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Scripture:

1 Corinthians 10:14-22
Luke 6:43-49

Reflection:

Today’s Gospel is taken from the last two sections of Luke’s Sermon on the Plain. We have the next installment of "how to" live life in-Christ with the analogy of trees and fruit. Good fruit, bad fruit, and those unable to produce other than what they were made to produce; you cannot gather grapes from brambles. This is in reference to an Old Testament notion addressing false prophets who could not produce good fruit (Jeremiah 23:9ff). For Luke, this was no less true in the early Christian community; and true for us today.

The parable of the two houses demonstrates the difference. A true prophet was one who does three things in sequence: comes to God, listens to his word, and acts on it. Only then can we produce good from our store of goodness. Unless we dig deeply our foundation in-God -intentionally, and with care-we will remain weak in our faith, we will not produce good fruit nor be properly equipped when challenges come our way.

Paul is teaching on the same principle. He is revisiting the question of eating meat sacrificed to idols; there are two opinions on this practice. Those who believe Jesus Christ, and see no issue with eating meat sacrificed to a non-god; and those who are scandalized by this action because of what it says-actions complicit with worshipping idols. Paul asks sensible people to reflect-does this action build up the body of Christ or tear it down? We who share the body and blood of Christ are one in him and each other. As I partake of the one loaf, I am called to be mindful of my actions and how that affects the community of which I am one part.

 

Jean Bowler is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, and a member of the Office of Mission Effectiveness Board of Holy Cross Province.

The Most Holy Name of Mary

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22b-27
Luke 6:39-42

Reflection:

Today the Church celebrates the "Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary." Mary’s name called out by the Angel Gabriel, a name touched by God to do God’s Will so that salvation and hope would finally enter into the world’s history. The most holy name is iconic. Put your name into hers, for we are begotten by the same Spirit that conceived her. Just be "in Mary" like before an icon, and allow her to speak to you. And in that name, (I borrow here from a song entitled "Peace" sung by Honey In the Rock) "I write your name on every common object, on the top flame of the fire / On my friend’s forehead, on each body I love / On every outstretched hand, on absence without loving / On loneliness behind bars, on the stairway to heaven / On health won back, on danger passed, on baseless hope / I write your name/ And by the weight of one word I start my love all over again / I was born to know you and call you by name / Peace…" And, pray, "be it done according to Your Will, today."

Along with entering into the iconic name, Mary, I dwell upon Jesus’ observation that "a disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher." Yes, to be like Christ. I want to know, love and serve Christ. I want to be like him. Remember when he told us the he was going to the Father, and that after his departure we would discover ourselves to be with his Spirit? Due to our Baptism and the Pentecost event, the Spirit, like little tongues of flame, disappeared inside us to be with us through eternity. Just like the Risen Jesus vanished into the two disciples who had been pouring out their souls to Christ in the wake of the apparent tragedy – His death on the cross. So where are the signs of that Spirit among us? We get a hint to the answer when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper. Afterwards he said, "You call me Lord and Master and rightly so, I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you must wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you (John 13:14-15) It begins with a self-examination of our ability to surrender, to copy and to serve as a "fully qualified disciple." To whom am I at one’s service today? Not to worry what I will say or do, the flame is within.

 

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

 

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Luke 6:27-38

Reflection:

The heated argument within the Corinthian community some 2,000 years ago – whether to eat meat offered to idols – is not exactly a burning issue of our day.  The only real debate we face is whether we want chicken, steak or fish for dinner. We may ask who at the table is vegetarian, who’s the vegan?  Or even, who’s ready to eat anything, even that virtual foodstuff called spam?  Do our dietary circumstances make Paul’s corrective exhortation to the Corinthian community irrelevant for us?  A closer examination of this text may suggest that we too should heed the Apostle Paul.

At issue for the community living in the sometimes wild and wooly seaport city of Corinth was whether it was acceptable for Christians to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols.  This question was creating ugly friction and division.

Paul responded to the issue in two ways.  First, he said that a piece of meat is a just piece of meat.  It makes no difference whether it was offered to some false god in a pagan temple.  After all, these false gods don’t exist.  The foolishness of the pagan cult doesn’t taint the meat.  It’s just meat.

But, Paul hastens to add his second point.  There may be some in the community who were former pagans and who grew up sacrificing to the idols.  For them to now eat the same meat that was offered to the idols is a scandal, even immoral.  It may not actually be wrong, Paul writes, but for some it feels very wrong.

Therefore, Paul concludes, it is technically acceptable to eat this meat, but if it causes scandal, if it harms the spiritual health of others, then Christians have the responsibility of love for one another to forego eating that meat.  It isn’t a matter of who’s right and who’s wrong.  If you have to choose between being right and being loving, then be loving. That is the heart of the gospel.

In so many ways, we Christians remain a conflicted and, all too often, a self-righteous bunch. For example, which Catholic newspaper or magazine is the "right" one to read?  Which side does one stands regarding the proper role and ministry of nuns in United States – the nuns or the bishops?  Who’s too liberal, who’s too conservative?  And the list goes on.  How does Paul respond?  He goes after all of us, all sides of the liturgical debate, the worship debate, and every other debate.  "You’re all puffed up!" he says to us.  Human knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

St. Augustine in succinct language urged us to heed Paul: "In the essentials, unity. In the non-essentials, freedom.  In all things, charity."

 

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

 

Feast of Saint Peter Claver

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Luke 6:12-19

 

 

Reflection:

God’s Calling, Our Vocations

Our gospel today is the prelude to Luke’s version of the Beatitudes. There is a large crowd of disciples and a multitude of the people around Jesus. He cures, expels demons and then will begin to teach.

Our prayer might tend in the direction of vocations today. Jesus calls the Apostles. They are unformed and taken from the group of disciples who are with him. They receive no details of the work they will do. Later Jesus will send them forth to share in his ministry,  and after his death, in the Acts of the Apostles, we will see them picking up the prophetic mantel of Jesus.

Today we also celebrate St. Peter Claver. A Jesuit whose vocation to go to the missions was awakened by another Jesuit saint, Alphonso Rodríguez. Peter would work for forty years among slaves, meeting their ships as they arrived in Cartagena, Columbia in the 1600’s. He described his vocation as ‘the slave of the slaves’. He did what he could in giving human comfort to the frightened and sick who would be sent to plantations or mines. He would do what he could for them in the new harsh world in which they found themselves. It would seem Peter must have live with great frustration unable to right the wrongs inflicted upon the unfortunate slaves. He was incapacitated and seemingly forgotten the last five years of his life due to illness, yet strangely at his death, Cartagena erupted in celebration for his goodness and his work of charity. How much of a difference did Peter make in the hearts of slave owners during his life and after his death?

There is also before us the vocation of teacher. Power goes forth from Jesus, and the stage is now set for him to teach. Our schools are open, the new school year has begun. I offered a prayer when the teachers in our school came their first day. There were four new teachers and I could feel their nervousness. Everything was new. I imagined the teachers being dropped off by their moms and being gently pushed into the school and being told to go do their work! We all teach, but those who have that vocation with a capital ‘V’, have an awesome gift. Imparting important knowledge, yes; sowing seeds they will not see blossom, yes; and entering into dialogue where they become as vulnerable as the students they teach in their sharing.

How impossible to explain the vocation of an Apostle, a Peter Claver or a teacher. The Apostles would be the first to say they were involved in a mystery beyond their choosing. How did Peter Claver bring joy to the sorrowful and go to bed with hope each night? Do teachers their God-given gift of wanting to fill others with the gifts they have to offer in many diverse ways?

Maybe none of these vocations are ones you feel that you have. But what are yours? Where is your calling, the giving that makes you feel more full, the hard work that gives you energy? We can say that Jesus was ‘sent’ and was ‘called’, that he had a Divine Vocation. Today give thought to your vocations, their calling and sending, and how with your gifts God calls you, and sends you to bear his love through them to others. 

 

Fr. William Murphy, CP is the pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Jamaica, New York.

 

 

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 7:25-31
Luke 6:20-26

Reflection:

Paul makes an interesting assertion in his first letter to the Corinthians. After advising people not to marry if they are currently single, he says, "If you marry, however, you do not sin, nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries; but such people will experience affliction in their earthly life, and I would like to spare you that." When I read that passage, I almost laughed out loud.

Having been married for decades, I can attest to the fact that marriage brings affliction! Despite the incredible joys, growth, and blessings that accompany a good marriage, it is extremely challenging and soul-stretching to live out the most intimate relationship possible on this earth, and to do so with another human being who is just as imperfect as I am.

With Paul absolutely convinced that the world was imminently coming to an end, he knew a marriage relationship would not have time to evolve and grow. More importantly, he could see the struggle of married people to balance their devotion to spouse and family with the crucial work of preaching the Gospel. Especially since his single-hearted focus was spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, he didn’t understand why anyone would want to split their devotion instead of wholeheartedly pouring out their lives in preaching and converting, saving as many souls as possible in the precious little time left.  

I hear echoes of Paul in discussions about whether to make the discipline of priestly celibacy optional and allow a married priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church. Opponents assert that married priests would be divided in their loyalties rather than singularly devoted to ministering to the flock. That is necessarily true, and thus there will always be a need in the Church for celibate ministers, whether priesthood requires mandatory celibacy or not. Proponents say that the difficult task of deeply loving another in a committed relationship is in itself a way of preaching the Gospel, and provides the growth and experience necessary to better serve the flock. They also point out that if married priests were allowed, we’d have a lot more priests to share the work, therefore allowing for family time as well. The arguments offered on each side have valid points to make.

Paul is careful to clarify that his teaching on staying single is strictly his own opinion, as he has no "word" from God about it, and he readily allows for his followers to be married if they feel called to that life. In fact, Saint Peter was married, as were many disciples, priests, bishops, deacons, and ministers up through the first millennium of the Church.

Perhaps in the same way as Paul, we need to be open as a Church to seriously discussing the issue of priestly celibacy, prayerfully opening our hearts and minds to see where the Spirit is leading. We need to listen to the experience of singles and marrieds, religious brothers and sisters, deacons, priests and monks, lay ministers, and anyone whose life experience can contribute wisdom to the discussion. It would be interesting, for instance, to discover how the experiences of intentional community in orders like the Congregation of the Passion, who consciously become brothers and live a deeply communal lifestyle, distract from and/or feed their ministry.

That kind of broad-ranging exploration could go a long way in helping the Church discern the best discipline (or combination of disciplines) for priests. The goal is to find a resolution that, though it may be extremely difficult, will best witness to the Gospel, embody the God of love, and effectively draw people to faith. I don’t know what that resolution will be, but I do believe the hour has come to have the discussion. Regardless of the time we have left on this earth, we want to follow the Spirit and live in ways that help us wholeheartedly preach the good news of Jesus Christ.

 

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/.

Scripture:

Ezekiel 33:7-9
Romans 13:8-10
Matthew 18:15-20

Reflection:

I’ll never forget Edwina Gately. I met her at "Lady’s Theology" in the 80’s –they let people like me come in those days despite my gender.  Edwina told a story about a particularly vexing day she had. On her way home she prayed that God would show Himself to her and help her make sense of her crazy mixed up world. As she neared her home she decided to stop in the corner tavern and have a drink. Not being a frequent visitor there, she figured no one would know her, and she’d be able to get a nice quiet drink and some time by herself. She took a chair at the bar, ordered a drink and then sat quietly fretting over her day.

Soon an old street person who smelled musty, wore raggedy clothes and was trembling came in and sat down right next to her. She asked Edwina if she would please buy her a glass of beer. If she would, the raggedy old homeless person promised to be on her way and not bother her any more. Edwina bought her a drink and asked her to stay awhile and talk. They did, but not for long. The homeless lady insisted she had to be one her way. Edwina told us how she realized later the visitor with whom she just shared a drink had answered her prayer.

I wonder how many times I miss God in my day-to-day living? I wonder further, if I will ever have to consciously stop reminding myself of Jesus’ promise in today’s scripture passage and just live my life as a person who truly believes that:  "Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am with them."

 

Dan O’Donnell is a Passionist Partner and a longtime friend of the Passionists.  He lives in Chicago.  

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 4: 6b-15
Luke 6: 1-5

Reflection:

In England the town crier publicly announced information from the monarch. Sometimes the news was not good, like; taxes will be raised starting next month. People became irate and vented their anger on the crier. The monarch had to protect his messenger and so established a law that harming the town crier was analogous to committing treason. Today, we say, "Don’t shoot the messenger!"

The people of Corinth weren’t actually shooting the messengers; the Corinthians were heartlessly judging them. Some thought Apollos was the best teacher and leader. Others believed the best messenger was Paul. The members of each group in the church at Corinth were sure that they were very good Christians, had the best leader and were unquestionably better than the people in the other group.

Paul intervenes, not for the sake of one group or another, but for the sake of the whole Christian community in Corinth. He tells them that if they are to grow as a Christian community, they will have to learn to humble themselves. Their present behavior was arrogant. In trying to compare one group against another, a spiritual "one-upmanship," they were in fact headed to a spiritual death rather than the joy and life that Jesus promised his followers. Paul instructs them, like a parent warning a child about dangerous behavior, that they should place their attention on the message (God’s word) and not on the messenger. If we humble ourselves and keep our eyes on the Word, we will experience a greater unity and a life rich in joy.

We all need to be on guard against religious arrogance, thinking ourselves spiritually better, smarter or stronger than others. We can become puffed up with ourselves, like the Pharisees in the Gospel passage. We are a church of flawed people, all of us, even church leaders and pastors. Paul would remind us today to keep our eye on the message (Jesus Christ) and not on the messenger. We belong to the Church not because of a popular pastor or famous preacher or celebrated religious educator, but because Jesus Christ himself has loved and called us into God’s Kingdom to serve one another.

 

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

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Luke 5:33-39

Reflection:

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians excites me today.  He says, "Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God."  I have had numerous conversations about being servants, but today I find myself entertaining what it means to be a steward of the mystery of God.  Paul adds that in order to be a good steward, you must be found trustworthy.  Thus, when the Divine One finds us trustworthy, we are not only given understanding of the mysteries of God, but we are entrusted to be stewards of these mysteries.  Perhaps it is where I am right now in my life but I find a lot of joy in this mystery and there seems to be a perpetual discovery of the mystery.  I find it is complex while still being quite simple, much like the beauty of a single flower held against the background of the splendor of creation. 

The baptisms we had at the parish last weekend are a perfect example of being stewards of the mystery of God.   Here at St. Agnes we have a heated baptismal font which each baby is immersed in.   Last Sunday morning, when I baptized the first child, all the young children who had gathered around the font let out in unison an audible, "Ahhhh".  It wasn’t planned, nor was it staged.  For them it was an expression which came from deep within them as they reacted to this mystery.  They saw it before them and in unison; they expressed their reaction to the goodness of what they had just witnessed.  The children got it, while many of the adults were thinking about something other than a baby being baptized into the mystery of God.   I turned and gave the child back to his mother.  I then received four month old Jack from his father. I held Jack up looking him straight in the eyes and asked him if he was ready, knowing he couldn’t speak in an audible voice.  He just stared at me straight in the eyes.  He never once squirmed nor did he display any fear.   Three times he went into the water and three times I lifted him out and he never once broke eye contact with me.   His eyes and my eyes were locked on to each other and he displayed incredible trust. 

The image of a baby floating in the immensity of the font so beautifully reveals the first sacrament of initiation.  For God’s grace is so immense and God’s generosity so vast!  We are simply invited to float in it, and to know the truth of the psalmist, The Lord upholds my life.  Each baby of course has their own personality, and each enters and leaves the baptismal waters in their own unique way.  Some may be fearful and resist it from the beginning.  Many will be scared when they go in but the warm water relaxes them and they are quite content in the water.  Some cry only when I lift them out.  And then there are babies like Jack, who without words say, "I’m not sure what any of this means, but I’m trusting here".  How remarkably this parallels the way we as adults respond to God’s call.  Some spend their life fighting it.  Others relax with the process and find satisfaction in the mystery.  And some, like Jack, just really trust God, but their eyes are fixed on something beyond.  Then there is no place for fear.  Watching Jack float in the large font changed my understanding of baptism.  Floating in the mystery of God who upholds my life and knowing that all those who have gathered around support me, helps solidify a truth about trust.  Yes indeed, I can float in this mystery of God’s grace.   Undeniably, as Paul writes, "we are stewards of the mysteries of God".

 

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