Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Genesis 27:1-5, 15-29
Matthew 9:14-17

Reflection:

May God give to you of the dew of the heavens and of the fertility of the earth abundance of grain and wine.   -Genesis 27:28

People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined.   -Matthew 9:17

Albert Einstein once said, “The problems of today can only be solved at a higher level of thinking than that which created them.” A similar quote from David Goldstein runs, “You can’t solve tomorrow’s challenges with yesterday’s thinking.” Both of these quotations echo Jesus‘s words about new wine in old wine skins. Although somewhat obscure to us today, the apostles would’ve understood what he meant. Old wine skins would have been stretched out and ready to tear if put under any pressure. New wine was still fermenting, growing, under transformation from grape juice to wine. In the same way that Albert Einstein and David Goldstein said that are thinking must be transformed if we are to move forward, Jesus is telling us that we ourselves must be transformed to hold his new teaching.

But this is not a one-time event. As it is written in the book of Revelation, “Behold, I make all things new,” every day is a new day.  Every day, Jesus comes to us, ready to pour His Spirit of new wine into us. We must allow ourselves to be transformed into new wine skins for this new teaching. This can sometimes be uncomfortable. However, as Christians, we are called to continuously participate in this creative process of transformation, giving up our old ways of thinking and allowing ourselves to be born again.

My prayer today is that we all give ourselves over to this process of transformation and allow ourselves to be Jesus’s hands in the building up of God‘s kingdom here on earth.

Talib Huff is a retired teacher and a member of the retreat team at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, California. You may contact him at [email protected].

Scripture:

Genesis 23:1-4,19; 24:1-8,62-67
Mathew 9:9-13

Reflection:

Celebrating U.S.A. Independence Day

Today, the liturgical guidelines encourage us in the United States to pray special prayers for Independence Day, and to choose from a variety of Scripture selections related to “public needs” and “social justice”.

Interestingly, the “regular” readings provide insights into the lives of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jesus and Matthew and the Pharisees.  Each had a special role in Salvation History – Jesus enfleshing God’s redemptive love for all humanity, even in their weakness.  We are each called to cooperate with God’s will for us in our day and age, in a world filled with both countless blessings and serious challenges.  God’s call is real, personable, encouraging — and liberating!!

The optional readings chosen for Independence Day highlight a similar dimension in our American heritage and our mission:  to cultivate and live peace.  Isaiah calls out for peace, especially for those struggling or dejected in spirit; St. Paul, writing to the Philippians, reminds us to have no anxiety, but rather to daily turn to God in prayer for our personal and communal needs.  Jesus at the Last Supper encourages his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you…don’t let your hearts be troubled…”.  Thus, we recall God’s many gifts, celebrating and encouraging one another as 21^st Century citizens!

Jesus gives us His peace, which is much more than the experience of deep tranquility or the absence of suffering or uncertainty.  He offers His peace that comes from the experience that God is with us, here and now, in all things and with all peoples — loving us unconditionally.  As contemporary disciples, we look to the Cross of Jesus, seeking peace and freedom from our hectic pace of life, our uncertainties, our personal and communal suffering — and even the fear, the violence and death which are part of our culture.  The unconditional love of Jesus showers each of us with His peace, with a sense of presence, freedom and redemption that transforms the challenges of each day into blessings for today and tomorrow…just as happened for the holy women and men of long ago.

May today’s celebration of the United States’ “independence” help us be grateful and then share our God-given blessings with all people!  In Jesus, may we live in fruitful peace with our sisters and brothers worldwide.

Fr. John Schork, CP, serves as the Province Vocation Director and also as Local Superior of the Passionist Community of Holy Name in Houston, Texas.  

Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:19-22
John 20:24-29

Reflection:

The story of Thomas challenges us to appreciate the actual value of community life and the reality that being a Christian has both a private and social dimension – both are vital.

In fact, Thomas’s experience serves us very well in this present age – an age that is overly dependent on scientific methods and empirical proof.

Retracing his story, we can see that when Thomas is absent and away from the community, he struggles with accepting personal testimony and witness, despite this being reinforced by the commonality of the experience of the other disciples.

He falls back on a need for empirical proof – ‘unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Yet, a week later, when he was with the disciples, he shared in a common experience of faith. Jesus is with the community, and Thomas shares in this moment.

Now we see that Thomas does not need proofs; in fact, he neither asks for them nor needs to accept them, even when Jesus offers.

Today, let us be thankful for the witness, companionship, prayer and support of those around us. The experience of the community can reinforce, strengthen and enlighten our faith journey, and we, in turn, support others in and through our witness. 

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is the Provincial Superior of Holy Spirit Province, Australia. 

Scripture:

Genesis 21:5, 8-20a
Matthew 8:28-34

Reflection:

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
When the poor one called out, the Lord heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.  ~ Psalm 34:7

This psalm response summarizes the message of today’s Scripture readings: God hears the cry of the poor, and God acts on their behalf.

And today’s readings show us very graphically what poverty looks like. In our first reading from Genesis, we find Hagar, a slave put out into the wilderness with her child, with a little food and water. When the water ran out, Hagar wept bitterly as she despaired for the life of her child. And in the Gospel reading for today, Jesus encounters two violent men, possessed by demons, feared by those around them, and relegated to living in the tombs outside of town. They cry out to Jesus for help.

The slave woman, her child and the two men living in the tombs are all on the margins of society, meaning they do not benefit from the economic and social assets enjoyed in the mainstream. Low status in society (being a slave) and those whose behavior does not conform to society’s standards, (violent and erratic behavior) lead one to the margins—and to poverty.

But God hears the cry of the poor. Hagar’s son is named “Ishmael”, which means “God hears.” God hears Hagar’s cry for her child’s life and sends an angel to help her. And Jesus hears the cry of the poor men living in the tombs and releases them from their demons.

Pope Francis, in an address for the World Day of the Poor in 2018, reaffirmed that the cries of the poor find a hearing with God. And then Pope Francis put out a challenge to us Christians: “Do we have eyes to see, ears to hear, hands outstretched to offer help? ‘Christ Himself appeals to the charity of His disciples in the person of the poor.’ (Gaudium et Spes). He asks us to recognize Him in all those who are hungry and thirsty, in the stranger and those stripped of dignity, in the sick and those in prison. The Lord stretches out His hand, freely and not out of duty. And so, it must be with us.”

Patty Gillis is a retired Pastoral Minister. She serves on the Board of Directors at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroi, Michigant. Patty is currently a member of the Laudato Si Vision Fulfillment Team and the Passionist Solidarity Network.

Scripture:

Genesis 19:15-29
Matthew 8:23-27

Reflection:

Today’s first reading is one of the most dramatic examples of God’s mercy in the Old Testament. The story begins earlier in Genesis with God telling Abraham that Sodom and its people will be destroyed due to their sinful ways. Abraham negotiates with God to save the city if 50 good people can be found. Abraham keeps lowering the bar but not even 10 good people can be found. Finally, God agrees to save Lot and his family from the destruction. The story catches up in today’s reading with two angels telling Lot to leave Sodom before it is destroyed. When Lot keeps delaying, the angels physically lead the family to safety.

In this story we encounter a listening, forgiving God. In other words, a merciful God for our times, too. Unlike human mercy, which can be limited and conditional, God’s mercy is unlimited and unconditional, not earned by us but freely given to us.

God patiently listened to Abraham and spared Lot and his family. When family or friends suffer illnesses, tragedies or personal loss, we respond that they are in our prayers. Do we also pray to God to intercede on behalf of victims of war, poverty, discrimination, and mental health crises? Do we have faith that God will listen to our prayers?

When God first tells Abraham that Sodom will be destroyed, no exception was made for Lot. We can speculate that Lot most likely delayed leaving Sodom because he was comfortable there despite the depravity of the city. Despite Lot’s actions, God forgave him. Whether we have minor stumbles or serious failings, God’s mercy is waiting for us, too. Do we respond to this gift by working to do better?

We are called to imitate God’s mercy in our own lives and challenged to be more forgiving, compassionate and loving towards others. By doing so, we not only honor God but also contribute to a more just and humane world.

Mike Owens is the coordinator of the Passionist Alumni Association and a member of the Migration Commission of Holy Cross Province. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Scripture:

Genesis 18:16-33
Matthew 8:18-22

Reflection:

We are indeed a blessed people!  We have Abraham, our forefather in faith who loves us so much that he is willing to plead our case before God, even at the risk of making God angry!  We have an even greater blessing in being created and loved into being by a God who is kind and merciful.  I can imagine Abraham being very frustrated with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah!  They were clearly messing up and Abraham was sure that even though he believed God loved those people, they clearly needed to be taught a lesson!  God on the other hand, knew of Abraham’s faithfulness and love for his people and did not want Abraham to be put in the middle of any of this messiness.

Isn’t this just like our God who loves us unconditionally, especially during those times we have really messed up!  We can only hope that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah appreciated their saved lives were a result of Abraham’s intercession and God’s love for his faithful servant.

This story in today’s scripture reminds me of how important and necessary it is for us to LISTEN!  Just as it was important and life-changing for Abraham and God to listen and really hear what the real message and concerns were, so it is with us.  COVID mandated listening above all else.  We couldn’t do anything else except to listen to those we lived with, to the programs and advice we tuned into on social media, as well as the scientists and medical profession who tried their best to keep us healthy.

Psalm 95:8, If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. This psalm is a favorite of mine and keeps me grounded in listening and hearing God’s plan for my life.  God’s voice always comes through loud and clear!  Now, I will admit, it isn’t always something I want to hear at the time or even understand it at other times, but through grace I am eventually able to get the message!

Summer is breaking out all around us these days!  Gardens in bloom, families gather, parish churches throwing wide their doors, sunsets, boating, picnics, swimming, are all in full swing.  It is not a time to harden our hearts, rather, stay tuned to God’s voice to be heard and God’s presence seen all around and within us!  Happy Summer!

Theresa Secord is a retired Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

Scripture:

Acts 12: 1-11
2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 17-18
Matthew 16: 13 -19

Reflection:

Today we celebrate two great men of the Church, Saints Peter and Paul. Two ordinary men, one a fisherman and the other a Pharisee and a tentmaker. Two ordinary men who recognized that God had called them to be something greater than they thought themselves to be. Two ordinary men who had courage to speak the truth that was spoken to them through Christ. They endured suffering through many hardships and trials for their words and actions and yet they kept on believing in the truth that dwelt in their hearts.

  How could ordinary men come to do extraordinary things?

“The angel said to Peter, “Put on your belt and your sandals. “He did so. Then he said to

  him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” Acts 12:8

Even in prison Saint Peter did not give up hope in Jesus Christ. He listened and followed the angel out of the prison. The angel had to awaken him from his sleep. If Saint Peter was asleep he certainly wasn’t fearful of the trial that was to take place the next day. The passion that he felt in his heart, about who he had spent three years following and all that he had seen Jesus Christ do for others, must have been a source of his hope and courage. He was open to the possibility that Jesus was the Messiah and confirmed it by responding, “You are Christ, the Son of the living God.” when Jesus asked him “Who do you say that I am?” Mt 16: 15-16.

“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” 2Tim 4:7

Saint Paul was also in prison and did not fear death. He knew that he had completed what Christ had called him to do for the proclamation of the Kingdom. An ordinary man who was passionate about his faith to the point of persecuting the first Christians. Then Jesus caught his attention with a flash of light and a bit of a humbling fall to the ground. A “snap out of it” moment. He would carry the message of Christ to the Gentiles beyond Jerusalem to the end of the world; that time the Roman world. Again, his passion came from the truth that dwelt in his heart and he was not afraid to recognize it and act upon it.

We each are called to become something greater than we think we are. This can only occur through faith, prayer, hope and trust in Christ. What is Christ calling you to today?

Linda Schork is a theology teacher at Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Genesis 18:1-15
Matthew 8:5-17

Reflection:

We read about several models of faith in the scripture readings today. In Genesis we hear the familiar story of Abraham and Sarah entertaining three visitors who in turn announce to this faithful couple that they will become parents in the coming year! While this was long-awaited news for Abraham and Sarah (especially Sarah), it also left them a bit perplexed.  They had wanted a child for so long but at this point they were old and unsure of how this was going to come about.  At the same time, they took this wonderful news in faith and trust that God was in charge.

The responsorial response, Mary’s Magnificat, her fiat her saying Yes to Jesus in faith, invites us follow Mary’s example and give our total self over to God’s will for us.

The gospel story offers two accounts of healing by Jesus.  One healing request came from a Roman centurion whose servant lay paralyzed and suffering dreadfully.  Jesus was so moved by this man’s faith that he healed the servant on the spot.  Afterward he went to the house of Simon Peter where his mother-in-law lay on her sick bed in a feverish state.  Here again because of her faith and that of Simon Peter, Jesus did not hesitate to heal the woman.

We are people of faith who believe in and trust Jesus’ love and care for us.  Our faith is a precious gift we often take for granted.  It needs to be nourished to enable us to grow in holiness with God and each other.  Let us strive to emulate the people of faith from our scriptures today, Abraham, Sarah, the Centurion, and Peter’s mother-in-law.  In this way Jesus may bless us as he did the centurion in these words;

            “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
            “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.”

Theresa Secord is a retired Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.