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Scripture:

James 3:1-10
Mark 9:2-13

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading for today, we hear the account in Mark’s Gospel of the Transfiguration of Jesus in the presence of the apostles Peter, James and John. These three get a glimpse of Jesus’ glorified self, and see the promise of what will happen after His Passion and death. In seeing Elijah and Moses, they are made aware of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. And in hearing the voice from the heavens say, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him,” they get an affirmation that not only is Jesus the Messiah, He is both divine and human. In other words, they get a glimpse of Jesus’ total self, as the Son of God, as the fulfillment of the Law, and as the One foretold by the prophets.

It is in faith that we can open ourselves to be transformed by God’s love in Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. And it is in faith that we can reveal God’s compassion and love in Jesus Christ to others. To show compassion and mercy in these times of division and hostility definitely takes trust in “evidence of things not seen,” but by the grace of God, it is being done all over the world, and it can be done by us!

May we live out our faith in Jesus Christ as instruments of God’s love, and work together for the transfiguration of the world.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Scripture:

1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34
Mark 8:1-10

Reflection:

Jesus tested his disciples.  For three days, the crowd of 4,000 had followed him, listening to his teaching.  But now they were in the wilderness and hungry.  So what was Jesus to do?  “If I send them away hungry, they will collapse on the way.”  Yet, all they have for so many are seven loaves.

But is Jesus testing his disciples solely on how to physically feed this hungry throng, or does he have more in mind?  The word “collapse” provides a clue.  That word is used elsewhere in the New Testament to mean “losing heart” or “getting discouraged in the face of trial.”

Could Jesus be challenging his disciples, coaxing them to see beyond the physical needs of people; to see, more importantly, the need for spiritual nourishment of those who, in following Jesus, may grow discouraged or weakened in the faith?  Will their easy solution be to send them away?  Or will the disciples, in faith, give their meager gift of bread to Jesus who can multiply it, enough to feed everyone?

In fact, Jesus takes the bread and gives thanks (eucharisteo).  Then he directs his disciples to distribute this eucharistic meal, making them his co-workers in feeding the hungry.  All ate, the gospel tells us, “and were satisfied.”  Indeed – with seven baskets left over.

Perhaps in testing them, Jesus gave his disciples a lesson in what will be their future pastoral ministry.  And he gave us a lesson, too, on the vital necessity of feeding of the Bread of Life, especially when we’ve traveled a long way and sometimes feel discouraged in the face of life’s trials.

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

Scripture:

2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13
Mark 5:1-20

Reflection:

Today’s Word gives us an opportunity to reflect on “God’s Providence.” Simply put, the same God who gave being to the world continues to govern its affairs, including yours and mine. When this reality of “providence” comes to mind, “obedience” is immediately associated. But may I suggest the word “creativity?” John Macquarrie sums it up well:

“Faith in providence asserts that creativity has a positive character…Creativity is not just a random creativity, or one that might be overcome by dissolution and annihilation, or even halted and held steady by these. Rather it is an ordered movement into fuller and richer kinds of being. Faith in providence asserts this definitive movement in the creation, an overcoming of deficiency and distortions and a fuller realizing of potentialities…” (Principles of Christian Theology, p. 219)

Yes, God’s Providence is evident in King David, whose family history is complicated, pathetic, sordid, brilliant and successful, yet burdened with blotches of adultery and homicide in the case of Bathsheba and Uriah. Now confronted with a son in revolt and seeking his life, David advises restraint (that the clansman related to Saul should not be executed for cursing David) and he attributes the situation to God’s Providence. He declares, “Let him alone and let him curse for the Lord has told me to. Perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curse he is uttering this day.” (2 Sam. 16:12)         God’s Providence shows itself in this “crazy” incident whereby Jesus encounters a demoniac, “man out of the tombs,” a “legion” of evil spirits inside of him. “No one could restrain him anymore, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountain he was always howling and bruising himself with stones.” (Mk. 5:5) Jesus meets this chaotic reality with patience and compassion, and the man ends up sitting calmly, fully clothed and in his right mind. But, evil looks for evil. Among the native Jewish Gerasene people, the Gentile influence had them earn a living in a manner that was against Jewish law, herding swine. “Legion” begs Jesus “not to send them out of the country.” So Jesus gave them permission, and the “unclean spirit came out and entered some 2000 swine who rushed into the sea and were drowned. Take a moment to ponder this whole scene, including Jesus sending the restored man back to his home territory and to the Decapolis to publicly announce what Jesus had done for him, and, Jesus being asked to leave the region, which he did.

Can I recommit in prayer today my trust and cooperation in the Will and guidance from God? St. Thomas More, shortly before his martyrdom, consoled his daughter; “Nothing can come but that that God wills. And I make me very sure that whatsoever that be, seem it never so bad in sight, it shall indeed be the best.” (The Correspondence of Sir Thomas More, Ed. Elizabeth F. Rogers)

Fr. Alex Steinmiller, C.P., is a member of the Passionist Community in Detroit, Michigan.

Monday of the Third Week of Advent 

Scripture:

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a
Matthew 21:23-27

Reflection:

Spirit-filled Balaam cries out his oracle and portrays for us the image of a great person called forth to speak on behalf of the Lord:

…One whose eye is true, the utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled.

Balaam sees Israel in its most pure state, and praises it, likening its tents and encampments to gardens beside a stream, like cedars that were planted by the Lord himself.  You know something amazing is about to flow from the mouth of this servant of the Lord!  And then he says it:  “I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near:  A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel.”  Imagine, Balaam looks upon the stronghold of Israel but announces the coming of a messiah who comes not from the encampments but a child to be born in a stable!

But we see him!  We see this “star advancing from Jacob”, this “staff rising from Israel” for it is Jesus, the Lord.  We see him in the temple area preaching and teaching with great authority.  But the chief priests and the elders do not see what Balaam saw; they do not see what we now see.  They wonder at his authority instead of the truth of his words.  Their eyes are veiled and not clear.  They are lost in their own power!

How fitting that these days we await the coming of the Lord, a coming that is pure and simple, not veiled with power and authority, but in the unexpected and amazing birth of a little child.  Is this not how the Lord works in our lives?  He catches our attention by drawing us to a newborn babe, vulnerable and innocent, carefully avoiding the mighty and powerful rulers and kings!

Fr. Pat Brennan, CP is the director of St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

Colossians 1:9-14
Luke 5:1-11

Reflection:

Let’s step back a few verses where Luke begins to set the stage for today’s gospel. In the previous ten verses Jesus has been in the village of Capernaum teaching and healing everyone who was brought to him.  Moreover, he has cast out demons who reveal his true identity, crying out “You are the Son of God!” (4:34 & 4:41).   Luke says the crowd went out to pursue Jesus, “and when they found him they tried to keep him from leaving them” (4:42).  This is completely understandable.  Isn’t it highly desirable to keep the miracle worker in town?  These are people who have an agenda.  So the stage is set for today’s gospel.

The scene unfolds:  Two boats, a few tired and hungry fishermen, a large crowd pursuing Jesus who are now pressing in upon him.  Take notice, Jesus is standing in the midst of this mass of humanity.   The men who have been fishing have an agenda too.  Luke says they are there washing their nets, indicating they are done for the day.  It certainly hasn’t been a good day.    Simon later tells Jesus, “We have been hard at it all night long and have caught nothing” It’s clear, Simon is tired, hungry, and he doesn’t have anything to take home for his family.  When I am tired and hungry I become irritable.  Realizing I project that onto Simon, the situation gets worse. When I am tired, hungry, irritable, and I just want to go home, but someone commandeers my vehicle and I can’t leave, I become ANGRY!    Why would Simon and his companions be any different?   I suspect their initial plan was to finish washing their nets and return home.  Instead this man, who is at the center of these people’s attention, commandeers Simon’s boat and now he has to stick around and listen to this Galilean talk.   As he listens to him, Simon doesn’t understand who it is who is in his boat.  The Evangelist has Simon address Jesus as Master.   It’s in listening to Jesus’ words that somehow captivate Simon to act where it really doesn’t make logical sense.  He knows there’s no fish in this area. He has fished the area for hours and knows that it is a waste of time.  Yet all these people are before him; he is on stage before this crowd.  Yes, there is some social pressure as well.  Amazingly, it is in this moment of working with the Lord,  Simon will be forever changed. His vision shifts; he now sees who is the one in his boat.  His posture changes; he drops to his knees in an act of submission. His title for Jesus changes; “Lord”.   Before him is the sacredness, the holiness and the awesomeness of the divine.   Notice too, even when Simon sees his unworthiness, Jesus NEVER judges him.  He simply invites him into a new task and a whole new life.  And the Evangelist goes so far as to immediately give him a new name.  He is now Simon Peter.

For some of us, conversion starts as Jesus has to intercept our personal agendas.  And for some of us who are more stubborn, Jesus has to literally wear us down.  So many times peoples’ conversion stories are narratives of God’s persistence and patience up against our human limitations and our personal agendas.    What is your conversion story?  What has Jesus had to do to get your attention?

Have you noticed how Jesus entices us?  He frequently steps in where a person already has plans,  inviting a person to change their plans.   The enticement leads to intrigue and can frequently lead to  a shift in our agenda, doing something we would NEVER picture ourselves doing previously.  With the mind and heart enlightened, directly in front of us, in a profound moment of recognition, is CHRIST!!!   Paradoxically, in the end, we leave EVERYTHING behind and follow.  We are eternally different.

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is the local superior of St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.