Claire Smith

Scripture:

Ephesians 4:1-6
Luke 12:54-59

Reflection:

Most of us prefer to rely on our human resourcefulness in order to achieve a task.  We often undergo training or education precisely for this purpose so that we become capable people who can meet life’s challenges and accomplish them.

Our bible readings today attempt to bolster this self-confidence.  They accomplish this from the angle of both faith and human nature.  They forcefully remind us that we are competent people, fortified and strengthened in a very human project by the special gifts God places at our disposal.

For example, the Pauline letter to the Ephesians reminds us of such a resource in terms of our faith.  It features another instance of Paul’s incapacity brought on him by an imprisonment.  It’s instructive to note Paul is not concerned about his own welfare, or by his future.  His whole concern centers around the Christian community in Ephesus to whom he writes.  And he exhibits unbounded confidence in the faith that he has imparted to the Ephesian community.  He does this despite his inability to be physically present to them.  This is an encouraging sign for all of us who share in that same faith, helping us to realize the power and strength latent in it.  At times faith seems comparable to something like “easy come, easy go”, since some of us may never have experienced the challenge of having our faith challenged when we undergo a difficult situation, and wonder or even fear that it may not measure up to the vigor and potential that Paul reflects today in his remarks to the Ephesians.  He is totally incapacitated to provide for them in their difficulties—apart from this letter that he writes them, and the faith that he shares with them.  But we, along with them, are the beneficiaries of the wisdom he exhibits in this letter.

And St. Luke supports St. Paul in his contribution to the scriptural messages to us today.  But in a different way.  Unlike St. Paul who falls back upon the faith that he shares with the Ephesian community, St. Luke depends on something else held in common with the readers of his gospel: our humanness.  For he appeals to an inveterate habit most of us exhibit, often several times each day: the state of the weather.  When we rise in the morning we are anxious to know the weather forecast for the day, and when, in the evening, before retiring we look at the evening news, including the weather forecast for the next day, we exhibit that fascinating habit we have that early on St. Luke noted: a weather concern.  For he observes how today we observe the cloud arising in the west, and the likelihood that rain is in the forecast, and he also comments on our ability at forecasting the coming of some hot weather, based on the observation about the hot wind that has gotten underway.  Luke here astutely remarks on a familiar procedure most of us observe, regardless of our religious beliefs or our nationality or our gender or our age: the very human proclivity to know the weather conditions.  It may be that all we share with one another is our humanity, but it’s enough to bind us together in this one activity: keeping appraised of the weather.  But, of course, Luke is not trying to excel at being a reliable weatherman.  Rather, he is taking us to task for not duplicating this very human pastime in the faith area, so that we try to forecast what God will be about in our lives, helping us to “interpret the present time.”

And Luke follows the same procedure, as he notes how all deal with a potential judgment to which we are liable as he outlines the process for responding to a traffic accident, that may involve the police, an injured party; a judge and maybe a jailer, comparing how this same scenario can play itself out when our failures come to God’s attention.  Luke notes how a very human situation like this can be repeated in the next life.

So both faith and the human condition (nature and supernature), as we have traditionally articulated it) offer a stage on which both St. Paul and St. Luke instruct us on what is occurring in our lives, as we try relating to God.  We live on both levels, and deal with God in each scenario.  Together they constitute a large area of opportunity for enriching and improving our interaction with God.

Fr. Sebastian MacDonald, C.P. is a member of the Passionist formation community at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.

Feast of St. Paul of the Cross

Scripture:

Isaiah 61, 1-3
I Corinthians 1, 17-25
Mark 6:7-13

Reflection:

Today is the feast of the founder of the Congregation of the Passion, more commonly known as the Passionists.  He is a remarkable man and served God and the Church throughout his long life.  Everyone who comes to know him finds inspiration and wisdom in his life and in his deep devotion to the Passion and Death of Jesus.  Let me tell you something about him.

St. Paul of the Cross, Founder of the Passionists, was born in 1694 in a small town called Ovada, in Northern Italy.  He was one of sixteen children, only five of whom survived infancy.  His father, Luke Danei, owned a small clothing and tobacco shop that barely supported his large family.  His mother, Anna Maria, was a faith-filled woman, whose devotion to the Passion of Jesus was the source of her courage and strength as she endured the grief and loss of so many of her children.

From his earliest years Paul, by the example of his Mother, had a deep devotion to the Passion of Jesus and at the age of 19 had a vivid experience of the depth of God’s love.  As a result of this experience Paul became determined to give himself totally to God.  Due to family need, however, he stayed at home, helping to support the family by working in his father’s shop.  At 22 he joined the crusade against the Turks though it took only two months for him to realize that the army was not for him.  Returning home, he once again worked in the family business.

When he was 26, the circumstances of the family became a bit better and Paul finally felt free to pursue his own personal dreams. Bidding good-bye to his family, he went to Alessandria, where Bishop Gattinara, Paul’s spiritual director and confessor, clothed Paul in a black tunic on the day of his arrival and then sent him to the parish of St. Charles in Castellazzo for retreat.  In the small sacristy of the parish church Paul made a 40 day retreat.  It was during those 40 days that Paul had the most extraordinary experiences of union with God and wrote the Rule of Life for the congregation he hoped to found.

After his retreat Bishop Gattinara sent him back to his home town where Paul lived in various hermitages for several years.  In 1721 Paul made his way to Rome in hopes that he could get his Rule of Life approved by the Pope.  He was turned away by a Vatican guard so Paul returned home, discouraged but determined.  On his return, his brother, John Baptist, joined with him to try living according to Paul’s Rule of Life.  Paul and John Baptist became well-known catechists and Paul was even invited to give spiritual talks by various groups.

In 1725, the brothers returned to Rome and this time Paul was given verbal permission to gather companions to live according to his Rule of Life.  Cardinal Corrandini asked the brothers to work in a newly established hospital there in Rome.  The president of the hospital was so impressed by Paul and John Baptist that he arranged for them to be ordained to the priesthood.

As more men joined with Paul and John Baptist, they moved the whole community to Monte Argentario, a promontory about 150 kms northwest of Rome, where they established the first Passionist monastery in 1737.

While contemplation and prayer were at the very heart of Paul’s life and the life of his new institute, Paul himself soon became a very famous popular preacher, spiritual guide, writer and mystic.  For Paul the Passion of Christ was the most vivid witness to God’s love for us and he constantly called upon his followers to remember the sufferings of Jesus.

During his lifetime Paul founded thirteen monasteries of Priests and Brothers throughout Italy as well as a monastery of Passionist Nuns.  Today the Passionists live and serve in 59 countries of the world and are enhanced by other religious and lay groups who find inspiration in the Charism of St. Paul of the Cross.

May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts.

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist

Scripture:

2 Timothy 4:10-17b
Luke 10:1-9

Reflection:

‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

One of the great themes of the gospels (especially after the resurrection) is the proclamation of peace by Jesus.

Indeed one might suggest that one of the signs of the resurrection, one of the signs that Jesus is present and in our midst, is when the community find themselves ‘at peace’ or find themselves in a moment where a deep sense of peacefulness has surrounded their relationships and brought about a new sense of awareness.

In such moments, as Jesus often reminds us,  “the Kingdom of God” is close to us (or we are enclosed by it!). It is in such moments that one is invited to ‘see’ more deeply.

We probably sense this ourselves, just from our own experiences in life. There are moments, and often only moments, where a couple feel a deeper sense of connection, a deeper peace in each others’ company. There are moments where a meal, a conversation, a walk, a panoramic outlook all capture us and in the silence we are more in touch with deeper sense of ourselves in connection with the Other – be it partner, our companion of the moment or our God.

The peace of the moment itself is not itself the experience of God’s reign breaking into our lives, but it is a sign that we are standing on holy ground and that we are ‘close’ to God in such moments. We only need to open our hearts in prayer or humble silence to know more deeply that our God is near and acting for or with us.

This seems to be the key message of Jesus to the disciples in today’s gospel text.  Yes there are many instructions – mostly about the missionary logistics of first century Palestine. But the core of the instructions to the disciples seems to be that first of all they are to be bearers of ‘peace’. They are to let it resound and surround them, and through their actions and witness it is to encompass others. If and when peace resounds in the relationships they form then the ‘kingdom’ can flourish and grow in that place, in that moment.

Not being distracted by possessions, purses, seeking better accommodation or status are means to an end – namely, a peaceful, quiet calm that one needs if one is to see, feel and experience the deeper reality of God’s presence.

Other aspects of today’s readings bear witness to the same reality. Jesus speaks of behaviours that bring about healing, or that reflect humility, compassion and forgiveness – all of which contribute to the bring about a deeper peace in life. In this sense these actions also become keys to enable the reign of God to come about.

Let us make them our own standard and let us live by them in daily life.

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:

Ephesians 2:1-10
Luke 12:13-21

Reflection

“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Those words from today’s gospel ought to become a mantra of our lives, especially as we approach the holiday season when too often more attention is given to Black Friday and good bargains than to the coming of Christ.

In this passage from Luke, Jesus offers a parable about a rich man who firmly believed that one’s life does consist of possessions, and in doing so discloses the corrosive effects of greed. The parable begins with the man congratulating himself on a bountiful harvest. There’s no indication that he worked the fields himself and not the slightest hint that he is grateful. Moreover, he obviously has more grain than he could ever possibly need, but never once considers sharing it. That’s how it goes with greed. Greed hardens our hearts, makes us perniciously unmindful of others, and leaves us caring only for ourselves. But greed also results in dangerous self-deception because this man whose only plan is to “rest, eat, drink, be merry!” forgets that our ultimate security comes neither from wealth nor possessions, but from God.

The parable ends with a shock: Jesus says that the man who thinks a life of pleasure and leisure awaits him will die before the end of the day and declares him a fool because he was “not rich in what matters to God.” What he failed to realize is that we are, as the reading from Ephesians testifies, “created in Christ Jesus” not to amass a fortune for ourselves, but “for good works.” In short, we who live by the love, grace, mercy, kindness, and generosity of God gain true riches when we spend our lives extending those blessings to others.

Paul Wadell is Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the extended Passionist family.

Scripture:

Exodus 17:8-13
2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
Luke 18:1-8

Reflection:

This short periscope in Luke’s Gospel  tells the story of the Unjust Judge and the Persistent Widow. Ordinarily, in Israel, when one had a grievance against another and is not receiving a hearing,  the victim can go to court.  Typically there are three judges:

#1.  A judge for the perpetrator;
#2. A judge for the victim, and
#3. An impartial judge.

Obviously in this passage from Luke, the widow is not receiving a just hearing.  According to the law, a widow cannot inherit her deceased husband’s estate.  It automatically goes to a son or brother-in-law or another male relative.  This leaves the widow at the mercy and compassion of the inheritor.

The Unscrupulous Judge is of questionable character.  He neither “feared God” nor respected any person.  It would not be unusual for the judge to be holding out for a bribe, or he sides with the perpetrator who is more powerful: financially, socially, or politically.  All the widow can do is to be persistent in prayer and have faith in the compassion of God.

Prayer is a familiar theme that Luke promotes.  In this Gospel  Luke has Jesus  withdraw at least six times  for periods of prayer, and six times he mentioned Jesus taught his disciples to prayer.  In this narrative the widow continues to badgers the Unjust Judge until she receives justice.  Luke tell us that if a heartless judge grants a widows prayer.  How much more would a God’s heart of love not refuse her.

The prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane is the most live-giving prayer of Jesus.  “Not as my will but your will be done.”  Luke is reminding in this passage we have a responsibility first for the widows, orphans, and strangers in our midst.  Second, we must be consistent, persistent and earnest in our prayers and never lose heart because we believe that God is a provident God of compassion and love.

The saints have told us our prayer must be 1.) Be little in humility, #2.) Be great in our hope. and 3.) Be grafted to Christ Crucified.  Prayer allows us to call down God’s mercy on those we lift up to him.  Every heart becomes an altar and every soul is a sacrifice.

Prayer depends on:

#1. The Love of God – Who desires only what is best for us.
#2.  The Wisdom of God – who alone knows what is best for us.
#3. The Power of God – which alone can bring to pass what is best for us.

 

Fr. Ken O’Malley, C.P., is the formation director and local superior at Holy Name Passionist Community in Houston, Texas.

Memorial of St. Teresa of Jesus

Scripture:

Ephesians 1:15-23
Luke 12:8-12

Reflection:

Paul is in prison, most likely at Rome, as he pens this letter. The best manuscripts omit mention of the Ephesians. So it seems that the audience was wider than one community. The letter begins by thanking God for reveling the mystery of Christ which is nothing more than bringing “all things in the heaven and one earth into one under Christ’s headship (Eph 1:10).

Now we can look at the verses we have to reflect on today. Paul is struck by the faith of those first Christians and their love for each other. He is thankful to God for what is happening in their hearts. Immediately his thanks overflow into a prayer of petition: “May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, grant you a spirit of wisdom and insight to know him clearly.” (1:17) It is instructive to us that Paul moves so easily into asking God to bless the new converts. He is aware of all the challenges they face. He is certain that the power that God showed in “raising Christ from the dead and seating him at his right hand in heaven” (1:20) is available to all who believe.

The question for us is: do we believe it as well? Do we have the vision that God has put all things under Christ’s feet?

Fr. Michael Hoolahan, C.P. is on the staff of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Ephesians 1:11-14
Luke 12:1-7

Reflection:

In our first reading today we hear these beautiful words from St. Paul the Apostle in his letter to the Ephesians:

“Brothers and sisters, in Christ we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.”

These words remind us that we exist and were given the precious gift of life in order to do one primary thing:  to give honor, glory, and praise to God.  During the celebration of the Eucharist we hear these profound words that precede what we refer to as the “Great Amen”:  “Through Him, with Him, and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, forever and ever. Amen!”

How frequently I remind those gathered together that this great amen, this ‘yes, may it be so’, that is declared is meant to be that crescendo moment when we fulfill our very destiny, when we live out the reason we were created, namely, to give honor, glory, and praise to Almighty God.  And how frequently we barely cry out this Great Amen because we are preoccupied with lifting the kneeler and getting ready to stand and recite another special prayer, the Our Father.  Yet, so often this Great Amen is lost.  We pass over this amazing opportunity when, as a praying community, we are all able to literally shout Yes, Yes, Yes and give glory to God!

And so, dear friends, the next time you are present for the celebration of the Eucharist please remember – lest the moment sneak up on you and passes by in a cacophony of clanging pews – that when you hear the words “all glory and honor is yours Almighty Father” be prepared to shout and to cry out with joy to the Lord, that Great Amen.  For in this we give honor, glory, and praise to God; in this we fulfill the very reason we were given the gift of life itself!

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

Scripture:

Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1
Luke 11:29-32

Reflection:

Scripture today is rather harsh. Jesus talks about an evil generation that will be judged on our actions, a caveat that rings all the more true in a society where we are so quick to condemn, vilify, and denigrate others. St. Paul begs us not to return to the slavery from which we were freed, even as we continually struggle against the chains of intolerance, self-aggrandizement, mistrust, hate, and prejudice. Jesus tells us there is something greater than Solomon, something greater than Jonah, issues on which our generation will stand or fall, and we will have to answer for them.

This prompts probing reflections in my heart as we approach the election. Our faith and our church do not tell us who to vote for, but they do tell us what to vote for. I consider things such as:

Our Church, especially this year, proclaims mercy. Our Pope emphasizes caring for the disenfranchised, poor, and marginalized. Those who are wealthy are called to use that wealth as the gift it is, to serve others and lift up those who have so much less. We are to share in the bounty we have been given, especially recognizing the great extent to which any accumulation of wealth is due to circumstances of birth and family that too many others in this world do not have.

A basic Catholic principle is the common good of all God’s people. We are called to reach out, compromise, and work diligently with others in order to achieve the best results possible for all. This requires going beyond focused self-interest to a recognition that we are all brothers and sisters, increasingly inter-connected and inter-dependent. Isolationism is not an option for followers of Christ.

Jesus lifted up the rights and dignity of each person, and our Church declares that such rights and dignity are independent of country of birth, religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other factor. Every person is a child of God, every person has worth, and we need to uphold the highest ethical standards even when others violate them. This principle needs to operate globally, as we respect, honor, and work with those of other cultures, countries, and faiths. It also needs to operate locally, in interactions between members of communities and police, between immigrants and natural-born citizens, and between those wearing a cross and those wearing a hijab.

Our Church and our Pope challenge us to care for our earth and its environment. This, too, is a tremendous gift to be nurtured, yet human actions are contributing to the disappearance of coral reefs and entire species of animals, the pollution of air, water, and food, the mistreatment of animals, and a host of other damaging effects. God created all things, then wisely or unwisely put humans in charge of caring for creation. We can and must do a better job, even if it is inconvenient to businesses or expensive to clean up.

It seems to me that in this election we have stark choices. Both candidates are flawed. But in light of scriptures and our Church, I look at questions such as: Who is more likely to capably lead a country built on integrity and justice? Who will work for the common good of all? With whom can we trust our men and women in the service, and the negotiation of peace? Who can improve our standing and our leadership in the world? Who has the proven skills, experience, and mettle to tackle the toughest issues facing our country today?

Perhaps your questions are different than mine. Regardless, we all must take our choices in this election most seriously, setting aside emotional reactions and, as objectively as possible, considering the qualifications and the eventual implications on the national and world stage of each candidate. Stand before Jesus, pray, look at the consequences of your decision, and choose wisely. Our country depends on it, and our generation will indeed be judged by our actions.

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/.