wpengine

Scripture:

Acts 18:9-18
John 16:20-23

Reflection:

I remember the loss of control I felt when I was pregnant. This little life governed every aspect of my existence.  My belly stretched to unbelievable proportions, and I moved, slept, ate, drank, and lived differently, surrendering every aspect of my being. During the birth process itself I aligned my breathing, position, and will to a force that was beyond me. The more I tried to fight the process, slow it down, or wrest in into submission, the more it hurt. At times I wondered whether I could survive, but what kept me going was the realization that my body was giving birth to new life.

Of course, the surrender did not end with that joyous birth. An infant has a way of taking over, and I could never return to the "normal" ways I knew before. My schedule, relationships, priorities, marriage, and social network were never the same again.

As I look back now from the vantage point of my empty nest, I realize how much pain I have forgotten – from the pregnancy, the birth, and the decades-long process of raising three amazing young men. Though they also caused more grey hairs than I can count, the joy of parenting them has far outweighed any pain I endured.

What does all this have to do with faith?

God is calling me to continually give birth to new life. I have responded in many ways, served and sacrificed, and done good work in God’s name.  Yet I know in my heart that I have not completely surrendered.  I respond with "OK God, but…." and then I list all my conditions. I want to choose what I give birth to. I want to control the process, which needs to be convenient and fit into my chosen schedule. I want to make sure it doesn’t hurt too much, and I don’t want it to be risky, especially if I have to give up something to get there. I don’t want to be afraid. I want to cling to my favored sources of security. I don’t want to surrender too completely, and certainly not body, mind, and soul. In other words, I refuse God the very things that I know from intimate knowledge are required to give birth. To bring fullness of life, God needs more.

Unfortunately, surrendering to God is not a one-time decision like becoming pregnant, when I could not take a day off, allow my body to change only in certain ways, or be half-pregnant. With God, it is a continual decision that I need to reaffirm over and over again, and it is too easy to stop at a comfortable level of discipleship. Can I allow myself to truly be pregnant, centering my life totally around God and yielding my whole being?  Can I trust the process if I am not in control? Am I willing to endure whatever pain may come, believing that the resulting new life will be worth it?

It is such a struggle. I go back and forth, sometimes relaxing my grasp and sometimes clinging with all my might. Even the assurance that new, greater, and more authentic life will follow can seem like insufficient motivation to plunge in and surrender.

I don’t know if it will ever be easy, but I’ll keep trying. Perhaps one day I will be able to say "I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word."  Then truly God’s life will be born in me.

 

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:

Acts 16:22-34
John 16:5-11

Reflection:

As children we always had a pet in the house: dogs, cats and for a while even an aquarium filled with exotic fish.  I’ll never forget the baby rabbits my older brother snuck into the house without my mother’s knowledge. When she found one cowering underneath the kitchen table one morning, she ran upstairs, started packing and announced to us when we came home for lunch that she was taking our younger sister and moving out to our country home. She wouldn’t be back ‘til we ridded the house of this new infestation of mice. Our country home while nice, was very primitive. It had no running water or electricity. Surely we knew she meant business. While she never made the move, I think my older brother learned his lesson and hasn’t brought another pet into our or his home since.

When you bring a pet into your home you commit to feeding, walking, playing with and sometimes taking them to the vet when they get sick or hurt. I spent most of my adult life without a pet and just a couple years back relented and took in a stray cat I found shivering on my back porch. She looked hungry and scraggly. What could I do? Since then she has brought much joy to my home and in many respects made my house a home.

The jailer in today’s first reading eventually invites Paul and Silas into his home, bathes their wounds and feeds them. Not only does he find new life, but so do his family and whole household. I wonder how many prisoners, like homeless people, addicts, those with mental illnesses, I have locked up, keeping them at a safe distance from me? I wonder if I would find new life if I invited them into my world?

 

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

 

Scripture:

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23
John 14:23-29

 

 

 

Reflection:

Jesus Keeps His Promises

We all have friends.  We have people in our lives whom we love, respect, count on, challenge and are challenged by them in return.  It is hard for us to say goodbye to a good friend who is moving away, a son/daughter going away to college 400 miles away, a spouse called to active duty in Afghanistan, or a best friend who dies.  We always do the ‘promise’ thing, "I’ll write you often, maybe I will visit in a couple months when you get settled, let’s keep in touch on Facebook, etc."  It’s hard to see someone we care about take leave from us.

Jesus and his friends were no different than us.  Jesus was well aware of the fact that there would come a time when they would have to say goodbye.  The apostles, like many of us, knew deep down that this was going to happen, but they didn’t really understand it and tried not to dwell on it.  Jesus began to prepare them for his departure as early as the last supper.  When it came right down to it, they were utterly devastated at the loss of their messiah, teacher and friend.

Jesus promised all of us that he would never leave us alone, he promised to send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit who ‘will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.’  His message is a simple one, it calls us to be peaceful in mind and heart, to love as he loves and to trust in the promises he has made to us.  Life is messy and Jesus never said it would be easy to be his disciples.  What he did promise was that he would not leave us to do it all by ourselves.

In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles we find further testimony and hope that Jesus was with the early church leaders as they endured their share of growing pains and chaos.  The church of today continues to experience some of those same growing pains.  Those who have gone before us in faith give us hope that our resurrected Jesus is still leading us, loving us, challenging us, but most importantly, holding true to his promise by walking the journey with us.

Jesus has risen just as he promised!  May we continue to walk together in faith as resurrection people!

 

Teresa Secord is the Pastoral Associate at St Agnes Parish in Louisville, Kentucky.

 

The Feast of Ss. Philip and James, Apostles

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 15:1-8
John 14:6-14

 

 

Reflection:

The Word of Life

Each day, as we reflect upon the Word of God, how do we actually create the space for prayer? I think it is good once in awhile to step back and just look at what Kind of space I am creating to be receptive to God’s Word and God’s Will. Basically, we are talking about reading the prophetic messages of God’s spokespersons, psalmists’ inspirations from following God, accounts of the early Church (the Acts), letters from Paul and other apostles, and Jesus’ words and activities.  So I get settled in a place, (know how much time I have), offer some expression of gratitude to God, take some deep breaths, accept the feelings and thoughts that are flowing though me, and then, bracket it all as best I can to concentrate on the Word of the day. "To what Lord do you want me to pay attention?" The fact in 1 Cor. 15  I am being saved?   Am I open to the "appearance of Christ" today, as is described in various ways in the same reading? Do I believe when Jesus says, "the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father." So, for what am I asking Jesus, and am I open to "the answer to my prayer?" And, finally, understanding "that the Father may be glorified in the Son."  What is "Glory?" When someone is in their "glory" their wishes, desires, hopes and plans have been fulfilled. You may be in your glory because you are a new grandparent, you got the last child through college or married off to someone, or, your favorite sports team has won it all. The Father /God is in glory when THE Plan to transform the world, one person at a time is a happening, through our prayer and intentional works. That is "thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Give "glory to God," by carrying out his Will. This prayer method can help.

 

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

Scripture:

Acts 15:7-21
John 15:9-11

Reflection:

In today’s reading from Acts, Peter and James argue forcefully for the inclusion of Gentiles without laying on them the demands of Judaism. They contend that God is acting in and through the Gentiles, showering gifts upon them and obviously accepting them as they are. If, then, we exclude and judge them, or deny their participation in the community, we deny God and thwart the good God is working to do.

Take that message into the Gospel, in which Jesus says something that can be read as exclusionary – "If you keep my commandments you remain in my love". Does that mean, as some would suggest, that only those who obey the commands of the Church remain in the love of God? Apparently, the Church does not read it that way, or the lectionary would not connect this Gospel to the pericope from Acts. Instead, Jesus’ statement is thoroughly inclusive. If we obey Jesus’ commandments – which ultimately we do by radically loving God and each other – then by definition we remain in God’s love because we are literally practicing and living it. We are embodying the essence of God and continuing the work of Christ in the world.

Ultimately, then, the challenge of these scriptures is to see the ways in which we exclude others, especially using stricter criteria than God would apply or without first looking to see how God is already working in their lives. We need to see where we fail to radically love, especially those outside our traditional faith circle or who disagree with us, and those cast out or on the margins. We need to change our hearts so we truly live in the passionate, forgiving, unconditional, self-sacrificial, and expansive love of Christ.

We have so far to go to reach that ideal! I see it in my graduate class. Some students are from other parts of the world, raised with entirely different cultural perspectives. Some are "traditional-age" (in their 20’s) while others are "second-career" ministers in their 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. There are Catholics (both strict traditionalists and those who practice faithful dissent), Protestants (both mainline and evangelical), and other Christian denominations. There are males and females, straight and gay. Some are ordained; others are members of the laity. It is a stew of faith-seekers called to be instruments of Christ in ministry with persons who are sick, dying, or grieving.

Given this diverse make-up, people sometimes ask how we can meet for hours at a time in the same room, much less examine the issues in a way that allows doubts, differing beliefs, and exploration that leads to more profound faith. It is a challenge! Yet with the wisdom of Peter and Jesus, I see that God is working in each student, showering gifts on them and drawing them ever deeper into discipleship. My job is to radically love, to treat each person with utmost respect and dignity while refusing the urge to judge or condemn. I need to facilitate, not obstruct, what God is working in them.

Perhaps the most challenging thing is to open my own heart with a sincere belief that God may be trying very hard to teach me something through these particular students. After all, I expect the same from them – that they will open their hearts to hear the knowledge, perspectives, and experiences I offer, allowing God to stretch and grow them in ways they never expected. It ends up being an incredible adventure every time. Our God is a God of inclusion and surprise!

Can I practice that same respect and openness on the street, in the pew, and in all other aspects of my life? I wish I were better at doing so. My students serve as a continual reminder, but it is ever so much harder to do it outside the classroom. I pray for the grace to follow the model of radical, inclusive love set by Jesus and the apostles, and to act, breathe, and live the love of God so that my joy and God’s may be complete.

 

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/.

Memorial for St. Joseph the Worker                                 

Scripture:     

Genesis 1:26-2:3
Matthew 13:54-58  

 

  

Reflection:

In 1955 Pope Pius XII proclaimed May 1^st as the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.  Pius wanted to present on this day a true patron and model for all laborers throughout the world.  He chose a saint beloved to all Christians, the head of the Holy Family, their protector and provider. And although March 19 is the primary feast of St. Joseph, we may now celebrate him also in our liturgy of today – St. Joseph the Worker, St. Joseph the Carpenter, St. Joseph the Father of the Family.

The preface for the Eucharistic Prayer says it all: "It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, and on the commemoration of Saint Joseph to give you fitting praise, to glorify and bless you.

For this just man was given by you
as spouse to the Virgin Mother of God
and set as a wise and faithful servant
in charge of your household
to watch like a father over your Only Begotten Son,
who was conceived by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit,
Our Lord Jesus Christ."

The gospel passage from Matthew makes clear that Joseph was a carpenter, an ordinary laborer in the village of Nazareth.  His townspeople were not about to grant that his son could be in any way better than they.  But there is not much written in the Scripture about St. Joseph.  We must go to the infancy narratives in Matthew and in Luke, to gather the   little we have: – the story of the betrothal, the story of the birth in Bethlehem and the presentation in the temple, of the flight into Egypt, of their return when Herod was dead, and finally the finding of the boy Jesus in the temple.  We are not told of the life of Jesus the teenager growing into manhood.  We are not even told of Joseph’s death. 

But this very lack can become for us a great source of prayer.  We can go to Joseph at home in Nazareth in our meditation.  We can ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, to take us in our imagination to the house and shop at Nazareth.  We can visit there in imaginative contemplation, letting ourselves be just as we are, letting Mary welcome us and take us out to Joseph in his shop.  And there we can talk with him, asking him about his struggles in raising Jesus, about their difficulties of understanding each other, and about the ordinary things – like illness and sickness, and getting on with the neighbors.  Joseph may have much to tell us if we let ourselves be open to what the Holy Spirit prompts him to say.  

 

Br. Peter A. Fitzpatrick, CFX, a Xaverian Brother, is a Passionist Associate at Ryken House, across the creek from the Passionist Monastery, in Louisville, Kentucky.  

Scripture:

Acts 14:19-28
John 14:27-31a

Reflection:

"Poor me!   Why does everything always happen to me?  Why does God allow this?  Why am I going through all this pain?  Ain’t it awful.  Why me?"

 

Have you ever felt sorry for yourself?  Of course you have.  We all have.  We often get upset and angry when we endure physical ailments, financial setbacks, failures in school or work, heartaches, whatever.

And it is okay to cry for ourselves – for a while. The key is not to wallow in it.  I suggest no more than a half hour a week of feeling sorry for ourselves.  If we must talk to someone about it, talk to mother or a priest.  They have to listen.  That’s part of their job.  But again, no more than half an hour.  We should be careful not to burden our friends or coworkers with our problems.  They will start to avoid us.

Whenever we think our crosses are heavier than usual, it’s good to reread Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, verses 23 to 30.  There he relates how he was imprisoned, endured countless beatings "often near death", was beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, in dangers from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from the sea, danger from false brethren, often without food, in cold and exposure, etc., etc.

Needless to say, Paul expected suffering.  In today’s first reading from Acts, he tells his disciples "we must undergo many trials if we are to enter into the reign of God."  In his letter to the Philippians Paul speaks of his fellowship in the sufferings of Christ and knowing the "power of his resurrection."  (cf. Philippians 3:10)

Whether we have crosses from accidents and mishaps, crosses from another’s meanness, crosses that result from self-giving, or the crosses of aging, Jesus tells us today, "Do not be distressed or fearful."   He is with us.  We are baptized into his body.  Our pain is his pain.  And he does not suffer in vain.  We are privileged to share in the redemptive work of Christ.

  "If we have died with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him." (Romans 6:8)  People will know we are Christians by our dying and rising.

 

Fr. Alan Phillip, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.   http://www.alanphillipcp.com/

Scripture:

Acts 14:21-27
Revelation 21:1-5a
John 13:13-33a, 34-35

Reflection:

People who know me know I like old music. There was a song written by Cole Porter almost 80 years ago called "Anything Goes."’One of the song’s lyrics is: "The world has gone mad today/ and good’s bad today/ and black’s white today/ and day’s night today… anything goes." The song was meant to be humorous and tongue-in-cheek, but there are many of us who might wonder what is going on in our world today, and how can it be stopped, so that things can return to the way they used to be. Often we look to the past not only for nostalgia’s sake, but because it can seem to be much better than the times in which we live.

I bring all this up because our Scripture readings for Sunday speak about the "new." In our second reading from Revelation (21:1-5a), John has a vision of a "new heaven and a new earth," with a "new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." Our reading ends with John’s vision of the "One" on the throne saying, "Behold, I make all things new." In our Gospel reading (John 13:31-33a, 34-35), Jesus tells His disciples, "I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another." Our first reading from Acts (14:21-27) does not have the word "new" in it, but as the account goes, when Paul and Barnabas arrive in Antioch, they gather the church together and report "what God had done with them and how he opened the door of faith to the Gentiles." Again, a realization that something new was happening in the church.

There may be some who are disturbed by many of the new things that they see, and reading this may be thinking, "Come on, Father, you know the ‘new’ mentioned in these Scriptures is not the ‘new’ I’m thinking about. There is no good in what is new today."

But is that really true? It seems to me that we need to discern what might be good or bad in what is new today. When we discern, we need to remember that the kingdom of God is not to be confused with what is, nor with what was. What might have been the "good old days" for me might have been a time of hardship and injustice for others. We can debate endlessly about some of these points, and how we go about discerning whether something new is beneficial or not.

Perhaps the best thing we can do, and what could help our discernment, is to follow the "new" commandment that Jesus gives us: "love one another." This commandment has been passed down to us over thousands of years, but it is still "new." It is still new because we are often tempted to let the wisdom of the world define what it really means. We often let it be limited by greed and anger and prejudice and fear. And so we can find ourselves thinking, "Well, to ‘love one another’ doesn’t mean loving them."

But to "love one another" is to love them or him or her. To love others as Jesus loves us is to go beyond what might be considered reasonable. To dismiss the "new" as all bad actually limits the power and activity of God. Can we really say that God is only present in, for lack of a better term, the "old?" Does not our spiritual development often come from the revelation of something "new" to us, some new insight we have received?

It is true that not all that is new is good. It is true that even though we may have the capacity to do this or that doesn’t mean that we should go ahead and do it (the use of weapons of mass destruction come to mind). But these truths should not point us towards trying to turn back the clock. Somehow we must take those truths which we believe are universal and eternal into today’s world, and communicate them to today’s people, and be able to recognize them when they are revealed (which they sometimes are) in things that are new.

When we are willing to take the risk and love as Jesus loves, we will be helping build up the kingdom, looking for the day when the "old order" of greed and selfishness and seeking domination will have "passed away," and "God’s dwelling is with the human race."

 

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