Claire Smith

Memorial of the Queenship of Mary

Scripture:

Isaiah 9:1-6
Luke 1:1-28

Reflection:

We have a rich tradition dealing with the concept of light.  We have sayings and concepts in abundance speaking of the importance and place of light in our lives.  “Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”  “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.”  The light shows called fireworks celebrate all of the joyous moments of life.  Thomas Kincaid is called the ‘painter of light’ and his artwork highlights the beauty and importance of light in our world.  The voice of a hotel chain echoes through the night, “We’ll leave the light on for you!”  Our pilgrim ancestors in Massachusetts often talked about the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a ‘Light on the Hill’ for the world to see.  Following along with that image of a light on the hilltop, we continuously marvel at the beauty of our array of lighthouses along our coasts which guided ships safely through our coastal waters.  There are always the scriptures, too.  Genesis says, “Let there be light – and there was light” while the Gospel reminds us,  “A person does not light a lamp and put it under a bushel, rather he places it on a stand so that it gives light to all in the house.”

As we celebrate the Queenship of Mary, we look at our scriptures for the day to discover something of the idea of Mary’s reign as Queen of Heaven and Earth.  As we read Isaiah, we might be tempted to say to ourselves, ‘If you have it, play it.’  No, not the lottery or the Power Ball, but Handel’s Messiah and more specifically “For Unto Us a Child is Born.”  This is the passage Handel put to music in this portion of the Messiah.  The introductory image is what?  That’s right – light.  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.  In a land of doom and gloom, a light has shone.  The light brings joy, happiness and rejoicing of immeasurable magnitude.  Isaiah is proclaiming the promise God made from the time of Adam and Eve to send a Savior to redeem humankind.  Until this Chosen One arrives, people will live in darkness yearning for the light.  The light, when He arrives, will make all things visible, all things clear.  All will be able to see the entire world, its people and their purpose in a new way, in a new light which will give birth to joy instead of gloom, hope instead of doom, freedom instead of shackles, and promise instead of dead ends.

The prophecy ends with, “The Lord of Hosts will do this!”  When will He do this?  St. Luke announces the good news in the amazing moment of the Annunciation.  The handmaiden Mary consents to be the Mother of God.  Suddenly, dawn is breaking.  The light is coming into the world.  Our Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, and Prince of Peace will bring the light that lasts forever.  He will open our minds and hearts to the brilliance of the glory of God.  We will see our God and each other in the light of Christ and nothing will ever be the same.

Those simple words, “Let it be done unto me according to your word”, made all of this possible.  Was it Mary’s humility that clothed her in regal splendor?  Perhaps it was her willingness to listen to the Lord’s voice through Gabriel or perhaps her abiding faith in God’s will for her life that was the key.  Maybe it was Mary’s trust that God would direct her every moment that lifted her up past the questions and hesitations.  Then again, it might well have been her generous spirit in giving birth to the Light of the World or her ever deepening love of the Lord that earned her crown of queenship.

In reality, the only answer can be that it was all of the above and then some.  These marvelous attributes of Mary join together to move God to place Mary among us and with us and all the Saints as our Queen of heaven and earth.  Her very character in the gospels reveals to us that this is not a lofty and distant royal woman but rather one who stands with us as our Mother and for us as our Intercessor as we gather before the throne of the Lord God.  As such, Mary our queen is a true gift to us.

We are invited to be faithful companions to Mary our Queen who follow her Son and seek to let our light shine before all so all may see the good that we do and give glory to God.

Fr. Richard Burke, CP, is a member of St. Paul of the Cross Province.  He lives at St. Ann’s Monastery in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Feast of St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

Scripture:

Ezekiel 43: 1-7a
Matthew 23: 1-12

Reflection:

Some people are just worth remembering.  They live their lives in such a way that their peers, both friends and foes, respect them.  As a result, they have a profound influence on the very best that emerges in their time.  We celebrate the feast of such a remarkable man today, St. Bernard of Clairvaux.  He lived in the 12^th century (born in 1090 and died in 1153), a time of great turmoil in the Church and in society.

He was born into one of the noble families in Burgundy, France.  He had a great future before him in the society of his day but chose instead to give his life to God.  Against his family’s wishes, he rejected the ambitious plans they had for him and, instead, followed his heart and at age 23 entered one of the most austere religious orders in the Church, the Cistercians.  He was already so influential among his peers, he brought a total of 30 young nobles (among whom were several of his brothers) with him into religious life.  Even at the early age of 23, he was a man of prayer and his prayer life deepened quickly under the guidance of the Abbot of Citeaux, St. Stephen Harding.  Though the Cistercians lived a very austere life, they were growing so rapidly at that time that just two years after he entered, he and fifteen other companions were sent out to found another abbey.  Bernard was elected the first abbot of this new abbey located in the Clair Valley.  He remained Abbot of Clairvaux until his death in 1153

As abbot, Bernard emphasized three important spiritual disciplines:  an austere and simple form of life, lectio divina and personal prayer, and finally, a deep personal devotion to Our Blessed Mother.  His Abbey flourished and Bernard founded three additional abbeys with the monks from Clairvaux.

But it wasn’t just within the confines of the Cistercians that Bernard exerted enormous influence.  He participated in several Church Councils, brought unity to the Papacy (persuaded most of the secular rulers to accept Innocent II over Anacletus II), and overcame several heresies that were rampant during his time.   In short, Bernard became one of the most significant religious figures of 12th century.

As you remember St. Bernard today, I hope you have a chance to read more about his life.  He is a true example of a faithful disciple of Jesus who uses all his considerable gifts to build up the Kingdom of God.  We thank God for this remarkable man and ask for the grace to live our lives in a way that builds the Kingdom of God.

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

Scripture:

Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
Hebrews 12:1-4
Luke 12:49-53

Reflection:

In our readings for this 20^th Sunday, during what I love to call these “dog days of August”, we hear a message that is surely bound to catch our attention!

In our first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, we witness a terrifying moment in the life of the great prophet, Jeremiah.  Remembering that he was the “reluctant” prophet at the time of his calling, perhaps the events we read about today give us some insight into why Jeremiah was not exactly eager to step up and follow the Lord’s invitation to challenge King Zedekiah and the princes of his kingdom!  Because of these greedy and fearful men Jeremiah is thrown into a deep and barren cistern, left to die.  Were it not for the intervention of a trusted court official this may well have been the end of our beloved prophet!  For us, we see how those who try to be good and faithful to what God calls them to, can, nevertheless, be mistreated by those who follow the ways of evil.  That is to say, just because you are trying to be virtuous and holy doesn’t mean anyone else is going to be very impressed, that’s for sure!

But the words that caught my attention most are from Paul, the Apostle, who writes in his letter to the Hebrews:  “Brothers and sisters, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.”  I find these words of Paul to be very intriguing because they are so true.  On the one hand in this very day and age we ourselves see the darkness and evil that surrounds us, yet we choose to run the race; we choose to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus himself.  At the same time, all of us who try to do what is right and who have the example of great witnesses ever before us, we are still only too aware of those who hate, those who cheat and lie and deceive. And how do we respond to the evil around us?  We keep choosing day by day, sometimes hour by hour, to run the good race and keep Jesus always before us as our true model and example.  And as we run the race and follow the Lord, we continually “rid ourselves of every burden and sin” that can hold us back.

These days of inspiring Olympic athletes who are amazing for their fortitude, perseverance, and dedication, as well as the baffling and even discouraging events of our current Presidential campaign, let’s not lose heart.  There are evil ones around us, to be sure.  They may even get more news time than all the virtuous souls who love others and serve others heroically.  But we dare not give up or lose heart.  Instead, as Paul urges us to do, we hold our heads high; we rejoice in the good that we do see even if we cross the finish line in fourth place and miss the gold, the silver, and the bronze.  And most of all, we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Lord, the only true “leader” and “perfecter.”

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

Scripture:

Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32
Matthew 19:13-15

Reflection:

I love these Gospel verses! Nestled between Jesus’ discussion on divorce, where he shares God’s design for marriage, and the parable of the rich young man. Some biblical commentaries suggest that Jesus is highlighting two things: the most vulnerable in society; and an invitation to us as adults to re-capture the essence of what it means to be a child to whom the Kingdom of heaven belongs. To strive to be “such as these” is our daily call and challenge.

In his letter to the Corinthians Paul writes, “…when I became a man, I put aside childish things” (1 Cor 13:11b) which seem at odds with Jesus’ words, yet, I believe both messages have relevance here. As we grow up we must hold on to our joy, trust, and optimism (humility) but put aside our childish pettiness (ego)….so simple J.

I was born into a large Irish family being the first of 8 children. My parents have 25 grandchildren and are expecting their 10^th great-grandchild next month. In my family children are always showered with love and affection—what a true gift my parents, Joe and Ailish, have modeled for us. As I reflected on the visual of Jesus “laying hands on them”, I see the human element of touch is what brings children—and all of us—to Jesus.

In the reading, we are told that “Children were brought to Jesus” no mention specifically of parents—so perhaps we as community bring the children. We together are the body of Christ called to reach out and share the human touch of Christ.  This was not a one-time event; this is our ongoing responsibility—bringing “our” children to Jesus, “….and do not prevent them.”

We would do well to consider if there are times when we might unknowingly put obstacles in their way. If they encounter unconditional love they are more likely to accept themselves as loved when they grow into adulthood. Sadly, the opposite is true, if not modelled for us we struggle to come to understand we are loved by God—unconditionally. It will be easier for our children to come to know a loving and merciful God—the one Ezekiel speaks about in the first reading—when I exhibit those traits.

This past year, children have been in the news in all manner of vulnerable situations. I am often moved to tears when I see the suffering brought to rest on those young shoulders and feel so helpless to do anything. I am struck by the enormity of life as it should NOT be for them. In light of their hardships I wonder how they will ever come to understand they are loved totally and completely by God.

The message of the cross is here too –pain and suffering exist—for now; and it exists even as we strive to help bring about the kingdom. Lord, we hope and trust in your merciful love, lay your hands on us all, give us a new heart and a new spirit, transform our mourning into joyful dancing. Amen.

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

Scripture:

Ezekiel 12:1-12
Matthew 18:2 –19:1

Reflection:

What does forgiveness look like?  Peter thought he knew.  Wishing to appear especially forgiving, asked Jesus if he should forgive up to seven times. Rabbinic teaching at the time taught that forgiving someone more than three times was unnecessary, citing Amos 1:3-13 where God forgave Israel’s enemies three times, then punished them. By offering forgiveness more than double that, Peter perhaps expected the Lord’s praise.  He must have been stunned when Jesus responded he must forgive 77 times, that is without limit.

In the parable, the king forgave the servant for a debt that would have taken him more than two hundred thousand years to earn; impossible to repay in a hundred lifetimes.  But when a fellow servant who owed that servant a much smaller debt begged for time to repay, that same servant offered no forgiveness.  Instead, he had him thrown in prison until the debt was paid.  No wonder the enraged king had that ungrateful servant tossed into prison and tortured until his own staggering debt was paid.  The parable concludes on a stark note of warning.

What does God’s forgiveness look like?  It looks like what happened to a friend, Bill, who had been away from the sacraments for more than 50 years.  Friends eventually persuaded him to return to the Church.  But Bill was nervous about making a good confession.  He purchased a large legal pad and began listing in page after page the many sins.

He took those pages into the confessional with him.  But he had forgotten that the confessional box is dark, except for a small light below the kneeler, which made it difficult to read his notes.  After telling the priest it had been more than 50 years since his last confession, Bill began.  Or so he tried.  He had to stoop down awkwardly to read a few sins, then get up to confess them to the priest.  He repeatedly stooped down, got up, stooped down and got up to confess.

Finally, the priest said “stop! That’s enough!”  Bill became terrified, believing he had made a wretched confession.  Then came the words from the priest, “welcome home!”  Bill wept tears of gratitude.

God’s forgiveness always far outstrips our own.  And yet, we are to forgive others because God has forgiven us immensely more—77 times more.

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

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 9:6-10
John 12:24-26

Reflection:

Jesus says, “Whoever loves their life will lose it.” I don’t think he thus intends that we should refuse to love the gifts of this marvelously created world, the people we are privileged to have in our circle, or the grand adventure contained in our brief span on this earth. We are here to savor and fully live the life we have been given, appreciating and using the gifts and graces God so abundantly pours out for us.

Perhaps Jesus’ saying reflects more on our human tendency to grasp and control this life, essentially “loving” it in the wrong way. We want to be the masters of our own destinies. We assert that we can do anything we set our minds to, and that if we just believe strongly enough and work hard, we will be healthy, wealthy, wise, and die with our full mental capacities intact, surrounded by our large, grateful, and loving family. We want to be in charge of what we love and have life unfold as we choose.

But what happens when it falls apart, either partially or completely? What happens when I get laid off, or a too-young family member dies, or my home is destroyed, or the business fails, or my child is born with disabilities, or I am confronted with a serious diagnosis? At some point, I will be smacked in the face with the reality that I am not in control at all. Everyone I love and everything I have could quite literally disappear in an instant. In addition, if I try too hard to control the people I love, forcing them into my vision for who they should be instead of discovering their vision and supporting that, they will ultimately turn away and I will lose them anyway. No matter what I do, I am not in control despite my best efforts to be.

And so everything is a gift. Some of what I have can be traced to hard work, determination, and talent. Yet much of what I have, achieve, and earn is more profoundly influenced by the circumstances of my birth and the opportunities I am given as a result. It is simply not true for a large portion of the population that they can do or be anything they want. Through no fault of their own, they lack the resources, opportunities, wealth, or mentoring to get there.

Situated as it is in a Gospel pericope focused on serving others, the context of the phrase describes how to reconcile these realities. According to Jesus, I have no right to grab what I have for myself, “loving” it too much to let go of it. Instead I need to be a cheerful giver, willing to share my time, talent, and treasure for the good of all. I need to keep ever before me that it is not “my” money, “my” success, or even “my” life. I need to be tremendously grateful, but I need to hold it close with my arms wide open, freely and generously sharing my many blessings.

This is an immense challenge. I gain a tremendous feeling of security from knowing I have a home, a bank account, good clothes, a loving husband, and a job. My life is good, and I want to keep it that way. In other words, I love my life, and I cling to that. The fact that I am only one phone call away from finding out that something or someone I love is gone only increases my fear and desire to cling.

So pray I must. I pray that God loosen my tight-fisted grasp, so I gain the grace and generosity of heart to give unconditionally and with abandon. I pray that I learn to place my security in divine love and grace rather than in my possessions and abilities. I pray that I consider the welfare of others with at least as much concern as I consider my own and act accordingly. I pray that I may die to all that is holding me back from discipleship and service.

It’s a tall order, and the words still get stuck in my throat as the fear and desire to cling rises up within. I want to be better, God. I want to let go. Help me get started.

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:

Ezekiel 2:8-3:4
Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Reflection:

Edith Stein, Jew and Christian,
Both Embraced by the Passion

We began our reading of the prophets in the weekday lectionary six weeks ago with the early prophets when Assyria dominated Near East and took the Northern Kingdom into exile. The unfaithfulness of Judah in the south would invite further disaster upon Israel. Jeremiah was a major spokesman for the the next exile when Babylon replaced the Kingdom of Assyria. The final prophet we read is Ezekiel, an exile himself in Babylon. A first and smaller exile has already taken place. The King of Judah is a prisoner and a puppet king has replaced him in Jerusalem. From exile Ezekiel repeats the pleas of the earlier prophets to return to the covenant and prophecies an even worse exile. This happens when Nebuchadrezzar II, king of Babylonia, destroys Jerusalem for rebelling and takes into exile its population to Babylon.

Ezekiel however is a fitting prophet for us to end on because of his hope and promise.

He tells us of the horror of God leaving the temple early in his prophecy, but ends with God returning to a new temple. God will give a new heart and a new spirit to Israel, although they resemble dry bones in the parched desert they will come together with life.

Matthew today speaks to his Jewish Christian community who live in the midst of Jews who do not follow Jesus. It is a confusing time, the temple has been destroyed. While not in exile the chosen people are scattered. Matthew tells us not to be concerned with status. If you follow Jesus do not look down on those who do not. Matthew longs for oneness within the Jewish community and invites all to Christ. The Good Shepherd will not lose any of his sheep for it is not the will of the Father that any of these little ones be lost!

Todays’ feast of Edith Stein whose name as a Carmelite religious is Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, would be a hero and an example for Matthew’s gospel community. She was not one of the ‘little ones’, rather a world class philosopher, student and teaching assistant to the famous philosopher Edmund Husserl. Because she was Jewish and a woman she could no longer teach at the universities. She did teach young women and also traveled as a speaker for women’s organizations. Her conversion to Christianity and entering the Carmel in Cologne in 1933 was a great suffering for her mother, which Edith in turn felt in her heart.

Edith’s love for Christ seems to have brought her the gift of a special love of the Passion. Her final book is ‘The Science of the Cross’. Arrested on August the 2nd she died in Auschwitz on August 9th,1942. She died with her blood sister Ruth whom she had refused to leave when offered the opportunity to escape to a safer convent in Switzerland. While a great woman she had become one of the least. But it may be more like Jesus in John’s gospel that she appears in the end. Protecting those traveling with her on the train to the East and going to her death bravely, encouraging her sister, ‘let us go and be one with our people’. As the least she came to resemble Christ. Jew and Christian have become one in her. Ezekiel a prophet whom she must have loved is fulfilled: a temple in which God dwelt is raised up anew in glory; dry bones come to life.

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