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Scripture:

Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17
Mark 3:1-6

Reflection:

"Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored." Mark 3:5

The other day, I was having lunch with a religious. We do not know each other well, but well enough to join other religious for an occasional breakfast after Sunday Mass. Our conversations range from everything religious to sports and weather. This time, someone mentioned the political posturing that was taking place over social issues, such as the "Dream Act," (an immigration issue), giving the uninsured a chance at insurance and helping those who suddenly find themselves jobless and even homeless. Some of us were surprised at the reaction this religious had to these issues. He thought that the Federal Government should not get involved in the personal lives of other people, even though they were suffering and unable to resolve their situations by themselves alone.

As a member of the Passionist General Council, I have had an opportunity to travel around the world. I see suffering and poverty in such places as Mexico, El Salvador, India, Indonesia, Africa, and Papua New Guinea. I believe that we can look at suffering and hopelessness by either being compassionate or by hardening our hearts. The more compassionate we are, the more involved we become in trying to respond to these enormous challenges, sometimes one person at a time. The more we harden our hearts, the less responsibility we take for the pain and suffering that exists around us.

If we harden our hearts, we find it difficult to offer life-giving solutions to those who are in need. And we are less likely to get involved in resolving these sufferings. In today’s Gospel, this attitude of hardness of heart was being solidified in the Synagogue, the place where the Word of God was read and an instruction on the meaning of that Word was given. In this Gospel passage, we see a familiar drama played out: the Pharisees harden their heart against Jesus because he wanted to heal a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, and the compassion of Jesus as he encountered personal suffering. Jesus did not only become very sad at their reaction, but he also became angry at the Pharisee’s attitude.

I believe that these Scriptures should lead us to ask ourselves, do we make Jesus sad and angry with our attitudes, especially with our attitudes toward those who are suffering greatly and do not know how to resolve their suffering? Sometimes, we can take approaches like "tough love" to mask our hardness of heart. We are there for the "deserving" poor, but our heart doesn’t ache for those whom we think deserve their lot in life. And like the Pharisees, we want these solutions done in the proper way.

It is much more difficult to be Christian these days, not because we are afraid to say the "right thing" but because our lack of compassion distances us from those who find themselves in need. We can always come up with laws, norms and regulations why we should not reach out to those in need. On the other hand, we can become more like Jesus, whose heart is being continually moved with compassion when he encountered great pain and suffering. To be a Christian today is not just about being able to say the right thing, but to love and heal as Jesus did, to have a loving, compassionate heart. We pray for that grace!

 

Fr. Clemente Barron, C.P. is a member of the General Council of the Passionist Congregation and is stationed in Rome.

Scripture:

Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 2:13-17

Reflection:

Jesus breaks the boundaries and expectations of the religious leaders of his day by calling Levi to be one of his disciples.  Levi’s friends were fellow tax collectors and "sinners", maybe the type of people that did not follow the strict dietary and purification code of the Pharisees. The scribes and Pharisees were very particular in keeping these outward observances and thought themselves "better" than the common people. Jesus breaks through this attitude with the declaration: "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Lord, like the author of the Letter to the Hebrews, I am grateful that you are able to sympathize with my weaknesses. May I always be aware of my sinfulness. You discern my reflections and thoughts of my heart. I am not afraid. I confidently approach you "to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help". 

 

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

 

Scripture:

Hebrews 3:7-14
Mark 1:40-45

Reflection:

"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

All of us have prayed and read this verse from Hebrews many times. We might remember a time in our lives when we realized that our heart had become hardened, perhaps towards a friend who distressingly had hurt our feelings, towards community or church. Then, a remark from a loved one touched us.

Or seeing great beauty in nature moved us. Maybe it was at a recent Christmas concert that we realized that our heart had become hardened, and a beautiful voice moved us to tears. Then, like the leper in today’s gospel, we turned to Jesus and said: "If you wish, you can make me clean."  If you wish, you can restore my heart, our hearts, to be like yours: full of compassion for all.

In a world filled with too much unnecessary pain and suffering–too much hardness of heart, we turn to the One on the cross. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux wrote: "Unhappy is he who carries the cross of Jesus but who is not with Jesus." 

During this New Year, we can pray that we and all Christians, all of goodwill, have a compassionate heart. This heart, like Jesus’, and beating in union with his, will move us to action for all in distress. In Haiti, Houston, Birmingham, Chicago, wherever we are, we will be happy and know happiness as we carry the cross of Jesus and are WITH him and all of our sisters and brothers.

 

Fr. Bob Bovenzi, C.P. is stationed in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

Hebrews 2:14-18
Mark 1:29-39

Reflection:

Years ago, dear friends, I saw a fellow walking through East Los Angeles with a very interesting expression printed on his baseball cap, or cachucha as they often say in Spanish.  I will translate for you, but first the expression:  Que viva la suegra….muy lejos de aqui!  Very tongue in cheek, the lines on the cap read:  Long live (my) mother-in-law…very far away from here!  There you are, another mother-in-law joke!  Not having a mother-in-law I am hardly in a position to comment on why such genre exists in humor, be it jokes told on a stage or expressions found on a young man’s baseball cap.  However, the jokes are out there and, as we discover in a passage from today’s Gospel, even Simon Peter had one…a mother-in-law that is, not a joke!  And the Lord loved her very much and cured her from a debilitating fever, even as he cured many others in the same town.  Naturally, the people flocked to the front door of Peter’s home searching and hoping for something miraculous to happen.  Yet, Jesus’ response was most revealing as he later said very quietly, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also.  For this purpose have I come."  How often we seek the Lord for his miraculous cure and healing touch, yet more important to the Lord is that we listen to his message, to the heart of his preaching as the one sent to us by God.

In our beautiful passage from Paul’s letter to the Hebrews we learn even more about this one who was sent by God for our sake.  Paul tells us that Jesus is just like us, one who shares in blood and in flesh.  And because he is one like us in all things but sin Jesus has the power even to overcome "the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil."  And still more heartening and endearing is Paul’s reminder that Jesus did not come to help angels, but rather, to bring his healing message to us, the descendants of Abraham.  In this wonderful passage Paul concludes by saying, "Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested."  Jesus, the one sent by God, the one who is just like us, the one who knows the meaning of suffering and struggle, he is the one, our faithful high priest who stands before God on our behalf.  What hope and encouragement God’s holy Word gives us this day!

 

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

Scripture:

Hebrews 1:1-6
Mark 1:14-20

Reflection:

When I read today’s gospel, I am astounded.  I try to imagine what it would take for someone to call me with such power, charisma, and force that I would instantaneously walk away from my job and family in order to hear more.  I cannot fathom it.  At the same time, I long for that experience.  I yearn to know for sure whether I am "fishing" in the right ways, in the right waters, with the right people, for the right goals.  I want Jesus to call me as clearly and forcefully as he called his disciples in the gospel.  I want to be drawn irresistibly in God’s direction, so I can be certain of the path.

Yet, the shock value of this gospel causes me to pause and wonder whether the story is repeated exactly as it happened.  Were the disciples really that certain?  Did they follow without doubts, without wondering whether they had made the right decision?  Did their family and friends support them in their choice?  Were they shaken in their resolve when the road became rough?  Did they at times wish they could just go back to their nets and their fishing boats?  (And didn’t they in fact do so after Jesus was crucified?).

Perhaps they are more similar to me than I previously imagined.  They, too, had to struggle to discern God’s will, even though they had God standing right in front of them.  Indeed, one of them had such doubts that he betrayed Jesus to the Roman officials.  It is unreasonable for me to expect certitude beyond theirs.

Instead of lusting after that certitude, instead of unrealistically exaggerating the experience of the disciples, and instead of using these false images as an excuse, perhaps I need to realize that my challenges are the same ones the disciples faced:  How open am I to hearing God’s voice?  When God speaks, how prepared am I to answer the call with all my heart?  What am I willing to leave behind?  Over what am I willing to relinquish control in order to follow the will of God?

Confronted with these questions, I fall on my knees every morning and pray.  May I serve God with my life.  May I be given all that I need to do God’s will, and be an effective instrument of healing and loving power.  May God grant me eyes that see, ears that hear, and most of all the courage to follow.

I may never have the audacity of the disciples, dropping everything in my life in order to follow Jesus.  All I can hope is that if I live this prayer and answer God in little ways every day, then if the call comes to leave it all behind, perhaps I will not only hear God’s invitation but answer it.  May it be so.

Postscript:  To those who have been praying through my husband’s surgery, I offer my heartfelt thanks.  Rejoice with us that although the tumors are rare, the pathology report says they are benign.  It appears that instead of facing our last days together, we have the prospect of many more years to come, as we continue to be carried forward by the river of God’s love and grace.

 

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.amyflorian.com/.

 

The Baptism of Our Lord 

Scripture:

Isaiah 42:1-4, 67-
Acts 10:34-38
Matthew 3:13-17

Reflection:

With today’s feast of The Baptism of Our Lord we conclude our celebration of Christmas. God has shared our humanity. We can come to know through our human love the Divine, the love that created us.

Matthew has given us the child’s name, Jesus, and told us he is Emmanuel, God, who is with us. Before he begins his ministry Matthew leads us to know more about Jesus. Through the opening between heaven and earth we hear ‘a daughter of a voice’, i.e. an echo of a word spoken in heaven. Daniel Harrington’s, "The Gospel of Matthew" (Sarcra Pagina), tells us that in these words from heaven biblical figures are given to help us understand the person and activity of Jesus. This is the Beloved, my son, the one in whom I am pleased. The Davidic King is the adopted son of God; Isaac, the Beloved (Gen. 22:12); and the suffering servant of Isaiah (42:1), the one in whom God is well pleased.

Today’s feast is not about our Baptism. But in our Baptisms when the perfumed oil is abundantly spread over our heads and its fragrance fills the senses of those around us, there is a revelation of who we are! At times in the liturgy we will be incensed, when we are brought to church on our final journey to the cemetery we will be surrounded by the fragrance of incense. These moments remind us of the dignity given us at Baptism when it was revealed who we are: prophets, priests, kings or queens, Other Christs. A prayer I have heard accompany the anointing with Chrism prays boldly, "Remember who you are, and the anointing on your body, raise you head….you are another Christ." Our dignity as chosen and loved by the Father is fixed. We go from the font to love as Christ loved, to see the world and one another through the eyes of Christ, to be Christ in our world. 

Consider the revelations that Matthew gives us about the person of Jesus, and remember the revelation proclaimed over you at your Baptism. With Jesus let us go forward to show the Love Divine in the flesh of our humanity. In the most ordinary, frustrating and difficult paths you may walk remember ‘who you are, the anointing on your body, raise your head….you are another Christ.’

 

Fr. William Murphy, CP, is pastor of St. Joseph’s Monastery parish in Baltimore, Maryland.

 

Scripture:

1 John 5:14-21
John 3:22-30

Reflection:

Self knowledge is a great gift.  Self acceptance is an even greater blessing.  To really know one’s gifts, abilities, talents and natural traits, as well as the limitations in other areas can reduce stress and tension and even inner turmoil.  A man who is 5’3" is unlikely to be a starting center in the NBA.  A woman who has little patience with the high energy of small children will probably not find herself drawn to a career as a preschool teacher.  A friend, Mary,  is a wonderful listener and insightful counselor, but she is painfully shy in large groups and considers herself to be very ordinary and plain looking.  She confided to me once that it took her years to accept that she would never be like a mutual friend who was cute and perky and vivacious and had the kind of personality the was attractive to other people.  Mary had struggled to grow into self acceptance and to value her own gifts and abilities.

John the Baptist seems to have really known who he was, his role in life, and the gifts that were given to him by God.  John had been looked upon as a prophet to whom people came from great distances.  Crowds would listen to him preach and many would accept his call to conversion and be baptized.  But when Jesus appeared on the scene and people flocked to him, John did not express any jealousy or need to compete to "get his numbers back up".  He accepted that he had done what he had been called to do, used his gifts to the fullest and now it was time to step aside for another.  In today’s world the same scenario could have turned out much differently.

Today, competition, conscious or unconscious, seems to be in the air we breathe.  Money, possessions, friends, accomplishments of our own or our children, and lifestyle can easily determine our sense of self and our acceptance or rejection of who we are.  It takes great wisdom and inner strength and maturity to accept that we are each given gifts and abilities by God to use as fully as possible.  But true joy comes when we realize, like John the Baptist, that our talents are not given for personal status or enhancement but for the growth and spread of the reign of God.  And it often takes a lifetime to realize that all has been given to us from above.

 

Cathy Anthony is on the staff of St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan. 

Scripture:
1 John 5:5-13
Luke 5:12-16

Reflection:
In the first reading for today’s Liturgy, we are given a message of comfort and strength. The question is asked: "Who is the victor over the world?"  And the answer comes out boldly, "The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God!"

John the Evangelist finds three witnesses to this truth.

Jesus is the one who came through water-a precious water in which he was baptized and undertook our redemption, the water that foretells our baptism and the removal of sin. It was at this baptism that the Baptist proclaimed "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. I have seen and testify that he is the Son of God." The Baptist was informed by God that  the "one on whom the Spirit descended was the one sent to baptize with the Spirit."

There was the testimony of blood. The blood shed for many. The blood of the Cross. The blood offered by an eternal spirit. The blood that saves us. The blood given for us. The blood offered through the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle is encouraging the first Christians with a vision of the source of their power to overcome the attractions of the world for which Jesus did not pray.  Jesus overcame the powers of evil, he disarmed our enemies and he pours his strength into us through the removal  of our sins in water. We have rejoiced in God’s magnificent gift to us, even the Divine Son.  

The Christmas cycle has had us commemorating the events surrounding the birth of our Savior, our promise of victory.  Today’s reading has St.John assuring us the promise has been kept.  Baptism, in the Jordan, Sacrifice on Calvary is our Redemption.  "We are more than conquerors!"

 

Fr. Fred Sucher, C.P. is retired and lives in the Passionist community in Chicago.  For many years he taught philosophy to Passionist seminarians.