Claire Smith

Scripture:

Ezekiel 37:21-28
John 11:45-56

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading, some people go to the Pharisees to tell them what Jesus had done, notably raising Lazarus from the dead. So, the Sanhedrin is convened, and the Pharisees say to one another, “If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” Caiaphas, the high priest, says to them, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” Unknowingly, Caiaphas prophesies about what Jesus’ Passion and death means for the whole world. And then we are told, “from that day on they planned to kill him.”

Those who planned to kill Jesus were acting out of fear of what the Romans would do, and what they might lose. When we look at what is going on in our country and in our world, we see that fear can very readily lead to violence and division. We can fear the “other,” or fear the loss that change may bring, and be tempted to lash out.

What can help us calm our fears? What can help us move forward in spite of our fears? We know the answer. It is the love of God in Jesus Christ. The One who is able to transform evil into good, can, if we let God in, heal our hearts and quell our fears. The world needs us to follow Jesus and move beyond our fears. The world needs healing, and the rise of justice and peace.

May we trust in God and be healed of the fear that divides us. May the love of Jesus from the Cross lead us to work for justice and make peace.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Scripture:

Genesis 17:3-9
John 8:51-59

Reflection:

In our first reading, God established a covenant with Abram. He changed his name to Abraham.  Abram means exalted father.  By changing his name to Abraham God signifies that he will be the father of a multitude or hosts of nations.  Like Abraham, God has a covenant with each one of us.  God created each of us in his image and likeness, unique and precious. (Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange)

Psalm 105 tells us that “The Lord remembers his covenant forever.  How often do we remember God’s covenant with us? The Bible calls us to pray continually and to walk with God.   Lent is a time to renew and intensify our relationship with God and Jesus.  Lent is a good time to practice the monastic tradition of calling to mind the Presence of God.  How can we practice the presence of God?  This requires us to take periodic time out of the busyness of our daily lives and call to mind the presence and love of God for us. If you work at a desk, you can place a religious icon or symbol such as a statue or crucifix placed within your line of sight and call to mind the presence of God in your work. 

Another example of practicing the presence of God is to create a special room in your home for prayer, meditation, and spiritual reading.  Usually, this room also includes a candle and religious artwork of some kind.  One can also recite a decade of the rosary periodically throughout the day. How much time daily do you practice remembering God’s covenant and relationship with you?

Carl Middleton is a theologian/ethicist and a member of the Passionist Family.

Scripture:

Daniel 3: 14-20, 91-92, 95
John: 8: 31-42

Reflection:

Today we hear that wonderful story of the three brothers, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refused to worship a foreign god, even when directly confronted by the all-powerful King Nebuchadnezzar.  Their refusal to bend to the King’s command earned them a death sentence by fire.  God directly intervened and protected them from the fires of the furnace.  When he saw them walking around unharmed in the blazing furnace, King Nebuchadnezzar had a profound change of heart and not only freed them but also came to believe in the God of Israel.

In the Gospel, we find Jesus debating with Jews, trying to help them understand who He was and accept his mission.  Jesus wanted them to know that becoming his disciples was a path to true freedom and an unbreakable relationship with God.  Because of God’s faithful care for them in the past, they find it very hard to recognize the truth of Jesus’ teaching.  They rebel and many walk away. 

The contrast between King Nebuchadnezzar’s change of heart and the Jews hardness of heart is striking.  It’s almost as if the fact that the people of Israel had received so much already through Moses, their scriptures and traditions, that they were blinded to the fullness of the revelation of Jesus.  I wonder if that doesn’t sometimes happen to us.  We have already received so many blessings in our lives that we are afraid to risk recognizing Jesus in our midst right now.  Clearly, today’s readings invite us to both cherish the relationship we already have with God and to keep alert to God’s call to me today to recognize him active and present in our world.

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is a member of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Community in Sierra Madre, California.

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary

Scripture:

2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22
Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Luke 2:41-51a

Reflection:

On this beautiful Solemnity of St. Joseph, the Church calls us to ponder the powerful witness of the foster father of Christ and spouse of Mary. He is a man we do not know by his words but rather by his actions. However, Scripture does supply us with one word to describe him…righteous. This is a word that is also used by St. Paul to describe Abraham in today’s second reading.

The word righteous today commonly carries with it a negative connotation, because we often tacitly attach the word “self” to it. The self-righteous person considers himself to be the measure of what is good and holy. He is the Pharisee who looks at the penitent tax collector and thinks he is blessed not to be like him. Jesus tells us that such a man will not be justified. (Luke 18:9-14)

One who is truly righteous, however, understands that only God can judge a person’s soul, even one’s own soul. Thus, a righteous heart is also a humble and merciful heart. When righteous, one also acknowledges the right order of reality where God is the both the source of all things and our ultimate goal. Jesus has promised that those who hunger and thirst for this understanding will be satisfied. (Matt 5:6) Abraham’s righteousness was satisfied through many sons. Joseph’s was satisfied through one, the Son of God.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

Megan Silas is a Lay Passionist at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62, or 13:41c-62
John 8:1-11

Reflection:

Let the one among us without sin cast the first stone… 

I came to a very poignant realization as a group of very dear and important people in my life were made aware of a very delicate issue in society. This particular issue goes against the teachings of the church. 

And having discussed this issue with my group of married couples from our church, I came to another realization – I am a sinner. We are all sinners, in one way or another. I cannot throw the first stone. I cannot judge or condemn because there is One before me who will take that roll at the end of our days. But we can be unceasingly compassionate when we see those we love in pain, maybe from choices they have made for their children, or maybe from choices made for themselves. And haven’t we all, at some point, been unfaithful? Unfaithful to our dedication to God, our prayer life, our mission on earth? 

There is a condemnation of this woman of sin – people think that she should get what she deserves, just as many thought – no, believed – Jesus deserved crucifixion. In the adulterous woman, everyone sees their own sin. In my many years, I am learning that to write someone off for something they have done is not what Jesus wants from us. We must love everyone, as the products of a failed religious society, knowing that whatever they have decided to do with their lives we must be there for them to show our compassion. It doesn’t mean we shift our moral compass to make sure everyone gets what they believe they need. We follow the guidelines of our God to do what is right. 

The reflection of those around us can be similar to what we experience in our own lives. I see myself in others; but now I see and remember that I have sinned, and those around me are as perfect as I am. 

As you experience life around you, be the compassionate and merciful one, just as our God in Heaven.

God bless you all.

Patty Masson is the Director of Adult Formation and Evangelization at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring, Texas.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Hebrews 5:7-9
John 12:20-33

Reflection:

Life comes through death. That’s the unsettling, though absolutely unmistakable, message of the gospel for this Fifth Sunday of Lent. Jesus announces, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified,” but proceeds to reveal that his unsurpassable glory will come in a way that not only confounds our ordinary understanding of glory but calls it completely into question. For Jesus, the path to glory is through suffering and death—through the scandal of the Cross. Indeed, it is precisely when Jesus seems absolutely powerless, broken and defeated, that his glory will be most resplendent. This means, shockingly, that God is most clearly revealed in the crucified Christ, in the scourged, wounded, and bloodied body of Jesus. Think back to the request with which today’s gospel begins: “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” To see Jesus is the deepest desire of our lives—it’s what we want more than anything else—but this passage from John’s gospel insists that we cannot truly see Jesus without looking at the Cross; indeed, any attempt to see Jesus apart from the Cross is not to see him at all.

But if life comes through death for Jesus, life also comes through death for us. This is why in today’s gospel Jesus says: “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” If we cling tightly to our lives; if we never grow beyond ourselves; if we never bother to love; if we constantly take more than we give, valuing ourselves over others, making ourselves the center of our own puny universe, we will not have life at all. But if we “die to self” through acts of generosity; through practicing justice and embodying compassion; through heartfelt forgiveness and an endless supply of mercy; and especially if we commit to a love that never gives up, we will know fullness of life.

Life comes through death. It’s the paschal mystery, the heart of our faith and the source of our hope. And it’s a truth worth pondering in these last weeks of Lent.

Paul J. Wadell is Professor Emeritus of Theology and Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the Passionist Family of Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 11:18-20
John 7:40-53

Reflection:

The journey continues with our dive into the Gospel of John. The dispute between Jesus and the Jewish authorities is revving up. At the heart of the issue is Jesus’ declared relationship with the Father and healing on the Sabbath. The Jewish authorities stubbornly hold tightly to the Letter of the Law. Jesus observes the law but points to the Spirit of the Law.

Once there was a Japanese lieutenant in the Imperial Army during World War II. His name was Hiroo Onoda. Japan’s defeat was imminent, so the Japanese commanding forces sent him to the Philippines to sabotage the Allied Landing strips and to spy on Allied troops. To the rest of the world, the war ended in 1945, but not to Hiroo. He refused to go and stayed behind in the Philippines, 29 years until his commander came to reverse the order.

The Jewish Authorities had several encounters with Jesus but were not changed. The soldiers sent to arrest Jesus were struck by Jesus’ words. The authorities accuse the soldiers of being deceived. The leading authorities were spiritually blinded, certain of their own righteousness. The Scripture expands on the theme in John 9 with the healing of the man blind since birth and the reaction of the authorities.

In what areas of my life do I have spiritual blinders and stubbornness? The Lord touches our entire being with awesome words and deeds. May he touch our hearts in a special way this Lenten season! God’s blessings!

Fr. Phillip Donlan, CP, is the Associate Director of Ministry at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, California.