wpengine

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles 

Scripture:

Acts 12:1-11
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18
Matthew 16:13-19

Reflection:

Your typical reflection for today would most likely center itself around a panegyric to the lives of Ss. Peter and Paul. However I would like to take a bit of a different stance. I have learned that the martyrs teach us not only how to die for our faith but also how to live it. So instead of reflecting on the lives and martyrdom of these early leaders of the nascent Christian community in Rome, I would like to share with you the life lessons learned by one of their illustrious descendants: "il papa buono" Blessed Pope John XIII.

Here are Pope John XXIII’s 10 lessons to living a better life here and now!

1. Only for today, I will seek to live the day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.

2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.

3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.

4. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.

5. Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.

6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.

7. Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.

8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself, I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.

9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one who exists in this world.

10. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness.

The list is simple yet challenging and incredibly profound. We pray on this Feast of the Apostles, Peter and Paul and also through the intercession of Blessed John XXIII that we might try to imitate their lives of faith so that we too might merit their eternal glory in Christ.

 

Patrick Quinn ([email protected]) is the director of Planned Giving at the Passionist Development Office in Chicago.

Scripture:

2 Kings 25:1-12
Matthew 8:1-4

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel Jesus cures the man afflicted with leprosy.  In the gospels, miracles are signs of the reign of God overcoming the reign of Satan.  This particular miracle is especially poignant.  A person with leprosy must live outside of the cities.  They must carry a bell to warn travelers not to come closer than six feet.  They had to shout "unclean, unclean."  Their appearances were prescribed.  Their hair was to be disheveled.  Their clothing was to be ragged.  Their mouths were to be covered.  The average death from leprosy was nine years, but some lived with it for twenty to thirty years.

What is evident in this miracle story is that the man with leprosy had great faith.  He was willing to break the laws and enter the city to meet Jesus.  He was humble.  He did not ask that his leprosy be cured!  He said:  "If it is your will, let me be made clean!"  He paid Jesus homage.  The word used here for "homage" is the same word used for "reverencing the gods!"  He was a man of faith.  He was humble. He was reverent.

This miracle is another example of Jesus’ compassionate heart.  This is most evident because Jesus was not only willing to hold a conversation with this petitioner, but Jesus also reached out and touched him.  The man was cured.  He was restored to his community.   Jesus’ heart was so impressed  by this gentleman’s faith that Jesus was willing to break the codes prescribed by law.  Jesus  reached out and touched the man.

Robert Louis Stevenson was visiting a leprosarium staffed by sisters.  He said to one of the sisters:  "I wouldn’t do what you are doing for a million dollars!"  She replied:  "Neither would I."  Mother Theresa of Calcutta use to tell her sisters:  "When we help the poor we must feed, cloth, and heal the poor.  But never forget, when you are helping the poor you must touch the poor!"  This gospel story challenges us to touch the poor, to touch those no one else wants to touch.  The compassionate Christian heart calls us to it.    

 

Fr. Kenneth O’Malley, C.P. is the archivist at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.  

 

Scripture:

2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3
Matthew 7:15-20

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus warns His disciples, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves." In today’s world, where there are so many voices clamoring for our attention, Jesus’ warning is as relevant as ever. How are we to distinguish between true and false prophets? In our Gospel passage, Jesus does give an answer: "By their fruits you will know them…A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit…So by their fruits you will know them."

Jesus’ answer does give us some guidelines and criteria by which to judge all the messages we hear. For example, those who preach and proclaim hatred and violence are easily rejected. But as we listen to the political debates within our government, and the debates even within our church, there seems to be disagreement about which "fruits" are good and which are "bad." For me, this makes it harder to heed Jesus’ warning. How, then, can we discern between false prophets and true ones?

I believe an answer can be found in the Gospel readings we have had for the past several weeks. Chapters 5 through 7 of Matthew’s Gospel make up Jesus’ "Sermon on the Mount." When we listen to this or that evangelist, we can ask ourselves, "Does this lead to being ‘poor in spirit,’ or to making peace, or to reliance on God, or to love of enemies as well as neighbors, or to following the Golden Rule?"  For me, I distrust those who seem to promote self-satisfaction or self-aggrandizement. The Gospels consistently call us beyond ourselves. In that light, we need to remember that true discernment takes place in the context of prayer (listening to God) and listening to the wisdom of the faith community passed down to us. In humility, then, we pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the grace to become true prophets in our world.

 

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P. is pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, Fairfield, Alabama.

 

Scripture:

2 Kings 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36
Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Reflection:

"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." Mt 7: 12-14

I used to think this passage was referring to the road to heaven (and maybe it is). But knowing how merciful God is and how He wants all of His kids to make it home one day, I’m not so sure anymore. I find it hard to believe that only a few will make it to heaven. Maybe instead it refers to the way we live our lives here on earth. The road that leads to life could be referring to the road leading to abundant life; to living in the Kingdom here on earth. How many people do you know who are totally surrendered to God’s will? Not resigned, but joyfully abandoned to His will? These people live in the Spirit, and display the fruits of the Spirit. They know that true peace and joy don’t come by following our own desires, but by seeking God’s way in everything.

The broad road that leads to destruction could be living by my own will and letting my feelings control me. Until we learn to live in the Spirit, our lives are filled with regret, fear, worry, bickering, selfishness, unforgiveness, envy and sin. Many, many people live this way – even in the church! Often I think we don’t really believe that we can change. "I can’t help it if I worry". But God tells us over and over again in His word not to be afraid and not to worry. He wants to teach us how to live in victory over fear and anger and jealousy. He wants us to put others’ needs before our own and to live by the "Golden Rule".

When we take God at His word, and claim His promises for our own lives, we begin to cultivate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness and self-control. It’s our choice and it’s a process to go from wanting our own way to wanting God’s way. It’s much easier to run our own lives. But by yielding to the Spirit daily, we can grow in holiness and more and more live that abundant life. We can live in the Kingdom now; we don’t have to wait until we die. But it takes courage and discipline and humility to die to ourselves and to put on the mind of Christ and let Him control us.

So, which road will you choose?

 

Janice Carleton and her husband Jim live in Portland, OR and partner with Passionist Fr. Cedric Pisegna in Fr. Cedric Ministries. Janice also leads women’s retreats. She is the mother of 4 grown children and grandmother of 2, soon to be 3. Visit Janice’s website at http://www.jcarleton.com/ or email her at janice@frcedric/org

Scripture:

Zechariah 12:10-11; 13:1
Galatians 3:26-29
Luke 9:18-24

Reflection:

Have you ever done anything you regretted?  If you haven’t, I want to meet you because I’ve never met anyone who didn’t regret some things in their lives. 

It seems that regret is something of a universal, human experience! 

It’s no surprise to have regrets.  After all, sometimes we take risks or do things that have consequences very different from what we planned or imagined.  Or, sometimes we do things because we’re hurt, angry or afraid that we regret when things calm down a bit.  And, of course, when we make decisions based on our feelings of righteousness or of vengeance (often enough rationalized as "justice") we have much to regret.

The Prophet Zechariah speaks of God pouring out on the house of David and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem a "spirit of grace and petition" that frees them to embrace their deep regrets over their destruction of the "one whom they have pierced" so that they can mourn and be purified from their great sin.

All of us need such a grace.  Can we expect God to give us such a gift?  Are you free enough to even receive such a grace?  Or, are you locked into the prison of living in your regrets?  A difficult dilemma we each much face!

Perhaps as we struggle with our regrets, the question Jesus asks of his apostles in today’s Gospel is an important question for us.  "But who do you say that I (Jesus) am?"  What is your answer?  Can you reply with Peter, "The Christ of God!"?  Or, are you trapped into believing something less?

If we believe that Jesus is "The Christ of God" then we know that God has given us the "spirit of grace" that frees us to mourn our regrets and be purified of our sin.  That is, after all, what Christ has done for us.  As St. Paul testifies in his letter to the Galatians, "through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus." 

One of the great challenges of the Christian life is "to be who we are."  We are God’s children through the death and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  Today’s Scripture readings call us to welcome God’s transforming love into our lives.  If we do, we are not only freed from the prison of our regrets, but are also freed to share God’s great love with all those in our lives.

 

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director of the Passionist Development Office and is stationed at Immaculate Conception Retreat in Chicago.

Scripture:

Sirach 48:1-14
Matthew 6:7-15

Reflection:
In St. Matthew’s version of the "Our Father", he concludes with the words, "If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you do not forgive other, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

Radical forgiveness is embedded in the center of a Christian’s identity.  The reason we find forgiveness so difficult is because we are often living in the ego-filled part of our consciousness.  Using the image of a tree, we can say the heart of the tree is what is in the ground.  The part above the ground is meant to be an expression of the deeper part.  The above-ground part is in motion, moving this way and that way.  The leaves are seasonal.  They come and they go.  Inside all of this movement is hopefully an expression of our essence, who we are deepest down.  Often enough, this upper part is egocentric craziness and filled with some delightful Loony Tunes of life.  The trouble is, we begin to identify our essence with this upper commotion and passing, changing images and feelings.  When someone hurts me, I brood, begin to justify my negative even hateful feelings towards them.  My hurt becomes a cancer within me.  The other person is going his/her merry way but here I am, in my upper consciousness, turning my own heart into a cesspool.  Forgiveness seems to be so illogical and crazy.

It can be so hard to see the genuine self that is deep within.  It is hard to die to this surface self and see what is truly real.  We may now and then get the intuition into this depth of self.  The mystics are individuals who are blessed, on this side of the veil of death, with this perception in an ongoing way. They see the self almost engulfed in union with God and others.  The sense of the unifying power of love is so real and powerful that most of the surface feelings and insights fade into almost nothingness.  The fact that someone "hurt me" melts away in face of my "unity with all, even my enemies".  Jesus, at the moment of his death, cried out, "Father forgive them, they know not what they are doing."  In his book, "Tortured for Christ", Richard Wurmbrand tells stories of how Christians, being tortured in the most horrible and evil ways, feel not hate for those hurting them, but a desire that they come to know Christ and his love.  They are so emptied of all that surface ego-centric garbage, that the essence of their Christian being is sensing union with those killing them and not hate.

Say the "Our Father" slowly and reverently.  It can be a powerful prayer that gets us living more on the level of our real, Christian self and not on the whirlwind level of the blowing and changing images and feelings of surface consciousness.

"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."   

 

Fr. Blaise Czaja, C.P. gives parish missions and retreats.  He is a member of the Passionist Community in Detroit, Michigan.

 

Scripture:

1 Kings 21:1-16
Matthew 5:38-42

Reflection:

Do you ever wake up and wish there were a quick and easy "owners manual" for how you are to lead your life?  It sure would make life less stressful and challenging.  Our contemporary society is one that reinforces the quick and easy solution to everything and there seems to be an application for the iPhone or iPad to solve every problem.  I propose today a better application to guide The Way-iSermon.  With this new download, you would have direct access to the teachings and applications found in the wisdom teachings from the Gospel of Matthew…for the Sermon on the Mount is indeed our most beautiful, faith-filled "owners manual". 

I fear, however, that there would not be a world-wide queue for the release of this new application.  While the temptations of the electronic Apple products are very enticing, iSermon would not offer the "easier, softer way" that our contemporary society pays big money to capture.  As today’s Gospel reading explains, the answers to life’s challenges and conflicts cannot be found in shortcuts to living.  The real answers are found in choosing the more difficult way.   In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was not preaching an easier, softer form of Judaism. Matthew’s Gospel professes a more intensified commitment to God that extends beyond the letter of the Jewish law. In addition, Jesus pointed to one of the many challenges of living in a Roman occupied society.  In the occupied regions, people were often pressed into service to carry the bags of the Romans as they traveled to and fro.  Jesus taught that they should not resent being pressed into service and merely carry the baggage the distance, but instead, should volunteer to go twice as far. 

In all cases, Jesus is clearly saying that we cannot afford to live an "easier, softer" way.  Nor can we afford to harbor feelings of resentment or anger for transgressions and hurts in our lives.  Indeed, festering resentments and bottled up anger are at the heart of many mental and physical diseases that plague our world today.  A profound cure is offered to us this day in the Sermon on the Mount.  Popular or not, I intend to continue to "download" these teachings onto the hard-drive of my life and pray that I may be transformed.

 

Angela Howell ([email protected])  is a retreatant and volunteer at Mater Dolorosa Passionists Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California.

 

Scripture:

2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13
Galatians 2:16, 19-21
Luke 7:36-8:3

Reflection:

While celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation, I like to remind the penitent of Proverbs 24:16…"The just one falls seven times (daily) and rises again." Sometimes, we can become so "caught up" with our sinfulness, that we forget or disregard the mercy of God.  What a fine line the Church and each local community, each family and each person must walk in warning strictly against sin and yet clutching the sinner back for Jesus.

King David, that man of extraordinary talents, the writer of so many of our Psalms, the one who danced before the Ark of God with abandon, was pointed out as a public sinner…guilty of adultery, murder, deception and infidelity.  Yet even with Nathan’s tongue-lashing, all David said was: " I have sinned against the Lord."  Nathan assured him of God’s forgiveness, just as we hear God’s forgiveness pronounced in the penitential rite at Mass or in the sacrament of reconciliation.

In the Gospel, we hear the familiar story of "the woman known as a sinner".  She and Simon the Pharisee make good foils for our contemplation.  The great commentator Barclay comments on Simon: "Most likely, Simon was a collector of celebrities; and with a half-patronising contempt he had invited this startling young Galilean to have a meal with him."  As the guest of honor, Jesus would have been more than ready to engage whoever came to him with question, concern or tearful request.  The repentant woman stands in for all of us, with whatever sins we are aware of in our lives.  We perhaps cry over forgiven sins or over a pattern of sinfulness that is broken by God’s grace.  We stand, not in judgment over sinful humanity, but one in solidarity with the human family.  A couple of thought provokers: A) With the environmental sin of the Gulf oil disaster before us, do I own my part in this because I too have desired cheap fuel over the safety of workers, the good of the earth? B) Do I share with others, at least in a general way, how the Lord’s forgiveness of my (our) sins has set me (us) free?

HAPPY THE ONE WHOSE FAULT IS TAKEN AWAY, WHOSE SIN IS COVERED.

 

Fr. Bob Bovenzi is resides at the Holy Name Passionist Community in Houston, Texas.