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Scripture:

Tobit 3:1-11a, 16-17a
Mark 12:18-27

Reflection:

The first three days of this week feature Mark’s gospel following the opposition to the prophecy which Jesus is proclaiming about the kingdom, which will turn this world’s values upside-down and inside out. Confronting greed, manipulation of God, and in today’s Gospel, selfish control of reality by denial of Resurrection, Jesus asks, "Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scripture nor the power of God?" The Passionists have lost a priest, and a prophet in the venerable person of Fr. Thomas Berry, C.P., who knew the scripture and the power of God on Earth by paying attention to the planet.  Fr. Berry revealed in dramatic ways how God relates, and, transforms this world to benefit and not destroy all of creation. A reverent and respectful treatment of all life reveals the meaning of the scripture and the ways in which God works for the benefit of all. "In relation to the earth, we have been autistic for centuries. Only now have we begun to listen with some attention and with a willingness to respond to the earth’s demands that we cease our industrial assault, that we abandon our inner rage against the conditions of our earthly existence, that we renew our human participation in the grand liturgy of the universe." (The Dream of the Earth, Sierra Club Books, 1990, p. 215). Do I recognize, respect and cooperate with the power of God on earth, by paying attention to this planet and the universe in which it exists through the lens of the Word?  

 

Fr. Alex Steinmiller, C.P. is president of Holy Family Cristo Rey High School, Birmingham, Alabama.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 1:1-7
Matthew 5:1-12

Reflection:

I remember back in 1994 I was invited to preach a mission at a large parish in Jacksonville, FL. I decided to do something daring to introduce the mission. I memorized the Gospel and proclaimed it out front from memory. I thought that would get their attention. It did. The Gospel that Sunday was the same as today, the beatitudes. When I interpreted it, I took the liberty of "personalizing" it. Instead of "Blessed are the poor in spirit" I changed it to "Blessed are you who are poor in spirit…Blessed are you who mourn, etc. All the while I walked and looked right into their eyes. This was one of the most thrilling moments of my ministry and I had goosebumps the entire time. I sensed such a connection with those who were poor, mourning, and hurting. This Gospel not only connects but ministers hope and new possibilities. I didn’t even need to preach that day. The proclaimed Gospel said it all.

Paul also talks about sufferings, afflictions and encouragement in the first reading. He connects with those who are going through something by identifying with them. I make my living in ministry by sharing my story through preaching and writing. I openly share my brokenness, sufferings, trials and tragedies so I can connect with others and help them find hope in their hardships. In the Scriptures, trials, tragedies, afflictions and troubles don’t have the final word. God does. Therefore we hear the word "blessed" in both readings. No matter the difficulty, God is there to encourage, bless and bring good out of any situation. For me, a major part of ministry is connecting with the hurting and ministering the balm of hope.

 

Fr. Cedric Pisegna, C.P. is a missionary preacher, author of 12 books and creator of the TV program Live with Passion! airing in many cities. You can learn more about his ministry at: http://www.frcedric.org/

The Most Holy Trinity

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40
Romans 8:14-17
Matthew 28:16-20

Reflection:

"In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  That was probably the first prayer our parents had us lisp as they guided our right hand in signing ourselves with the cross.  It is also the most profound mystery of our religion.  It tells us that our God is one in nature but three in persons.  Pope  Benedict XVI recently remarked that many Catholics take these words to mean The Divine Persons resemble us and each would be and independent thinker and decider.  That, unfortunately, would give us three independent gods!

Our God is beyond our understanding and every word we use to describe God needs to be given a very special meaning!  God is more than we can know.  But the Father, the Son and the Spirit not only love each of us eternally, they allow us to return that love.

"Jesus, who is both God and Man, told us:  "Whoever loves me, will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him."    Jesus repeats this promise in the concluding words of his farewell address:  "Father, I will make your name known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."

When we love God, when we keep his commands, our God comes to us and rejoices in us.   We come to know, the power, the presence and something of the eternal joy awaiting us when we have face-to-face completion in eternity.  Father, Son and Spirit want to give us a foretaste of the joy of heaven.  The nature of our God has been revealed to us, not as the supreme riddle of reality, but as Infinite Love poured into our being.  "Taste and see how sweet our God is!"

 

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

 

Scripture:

Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20
Mark 12:38-44

Reflection:

 We finish today the readings from the Book of Tobit. Raphael, a central character in the Book, finally reveals himself as a messenger of God, one of the seven angels who serve God. He was the one who presented to God the prayers of Tobit for sight, Tobiah for a wife, and Sarah for healing from her curse. The family is eternally grateful to Raphael. Tobit tells Tobiah to pay Raphael his wages, plus a big bonus. Raphael, who has no use for money, instructs them to give thanks to God. The way to give thanks to God is to share their possessions with others. "Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving…"

We are reminded of the words of Jesus: "As often as you do it to the least of my brothers and sisters you do it to me." Generosity is the spirit of thanksgiving. If we are truly grateful, we will not hoard our possessions. Jesus criticizes the scribes for their selfish spirit, their desire to be served rather than serve others, thinking about what they could get rather than what they could share, especially with those in need. Jesus points to a poor woman at the treasury of the Temple. She offers two coins. She could have given one coin and kept the other one for her own needs. That sounds very reasonable and prudent. But she gives all the coins she had. What an example of generosity!

The two coins were an insignificant amount, yet her giving received special notice from God. We give because we can’t help ourselves; we’re grateful for all God has done, and we want to give, cheerfully. God will notice.

Proverbs 11:24 reminds us, "The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller."

 

Fr. Don Webber, C.P., is Provincial of Holy Cross Province and resides in Chicago.

Scripture:

Acts 25:13b-21
John 21:15-19

Reflection:

As we near the culmination of the Easter Season with the celebration of Pentecost this Sunday, our reading of the Gospel of John comes full circle. Just as Jesus began his public ministry in John’s Gospel with an invitation to "follow me," so this portion near the end of John’s Gospel again repeats the invitation of Jesus to all to "follow me."

At first, the invitation in John’s Gospel is a rather mysterious one because the disciples (and the reader) are not quite sure what that invitation really means. What does it mean to follow Jesus? What is the relationship of the disciple to the master? What does it cost and how do I have to change?

However, by the time we reach the end of the Gospel, the disciples (and the reader as well) know the answers to these pivotal questions. If you follow Jesus you will not only witness to the Kingdom of God in word and deed, but as a result you too will have to suffer shame, humiliation, calumny and lastly death. But that is not the end. The end is ultimately victory; the end is ultimately Life! 

To emphasize this truth, the dialogue that follows between Jesus and Peter is key. In a sense the dialogue is meant not just to be between Jesus and Peter but also, and perhaps more importantly, between Jesus and the reader.

As Peter previously denied his Lord three times, so Jesus asks Peter now to reaffirm his commitment to him three times. He asks Peter (and us): "Do you love me more than these?" Scholars continue to wonder what the "these" refers to…were they the other disciples? Were they Peter’s fishing boats–symbolic of his life as fisherman? Were they Peter’s family or friends? No matter. Peter makes clear in his three-fold response that he is now more than prepared to truly follow Jesus. Peter knows clearly the risk, the cost, and ultimately the surrender that Jesus is asking of him. As Jesus makes clear to him by way of metaphor, Peter no longer belongs to himself, but rather to God.

As we wait once more the Church’s celebration of the gift of the Spirit, let’s reflect on this Easter season and what it has meant in our lives. Are we any closer to Jesus? Are we more willing than we were 50 days ago to surrender our lives and our loves to Him and His Kingdom? What does it really mean to us to hear the voice of Jesus echo throughout the centuries…"Follow me."

 

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

Scripture:

Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
John 17: 20-26

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus prays to his Father to make us one with Him and with one another.  I think this may be one of the most compelling and awesome lines in scripture.  Just think about these words, "…that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me…"  It is mind boggling to think about…becoming one with God.  Jesus is not asking his Father to help us be like him, He is praying for us to be one with Him just as He is one with the Father!!!   

When various saints, like St. Paul of the Cross, had a mystical experience, they knew this intimacy – this oneness with God.  But that’s the saints – surely, this can’t apply to us ordinary folks!  And yet, that’s exactly what this reading is telling us – Jesus is praying that each of us have that experience.  And as if that weren’t enough then Jesus is praying for us to be one with each other in the same way.  All of us!  Even those who don’t agree with us.  Imagine!

There are in our lives, if we are lucky, maybe one or two people with whom we feel so united that we can say we are truly one with them – perhaps a spouse, a child or a parent – but it is beyond our capability to even imagine achieving this oneness with everyone.    And that’s the kicker – because when we reread this excerpt what we find is that this oneness is not ours to achieve.   This isn’t something we can make happen.  Jesus is praying to His Father to GIVE it to us.  It is a gift!  And the form the gift takes is God’s love…"the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."   We just have to accept the gift.  As we approach Pentecost, let us spend time praying with Jesus that we will be filled with the love that is the Holy Spirit and that we will be open to union with God and the embracing of one another – to love as God loves us.

 

Mary Lou Butler ([email protected]) is a former staff member and is now a member of the Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center Board, Sierra Madre, California. 

Scripture:

Acts 20:28-38
John 17:11b-19

Reflection:

"I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.  . . .  As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." (Jn 17:15; 18).

I have read today’s gospel over several times; it’s really a beautiful, compelling passage.  This reading tells of Jesus’ prayer to the Father shortly before his Passion and death.  What continues to resonate with me is how tenderly our Lord prays for the followers he will soon leave behind on earth.  All day, the words have played over and over in my head.  Protect them, he asks.  Set them apart from the world, he asks.  Make their joy complete, he asks.  Sanctify them, he asks.  Hours before Jesus is called to make the greatest sacrifice, his prayer is not for mercy on his own life.  Instead, he pleads for all Christians, past and present, "that they may be one."  So the question I can’t help asking myself is-so, how have we done so far?    

Jesus knew what he was going to.  Though he was walking to his death, eternal happiness and union with the Father would follow.  What he also knew was that evil would never give those remaining on earth a moment’s rest.  With what must have been a great deal of sadness, Jesus says, "I am no longer in the world, but these followers of mine are."  Hate, greed, envy, pride, fear, bigotry, jealousy.  These are the temptations that awaited Christians. These are the powerful evils that threatened to divide Christ’s followers, to separate us from each other. 

In case we had any doubts about the difficulty of leading a true Christian life, of proclaiming the gospel to those who have not heard it, our Lord is blunt: "I have given them your word, and the world has hated them."  This isn’t easy to hear.  The world hates us.  But just when you might want to throw in the towel-I mean, how can we fight the whole world?!?  Just when you might think it’s too hard to follow Christ, take note of the other part of that statement-I have given them your word. 

Not only have we been given this great gift, this gift of the truth, of salvation, of the word.  But, we have been given this gift by Christ himself.  Our Lord has put us in the world then to proclaim this truth.  He has set us apart from the world, but has kept us in the world for this reason.  Of course, that doesn’t mean we are all traveling around the world bringing those who don’t know of God’s word into his Church.  But, it does mean living a life that is true to that word.

So, let’s go back to Christ’s plea to the Father that we be "one."  Certainly, it sounds like we have enough problems with evil and the world conspiring together against our Lord’s message.  Have we at least remained unified in the mission?  I think, sadly, we all know the answer to that question.  So, I challenge myself and all of you to answer Jesus’ prayer.  Despite our differences, can we find our common ground?  Can we surrender our own need to be right in order to come together on that which we all agree?  Have we allowed all those evils of the world to drive a wedge between us and thereby achieve the goal of weakening us?  I mean, isn’t our most unifying factor the greatest and most powerful unifying factor there can be?  One word, Jesus. 

 

Marlo Serritella, [email protected] is on staff at the Holy Cross Province Development Office in Chicago.

Feasts of:
Venerable Bede, 
St. Gregory VII (Pope),
St. Mary Magdalene de Piazzi                                      

Scripture:

Acts 19:1-8
John 16:29-33

 

Reflection:

Several years ago I did an internship in spiritual direction.  This program required the participants to take three major workshops/conferences on spirituality outside the program.  One I took was on "Listening."  A couple of things I learned in this workshop is: 1.) If you do not know a person, or a person is extremely upset there is a certain way for you to respond.  Example #1. Someone is very angry and says "I have never been so angry in all my life."  Ordinarily, I would have been tempted to say:  "I am sorry to hear this.  I know exactly how you feel."  The better response would have been: "You have never been so angry in all your life?"  This invites the angry person to explain why s/he is so angry and explains it.  Thus, providing a cathartic moment to help that person process their anger and get over it.  Example #2.  A person says:  "This is the happiest day of my life, but I have never been so hurt."  I would probably have said something like:  "I am happy you are having a good day!"  I probably am avoiding the "bad news" so I select only the "good news."  The better response would be:  "This is the happiest day of your life, but you have never been so hurt?"  This avoids my making a choice in this dichotomous message and allows the speaker to explain the apparent contradiction, and allows him/her to integrate the conflict themselves. 

In John’s Gospel Jesus is speaking of the future, the disciples are concerned with the present.  Jesus tells the disciple He loves them.  The disciples speak of their knowledge of Jesus.  Jesus is speaking of his departure.   The disciples are speaking of His origin with God.  In other words, Jesus is preparing the disciples for His suffering, death and resurrection.  But the disciples do not want to hear about it so avoid listening to Jesus’ words.  Jesus is trying to tell the disciples.  Time is short:  in verse 25 He says:  "The hour is coming."  In verse 28 He says:  "The hour is coming, indeed it has come!"  Jesus promises the disciples that the relationship He and the Father shares, will be like the relationship He will share with his disciples.  He leaves them with these words of reassurance and hope. It is important for us to listen to each other. It is every bit as important the make sure we are listening accurately to God in our life.