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Daily Scripture, May 12, 2015

Scripture:

Reflection:

“Your right hand saves me, O Lord.”

In today’s first reading, there is a dramatic account of Paul’s and Silas’s experience in prison. Once more, they were being persecuted because of their relentless preaching of Jesus and Him Crucified. This time, the local authorities have them arrested, beaten and put into prison. They were not hardened criminals, yet they were put in maximum security, the inner most cell of the prison, with leg irons to secure them in their cell, and with armed guards outside their locked prison doors. Once they were secured in their cells, they began to pray and sing song of praise to their God.

The vast majority of us have never been arrested and put into prison. Yet, so many of us live as prisoners to our addictions, our personal histories, our emotions, our memories, and yes, to the bad choices we have made in our lives. This Scripture reading should challenge us to respond to the personal prisons we have created for ourselves in ways that can set us free.

So many times, we blame God for the terrible things that are happening in our lives or the lives of our loved ones. Because of this, some of us will give up on God and the ways of God. Thus, it is God’s fault that I am an alcoholic or that I abuse other people with my violent temper or my spiteful tongue or by the disrespect I show them. God has acted unjustly toward me and my loved ones, so why should I care?

If I don’t blame God for my prison, I blame others. It is their fault that I have turned out the way I am today. They abused me, they disrespected me or they violated my rights and freedoms. I have taken it upon myself to make them pay, even though it is destroying my very soul.

So many of us blame ourselves, our weaknesses and our human nature for the condition we find ourselves in, for the prisons we have created for ourselves. So, we give up on ourselves, allowing ourselves to waste away in our own misery.

Innocent though they were, Paul and Silas did not respond to their imprisonment in any of these ways. They knew the value and power of prayer. Prayer liberated them from prison. We note, however, that once their restraints were released and the prison doors were open, they did not run away, but stayed to make sure that those who were guarding them could be liberated as well. They ministered to the people who were guarding them in their prison. Real prayer brings about true liberation, true freedom. True prayer will not only liberate us, but call us to minister to those who are prisoners as well.

Fr. Clemente Barrón, C.P. is a member of Immaculate Conception Community in Chicago, Illinois.

Daily Scripture, April 17, 2015

Scripture:

Acts 5:34-42
John 6:1-15

Reflection:

The official religious leaders ordered the apostles to stop speaking in the name of Jesus. The apostles departed the Sanhedrin, the ancient Jewish court and the supreme religious body in the land of Israel.

“They did not stop teaching and proclaiming” the message of Jesus. So much for obedience!

Obedience is essential for any ordered society, civil or religious, a group of ten or a group of ten thousand. We cannot live without it. Theft, disregard for human rights and anarchy would ensue. We have been taught that obedience is a virtue and disobedience is a vice; Adam and Eve are put forth as examples of disobedient people; we know the consequences of their disobedience. Nevertheless, as kids, maybe even as adults, we like to be disobedient simply to be different, to assert our independence. This type of disobedience is not the disobedience of the apostles.

History shows us that disobedience can, at times, be a virtue and much different from a immature disobedience. Jesus was accused of disobedience by performing miracles on the Sabbath. Consider the refusal of the early Christian martyrs to worship the emperor or pagan gods; the decision to help fugitive slaves escape by the Underground Railroad; the risk people took to let Jews hide or escape from the Nazis. We are familiar with Gandhi’s campaign of disobedience in colonial India, and the lunch counter sit-ins and Freedom Rides of the 1960s in the United States. Martin Luther King espoused the notion of changing unjust laws and government policies through active but non-violent disobedience. The United States was founded on disobedient acts like the Boston Tea Party, the Continental Army and the Declaration of Independence. There are the examples of the people of Tunisia, Egypt and Syria, among some of the nations seeking freedom from unjust laws.

The apostles disobeyed the law and the religious leaders. They were on fire with the spirit of Jesus. They could not keep quiet even when threatened with physical punishment. Today, we can admire the apostles not only for their courage to take up leadership roles in the early Church, not only for their bold preaching, but also because they courageously discerned when it was time to be disobedient. They are examples of ordinary people willing to risk the consequences of being banished from their religious community, being ridiculed, jailed, punished and even put to death.

We are called to protest injustice and evil with means other than force. Protest can be through dialogue, boycotts or disobedience. Yes, we want to be good citizens of the state and faithful Church members, but there are situations that call for an act of mature disobedience as the apostles discerned when faced by the threats of the Sanhedrin officials.

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

Daily Scripture, April 15, 2015

Scripture:

Acts 5:17-26
John 3:16-21

Reflection:

More Than a Word: Love!

The opening verse of today’s Gospel has been boldly proclaimed by highway billboards and bleacher-folks of all types. “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son…” Though repeated often and in often creative ways, the message still “packs a punch”: God…does…love…us!! No if’s, and’s, or but’s about God’s Love.

In one sense, “love” is a word used so frequently that it has lost some of its force, its value: people love their children, their pets, a good meal, and Monday night football. Rooted in the reality of God, “Love” is a precious word that is to be used carefully and with meaning, never carelessly or casually. True love is backed up with commitment and action – as is found in the person of God: God’s love for us is real, not shallow, and it’s backed up with personal “testimony” in the life of Jesus himself.

Jesus’ love has been our focus the last days of Lent, the Triduum itself, and now the glorious 50 days of the Easter Season. Descriptive words for God’s love come to us these days in our praying the Scriptures and events in Jesus’ life: glorious, redemptive, enduring, suffering, generous, precious, sacrificial, joyful – to name a few. These descriptive words for God’s love are most welcome as we experience our share in Jesus’ Cross in our recent U.S. natural disasters in the Midwest and Southern states, in the ongoing conflicts in so many parts of the world – and in the commitment of married love by couples both simple and royal. “God so loved the world…that whoever believes…might have eternal life.”

On fire with God’s love in their lives, the early Apostles gladly suffered imprisonment and ridicule – and for many, even martyrdom – for spreading the Good News of Jesus. The same divine Love is true for us and through us as members of the Passionist family, living centuries later and in other parts of the world.

Today, we ponder God’s redemptive Love in Jesus – and we seek to best live that Love. May we be blessed as Easter People…living “billboards” and “bleacher-folks” alike.

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is the local leader of the Passionist community in Louisville, Kentucky.

Daily Scripture, March 28, 2015

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel reading, the Sanhedrin, shaken up by news that Jesus raised someone from the dead, and that more and more people believe in Him, decide that they need to get rid of Him. The high priest Caiaphas unwittingly prophesies how Jesus will save His people by saying to the other members, “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.”

The Sanhedrin acted out of fear. They were afraid that if all the people believed in Jesus that the Romans would intervene and take away everything. You could say that they embraced the death of Jesus instead of new life in Him, for fear of losing their old life as it was.

Are we hesitant to embrace fully new life in Christ out of fear of losing our old life in which we feel comfortable? That is not meant to be an easy question. To let Jesus into our hearts and live on a deeper level may bring a change we may not be ready to accept.

But if we believe in the One who lived, suffered and died, to set us free, and rose again to give us the promise of everlasting life, we can place our trust in Him that any change that may come from putting Him more and more at the center of our lives will be one that will be life-giving, instead of death-dealing. We can trust that embracing Jesus will not only bring us closer to Him, but even closer to the ones closest to us, and closer to the rest of the world.

As we come to the end of this Lenten season, may the prophecy of Ezekiel come to fulfillment in us: “My dwelling shall be with them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P. is on staff at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan.

Daily Scripture, March 25, 2015

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Scripture:

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10
Hebrews 10:4-10
Luke 1:26-38

Reflection:

When Mary proclaimed to the angel Gabriel, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word,” I couldn’t help but think how her life was irrevocably and unpredictably changed at that moment. As I read today’s Gospel (Luke 1:26-38) I wondered about the wave of fear and emotion that must have overcome her as she grappled with the consequences of her answer. How would she explain this to Joseph, her family, friends and community? How could she measure up to the responsibility of raising the Son of God? Who did Mary turn to in the moments after Gabriel’s departure? What were Mary’s prayers after the “yes?” I wondered if her emotions and prayers were much like that of any other expectant mother. I couldn’t help but think they were.

Even though I have prayed to Mary for intercession many times in my life, my connection to her grew strongest after learning of my own expectancy. I found myself asking for her guidance on how to overcome my fears of the uncertainty that lie ahead. I asked for her help in finding a deeper faith, I so desperately needed to find the peace of mind which had eluded me during pregnancy. I prayed for inspiration and guidance to help me provide my family with the same nurturing love she had showed hers. And I asked for her help in finding the courage needed to guide my child in a faith-filled life.

Through the Annunciation Mary accepted – her call. A call that must have been accompanied by much prayer and devotion; and a courage that has been a great source of strength and unity to so many. I can’t help but believe that Mary’s actions influence us, as we accept – our call, and put our complete trust in the Lord.

Angela Kwasinski is the Director of Donor Relations for the Holy Cross Province Development Office in Chicago, Illinois.

Daily Scripture, March 23, 2015

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

The Woman Caught in Adultery

I know a man who threw stones at himself. He was a merciless, legalistic judge. But towards others, especially his wife and two young, rambunctious daughters, he was gentle and patient and loving. He saw in them the face of Jesus, the face of love. Not so when he looked in the mirror. There he saw an ugly sinner whom no one, least of all himself, could forgive. He saw a judge clutching stones.

One evening, he was invited to join RCIA students at a “Dry Mass,” that is, not a celebration of the Sacrament, but rather an instructional version of it. Fr. Pat Brennan, C.P., led the class that evening at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center’s chapel. At one point, Fr. Pat shared the sad and tragic story of his older brother, a Marine, who was killed in the Vietnam War. When we celebrate the Mass, he said, we enter into the eternal now. “And at Communion I am as close to my brother as I can possibly be this side of heaven,” he said.

Fr. Pat’s reflection had a profound effect on the man who threw stones at himself because he remembered a man named David, whom he loved and missed, and still struggled with his death more than a year later. “Now, every time at Mass,” this man reflected, “I remember David and how he took me at face value, without pretense or judgment. I still love him for it. At Communion, I feel as close to David as I never had before since he died. But more than that, for the first time, Jesus went from an idea of someone who hated me for my sins, to a real person who died for me and who loves me in spite of my failings.”

In his letter to the Romans, Paul the Apostle tells us that “while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us.” True judgment, true mercy, true love.

The last time this man who threw stones at himself looked in the mirror, a moment of grace happened. The stone fell from his hand. He stood alone with Jesus who said to him: “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Daily Scripture, March 17, 2015

Scripture:

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12
John 5:1-16

Reflection:

Today’s scriptures reintroduce us to a couple of prophets, a man who needs to be healed, and a whole lot of water.

I’ve always thought that there must be something not quite right about this story of the man at the sheep pool. If he had been there for thirty-eight years did he seriously want to be healed? If a person was convinced the water was going to heal them, wouldn’t they do everything in their power to get in it? Personally, I would be pushing people around, formulating a plan, or at least making alliances. So when Jesus asks him, “do you want to be healed,” this is a highly accurate question. Thirty-eight years just seems a little too passive. Notice the man’s response to Jesus. He says there is no one to put him in the water once it begins to stir. He certainly doesn’t take any responsibility for himself and he is quick to blame. I’ve often wondered if perhaps he actually got to the edge, and in that moment of looking down into the water he realized he might drown if he were to hop in. It is highly likely that one of his friends or acquaintances did drown in the sheep pool. If this is the case and he gets his body to the edge of the water, I suspect as he looked down, his fear of dying overcame his desire to be healed and he began to back away.

This lent, I have listened to many people choosing to back away from opportunities of grace. I’ve watched people respond out of fear to situations that ultimately are good and healing. I’ve witnessed people choosing death over life. And the people who have been holding on to grudges from thirty-eight years ago are still making excuses.

I’ve also seen the opposite case. I’ve witnessed people praying to be washed in the river of grace. It is the prophet Ezekiel in the first reading who measures off spans by which the water keeps getting deeper and deeper. This water is flowing, pouring out of the temple, into the Kidron Valley, and out to the sea. Ezekiel’s description is an immense river of grace that overflows with abundance, and everything it engages gets transformed into bountiful life. Son-of-man, have you ever seen this before? Seen what before? Trees that give fruit every month with leaves and roots for medicine, or rivers of grace so abundant one can’t even swim to the other side?

Ezekiel’s description is so vivid that you can easily imagine yourself there. Can you see the beauty? Can you appreciate the moment and even smell the fragrance? The vitality of the colors is so healing and peaceful. Sitting in such splendor holds a timelessness. There’s no need to check the time or the appointment calendar. And we certainly wouldn’t need interruptions on our cell phones. We can enter these places of immense beauty and it is as though time has stopped. For a brief instant, we can taste eternity.

Several years ago when I was in retreat ministry, I went out for a hike and I discovered two beautiful waterfalls which merged into a pool. I sat by the pool watching the water sparkling and shimmering in the morning sun in this dynamic dance of movement, momentum, gravity, and creation. Not a single person passed by me in the hour and a half I sat there. And sadly, I found myself naming reasons I wouldn’t be coming back tomorrow morning. They were similar in content and tone to people who decline to make a weekend retreat, or are too busy to volunteer for a service organization, or are unwilling to fast for a good cause, or are incapable of sitting in a quiet chapel for a mere fifteen minutes.

As we are now in the fourth week of Lent, help us Lord to remove the excuses, and to appreciate your grace.

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is the pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Louisville, Kentucky.

Daily Scripture, March 14, 2015

Scripture:

Hosea 6:1-6
Luke 18:9-14

Reflection:

Today’s gospel of Luke passage is like a condensed version of Luke’s earlier and longer parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15, 11-32). In both there is the righteousness of one, the repentant humility of the other, and between them, the loving and correcting presence of the Father.

The “righteous” in these two parables are quick to point out their stellar performance (I fast..I tithe; and in the parable of the prodigal son, I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders), and they are merciless in decrying the infidelity of their neighbor (greedy, dishonest, adulterous; and this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes).

Over the both of them is the correcting and loving wisdom of God as manifested by the dramatic conclusion of the parable in today’s reading: “I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Similarly the Parable of the Prodigal Son echoes this divine mercy: “But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”

How has this divine mercy been meted out? More generously than even the petitioner could imagine! In today’s reading, the penitent tax-collector cannot even raise his eyes, he simply asks for God’s mercy; in return he is forgiven and exalted beyond measure. The father in Luke’s parable of the Prodigal Son does not even give his returning son a chance to finish his prepared “act of contrition”; he cuts off the son’s apology and declares a feast.

When reading today’s passage from Hosea, we see that God’s desire for fidelity is not fundamentally fulfilled in our actions, but is first of all an expression of our love, a measure of our heart: “for it is love that I desire, not sacrifice.”

Our actions can be deceiving, even to ourselves. We can number our accomplishments, all of our successes; we can measure ourselves against those who don’t perform at our level of accomplishment; and we can assume our greater goodness because we perform better in church than others.

But God looks at the heart, God longs for our hearts; God longs to bathe us in divine mercy. Isn’t this the underlying reason for Lent? Isn’t this a time to convert our hearts from a catalog of our good deeds into a prayer of longing for God and longing for God’s mercy?

“What did you give up for Lent this year?”

“I gave up the comparisons that make me feel superior to others.” “I gave up justifying my pride and self-love, in order to ask for God’s continuous mercy to me, a sinner.”

What did YOU give up for Lent this year?

Fr. Arthur Carrillo, C.P. is the director of the Office of Mission Effectiveness for Holy Cross Province. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

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