Claire Smith

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

Over the past few days, and especially the powerful readings that shaped the Liturgy of the Word this past Sunday and again today, have been leading us into a mystery that is so often overlooked in contemporary society.  Far from eschewing the old “an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth” philosophy, from the looks of things in modern society we seem to be embracing this “gotta get even” way of thinking more than ever before.  How distant and alien this is from the radically new and transformative message of Jesus that we must forgive others as we hope to be forgiven ourselves; indeed, that we must love not only those who love us but we must love and forgive even our enemies!

Certainly in all the years of preaching retreats and speaking with literally thousands of men and women from all backgrounds, the topic of forgiveness is one of the major issues that good, loving people find themselves dealing with in daily life.  And, not surprisingly, they find it to be one of the hardest things in fully living their call to follow Jesus faithfully.  Because life’s hurts and disappointments come again and again living this Gospel message of pardon and forgiveness is one of the greatest challenges we all face in fulfilling this radical message of the Gospel.

Countless books have been written from a variety of perspectives about how to forgive those who have wronged us.  There is no easy way.  Frequently I find myself reminding the good people who come to St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center in Detroit that forgiveness is an act of the will, not simply an emotional surrender or easing up of initial pain and hurt at a feeling level.  Consequently, as a decision that we consciously make, it sometimes has to be repeated over and over again, even as we remember life’s hurts and the feelings that accompany those memories come flooding back into our hearts.  Often, as we relive painful events in our lives, and because we re-experience those emotions, too, we then judge ourselves as having failed to truly forgive the other, and, consequently, failed to fulfill the commandment given us by Jesus himself.  Yet, the truth is, as long as I make that conscious decision to forgive, to surrender the hurt and pain, and as long as I reiterate that choice over and over again, surely the forgiveness asked of us by the Lord has been met and lived out in our life as a disciple and follower of Jesus.  The peace that we offer the other should fill our own hearts as well and we should not be misled by memories and emotions that can wreak havoc if we forget what is really and truly at the heart of forgiveness.

The concluding words of Jesus in our Gospel passage make it very clear that the kind of forgiveness Jesus asks of us is radical, so very difficult to achieve.  Yet, in following his example, we do far more than what the pagans do, we love even those whose lives are devoid of forgiveness, mercy, or love.  Why, we even dare to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect!  Imagine that!

 

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

Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

Today we are invited to ponder the essence of nonretaliation. This is the fifth antithetical “you have heard it said…but I say to you” statement from Jesus. At first glance it is hard to take; one might think Jesus is suggesting we offer no resistance to evil, yet, he himself took it on throughout the gospels.

I might suggest there is more at play here and we would do well to sit with it before moving on to easier passages. I have heard it said, “An eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind,” Leviticus 24:20 calls for equal reciprocity. As in his prior teachings there is a core message here which Jesus is inviting us to explore. For example, it was customary to strike another with the right hand on the right cheek. It was meant to humiliate and insult, turning the other cheek would not at all be expected and so might deny the aggressor his satisfaction and interrupt the cycle of violence.

Similarly a debtor who stands naked in court because he hands over not only his tunic but his cloak may cause a stir; Genesis 9:20-27 suggests anyone who views another’s nakedness is shamed. Again, it changes the dynamic of the cycle of violence. Finally, if pressed into service –by a Roman soldier, for instance—to carry their packs and you walk further; the soldier might have penalties attached to him for exacting excessive service. Each time the dynamic is adjusted—a change is made.  Finally, we are to give from a place of abundance and with generosity. This is kingdom building for our world.

Jesus was not trying to confuse the listener; rather he was and still is inviting us into new ways of understanding how the Law is fulfilled.  One commentary I read suggested the thrust of the action is closer to “resist violently.” As Christians, it our highest call to remove any obstacles preventing the love of God to flow through us into our world and avoid being sucked up in “eye for an eye” mentality. It fails us every time! If we change the cycle(s), we can offer hope for a new cycle of reciprocity and justice.  There is wisdom here—deep and profound—and healing. Our challenge is to be actively engaged and always looking for those ways to bring about the kingdom; to look deeply and to change the cycle; to counter evil with good. Love does this from the cross.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, a Franciscan and Doctor of the Church. Along with his father, St. Francis, he became a channel of God’s love.  I also remember praying to him for lost items!

Dear St. Anthony, please intercede for us this day so that we will always find our way to love and show love above all. 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:

2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13
Galatians 2:16, 19-21
Luke 7:36-8:3

Reflection:

Prayer and meditation enable me to be sensitive to the workings of the Holy Spirit around, and within me.

It is always through the experiences of Jesus Christ in the Scripture that we are able to better attune ourselves to the “ways of God” working in and around us. It is easy, so easy, to misinterpret, and misjudge (even rashly, given the condition of our soul life) what is really going on. Simon, the Pharisee would be a prime example of this action.

This Sunday’s Word addresses three different human phenomena through which the Spirit of God actively works.

I summarize these phenomena in today’s readings as awkwardness, acceptance of the unpredictable, and the willingness to act as a buffer in the midst of painful acting out which can occur in difficult moments. Can you place yourself in these three phenomena? The Spirit of God is at work in all three. Responding to the genuine expression of sincere sorrow and amends, the woman wants to express herself as personally and intimately as she is able. Jesus accepts the reality as it unfolds before him, understanding the sensitivity and the awkwardness of the moment, and at the same time wanting to respect this dramatic gesture of love by defending it boldly with the confrontation toward His judgmental host. And then, he has the willingness to “stand in there” between the repentant and the recalcitrant, respecting the place from where each person is coming; the woman’s need for healing, and the host’s defensiveness of his selfishness.

To grasp this is to accept the bottom line reality that my life is sustained by a loving Creator-God in a relationship with the one Who gave His life for me, and the one who continues to energize me with a Spirit of doing the same for others, intentionally and habitually. The phenomena of awkwardness, acceptance of the unpredictable and the buffering of the painful acting out which can occur in hostile or inhospitable circumstances are all ways in which the Spirit of God can work. The more I am able to look back (reflectare, a form of prayer) and realize how God is at work, the more I am able to mediate the loving, healing, compassion of Christ’s Spirit.

A question I ask myself: To whom will I offer welcome today? Will I be stingy and judgmental or will I give of myself lovingly to all whom I meet?

Fr. Alex Steinmiller, C.P. is president emeritus of Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School, Birmingham, Alabama.

Memorial of St. Barnabas

Scripture:

Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3
Matthew 5:33-37

Reflection:

A nickname can be tricky.  It may be imposed on a person in fun, affection or belittlement.  For years, I tried to live down the nickname given me by an uncle — Butch.  But it has stubbornly clung to me.  Like a bulldog biting at my ankle, I can’t shake it.  And so, I’ve made peace with Butch.

A nickname, however, may also be descriptive.  Such was the case with Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus.  He was no leader, no intellectual or powerful orator.  It isn’t clear he even cut an imposing physical stature.

What is it about Joseph then that we remember him today?  We must look to his virtues.  He was bold in his actions, even to the point of being a contrarian.  His overriding concern always were the needs of others, especially those who were ostracized, criticized and marginalized.  He could see in them their special gift.  “When he saw the grace of God, he rejoiced,” we learn of him in Acts 11:23.

Joseph saw the grace of God in an angry Pharisee ostracized for being a fierce persecutor of Christians, in a young man criticized for being too frightened to continue a long and arduous journey with Joseph, in gentiles marginalized, even though they desired to become followers of Christ.  Joseph deliberately sought them out.  He comforted them, listened to them, saw their special gift and encouraged them.

Thanks largely to him, Saul the persecutor became the Apostle Paul and a giant of the Church; the frightened young man, John Mark, became the bold author of our first gospel; and we gentiles are embraced as followers of Christ.

The apostles gave him a nickname that could not have been more fitting.  That is why today we honor, not Joseph the Levite, but Barnabas – the Son of Encouragement.  It is a nickname we all should strive to bear.  To be called Barnabas is to set aside our shallow egos in order to discern the needs of those shoved to the margins, the invisible and forgotten, the ostracized – and like Barnabas, to be able to see in them the grace of God and rejoice.

 

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

Scripture:

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

 

Reflection:

Elijah: Prophet of the Word of God

Our daily readings for the next two weeks are like two lines of music in counterpoint: the uplifting Beatitudes against the noisy battles of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. If we took a time machine back into the Scriptures it would advisedly not be into the world of the Books of Kings! A motif in the readings these weeks is the ‘Word of God’. We are dealing with prophets, those entrusted with the vocation of speaking it.

When we began the First Book of Kings we entered the story at Chapter 17, meeting Elijah, the most powerful of all the prophets. Preceding Elijah’s entrance is the death of Solomon and the return of his rebellious son, Rehoboam from Egypt, a very bad king who even proclaims his badness! Before we pass through a few more kings to the entrance of Elijah and his nemeses Ahab and Jezebel, there is a strange story told in chapter 13 that introduces the importance of the ‘Word of God’ motif.

An unnamed prophet is sent to Rehoboam who has set up a temple in Bethel and desires to subvert the memory of David and the Jerusalem temple. The prophet confronts Rehoboam in Bethel and tells him that his altar will crack, become dust and blow away. It does. When the king points to the prophet and orders the guards to seize   him, the kings arm withers and he cannot move it. The king begs pardon of God he is cured. He then offers refreshments and a gift to the prophet who in turns says that God has told him to take nothing and to leave.

But an old prophet in the area hears the story, catches up with this unnamed prophet, and tells a white lie: an angel says it will be all right to take some refreshment with him. He prevails upon the prophet to come to his home. But God had said, ‘go right home’! And so upon leaving he is stuck down by a lion who stands guard over his corpse until the old prophet retrieves it and buries it with due honor. Unfortunately, he is not laid to rest with his ancestors, and we never get to learn his name.

A strange story, but a story of a prophet who unleashes a powerful word to the King and does not follow what God had told him, insignificant though it seems. Like the motif in a piece of music its sound reminds us of something. It is there for a reason. With Elijah and Elisha we are dealing with men of the Word. Nothing is trivial apparently.

God’s Word does not always destroy. We know it can fall gently like the rain upon the good and the bad. As we hear the Scriptures we may be challenged to really listen, to be obedient. Like Sarah we might laugh at what we hear, or like Jonah, a prophet, we might make God laugh to think we can stifle the Word. The best of the prophets have their ups and downs as we will see in the readings set before us in Kings.

We are prophets by our Baptism! God does speak through us. We trust the Lord will provide words, will use us (gently?), and like Elijah today enable us to run ahead of the potential darkness that may follow behind. May the words of another prophet, Isaiah, give us strength to hear and speak God’s holy Word: ‘…have you not heard?…they that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will run and not grow weary’. Is 40:28-31

 

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

Scripture:

1 Kings 17:7-16
Matthew 5:13-16

Reflection:

Some people are quick learners, alas, I’m sorry to report, not me. In just a few sentences Elijah in today’s first scripture reading prophetically directs the widow of Zarephath on what to do. After a little discussion she follows his commands and things work out for all concerned. The widow seems to get what took me thirty years to learn and am still learning today, to be able to identify and then trust in the one true God.

My lessons began with Sister Marie Angeline who taught my second grade classmates and me how to go to confession. While I don’t remember her exact instructions, I learned that if nothing else, I could confess that I disobeyed my parents, and so that became a staple of my confession: “Father, I disobeyed my parents five times, or was it six?” What I didn’t learn was how to identify my real sins. Looking back, I don’t remember ever disobeying my parents when I was that young. Oh, maybe my brothers and I would talk after we were told to be quiet and go to sleep, but that doesn’t count right? What I needed to confess was my often unwillingness to share what I had with my brothers, sisters and playmates. I had some learning to do.

As a teenager in the 1960’s I continued my lessons discovering that obedience or doing what I was told, was not always the “virtue” Sister said it was. In fact, life around me suggested that disobedience was often the true virtue. Those were the days when the Viet Nam war was playing out on the TV sets in our living rooms and civil rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. demonstrated how civil disobedience was an alternative to violent confrontation. I was learning, but still needed more, mainly how to identify and follow the one, true God.

Then in the 80’s, I had to relearn obedience. I began to realize that if I wanted to survive I had to surrender, I had to admit defeat, let go of doing things my way, and start risking doing what I was told, i.e. letting go and letting God. This proved challenging but not impossible and like the widow Elijah commanded to feed him, I learned that God does work miracles when you heed His voice, often coming through characters like Elijah.

I’m not sure just when I did learn that lesson of sharing. No matter if I only have a little like the widow Elijah encounters, I still have to share. I do remember my Father’s simple three-page will though, which stated humbly to “share and share alike”. Wow! What a concept. Thanks Elijah, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Sister Marie Angeline, Dad and all the great prophets. I’ll keep trying to hear God’s voice through your words.

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

Scripture:

1 Kings 17:17-24
Galatians 1:11-19
Luke 7:11-17

Reflection:

Are you one of those people who seem to lack patience?  Have you ever prayed for patience but didn’t seem to get what you prayed for?  I’ve never made any steps forward by praying for patience.  Usually I just end up in situations which publicly remind me of how impatient I am.  In my life I’ve discovered not to pray for patience but to pray for compassion.  Simply put, when I am more compassionate, I am more patient.  Moreover, as we look into scripture, compassion is a significant part of God’s divine energy and it is the healing power of Christ.

As we look at the readings today, there are two parallel stories.  The story in First Kings is a prophet (Elijah) who goes to the home of a widow whose son falls sick and dies. Elijah prays over him that the life breath may return to the boy and the child is revived.   The similar story in the Gospel has another widow who loses her son.  Luke states that he is a man, not a child as in the first story.  Jesus, being the man of God, steps forward, touches the coffin and commands the son to arise.   With this the people begin glorifying God and call Jesus a great prophet.     Jesus, as well as the crowds in the Gospel story, certainly would have known well the accounts of Elijah.   So would many of the readers of Luke’s gospel.    And if Elijah can bring the dead back to life, then so too can Jesus who we claim to be greater than Elijah.

When you look at these stories what catches your attention?  Perhaps it is the details around how the “miracle” happens?  Or is it the healing power of the holy man?  Who in the story do you find yourself identifying with: the widow, the holy man, or the son?  If you take a closer look, both stories have the holy man concerned with the widow, but is it only the need to do something about her grief?   Luke suggests not.  This son, he says, is her only son.  Why is this significant?  This is a widow.  She has no husband.  She lives in a very patriarchal society where men have all the rights and women don’t have any rights.  For her to lose her son is for her to lose the only connection she would have in her society which would give her identity, voice, status, rights or even a legal advocate.  When Jesus sees how this woman is so deeply torn, Luke says he was moved with pity.  He is moved in the very core of his being.  And he must do something about the situation.  Both stories are about the power of compassion, the need to do something about the situation that brings life.

Here we are in this time after Easter where we focused on resurrection and new life.  Liturgically we are beyond both Ascension and Pentecost which means Jesus has ascended to his Father and sent us his Spirit. Thus the question we are left with is how do we discover the power of compassion to do something about the situations that need more life?  I have witnessed some remarkable things parents have done out of love and compassion for their children.  But rather than start with remarkable things, perhaps we can start with a small yet significant thing.  How do we bring compassion into the areas of our hearts where we are so judgmental towards others? I’m reminded almost daily how judgments which we hold against one another rob us of so much happiness. The Dali Lama said, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is the pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Scripture:

Ezekiel 34:11-16
Romans 5:5b-11
Luke 15:3-7

Reflection:

There is so much to rejoice over in the readings today! I am feeling very blessed to be a child of God – even if He does compare us to sheep! The language is so rich and comforting – God Himself will pasture us. He will give us rest. He will seek out the lost and bring back the strays. He will bind up the injured, heal the sick, and lead us to good pastures! I imagine myself laying in a beautiful green meadow with Jesus nearby keeping an eye on me. . . and my heart is content.

In the second reading He reminds us that He paid the ultimate price for us by laying down His life for us even while we were sinners. We don’t deserve His love or salvation, but He gives it to us anyway. He is not only a good shepherd, he is the BEST shepherd! I imagine arriving at heaven’s gate one day to meet Him face to face. . . and my heart is grateful.

In the Gospel acclamation, He reminds us that He knows us and that we can know Him. Again I am grateful because God wants us to know Him and walk with Him and live and move and have our being in Him. He is a personal God, not one who is far off and unreachable.

Finally in the Gospel He tells us again that He will leave the 99 to go find one who is lost. Thank you Lord for loving us so much! We lift up all those today who are lost and pray that if we can help them find their way back to Your love, You will show us. Thank you Lord! We love you!

 

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].