Claire Smith

Scripture:

1 Kings 17:10-16
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44

Reflection:

The story of the Widow’s Mite has often generated guilt within me. She gave everything she had, as did the widow who made food for Elijah even though she and her son were starving to death. Sometimes I worry that I give God my “leftovers,” i.e. making sure my own needs are met before donating to worthy causes and making sure I have time to do all that I want/need to do before setting aside time for prayer. These readings challenge me to ask whether I’m doing enough. The perfectionist in me says that I’m not. I’m not good enough or spiritual enough to please God. I always fall short because I’m not giving everything I have.  

At the same time, just as God honors the little that the widow had to give, maybe God does honor the time I set aside specifically for prayer every day and delights in knowing I also strive to make my entire life and my every breath a prayer. Maybe God honors the fact that I could certainly treat myself or go on a trip with the money I donate to organizations I believe in, but I willingly give up those niceties and extras for a greater cause. Maybe God doesn’t require that I sacrifice who I am or literally give until I am starving.

But am I just trying to make myself feel better? That’s possible; it’s a human tendency to do so. At the same time, I know Jesus often holds up the ideal, challenging us to think, discern, and often change our behavior to be more in line with it. I also know we have a God of love who knows us better than we know ourselves, who is not quick to judge and condemn but covers us with mercy and grace. Finally, I know that my life is a journey of growth and awareness.

Perhaps instead of feeling guilty, which is only counter-productive and self-negating, I need to spend time in prayer this week to evaluate once again whether I can do more in at least one arena of my life. Particularly as we approach Advent, can I spend additional time in prayer, go on a weekend retreat, increase my financial giving, or do more volunteer and pro bono work? How can I get closer to the ideal of the scriptures, not out of guilt but out of gratitude for all that God has given me?

Will you join me? Where are you feeling that tug of guilt in your life? Can you work to instead respond to the overwhelming graciousness and love of God by seeing where you can do just a little bit (or a lot) more? Let’s work together to give of our time, talent, money, and energy as fully as we reasonably can, perhaps denying ourselves some extras or even some measure of basics in order to lift up those who need our help.

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/.

The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Scripture:

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17
John 2:13-22

Reflection:

What Does Sea World and a Group of Frenzied First Grades Have in Common?

We celebrate the Dedication of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome and mother church of all churches. Its history is significant as the residence of the popes from the fourth century until the Avignon Papacy. But like the temple in chapter 37 of Ezekiel, what is most precious and at its heart are the life giving waters overflowing the boundaries of its baptismal font, and finding their way into the fonts of all churches, making them holy, life giving oasis. The words on the font in St. John Lateran extend to all fonts, “there is no barrier between those who are reborn and made one by the one font, the one Spirit and the one Faith…”

The early Church, we could say, ‘baptized’ Psalm 23, The Lord is My Shepherd. They said simply, ‘here is what baptism is’. The Psalm tells us that we meet Jesus at baptism in waters of refreshment. The Holy Spirit covers us like abundantly poured, perfumed oil. We are then led on life’s journey through the valleys and pastures and hills, and one day, not alone, we go through the shadowed valley of death. At journeys end the Shepherd, who is Jesus, awaits us with arms open to embrace and welcome, then leads us to the banquet table in the Father’s house.

We could see todays feast as a ticket to Sea World and a chance to sit ringside and get slapped by a wave of water. Baptism is exciting, although some do want to sit farther back. The best response to the waters of baptism I have ever experienced were the first graders going wild during the sprinkling rite at Easter season, yelling, ‘me, me’ and trying to get wet, reaching out to feel the water being thrown at them.

This year our Sea World ticket gets an upgrade. The new edition of The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) has just been released. The name is changed, The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (‘OCIA’). A slight change in name but a opportunity for the Christian community to be reminded of the gift and importance of baptism, a mystery of grace setting us on our way as followers of Christ in our world.

Here is a processional of praying using our baptisms and entering its meaning, a fun prayer to do with children. Begin at the church’s font where in the waters of refreshment you met the Good Shepherd. Gifted with the Holy Spirit you were commissioned there to be another Christ, to love as Christ loves. If there is an ambry in the church with the oils of the catechumens and chrism include that in your procession. Walk through the church ending at the altar. The journey through the church can take many different paths, but chose one each time you pray, maybe touch sacred spots like where you were married, where you usually sit, the place of hearing the Word, a place of special meaning….or you might want to have a saint whose image is in the church walk with you…let the church be the world with its variety of people and landscapes… End at the altar. Remember the altar is also the symbol of Christ. At funerals we will be placed closest to the altar/to Christ who is there with arms spread to welcome us to the Banquet Table of heaven. Baptism tells us we have a seat reserved at the banquet table. Ultimately the journey of life giving baptism ends where our processional prayer ends, at the banquet table that nourishes that eternal life.

Fr. William Murphy, CP is a member of Immaculate Conception Community in Jamaica, New York.

Scripture:

Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 16:1-8

Reflection:

How do you act in a crisis?

Many of us are experiencing crises these days. It may be your loved one sick or dying from Covid-19 or another illness. Perhaps the family business is struggling, or you’ve lost your job. The cries for racial justice in our communities in response to the killings of our Black brothers and sisters at the hands of police are unrelenting. And as we witness the devastating wildfires and high number of calamitous hurricanes that reveal the widening environmental destruction on our planet, many are shaken to the core.

Today’s Gospel selection, at first reading, is confounding. Why would a steward, dismissed for mismanagement be praised for cutting debt owed to his rich master? Makes no sense.

But a closer analysis may help us realize Jesus is teaching his disciples their God-given capacity to manage a crisis.

According to some scholars, the steward forgave the debtors a portion of the debt that was the commission the steward received for collecting the debt. This was a clever act which kept him in good stead with the debtors and the rich man.

Jesus says we, his disciples, have all the gifts of the Holy Spirit we need to manage life’s crises. But our disposition must be an openness to the grace and wisdom available to us.

A wise Ursuline sister once said, “Don’t get ahead of grace.” If we stew and become anxious about a pending crisis, a predicted disaster, an illness or death yet to happen, we are trying to get ahead of grace. The Gospel today assures us will have the grace we need to manage crises when they come. Not before.

 No doubt that is why throughout Scripture God tells us “Be not afraid!”

 As the steward, a “child of this world,” was prudent in protecting his social connections, so we, “the children of light” will have what we need to deal with anything life throws our way, no matter how tragic.

Reflecting on the power of God to provide what we need when we need it gives us an inner peace, serenity, composure in every situation.

Jim Wayne is a board member of the Passionist Solidarity Network (PSN), and author of The Unfinished Man. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Philippians 3:3-8a
Luke 15:1-10

Reflection:

This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.  -Luke 15:2

I like to get up around sunrise. I am close to the Western Lake Michigan shore and the colors are often spell-binding. Then there are the birds. Like little children they come chirping on the power lines just outside my dining room window, calling for the crumbs I share daily with them. The sparrows and the starlings are like little children, eating away and totally in “the flow”. Also, to the chagrin of some of my neighbors, there are the pigeons who have no trouble landing on the power lines and perching on my windowsill as well to feast on these crumbs. Occasionally one of the pigeons will look me straight in the eye as if to say: “Thanks!” or “What are you doing there?” or “Do you have any more?” I’m not sure. I’m trying to learn their language.

I first heard of pigeons in my college years. One of my coworkers on an after-school job complained that the pigeons had messed up the booth she had worked in and caused her lots of trouble. “Pigeons are dirty birds, they cause disease!” so I’m told. Signs in some of the lawns of the larger buildings around my home, post cute little warnings: “Don’t feed the pigeons!”

My prayer often is a reminder of Jesus’ invitation to “Come, follow me!” Today’s Gospel selection suggests that Jesus loved and respected everyone, so much so that he welcomed sinners into his friendship and even shared meals with them. God, thank you for all the gifts you give me today and help me be like your son, Jesus. Help me learn from him and welcome everyone, even the “dirty” pigeons, into my life.

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

Scripture:

Philippians 2:12-18
Luke 14:25-33

Reflection:

My anthropology teacher in college, Dr. Warren Roth, was skilled at expanding my narrow ways of thinking. In one class, instead of profiling the culture of a tribe in tropical Africa or New Guinea, he helped us outline the characteristics of our American culture.

What still stands out from that discussion is how different we Americans value time, effort, and material well-being compared to many other cultures around the globe. From an early age, a majority of Americans are taught to not waste time, to work hard to achieve “success,” and to savor possessions (including our financial portfolios), and comforts.

A well-respected American is one who assumes time is money and who works overtime to make a business/practice/you-name-the-work productive and lucrative. The same American is expected to balance this effort with marriage, family, social life, civic engagement, and a compartmentalized time called vacation.

Dining with a tour group recently, I sat next to a woman who had spent her life developing respect and wealth in the real estate profession. As she enjoyed her meal, she raised a glass of wine in self-satisfaction and said, “I deserve this!” Perhaps she felt she had attained what most Americans assume is happiness.

The challenging readings today can afford us an opportunity to expand our narrow assumptions about daily living. What do we value? Where do we invest time? What gets us out of bed in the morning?

In the Gospel, Jesus is telling us to go for the best in life. More money? A car with more bells and whistles? A bigger home in a gated community? A more exotic vacation? The latest tech gadget?

No, Jesus is telling us that if we are too attached to these things, we’re missing the best life has to offer- to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

This invitation to discipleship requires accepting one’s own cross and getting on the same path as the prophetic Messiah. In the words of scripture scholar Luke Timothy Johnson, “. . . the call of God issued by the prophet must relativize all other claims on life.”

There could not be a more challenging way to live in our American culture. In prayerful reflection on today’s readings, we may be inspired to reevaluate the routines and direction of our lives in fresh ways. Where do I invest time, money, energy, and my passions?

Do I value time alone with Jesus, listening to him, enjoying his company? Do I see Jesus in my family members, my co-workers, my next door neighbors, the beggar at the street corner? Do I speak up against words of hate aimed at immigrants, refugees, prisoners, the poor? Do I voice opposition when a racist, homophobic, sexist, or xenophobic slur is spouted in conversations?

Do I let policymakers know the immorality of capital punishment, possessing nuclear weapons, homelessness, and the destruction of our common home, Mother Earth?

We are called, not to look after our own interests, but to respond whole heartedly to the call from Jesus, the Christ. As Johnson says, “. . .(excuses) reveal an entanglement in one’s own possessions and relationships that closes one . . . to the prophetic imperative.”

In his message to the Philippians, St Paul tells us, “Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”

This is a way to live that surely expands our narrow concepts of success. It is an expansion I am sure my anthropology teacher would approve.

Jim Wayne is a board member of the Passionist Solidarity Network (PSN), and author of The Unfinished Man. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 14:15-24

Reflection:

Brothers and Sisters: have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus.  -Philippians 2:5

Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.  -Luke 14:21

Today is election day in the United States. Like Pope Francis, I will not say how to vote, only note that is a hard decision for anyone who considers all the issues. However, I find myself reflecting on today’s reading from Luke, where once again, Jesus reminds us that everyone is welcome at the table.

God deeply desires to be in relationship with us. He also wants us to be in relationship with each other. The early Church had many disagreements about the best way forward for the building up of the Kingdom on earth. But they remained in relationship. They considered, discussed, and even argued over how to accomplish this. But, through prayer and discernment, they found their way. We, too, may find ourselves disagreeing about how to move forward to meet the problems before us. But our mandate is clear. In Matthew 25:42-43 Jesus tells us how we are to build up the kingdom: “For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” This is true both for us individually and as a nation.

No matter how this election goes, let us do as Saint Paul advised and put on the attitude of Jesus. May God continue to bless us as we continue on in the work of building up His kingdom.

Talib Huff is a retired teacher and a member of the retreat team at Christ the King Retreat Center In Citrus Heights. You may contact him at [email protected].

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo

Scripture:

Philippians 2:1-4
Luke 14:12-14

Reflection:

Called to Serve the Least, the Last, the Lost…

We continue the journey of our annual November commemoration of saintly people; today we thank God for the person of Charles Borromeo — a zealous man of the 16^th Century Church, credited for helping reform and build up the Church in a variety of ways.

As a bishop and Cardinal, Charles was one to encourage the intellectual and moral growth of clergy and religious, especially in forming new seminaries.  He also helped author the catechism that was called for during the Council of Trent and started the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) for children’s growth in their faith.  He held many special meetings in his home diocese of Milan, seeking to incorporate the message and teachings of the Council of Trent.  In all this, he reached out to the poor and needy of his day, sacrificing wealth, honor and influence to serve them – even in the challenges of the plagues and famines of his day, ministering to the sick, the hungry, and the dying.  Truly a zealous man during his relatively short 46 years of life!

We have the same opportunity to grow and serve as God’s People, the Church.  We must change our old ways, and like St. Paul in today’s first reading to the Philippians, we are to be selfless and look to serve the needs of others.  Jesus in today’s Gospel highlights a foundational attitude of openness and service, especially of the poor and crippled, the blind and the lame – a true change of attitude from that of the Pharisees of His day!  Today’s readings highlight a change of heart and service of others –part-and-parcel in following Jesus, and a rule of life for St. Charles Borromeo!

May the creative and zealous example of St. Charles Borromeo help motivate us as 21^st Century Christians:  called to be women and men of prayer and action, building up the Church in our day with the example and encouragement of our Papal Pastor, Pope Francis. 

Fr. John Schork, C.P. serves as the Province Vocation Director and also as Local Superior of the Passionist Community of Holy Name in Houston, Texas.  

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 12:28b-34

Reflection:

There were endless arguments in Jesus’ time about which of the 613 commandments was to be most honoured. That is, which was ‘the greatest.’

Scholars debated this amongst themselves at every opportunity (often over a meal) and as was the custom when the learned debated over in public forums or in a household over a meal, others looked on and listened to the wisdom being expounded. Scholars formed ‘schools’ of opinion, with their own disciples adhering, and argued, often fiercely with each other about interpretation. Jesus too was often called upon to favour one side over the other – sometimes innocently, but mostly to see if he could be trapped and aligned with one school of opinion.

So, one might normally approach scenes where Jesus is questioned, with some caution – it is an innocent question or is there a more political motive? Yet today we see a sincere question from someone who obviously has searched not only the scriptures, but his heart. Through him we learn a great truth today.

In the response to the scribe’s question about “Which is the first of all the commandments?” we see Jesus’ reply with an instruction that goes to the core identity of each person and to the vocation of Israel itself. All are to honour and love God as the “Lord alone”, and we are to do so with all our heart, soul, mind and strength – all attributes that sum up the totality of how our ‘inner life’ or our totality of capacity was seen or understood in those times.

However, the genius of Jesus is that he moves the focus to our social or exterior life, too. Our beliefs are to be lived not only in our inner world, but also in the world of relationships and social life that also mark and define our capacity to be human. “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”.

This is the great command. This is our core mandate from Jesus, the heart of the gospel and the only deep law of love. Love God above all certainly but love our fellow travellers who ae made in the image and likeness of God too.

This is our primary way to live with integrity, and how we might extend the reign of God in our world.

Let us do this. If we do, then as Jesus says, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is the Provincial Superior of Holy Spirit Province, Australia.