Claire Smith

Feast of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Scripture:

Exodus 2:1-15a
Matthew 11:20-24

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the feast of a very special saint, St. Kateri Tekakwitha.  This brave young woman was born on the 17^th of April, 1656, and lived only 24 years, dying in 1680.  Kateri lived in what is now a part of New York State and after her conversion settled in a Jesuit mission in an area today just south of Montreal, Canada.

For those who may be interested in the way that Kateri would have spoken her name as a young Mohawk maiden it was pronounced “Gaderi dega’ gwita.  I have always been fascinated by her story because it tells how she faced even being shunned and cast aside by her very own people in order to follow Christ upon her conversion to the Catholic faith.  Embracing the faith and being a devoted follower of Jesus cost her dearly and is a good reminder to us that it is not always easy to say yes to the Lord and to follow the Lord daily.  Kateri did and it cost her family, tribe, and physical security.

In our readings today we see in the book of Exodus the dramatic, colorful story of an unnamed woman known only as a “Levite woman” who was married to “a certain man of the house of Levi.”  Yet, this nameless woman herself was a true hero, as well.  This brave mother, completely overshadowed by the child she bore, the great father and hero of the people of Israel, Moses, was clearly someone who was courageous, selfless, and who would make any sacrifice (not unlike Kateri) to preserve the goodness and the beauty of life and God’s sacred creation.  Exodus tells us that this anonymous hero went down to the river bank and placed her precious child in a basket that was “daubed with bitumen and pitch” into the reeds of the river.  As the Lord would have it, making this drama even more inviting, it was the very mother of Moses who would be selected by Pharaoh’s daughter to nurse the child until he had grown beyond infancy!  Pharaoh’s daughter, another nameless woman in the Old Testament, was also courageous and selfless, raising Moses as her very own child.

Of course, as they say, the rest of the story is history but what a history it is!  From a basket hidden in the reeds of the river all the way to leading God’s chosen people out of slavery, through the desert, and to the edge of the promised land, Moses is one of the most significant people found in the Jewish scriptures.

St. Kateri and the great Moses, two heroes of our faith who remind us that the Lord can work wonders in the most unexpected ways!  Let’s all of us keep our eyes and hearts open to the ways the Lord can work wonders even within us as he did with our two great saints of the day.

 

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

Scripture:

Exodus 1:8-14, 22
Matthew 10:34-11:1

 

Reflection:

Matthew’s gospel for today is taken from the end of the “Ministry and Mission in Galilee” section. We find at the beginning, this section speaks to the healing ministry of Jesus and today we read of Jesus giving final instruction to his disciples having called them and given them authority to heal and cure (10:1). He now prepares them for what to expect as they carry out his commands (11:1).

At first glance, the words used seem jarring. I found myself asking the questions: “Where does blessed are the peacemakers fit in (5:9)? What about the strategies of non-violence that suggests we among other things, “turn the other cheek” etc…. (5:38-48)? Later on in this gospel, Jesus instructs Peter to put his sword away (26:52). Does this mean a reversal of those other statements?

The first reader of this text—the Matthean Christian community made up primarily of Jew and Gentiles were being challenged to trust in their commitment to Jesus as they struggled to figure out their new identity.  In deciding to follow Jesus, some may have experienced the stress of family conflicts if their mother, father…etc… did not share their faith. Undoubtedly there was conflict from within the community as well. This, “Way,” as it was originally called, was such a radical walking away from the old world—all that was familiar—into the new and unknown.

And here we see the connection to the first reading—the Israelites had become a threat now that the Pharaoh didn’t know Joseph, they were being treated as slaves. We know that Moses was sent by God to lead them from their slavery into the Promised Land.  First they had to wander through the wilderness, their time of testing, searching and learning about whom they were as the Chosen People. From the old life to the new life; similarly the early Christian community was given that invitation and it is no less true for us today.

I might suggest that rather than hearing guilt in the context of our worthiness, we aspire instead to reach for our worthiness as our birthright as children of God. To claim it as we detach ourselves from all that keeps us bound to our old life. St. Paul assures us of our worthiness because Christ died for us.

We need to pay attention to the ways in which we are being called—commanded—to follow Jesus as his disciples. The cost of discipleship is not just to the Cross but through the Cross to new life!  Where we will recognize and welcome the prophet, the righteous and most especially Jesus who is the Word made flesh. He is that sharp edged sword that can cut through the indecisions of our life, to inspire us when we are being called to take that further step in following him.

 

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:

Amos 7:12-15
Ephesians 1:3-14
Mark 6:7-13

Reflection:

This reflection was written to all of our returning staff and faculty at Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic H.S., going into our 9^th year of evangelization and academic achievement. Our school is guided by the Word of God. The Sacred Scripture, the Bible, is a Light which enlightens every experience we have in carrying out the mission of Cristo Rey. There are so many challenges that resist the coming of the Kingdom of God, that it takes a Light greater than human to guide us. Start with any sin that destroys dignity and trust between two people. The primary dimension of the HFCRCHS mission (there are three dimensions) is that we are building the Kingdom of God by providing a “Catholic environment.” You will hear me refer to “the Catholic Christian Tradition (CCT),” in respect to the various Christian denominations, and other religions to which our staff and students adhere. This weekend (7/12/15) the CCT has us reflect on being prophets in our very ordinary lives, and as bearers of the Good News, that we “stay where we are” as regards the people to whom we are sent. “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.” Mk. 6:10

Every student who enters our classrooms is entering a “safe” house where they can open up to you and can admit, “I don’t know this.” Surrender and vulnerability are fertile ground for learning. Yes, every faculty member commits to doing all that is possible to see all of our graduates succeed through college. When we welcome these students into our “house” we are providing the respect for each person’s inherent dignity. Pope Francis stated, “The mere fact that some people are born in places with fewer resources or less development does not justify the fact that they are living with less dignity.” (Joy of the Gospel, #90)

Creating this environment is being prophetic, like Amos, whom we read about in the Book of Amos 7, 12-15. He was chosen from a simple occupation (no royal patronage or privilege) and carried out what he was called to do. He called people to return to their integrity, because the opposite behavior is doom. Though he received resistance and rejection, his message was truthful, consistent and, eventually, fulfilled. Even though we will be up against unpredictable situations, feeling overwhelmed, and unprepared, God has equipped us with what we need to accomplish all, “so immeasurably generous is God’s favor to us.”  Eph. 1:8.

Essential to carrying out this mission to provide a “safe house” for our students is our close attachment to Christ Jesus in prayer. Providing Him with a residence, in our “intimate home of the heart,” we are allowing Christ’s saving power to take possession of us. We will further his prophetic ministry. We are actually chosen in all of our brokenness and vulnerability. So the question is: “do I accept that I am chosen to continue the work He had begun, to preach His Gospel and through healings, to conquer the forces of evil that threatens that reign?”  Too strong a question? Not really, given the environment in which we choose to locate ourselves with the mission that saves young lives. “Staying there” is the only witness that changes lives. My limitations are what allow the Gospel “to appear in all its power.” I depend upon entering into the minds and hearts of our students and parents through their welcome and openness to what I have to share, rather than, my power, privilege or popularity. We do this through His Bodily Presence in the Church and the Eucharist.

 

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

 

Scripture:

Genesis 49:29-32, 50:15-26a
Matthew 10:24-33

 

Reflection:

What does despair look like?  It looks like the experience of Joseph, who was thrown into a cistern by his jealous brothers, who then sold him into slavery to a caravan passing by.  In Egypt, he was falsely accused of trying to take sexual advantage of Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison.  Joseph suffered loneliness and despair.  Yet he never stopped trusting God.

Amazingly, years later, after Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine, he was elevated to the lofty rank of Pharaoh’s Vizier.  In this position, Joseph was instrumental in saving the lives of countless many throughout the region during the severe famine.  Those lives included his own brothers and family who came to Egypt to buy bread.

After their father, Jacob, died, the brothers feared retribution for their cruel treatment of Joseph years earlier.  But Joseph saw through his suffering at the hands of his brothers.  He could see  the hand of God guiding him.  That is why he could he say to his brothers “even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good.”  He never stopped trusting God.

What does despair look like for us?  It may look like those moments of famine when our dreams are shattered, our hearts are broken, when grief seems unbearable, and illness unrelenting.  In the midst of our darkness, can we see the hand of God guiding us?  Can we say with Joseph that God means it for good?  Can we believe that we are “worth more than many sparrows?”  What does hope look like?  It looks like our trust in God’s providential love.

 

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

Scripture:

Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30
Matthew 10:16-23

 

Reflection:

I am a Catholic woman. That sometimes makes me feel like I am constantly being put on trial. It is evident as I travel around the country teaching, especially in areas where spirituality in general and Catholicism in particular is disdainfully dismissed. Sometimes I hear: “Why would anyone choose to adhere to an outdated, patriarchal system run by celibate men in dresses who try to rule every aspect of life, particularly anything having to do with sex or reproduction? Are you a masochist or something?” Another version: “Why do you need to have an institution standing between you and God? Can’t you just have a relationship with God yourself?”

Questioning extends to my family. Of my nine siblings, only two still profess to be Catholic. The others looked back on our upbringing in a small rural town with lifeless Masses, poor religious education, and a highly judgmental attitude toward anyone who didn’t toe the line, and decided there were better ways to find meaning and purpose in life. They ask questions like: “How can an educated, intelligent woman like you remain in a hypocritical system built on rules that often deny reality, including those that specifically exclude you from any position of authority and influence?”

These are tough questions.

To be completely honest, I have asked them of myself countless times. I desperately want to defend the Church I love. I believe in the core doctrines, the Body of Christ, the beauty of the liturgy, the communion of saints, and so much more. Yet for most of my adult life, every time a new development or statement came from Rome – declaring gays to be disordered, forbidding even the discussion of women priests, silencing of faithfully dissenting theologians, changing liturgical language to make God more distant and Jesus more pompous (“chalice” instead of “cup”?), investigating nuns, covering up sexual abuse, and on and on – it brought a new wave of scoffing and a dagger to my heart. You may not feel similar dismay with everything on my list; perhaps you have your own. But I continually have to ask myself how I can keep defending the Church I love when so many rules, teachings, and actions are contrary to what I believe the Gospel asks of us. What do I say when I am challenged, especially when the challenges have the ring of truth?

I have developed a response that makes sense to me. I ask people what they disagree with about American foreign policy, and what they think of our grid-locked political system. I ask their opinion of domestic laws, and the fact that the wealthiest country in the world has such faulty healthcare, so many people living in poverty, and widespread crumbling infrastructure. I ask what they think of a society where women are paid 70% of what a man gets paid for doing the exact same job, where the focus is on profits over people, and where there is a rapidly widening gap between the top income tier and the lower/middle class. Again, their list of complaints may be different than mine, but everyone has disagreements (often vehement ones) with the laws, actions, and government of our country, and it doesn’t take much to set them off.

After allowing them to rant about their list of complaints I ask, “So why do you stay? Why are you American?” The answer invariably follows this line of reasoning: “Because for all of its faults and failings, this is still the best country in the world. I believe in the principles of democracy and the foundations of this country, however imperfectly they are sometimes carried out. I have hope that if we all stick with it and keep struggling to improve, eventually we will correct the wrongs and get on the right path. I’m in it to stay, and I can’t imagine choosing to live anywhere else.”

“Now you get it,” I say. ”Enough said?”

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:

Genesis 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5
Matthew 10:7-15

 

Reflection:

After Our Lord performed the final miracle of the series that we have read in the last two chapters, the Pharisees say, ‘by the prince of demons he casts out demons.’ Jesus continues his ministry, and moved with compassion for the crowds whom he describes as torn apart and harassed like a flock of sheep without a shepherd, he addresses his disciples, empowers the twelve and sends them on a mission to the People of Israel.

They do what Jesus did. If Jesus is rejected can they expect better? We will hear that as a disciple identifies with Jesus doing his works, so we can expect to share also in Jesus sufferings.

Jesus is willing to suffer because of his compassion to alleviate the pain of the people.  As a shepherd he will lead them to good pasture and flowing streams, binding up the injured and carrying the little ones; a strait highway he will layout before them, and they will know security in a shepherd they can trust, one who calls them by name. All of these ‘shepherd’ things we can translate into the actions that we do as disciples caring for family, fellow workers, friends and enemies; they are our flock of the People of God.

We cannot escape the Cross, it is rooted in our earth and its shadow falls over all of us. But the one we follow has mounted the Cross and instead of shadow there is a light that overcomes darkness. As we are privileged to do the works of Jesus, and unable to skip sharing in the Cross as we share the shepherding work of Jesus, we trust that this Cross we will encounter is changed by Jesus forever by his victory of love.

We read for only a few days what is perhaps the most beautiful story in the Old Testament. It is difficult to read the story of Joseph without tears filling our eyes. It is so human, a heart breaking story, a story of the mystery of not loving. Although it would seem God is absent, that is not so, the sins of Joseph’s brothers become a story of love. It is a story of forgiveness. Evil has been done and the one hurt sees God’s presence. Joseph confronts evil and does what seems impossible, he forgives. The ones who hurt seem unable to believe they can be forgiven. In Genesis all that God does is good, but there is the painful revelation that we can choose not to love. Joseph shows us that choosing love is possible and the better choice. His forgiveness overcomes so much pain and sorrow in the hearts of his brothers. In the end we are left crying with Joseph because his great act of love is unaccepted. His brothers are unable to believe that he can forgive them.

We are called as disciples to embrace the Cross as we do our work, our ministries.  Looking at the Cross we see Our Lord who throws light over the shadow. Like Joseph’s brothers we may expect less than what God’s love gives us, especially forgiveness that touches the heart of our world. As our care for others finds us touching the Cross may we be forgiving to those who hurt us as we serve them, and lead them to the Shepherd who cares tenderly and forgives eternally, and who wants to invite them to come follow in his footsteps also.

 

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

Scripture:

Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a
Matthew 10:1-7

 

Reflection:

The story of Joseph and his brothers is one of the best known of the Old Testament.  Most of us are familiar with the boy who brags to his brothers and their treatment of him.  And we know how from that horrendous beginning, great things happen to Joseph.  As with so much of scripture, there is much of value to mine here.   One lesson we learn from today’s reading from Genesis is found in the last lines, “but turning away from them, he wept.”  Why do you think he wept?  In fact, Joseph was quite a weeper.  This was only one of several times we find Joseph in tears.  He cries again when he sees his younger brother, and when he sees his father, and when his brothers repent.  Weeping is a very human response from a heart filled with emotion. Perhaps, in this instance, he was saddened by seeing his brothers and thinking of the life he missed, or perhaps he cried from joy at seeing his family, or perhaps he cried because he had been bitter about what his brothers did to him and when he saw them, he realized his bitterness might not be warranted.  I rather hope this was the reason for his tears because it makes him even more human.  And yet God loves him.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus commissions the twelve Apostles.  Throughout the New Testament, we learn of the humanity of these men who Matthew names and who Jesus loves and trusts with continuing his mission.  They are from varied backgrounds. They doubt, question, argue, and betray.  They are human.  And Jesus loves them. So here’s the thing, if Joseph in his humanity was so loved by God and the Apostles in their humanity were so loved by Jesus, we can believe that we too are loved by God.  When we have reacted to a situation with a human but perhaps not so wise choice, when we do things we later regret, we can know that indeed, we are loved. We can know that God embraces us in our humanity, in our weaknesses, in the bad times as well as the good.  May you be filled with this love that God showers on us and may you proclaim that love wherever you go this day.

 

Mary Lou Butler is a long-time friend and partner in ministry to the Passionists in California.

Scripture:

Genesis 32:23-33
Matthew 9:32-38

 

Reflection:

It was a beautiful late summer day and I couldn’t wait to get my hands dirty. Little did I know, how dirty they would get. Arriving at Angelic Organics after a two-hour drive from the city, we parked and found our way to the farmhouse and reported for our day of volunteering at the Community Assisted Agriculture (CSA) where I had been a member for the past couple of years.

After a quick introduction and tour through the rustic living quarters where the interns on the farm lived, they quickly put us to work picking tomatoes. There were about a dozen volunteers and we all were given a row to pick up tomatoes from the ground (the tomatoes had already actually been picked) and put them on a conveyor belt that went the length of the field. It took the fruit to the truck at the end of the rows where other volunteers took them off the belt and put them gently into bushel baskets. The sun shone brightly, and the sweat began to pour. Up and down, up and down, we did this for about two hours.

The farmers knew how to handle us city folk, for after that we got to sit, rinse and pack the different lettuces that had been picked by another group of volunteers. After a brief respite for lunch it was back to the fields where we struggled with pulling weeds that didn’t want to leave their well-entrenched turfs. We finally ended the day by packing boxes for members that were loaded into a large refrigerated truck for delivery the next morning. Returning home that night, my body ached and it ached not only for that night but for the next week as well but I felt good.

Give me the courage and strength Lord to do the job I am called for in Your Kingdom, whether it is as shepherd, farmer, teacher, or mother… Like Jacob in today’s first scripture selection, who willingly “contended with divine and human beings” (GN 32:29) or your son Jesus in today’s Gospel selection, who “went around to all the towns and villages, teaching…proclaiming the Gospel…curing every disease and illness. (MT 9:35)

 

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