Claire Smith

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity 

Scripture:

Proverbs 8:22-31
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15

Reflection:

I have had many occasions to drive on the Schuykill Expressway through Philadelphia, PA.  Almost always, as one approaches the “Conshohocken Curve” on the expressway, one is stopped dead and then locked into stop and go traffic for twenty to thirty minutes.  Once one gets past the curve, traffic flows freely again.  There is never an apparent reason for the stop and go traffic and no one ever discovers the reason for the slow down.  I once was bringing an elderly priest to Wills Eye Hospital in that city.  Once past the curve he remarked, “It’s amazing.  Understanding this slow-down rivals the Mystery of the Trinity.”

Our Solemnity today is a celebration of God as God is.  Our God is three divine persons in one God.  How we attempt to reflect upon this great mystery of our faith can tie us up in knots.  Perhaps we need to begin by remembering this is a Mystery of faith.  Mathematics and logic have a wonderful roll to play in human life but do not reach to the realms of One God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Our scriptures can lead the way for us.  The very beautiful personification of Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs speaks to us of God and the divine ways from before the dawn of creation.  The Father, God’s Word, and the Spirit experience such intimacy that it overflows into the creation of the universe, the earth and humanity itself.  From the beginning of time, our Triune God is with us, surrounding us with divine love and purpose.  Paul reminds us in the letter to the Romans that God, through, with and in Jesus and in the power of the Spirit, has blessed us with faith which sustains us in the joys of life and even in the times of affliction.  As a matter of fact, the afflictions, lived out in faith, actually produces hope that informs our living.  How do we recognize this ?  We see and understand it because of the love of God has been poured out into our hearts with Jesus in the power of the Spirit.  Paul gives us a great message of consolation and encouragement here.  Even though we may not be able to articulate the Mystery of the Blessed Trinity, we actually live in the mystery.  We have a God who is Three Persons who does not live aloof from all that has been created.  That would be contrary to the very act of creation itself which flowed from divine love.  Loving, for God, means to be present, to be involved, to live in and around God’s most precious creation – the hearts of human persons.  Rather than aloof, our God has chosen to live in the closest union with us possible.  In our faith, we call this the divine indwelling of the Blessed Trinity which is given us in Baptism.

Saint John reminds us in our gospel reading that because of the presence of the Trinity in our hearts, God continuously invites us to a deeper experience of the Divine Presence within, to hear  God speaking to us, to see God acting on our behalf in life’s circumstances, and to find a deepening understanding of God’s revealing love as it is continuously poured out into our lives.   Our Triune God has chosen to be intimately bonded with us in life and for life.  God walks with us here and leads us to the pathways of the eternal Kingdom.  This not only makes God very special, it makes us very special in God’s eyes.  Our solemnity today, then, is a special celebration of an amazing God who provides for us  an amazing source of love and encouragement in our everyday life.

On the feast of the Trinity, I am reminded of a music teacher’s attempt to wrap her mind around the mystery of the Trinity.  She did so by having her students sing a “round” like Three Blind Mice.  I always smile too myself remembering this was the “round” practiced by the new boys’ choir in Going My Way that drove the Pastor to the Bishop’s office to have his new musical, assistant pastor transferred out of his hair.  The teacher, however, took the time to reflect on the ONE song sung in THREE timings which created a melodious dynamism that could last forever and give birth to great beauty.

I am not a musician but she helped me to think about our God in a creative, intriguing and fun way.  May we always be willing to reflect on the Mystery of our God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, remembering that our God has chosen to be with us always, and celebrating God’s love for us.

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

 

Scripture:

James 5: 9-12
Mark 10: 1-12

Reflection:

 Are you all in?  Are you fully invested in following Jesus?  That seems to be a continuing question being raised in the liturgical readings for the past week.  In the letter of James we have consistently been given advice about what it means to live a fully Christian life.  We have been advised not to complain or enter into bitter jealousy and selfish ambition.  Nor should we covet or rely on our earthly possessions.  Rather we should draw near to God and be pure, peaceable, gentle and compliant, full of mercy and good fruits.  We are called to endure hardships patiently and to persevere in following Jesus.

The various accounts from the Gospel of John have also challenged us about what it means to follow Christ.  Christ testified that anything can be accomplished if our faith is strong enough though the hardness of our hearts often keeps us from understanding what Christ is trying to show us.  When Jesus tells his disciples that he will be killed yet will rise again on the third day, they don’t “understand…and are afraid to ask him any questions.”  In response to their desire to “be first,” he says the way to being first is to be last and the servant of all.  Jesus further says that they must remove any obstacle that keeps them from being faithful even if it’s a valuable part of their bodies!  And in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that it is their “hardness of heart” that kept Moses from teaching the sacredness of their commitment in marriage.  Throughout this entire week, we have been challenged over and over again to assess the depth of our commitment to Christ.

It isn’t hard to recognize ourselves in some of the attitudes that James condemns and in some of the virtues he recommends.   It’s also true that most of us haven’t achieved the purity of heart into which Jesus continues to invite us.  So we continue to trust that Christ will show us mercy by patiently transforming us as we struggle to follow him.

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

Scripture:

James 5:1-6
Mark 9:41-50

Reflection:

O Lord, I trust in your merciful love. My heart will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me.  (Psalm 13:6) Entrance Antiphon

Earlier this week, I received a call from a dear friend telling me that her elderly sister was in intensive care and that the doctors were considering a simple but serious procedure to better her condition. The older we get, the more aware we become of the life-threatening conditions we face in life.

We wish that life could be filled with just good stuff, that we didn’t have to recognize the reality of sin, sickness and death as integral to everyone’s life. What the Scripture today tells me is that while everyone faces the darkness of sin and is tempted to sin, we are not alone. Our God has overcome sin and death!

These reading from James and Mark were serious reminders that all life, especially eternal life, comes at a cost to our sinful selves. While the benefits to living a faithful and committed Christian life are well known, the actual living it day in and day out is no so easy. They are sobering readings, but they are not without hope.

Everyone who is serious about life, especially eternal life, is keenly aware that we are made in the image and likeness of God. We are aware that God is God and we are God’s creation. Our lives have a beginning and they have an end. We are born, and then, at some point in time, we die. As Job reminds us, “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall go back again. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:29)

But how we want to live our lives, how we want to be remembered, is left pretty much up to us. We cannot do anything about our heritage, our parents, our country of origin and the day we were born. Those are given. But we can decide if we want to live a virtuous life or not. We do not need to be prisoners of our environment, of our age and time. We can aspire for the greater gifts, for a life virtue and a life of good deeds, even though we may need to take a road less traveled.

Is it easy to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily? Of course not. But does God give us the personal grace and the community of faith to do so? Yes, God does!

If these readings for today’s Mass were the only ones we had to live by, then we may be tempted to think that the Christian way of life is all too difficult, too hard to live. But Jesus gives us a context to these readings when he says: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41). God enables us to do the good, to pick up our cross and follow Jesus, his Son, our Crucified Lord. The beautiful words with which we began this Mass, uplifts us and sustain us in the time of temptation: “O Lord, I trust in your merciful love.” (Psalm 13:6)

Yes, our God is Kind and Merciful!

Fr. Clemente Barrón, C.P. is a member of Christ the King Community in Citrus Heights, California. 

Scripture:

James 4:13-17
Mark 9:38-40

Reflection:

Driving out demons. If any theme fascinates Hollywood – and often leaves us on the edge of our seats as we watch late night television – it is that of some kind of battle with evil forces! Forces that initially seem powerful and malevolent and are intent on waging some kind of war on humankind. Added to this is the sub-theme usually accompanying the major one of the few against a force that is powerful and lurking with evil intent.

Perhaps in the same way we could be distracted by the setting of today’s gospel reading – albeit that it too speaks to us of the eternal contest between good and evil. We could restrict ourselves to a meditation on that great drama being played out across time and history – the struggle of good to overcome evil – a struggle in which Jesus Christ is the ultimate victor.

However, let us go beyond this and see today’s gospel in a way that is more immediate and speaks to our inner life just as importantly as to the outer world in which we live.

The context is clear – the disciples try to prevent someone driving out demons because he is not a ‘recognized’ follower of Jesus. He is not part of their movement. In this they want to adopt a judgmental stance and impose some kind of ‘exclusivity’ upon the mission of Jesus, and at the same time highlight the benefit of being with the inner circle of followers.

Perhaps their stance is easy enough to recognize and even understand; indeed we all acquainted with the idea that some boundaries are needed around any organisation or movement so that it has coordination, direction, purpose and consistency.

But the lesson to be learned is more subtle. In excluding others, not on the basis of their good works, but on the basis of their official ‘status’ the disciples want to add the dimension of ‘exclusivity’ or perhaps ‘ownership’ into the reality of their mission for, and on behalf of, Jesus. In this way they would create a kind of inner circle of privilege or relationship with Jesus.

In response to their stance, Jesus adopts a very moderate and reflective attitude. He prefers to be inclusive in his vision and to welcome the collaboration of people on the basis of their good intentions and desires. Jesus looks to the heart. If Jesus judges in the external forum then it is only on the basis of the fruits of one’s endeavors.

Perhaps then we can take this gospel to heart. Let us learn from Jesus and not rush to judgement on any basis let alone that of whether a person is ‘in’ or ‘out’ of a group or whether their ideas, life-style or belief system are akin to mine or not.

We are pushed and pulled by many forces in life today; often by forces that suggest to us strongly that we should adopt a certain position or that someone or some view is ‘wrong’ or ‘outside’ of the norm. Let us not be hasty in judging.

Like Jesus let us be reflective, reasoned and above all open so that we can give to all the benefit of the doubt until we see the fruits of their actions. “For whoever is not against us is for us.”

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:

James 3:13-18
Mark 9:14-29

Reflection:

This short periscope in the Gospel of Mark is immediately preceded by the Transfiguration of Jesus. 

This is one of the great events in Jesus’ life.  He is accompanied by the three apostles: Peter, James, and John.  They witness the Transfiguration and the meeting of Jesus with Moses and Elijah.  Jesus asks the disciples not to tell anyone about the Transfiguration until after His resurrection.  Some commentators say the Transfiguration was intended for Jesus to sustain him in his suffering and death.  Other commentators say the Transfiguration was intended for the disciples to help them have courage to endure the sufferings and death of Jesus.

When Jesus and the disciples come down the mountain they are met by a crowd of people.  The crowd is upset with the disciples because they are unable to perform the miracles that Jesus could perform. Mark ascribed the failure of the disciples not to lack of faith, but inattention to the source of faith – prayer and fasting.

Jesus hears the voice of a man asking for help for his only child, who was possessed.  Jesus asked the father how long this has been happening?    He responded “since childhood.” Then the father says “Please help my child If you can heal him”.  Jesus seems to be taken aback by “If you can.”  Jesus says “you need faith.”  The father replies “I do have faith help my unbelief!”  Jesus heals the young man because of the father’s faith.  He assures him this is a permanent cure Satan will not enter him again. There is something poignant about this miracle.  Jesus is always attentive to the voice of His own Father, when He speaks.  Somehow the prayer of any father for his children gets a special hearing from Jesus.

The great medieval artist Raphael was born on Good Friday, April 6^th, 1485.  Raphael had a special  devotion to the Transfiguration in the life of Jesus.   He spent the last couple of years of his life trying to perfect his painting of this event. Finally, in the middle of the night he woke up  with the answer to why he could not be satisfied with the painting!  The answer he came to was that Jesus and the disciples could not stay up in the mountain, but had to come down the mountain to the people and their needs.

In other words Raphael in his finished portrayal of the Transfiguration has a young man throwing off his crutches and walking strong and strait.  He was experiencing a permanent cure.

It is very interesting that Raphael died on Good Friday, April 6, 1520, at the age of thirty-five years.

 

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

Pentecost Sunday

Scripture:

Acts 2:1-11
1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 or
Romans 8:8-17
John 20:19-23 or
14:15-16, 23b-26

Reflection:

The event of Pentecost is hailed as the birthday the church. It is the day the followers of Jesus burst out of the Upper Room to boldly proclaim the Risen Jesus as the long awaited Christ. Pentecost is renewed and re-presented to us in the liturgy, the “work” of the church. Let us look at the prayers we pray on Pentecost.

First and foremost we will pray that the gifts of the Holy Spirit be poured out in our time across the face of the earth and that the divine grace, at work when the gospel was first proclaimed, fill the hearts of believers (Collect for the Mass of Pentecost). In the Sequence we will sing: “Come, Holy Spirit, come! And from your celestial home shed a ray of light divine! Come, Father of the poor! Come, source of all our store! Come, within our bosoms shine.” In the responsorial psalm we will confidently proclaim: “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” Finally, having received our Lord and Savior in Holy Communion we pray for the Church that the “gift of the Holy Spirit poured out upon her may retain all its force” and gain for us eternal redemption.

Pope Francis recalls an old image used in the past. He says that the soul is a kind of sailboat, the Holy Spirit is the wind which fills its sails and drives it forward, and the gusts of wind are the gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Homily, May 19, 2013) May this strong driving wind fill our lives with the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

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

Scripture:

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
John 15:9-17

Reflection:

In a beautiful way, Our Lord tells us in today’s Gospel that just as the Father loves Him, so He also loves us; a sentiment that should truly warm our hearts. We are loved by the Lord, not mankind generally, but each of us, and in a very profound way. When I sit with that thought and reflect on it, I am truly humbled.  It’s pretty amazing.  He follows that with a statement telling His disciples, and us, to remain in His love.  Telling us to stay close to Him.

While He tells us that following His commandments and loving others is the way to remain in His love, why did He need to emphasize to us that we need to remain in His love?  Did He know the temptations we would face? Did He know that we would be tempted to flee from Him and deny Him?  Did He know how much the culture would pressure us to turn from Him, distract us or how much it would drown Him out?

We all love the feeling of being close to Our Lord, but it no doubt can be a challenge in today’s world to keep ourselves strong and focused enough to remain there.  Like anything else we want in life, it takes effort to stay there.  What is our plan to remain in the love of the Lord? A full life of prayer?  Daily mass?  Frequent confession?  Spiritual direction?  Retreats?  Hopefully all of the above.

Thank goodness though that staying close to our Lord, and in His love, is not all up to us.  We have a God who does not abandon us, does not leave us on our own.  He gives us the Holy Spirit, the advocate. With the gifts of the Holy Spirit we are so much better equipped to persevere in the challenges we face to remain in the love of Our Lord.

Lately I have been including in my prayers a request that the Lord send me the Holy Spirit to guide, inspire and purify me.  Something to think about on the eve of Pentecost.  With the gifts of the Holy Spirit, I like our chances of remaining in the love of Our Lord.

Steve Walsh is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Sierra Madre , and a good friend of the Passionist Community.

Scripture:

Acts 25:13b-21
John 21:15-19

Reflection:

About five years ago I was blessed to stand on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and ponder this Gospel. In that spot stands a bronze depiction of Jesus’ commissioning of Peter to “Feed My Sheep.” It shows Jesus with an outstretched arm while Peter is brought to his knees before him.

As I reflect today, two things come to mind: Post-resurrection, I believe Peter now understands, and embraces, Jesus teaching on the Beatitudes of forgiveness and mercy; and secondly, Jesus takes a step reflective of Psalm 139:1f, “Lord, you have probed me, you know me…” He knows Peter’s need for healing, even if Peter has not yet come to this realization himself.

Jesus wants to heal Peter of the memory of his denial when he asks “do you love me?” three times. Then Jesus commissions him to “feed my sheep”. The Shepherd is entrusting his sheep to Peter.

There is a very subtle element to this exchange and that is Peter’s posture. While we understand this is not the first time Peter and Jesus have met following Peter’s denying Jesus; Peter doesn’t seem to have any remorse as he confidently declares, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” in the shadow of his denial! In my humanity I want to ask—how could one possibly come to that understanding following your behavior, Peter? And my answer is that Peter really comes to understand Jesus’ life message of the complete and total acceptance of the merciful love of God. He doesn’t fall into humanity’s trap of un-forgiveness. He doesn’t seem to question if Jesus forgives his unforgiveable sin or –more importantly—if he forgives himself! He opens wide his heart in vulnerable trust to his Redeemer. He stands before Jesus in his nakedness—not in fear and trembling but in fully embracing his redeemed humanity, gloriously! This is transformation.  And so, before Peter strikes out in ministry, is it possible that Jesus might have been testing Peter’s convictions—his new awakening to the message of the cross and beyond? Not because he (Jesus) didn’t know everything but because Peter needed to verbalize this foundational principle?

The power of grace at work in Peter’s life is the same power at work in our own life. How many of us feel shame around our actions or inactions and do not feel worthy to approach Jesus in this shame? For most of us this may be a subtle shadow existing in the periphery of our consciousness—yet, it is still there. Psychologists tell us that rather than going away these unclaimed shameful experiences become larger out of sight. This is our humanity. Our invitation today is to step through, like Peter, and encounter Jesus’ healing of our total self so as to be an instrument of God’s merciful healing in our world.  Today, may we confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace for timely help. (Hebrews 4:16). 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.