of the poor widow (temple base treasury). Scripture scholars remind us that Jesus is not praising or commending the action of the woman — actually, an imprudent decision, to give away the last of one’s financial base — rather, he’s condemning a policy that requires or expects such giving. From there, Luke 21 continues with Jesus foretelling the destruction of the temple, signs of end times, the coming persecution, the great tribulation, and the exhortation to be vigilant. Today’s narrative around the lesson of the fig tree is sandwiched within these foreboding verses, passages we always ponder at the end of the church year.

Throughout the pages of the four Gospels, Jesus is repeatedly presenting a paradigm shift, what contemporary writer Brian McLaren calls a “disruptive spirituality.”  In the early chapters of John’s Gospel, for example, Jesus “cleanses the temple,” overturning not merely pigeons and coins and tables, he is disrupting the entire religious institution. He outrageously states that the corrupted temple (of a violent and vengeful God demanding appeasement and sacrifice) will be destroyed and replaced by another, living temple. In the next chapter Jesus continues with this language of disruption, telling Nicodemus that in spite of all his learning and his status, he needs to go back and start all over, to be born again, a most suitable image for disruption. Then he tells a Samaritan woman that the location of worship doesn’t matter at all! What matters is not the temple or location, but the attitude or spirit of the person.

In some ways, the recent presidential election has forced me to review my own spirituality, to articulate afresh what I actually believe. Perhaps it is in the difficult times that we are disciplined to clarify our faith… when the “rubber hits the road.”  And once again we must “reconfigure” things… knowing that our spirituality must be as practical as the lessons of nature… mustard seeds, yeast, precious pearls, fig trees. The proof is in the pudding.

Fr. Jack Conley, C.P. is a member of the Passionist formation community at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Thanksgiving Day (USA)

Scripture:

Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a
Luke 21:20-28

 

Reflection:

Anatomy of Thanksgiving

 “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”   1 Thessalonians 5: 18                           

This imperative of SS shows us how important thanks is to us.   It is not an option but an authoritative requirement.   But what do we mean by Thanksgiving.   In Scripture the dominate word for thanks is eucharisteō in original Greek New Testament.  The verb and noun are used 83 times!

The word means eu good or beautiful and chaírō joy.  The gift given is both beautiful and gives me great joy.  To be thankful in Scripture is to appreciate the wonderfulness and beauty of the gift.  In doing this we praise or acknowledge the giver.   Now “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights”. James 1:17

Appreciation becomes extremely important to the notion of gratitude.   We can have little thanks if we have little knowledge of the gift!   For example. if I realize I was the size of a sesame seed at 5 weeks and God in His wonder brought me to adulthood I would be grateful indeed!   Life is a breathtaking miracle that not even the smartest biologist in the world can understand thoroughly or much less create!  So we praise God the Creator of our life in thanksgiving.

In Hebrew the word thanks is expressed by admiring the giver.  Almost always the word used for thanks in the OT is really praise (yādâ).   So if someone prepares a great meal for you, you would not say thanks but praise the cook!

Everything we have in life is a gift from our Father in Heaven “for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Mt 5:45   All creation is an effect of God’s word to us.  “Every creature is a word of God!” Eckhart   The anatomy of thanksgiving comprises a comprehension of a gift of the beauty of God in all His works!  True gratitude is expressed in one who has a taste of God in all His works.

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.