Claire Smith

Scripture:

Philemon 7-20
Luke 17:20-25

Reflection:

Last winter my 84-year-old Uncle Joe was diagnosed with inoperable stage IV lung cancer and given a prognosis of a few months to live. Although doctors said they could try a last-ditch chemotherapy regimen that might extend it a bit, Joe chose to live the remainder of his time with as much quality of life as he could achieve. He gathered his children, shared stories and memories, and decided who would receive what after their dad died. Joe wrote letters to friends, forgave foes, and got his affairs in order.  He did all the things that were important, talked to all the people he loved, and wrapped it all up with a bow. But it won’t stay wrapped.

Against all odds, Joe has continued to live. He is in hospice and is clearly ill, but he is not in pain, he can still go out for very short excursions, and the end is not as imminent as he thought. Interestingly, he expressed some anger about the fact that things weren’t going as planned. He is also confused, because he doesn’t know how to live his life when he has no clue how long it may go on now.

Jesus tells us that no one knows the time or the day, whether of the end of the world or the ends of our own lives. Countless people point to “signs” that say it is imminent, but day after predicted day has passed without incident. (Remember Y2K?)  The truth is that we are not in control and we don’t know.

There are many people pushing now to grasp that control. They want assisted suicide, where they can legally decide the trajectory of the end of their lives, put their death date on a calendar, and ensure that they place the final bow on top of the wrapping themselves at a time of their choosing. There is even a movement in the Netherlands to legally assist healthy people to take their own lives if they decide they’ve lived long and well enough and are ready to go.

According to research, most of these decisions are rooted in fear. People are afraid of pain, afraid of “losing dignity” or being a burden to their families, afraid of being weak and out of control, afraid of the dying process. What if instead of passing laws that make it easy and convenient to circumvent the natural course of life and death, we worked to eradicate fear. Imagine if we:

• Educate everyone, young and old, about the dying process, what it is like, and how sacred it can be so it is normalized, talked about, and not a scary unknown.
• Make effective palliative care available to every dying person, so no one has to die in pain.
• Emphasize the inherent and inalienable dignity of every person as a precious child of God who deserves the best of care, even (or especially) if they are disabled, unproductive, feeble, demented, dependent on others, or nearing death.
• Form even young children to know that it is OK to not be in control, that all “control” is an illusion anyway and grasping for it hurts us in more ways than we know.
• Teach what constitutes true strength – being able to face the suffering of life, standing firm in core beliefs despite adversity, allowing and expressing painful emotions, companioning people who are ill, grieving, or dying, and having the courage to be vulnerable and needy when it is our time to be ill, grieving, or dying.
• Advocate for more comprehensive and affordable services for those who are homebound, or seriously or terminally ill, so the size of one’s bank account doesn’t dictate whether a person is a financial burden to the family.
• Become a role model for our children by regularly volunteering to bring food, sit with a dying person so the family can have an afternoon off, run errands or do chores for families with ill members, attend funerals and services to expose them to death while teaching them how to be comforting, and talk about what a privilege it is to care for those who need it.

I could go on with suggestions. Perhaps you have some of your own as well. But the idea is the same: Let’s live the faith we profess by working to cast out fear, surrender control, embrace the experiences of our lives whether good or bad, and support the dignity and value of every person we touch. If we could do all of these things, perhaps we could begin to counter the push for assisted suicide. I believe that as disciples of Christ, we must try.

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/.

Scripture:

Titus 1:1-9
Luke 17:1-6

Reflection:

The other day I got up to exit the “el” train I was taking to go to lunch and while standing at the door waiting for it to open I caught the eye of a little boy about three feet tall standing with his mother (I presume) who was pushing his little sister (I guess) in a stroller. They were also getting off. The little boy stuck up his hand and called out to me, “Give me five!” I gave him five and then as we began exiting, he grabbed my hand commanding: “Hold my hand.” I obliged. We got off the train holding hands and only let go when his mother and sister headed for the elevator—I was taking the stairs, which were right by the train door we just exited. The little boy and I waved good-bye as he, his mother and sister headed towards the elevator. Walking down the stairs, it dawned on me, I had just experienced about the closest thing to perfection that exists, the trust and openness of a little child

In today’s first reading, St. Paul challenges Titus to find what seem to me to be perfect leaders for the infant community at Crete. They were to be:

“…blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled…” Titus 1:7-8

No small task for Titus or for anyone seeking leaders I suppose. Too bad we can’t get that little boy whose innocence and trust contagiously invaded the “el” platform that morning. Yes, sure, his mother might be able to tell us a little more about her precious but probably not perfect, son, but I believe I experienced a bit of perfection. I hope as he grows he doesn’t lose that bit of perfection and chooses to lead.

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

Scripture:

2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14
2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5
Luke 20:27-38

Reflection:

In Sunday’s Gospel reading (Luke 20:27-38), it is the Sadducees’ (those who didn’t believe in resurrection) turn to try to trip up Jesus, and so they give Him this extreme hypothetical about a woman who winds up marrying seven brothers (not all at once!) according to Mosaic law, and asking Him whose wife would she be in heaven. Jesus basically rejects their whole premise by stating that “those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels.” And then Jesus speaks to them about a belief in resurrection coming from Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush (See Exodus 3): “That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called out ‘Lord,’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

This past week, we celebrated the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls, and we have another reminder of our belief that not even death can cut us off from neither God nor our loved ones. But Jesus’ declaration of faith in the resurrection pertains not only to the life after this, but to the life we live now. Does it have anything to do with how we live our lives if we believe God is God of the living and not the dead?

We may all respond to that question in the affirmative, but what impact does it have to believe in God as God of the living? For me, our faith leads us to be oriented toward life. It orients us toward thanksgiving. It orients us toward hope. And it sustains us in love. Our second reading from 2 Thessalonians (2:16-3:5) speaks to this. St. Paul, in the beginning of our reading, writes, “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.” Paul gives thanks for what God has already given (encouragement and hope and grace), and prays that his brother and sister Christians are encouraged and strengthened in good deeds and words.

May our deeds and words promote life! May we work not only with women considering ending their pregnancies, but also advocate for those whose lives have been degraded by poverty and oppression and injustice. May we work for an end to war and violence. May we care for the environment in which all life exists. In the words of our second reading, may the word of the Lord “speed forward” through us, so that people may know the generosity and love of God in Jesus Christ, who cherishes their lives and the lives of all.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Community in Detroit, Michigan. 

Scripture:

Philippians 4:10-19
Luke 16:9-15

Reflection:

…I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. Philippians 4:11

The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones…Luke 16:10

We all want an easy life – a life without pain or even discomfort. The stories we tell each other around the water cooler (are there still water coolers?) are often filled with the disappointments, setbacks, and challenges of our daily lives. Who hasn’t told a story to friends that includes the phrase, “But wait, it gets worse!” We share these stories with each other, bonding over our common misery that seems to be the lot of those who walk this Earth. As it says in the book of Job, “…mankind is born for trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.”

However, we tend to interpret God’s favor as being upon us when life is easy and God withholding His favor when times are hard. Or we see the hard times as a test to grind through. We can sometimes feel that if we just grit our teeth and power on through, God will like us again and things will get easier.

In the readings today there seems to be another way put forth, the Way of Christ. St. Paul speaks of having endured privations and abundance, fat times and lean times. He shares his thoughts on getting through it all: “I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through Him who empowers me.” It is interesting that it is a secret for living both in abundance and need, not just need. By living in Christ, abundance and need seem to become two sides of one coin. Both are just circumstances of life. It is often said that pain is inevitable; suffering is not. Suffering can arise when we fall into the “Why me?” trap. St. Paul teaches that abundance and need follow one another. He shows us that with Christ we can endure the need and remember to show gratitude in abundance.

In the gospel, Jesus says we are to make friends with and be trustworthy with dishonest wealth (mammon). And yet later he says we cannot serve both mammon and God. This calls to mind the saying from Matthew, “Resist not evil.” This teaching calls on a strength that God shares with us. This strength is to hold true to serving God by not resorting to violence against the evil, dishonesty, and corruption we see around us. At the same time, we are called to act with integrity with the world. Dishonesty from another does not justify our acting dishonest ourselves. We are called by our conversion to treat all as brothers and sisters.

My prayer for myself today is that I find the strength of Christ within me to serve God as I make my way through this less-than-perfect world.

Talib Huff volunteers and works at Christ the King Retreat Center in Citrus Heights. You can reach him at [email protected]

Feast of St. Charles Borromeo

Scripture:

Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 16:1-8

 

Reflection:

The Challenge of Stewardship

As we continue our journey through our special November commemoration of saintly people, today we thank God for the person of Charles Borromeo.  He was a gifted and zealous man of the Church who lived during the 16^th Century, credited for helping reform and build up the Church in a variety of ways.

As a bishop and Cardinal, Charles encouraged the intellectual and moral growth of clergy and religious, especially in forming new seminaries.  He helped author the catechism that was called for during the Council of Trent; he also started the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) for children’s growth in their faith.  He held many special meetings in his home diocese of Milan, seeking to incorporate the message and teachings of the Council of Trent.  He reached out to the poor and needy of his day, sacrificing wealth, honor and influence to serve them – even in the challenges of the plagues and famines of his day, ministering to the sick, the hungry, and the dying.  Truly a gifted and zealous man who gave God his all during his 46 years of life!

Today’s Gospel from Luke recounts a parable of Jesus about a “resourceful” steward who at first dishonestly squandered his master’s property, but then prudently tried to save face by dealing with his master’s debtors.  Though we might first be appalled at his dishonesty, in his moment of crisis he was decisive and acted quickly to prepare for the future.  Jesus highlights the steward’s “gifts” and limitations as a human person – and encourages us to be faith-filled and zealous in living out our faith in Him.

St. Paul, in today’s first reading, encourages his followers to imitate his example as a convert-missionary, giving his life to help spread the Good News.  Paul’s many gifts, especially his ardent faith, was held up as an example to the many people he touched in his journeys; his last words of today’s scripture selection have encouraged many:  “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I Iove and long for, my joy and my crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.”  Stand firm in the Lord…

The Good News challenges us today:  zealously follow the words and deeds of Jesus; be good, faith-filled and active stewards of God’s many gifts; learn from St. Paul and St. Charles Borromeo to share your gifts with the Church of your day, especially those most in need.  The “value” of such an action plan of life:  priceless…for both ourselves and our world!!  Amen!!

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

Scripture:

Philippians 3:3-8a
Luke 15:1-10

Reflection:

But what were once my assets I now through Christ Jesus count as loss. Philippians 3:7

On our journey to heaven, I think we all need to learn the detachment that Paul discovered. It may be easier in other cultures where people don’t own as much as many Americans. But here in the states, a lot of us own homes, and many of us buy lots of things to fill up those homes. Even if you shop garage sales for those things so you aren’t spending large sums of money, you are still filling your home with things that will then need to be taken care of.

I really do try to be detached from these things, but as I am now in the process of getting ready to move, I see just how much I still cling to them. I will put something in the sell or give away box, and later go back and retrieve it! We know all of these things will pass away, but they may remind us of a special time, or bring us joy by their beauty, or we simply bought them because we could and we had room for them. It does help to downsize, because by having less space, it’s easier to live with less.

My point is that whether we’re moving or not, it’s good to regard our possessions to see if we can let them go. What takes first place in our hearts? What do we spend the most time doing? Two other translations of this verse use the words “liability” and “worthless” for the word “loss.” The things of this world can actually keep us from being closer to God. Let’s be sure we hold all things lightly so that we can serve God and help further His Kingdom here on earth.

Today’s responsorial psalm helps us focus on God. May we seek Him above all else. Let us pray it together: “Sing to him, make music for him, recount all his wonders! Glory in his holy name, let the hearts that seek Yahweh rejoice! Seek Yahweh and his strength, tirelessly seek his presence! Remember the marvels he has done, his wonders, the judgements he has spoken.” Psalm 105: 2-5

Janice Carleton and her husband Jim live in Portland, OR 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].

Feast of All Saints

Scripture:

Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12a

Reflection:

One of the Nobel awards for science this year went to a scientist who headed a team that created a molecule so incredibly small that it measured 1/1000 the width of a single human hair!  This infinitesimally small entity is designed as a kind of engine all its own that could, for example, bring healing to a single human cell.  The article I read went on to say that one of the great interests of current modern science is precisely on the micro-level.  Rather than simply developing machinery and vehicles that are more massive and powerful than ever before, there is even greater work being done on elements so incredibly small that they can go to places and do things never before imagined!

What, you might ask, has this to do with the feast of All Saints that we celebrate today??  Prompted by the first reading for today from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14), I began to think of the “great multitude” that this biblical passage cites of those who praise God and are “marked” with the sign of God’s blessing.  They come, the passage notes, “from every nation, race, people, and tongue.”  So this feast of All Saints has a wide embrace, celebrating as it does the holy ones who have gone before us in faith and the millions of holy people now living.  The “saints” referred to in this great liturgical celebration are not confined to those relative few who have been officially canonized as saints but to everyone who has been embraced by God’s love and has tried to live with that consciousness.  How many people is that?  All those who lived before Christ and searched for God—people we might call “pagans” but still children of God.  All of those who belonged to God’s people Israel and tried with all their might to love God and obey God’s word. All those who over the two-thousand plus years of Christianity were baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ and strove to follow Jesus in their daily lives.  All the family members we know and love who have gone before us, trusting in God.  All the people we meet every day whose lives reflect the beauty of the gospel.

We may wonder how even God can keep track of such a multitude. But then I think of how purely human knowledge can create something as marvelous as a small “machine” whose dimensions are 1/1000 of the width of a single human hair!  I can’t imagine that either—so I trust in God’s infinite power and beauty that is even further from the grasp of my imagination, the awesome power and love of God that is able to reach out and embrace all of the saints throughout the ages and all those still to come.

The Gospel reading for today cites the beatitudes which Jesus declares at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12).  God’s blessing, Jesus tells his disciples, embraces such a wide range of people: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger for justice, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted.  It is that loving embrace of God towards all of us that makes us “holy.”  And that is the marvel that the church celebrates today!

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.