wpengine

 

Scripture:

2 Samuel 15: 13-14, 30; 16:5-13
Psalm 3: 2-3. 4-5, 6-7
Mark 5: 1-20

 

 

Reflection:

Through the stories in the Book of Samuel, we have been reading and reflecting on how Yahweh gradually transformed the Hebrew people from a group of tribes into a Kingdom.

Today’s first reading tells of the report to David that the children of Israel have transferred their loyalty to Absalom and David’s fearful flight from Jerusalem. The reading brings to light the experience of paradox:  How to discern Yahweh’s (God’s) presence in the midst of political intrigue within relationships and ambitions. Our own life experience tells us that our family and community stories are tied up in ongoing growth though joys, sorrows, struggles, questions – all that arise as we experience in life that is often filled with contradictions. Understood in a faith sense, paradox is rooted in mystery, for paradox is the harmonization of conflicting experiences that in themselves seem irreconcilable, but that through another force acting upon them in critical moments, create a new or transformed reality.  We know that this force is God’s presence, God’s grace that transforms contradictions into paradox if we develop the ‘sight’ that would enable us to recognize and SEE at a deeper level… resulting in our cooperation, not our control.

Question:  Where do we experience paradox in our lives today and where/how is God transforming us through the experience?

In our Psalm response, we recognize that in our many difficulties and adversarieswe have words to pray: "Lord, rise up and save me."

Today’s Gospel tells the story of a "mad" man with unclean spirits who dwelt among the tombs in the territory of  the Gerasenes and meets Jesus and the disciples as they get out of their boat.  The unclean spirits in the man plead to be put into the herd of swine and as they enter them, the large herd rushes down the steep bank into the sea and drown.  Hearing the report, people throughout the countryside come to see what happened and they see the previously possessed man, now sitting clothed and in his right mind.  The native people were afraid and want him to leave their district, but he pleads to go with Jesus.  Instead Jesus tells him to "God home… tell his story…and the man went off and began to proclaim what Jesus had done for him and all were amazed. 

As we see Jesus in this story, we see his patience, respect and gentleness toward the sick man, He uses his power over the unclean spirits, and when the man, now cured wants to stay with Jesus, he sends him forth as a missionary-disciple to proclaim through the district what Jesus had done for him.  Jesus saw in him, not his mental illness, but one of God’s beloved children.

As we reflect on this gospel today, when have we been changed or healed by our encounter and relationship with Jesus?  Where and to whom are we called to go, live and tell the story!

 

Marcella Fabing, CSJ at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, CA.

Scripture:

2 Samuel 12:1-7a, 10-17
Mark 4:35-41

Reflection:

One of the most famous statements concerning fear is the message President Franklin Roosevelt gave the nation in 1933, when the country was struggling with the Great Depression. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself– nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."  Those words carne from a man in a wheelchair.

In today’s gospel we see the apostles terrified. They were experiencing the angry sea and they feared death by drowning. When Jesus awoke he rebuked them for both their fear and their lack of faith. What was it that they didn’t believe? It seemed they lacked faith in how total and how absolute was God’s love for them.

They continued in that fear until the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost and enlightened them of the meaning of the Cross and Resurrection. They came to realize that God’s love is so profound that He had his only Son die on the cross for all people. And they understood that God’s power was so infinite that even death could not quench it.

Sigmund Freud said, "Now bold one gets when one is sure of being loved ."  Once the apostles were sure of God’s great love, they boldly went out to preach the gospel, in season and out of season. With courage they faced opposition, persecution and even death. They were no longer those frightened guys in the boat. They were converted from "retreat into advance."

The Russian philosopher, Nicolas Berdyaev said, "Fear is never a good counselor, and victory over fear is the first spiritual duty of a person."

If victory over fear is our first spiritual duty, then meditation on the passion of Christ is basic for a life of holiness.

 

Fr. Alan Phillip, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

 

Scripture:
Jeremiah 1: 4-5 ,17-19
1Corinthians 12: 31, 13: 4-13
Luke 4: 21-30

 

Reflection:

"…Love is patient, love is kind.  It is not jealous, it is not pompous…."

Not long ago, I happened to see a job description in the "help wanted" section of a newspaper that read: "The successful applicant will be a dynamic, intelligent, take-charge individual who is talented, experienced, and able to bring an innovative perspective to management.  Candidates must be creative thinkers, possessing independent judgment and leadership, outstanding relationship-building skills, analytical ability, and the vision required to challenge employees and to drive growth…"  I remember thinking, "these people must think God is looking for a job"!  Who else could fit all those requirements?

In today’s reading from St Paul to the Corinthians, we hear the job description for a Christian.  "Love is patient, love is kind, it is not pompous, jealous, rude, or quick-tempered…it bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

That job description is one that none of us is really qualified for.  If we were flipping through the "help wanted" section and saw a job description that said: "applicant must be patient, kind, not pompous, jealous, rude, or quick-tempered, most of us, if we’re real honest, would turn the page and keep looking.

I believe Paul is saying, "Listen to what Christ expects you to be and recognize that you cannot do it on your own."  Are you always patient? Are you completely free of envy or jealousy?  Do you have what it takes to endure all things?  Paul asks these impossible questions so that we will realize that we cannot do these things that Christ expects by ourselves.

The answer, St Paul tells us, is that the position has already been filled.  The Good News is that what we cannot do, God has already done in Christ.  God became human and through his birth, teaching, and miracles HE DOES WHAT WE CANNOT.  Through his care for the sick and poor, his love poured out in the Eucharist and on the Cross, HE DOES WHAT WE CANNOT.

Jesus is patient, kind, loving and forgiving.  He makes us fit to be his disciples.  And to do that, we need to become willing to surrender our lives to God who strengthens us. 

The Christian job description is about ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD.  We begin that job here. We never become the manager. We are always interns, apprentices and trainees.  We have been hired not to lead but to follow, to imitate, and to pray that our earthly work of following Christ, may become an ETERNAL CAREER!

 

Deacon Brian Clements is a member of the retreat team at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, Calif. 

Scripture:

2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29
Mark 4:21-25

Reflection:
"Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus talks to his disciples about the importance of light. With today’s cities so filled with light, it is hard to imagine the ultra dark skies in Jesus’ time and the vital role of the lamp.  Our skies are seldom completely dark with the pervasiveness of light and its constant reflection in our civilization.   Perhaps you might have some idea of the darkness experienced by the Jews if you have ever gone camping in the wilderness.   Night skies lit only by stars, homes that were filled with darkness except for one or maybe two lamps–this was their world.   When the disciples heard Jesus’ words, the absurdity of hiding a lamp under a bushel basket or a bed would have been immediately apparent to them.  

As Christians, we accept that our Faith in Christ is our light, our guide in the darkness of this world.  And can we, as disciples of Christ, not see the absurdity of hiding our faith under a bushel basket?  It seems to me that we are being told rather to shout to the world of our faith in Christ.  We are called to live our Faith so that everyone who sees us will know how much we believe in Christ.  Jesus is telling us, "don’t hide your faith, live it so that the world will see it, so that all with whom you have contact will be touched by the Faith that guides your life!"

Today, we also remember the great Theologian, Saint and Doctor of the Church, St. Thomas Aquinas.  Thomas Aquinas dedicated his life to thinking, speaking, writing and living his faith.  His greatest work, Summa Theologica, containing the very doctrines of our Faith, is a treatise on the existence of God, the Sacrifice of Christ and the role of humanity. It is accepted by Christians and non-Christians as one of the most important philosophical and theological works ever written. 

The life of St. Thomas Aquinas serves as a model for us, not only because of the words he put on paper, but also because he loved and embraced the Faith in all that he did. 

We should each ask ourselves, how does my life reflect my Faith? 

 

Mary Lou Butler ([email protected]) is currently serving as administrator of Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, California. 

Scripture:

2 Samuel 7:4-17
Mark 4:1-20

Reflection:

"But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold."

 

It’s been a long week for me . . .and it’s only Monday night.  So, this gospel with its message of the importance of God’s Word comes at just the right time.  I’m sure a lot of us have tended a garden in some way.  It’s amazing what can be born of a tiny seed-fruits and vegetables that can sustain us.  But if the seed isn’t properly cared for, the potential can be lost. 

Today’s gospel tells the well-known story of the sower.  I remember as a child hearing this gospel and picturing God up in the clouds showering the earth with seeds.  At the time, I had no doubt which category I fell into.  Of course, I was like the rich soil ready to let the Word form deep and lasting roots within me.  This was a time when I don’t think I knew what "worldly anxiety" or "the lure of riches" even meant.  When I read the passage now, I can recall times in my life when-if I am being honest-my heart was perhaps made more of rocky soil.

I think what struck me most as I re-read this parable is Jesus’ warnings about those things that can corrupt and smother the Word as it tries to take root.  This story is a vivid reminder that evil is a real force in our world and that Satan is hard at work to keep us from faith.  You know when you are sitting in Church and your mind starts to wander to all the important things you need to do with your day?  Or maybe when you wake up Sunday morning and are sure that the chores and responsibilities you have should legitimately keep you from attending Mass?  Jesus tells us that this is Satan whispering in our ear in that intoxicating way that he has-so that we don’t even know it’s him.  He keeps us from the Word and the seed falls on the path and doesn’t even have a chance.

But even if we are strong in our faith and allow the Word to grow and flourish, this is not the end.  Just as a garden needs constant attention to keep it healthy, so does our faith.  When difficulty and trials come, as they inevitably will, the Word can wither within us like those seeds that fell on the rocky soil.  This is when it just seems too hard to keep tending the garden.  Satan tells us the lie that the Word doesn’t have the power we thought.

The third ruse is perhaps the most deceitful.  "The cares of the world, and the deceit of riches and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful."  Did you ever feel like holding fast to your faith meant that you were giving up something more attractive?  Did you ever feel like the sacrifice you had to make to keep the Word alive was too great?  Those lies can strangle and suffocate the truth that is faith in Christ.

So let us prepare our hearts to receive God’s word.  Let us make sure that the soil is ready for the seeds to grow deep roots.  The promise is that of life-sustaining fruit over and above all that we can even imagine.  And with such an overflowing garden, maybe we can even go out and sow some seeds of love, kindness, peace and joy. 

 

Marlo Serritella is on staff at the Holy Cross Province Development Office in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Reflection:

In the second reading the theme of unity in the midst of diversity is again offered to us by St. Paul the Apostle. This theme surfaces fairly regularly with St. Paul who tries to challenge his gentile community on the absolute oneness of God, Christ and the Spirit to a pluralistic society. But if we look at the first reading and the introduction of the Gospel of Luke we also find these two writers discussing the theme of interpretation.

Christians have one common Bible with a number of different versions. But if we look at how the Sacred Scriptures have been interpreted to offer a position on any social issue we can see a variety of positions used to promote a political or social agenda. The issue of slavery in the United States points out that fact very well where both the abolitionist and the slaveholding community used the Bible to defend both positions. In the current culture war that is debating economic globalization, climate change and humanitarian intervention we see the same thing happening. Whether people are using the Bible, the Quran or the Torah any faith-based group can come up with any number of positions with regards to these issues using their own Sacred texts to defend these positions.

Both Ezra and Luke are dealing with tensions of interpretation. They both come out of a tradition built on the Spirit of unity but fractured by social violence. For Ezra the Hebrew community has just returned from their exile in Babylon and is trying to again make sense of their post-exilic identity. For Luke’s early Christians that Apostolic community has brought the salvific message of Christ throughout the Roman Empire but after the persecution of the Apostles Luke is struggling to maintain this unified tradition and for that purpose he has written this Gospel account.  In both cases they are struggling to offer a common understanding so that the Word can take root in all of us with our different experiences, talents and personalities while maintaining its authentic singular message that is based on God’s love and common relationship with us all.

For us Catholics the Church is the institution from which we continue to comprehend the challenging Word of God in the context of our ever changing world. While the Church continues to pronounce on issues of faith and dogma the Church also addresses new social issues that had never surfaced in the ancient world. It is the duty of our Church to offer its guidance based on its reflection on revelation and tradition to help develop us into a community that can respond to social issues that confront us. In this manner the Church has made its position felt on economic globalization in the Papal Encyclical Caritas in Veritate. The Pope has also offered a teaching on the issue of climate change in his recent World Day of Peace Message. With the great catastrophe that affected Haiti last week the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops has also offered its social position to protect in any way the devastated Haitian community by asking us to donate at the Sunday Mass and by advocating to the President to grant Haitians in the United States temporary protected status. These are social issues and they are not of themselves dogmatic objects of revealed faith such as our belief in the Resurrection or in the mystery of the Eucharist but they are themselves social doctrines that are related to the faith and morals of our revealed tradition.

As Americans we are fond of saying that people have a right to their opinion and of course they are. Even in our own Catholic Church we also assent to this individual right insofar as our God given conscience is regarded as a prominent vehicle from which we come to discern the decisions we must make. But let us keep in mind the struggle that Paul reminds us of whereby our individual parts must ultimately serve one body. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored; all the parts share its joy.  

The Church offers many social teachings and many of us may struggle with some of the Church’s social positions, I know I do. Paul, Ezra and Luke are not calling us to mindless zombies. We are called to embrace our own dignity but at the service of all creation which comes from God. It will be impossible for us who experience our own lives from only one vantage point to be able to see and value the dignity and experiences of all God’s creation. For that reason it is important for us to be challenged by the position of a global Church that happens to share in the experiences of people throughout the world.

In Haiti, one part of the human community is suffering greatly. Our Church has called us to action so that we can respond to the suffering of one of our members. This now is the opportunity for us to embrace the one body and to heal a section that has been devastated.  

 

John Gonzalez is the director of the Passionist Office for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC).  He lives with his family in New York.  Visit the JPIC website at www.passionistjpic.org.            

 

Scripture:

2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27
Mark 3:20-21

Reflection:

When I was living in Carbondale, IL, a group called "Fools for Christ" came to perform at the Newman Center at Southern Illinois University. They sang songs, and acted out skits, all to encourage the college students there to follow Jesus. I bring this up because in our Gospel reading for today, there are relatives of Jesus who have determined that "He is out of his mind;" and have decided to go get Him and bring Him home (We will see what happens in our Gospel reading for next Tuesday).

To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ can make us seem to be out of our minds, or fools, or hopeless innocents, in the eyes of the world. As I write this, our country is about to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. For many today, practicing nonviolence would indicate that one has got out of his mind. Nonviolence seems so impractical in today’s world. But, to me, Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross indicates that He did not return violence with more violence. Instead, he chose to forgive, even from the Cross.

Jesus also told us to look to give, rather than to take, and still we are tempted to rationalize that greed is good. Our world is still struggling with coming together to alleviate poverty in so many places. The aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti is an indication of that.

Perhaps it is time to be "out of our minds," or "fools," for the Gospel. Violence and greed may have led to some results, but they won’t lead us to where we need to go. What is needed is to share the love and grace we have in Jesus Christ, no matter how crazy and foolish it makes us appear.

 

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

Scripture:

1 Samuel 24:3-21
Mark 3:13-19

Reflection:

"He appointed twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons." Mark 3: 14-15

How many people today actually believe that demons can affect them? One of Satan’s greatest tricks is making people believe there aren’t any demons or that they are just cute little guys in red suits with pitchforks. But demons are far from little and far from cute. 1 Peter 5: 8-9 tells us: "your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour". And in our prayer to St. Michael we ask Jesus to "cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls." Their job is to keep us from heaven, so that’s something we should be concerned about – or at least aware of. "Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness and the evil spirits in regions above" (Eph 6:12). We need to know that we have an enemy, but that in Jesus we have the power to defeat him!

I first began to learn about spiritual warfare years ago after I saw a demon one night. I had no idea what I had seen, I just knew I was paralyzed with fear in his presence and felt helpless to do anything. God led me to tell my bible study leader what happened and she began to teach me how to fight back by using God’s Word. The verse that laid the foundation for my confidence to stand against evil was 1 John 4:4: "He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world." Another was James 4:7: "Therefore submit to God; resist the devil and he will flee from you".

I’ve learned a lot about demons, and we don’t need to be afraid of them. The main thing we need to know is that God is stronger than any evil that can come against us. The greatest weapon against evil is praise. Praise God in all things and you will never be defeated. We know that God will triumph at the end of time and we, his followers, will triumph with Him.

 

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