Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Job 9:1-12, 14-16
Luke 9:46-50

Reflection:

We hear in this reading from Book of Job an encounter between Jesus and Satan.  Jesus was confident and proud of his servant Job, his faithfulness and lived faith.  Satan was complaining that the only reason Job was so faithful was that Jesus had given him everything one could ever hope for; healthy children, prosperous crops, ample livestock, all of which made Job a very wealthy and happy man. Satan believed that Job would renounce Jesus if the tide was turned and Job lost everything! Jesus told Satan to go ahead and reign down tragedy on all the things Job possessed and see for himself the outcome. Satan bit the bullet and set about systematically destroying all of Job’s livestock, workers and even his children!  He stopped short of taking Job’s life as Jesus told him not to harm Job.

Job lost all his possessions and his family, but he never lost his faith in the love and generosity of our loving God!  Job could have easily been so wedded to his wealth and possessions that he would turn his back on God and God’s generosity.  Instead, as the faithful servant he was, he was able to proclaim,

“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;

Blessed be the name of the LORD!”

Over these many months, we have lived and died with COVID-19, unrest and destruction in our cities, tension all around us as a nation and world.  Our secure lifestyles, employment, health, education, happiness and so many other things that contributed to the ‘good life’ we enjoyed have been compromised!  As people of faith, believing in a generous, loving God, let us ask ourselves, how prone would we be to echo Job’s statement of faith in the wake of this changed and changing lifestyle today?!

In many respects, these past months have brought an awareness of just how blessed we are!  For many of us we enjoy a very privileged life albeit, one we take for granted at times.  Sometimes it seems that we have forgotten our sisters and brothers who have so little!  Last week, our pastor reminded us in his homily, BE GENEROUS! It is so easy to allow our precious ‘things’ to consume us!

It is time to focus less on our wants and more on the needs of others.  We are so preoccupied at times with complaining how inconvenient this pandemic is and longing for everything to get back to ‘normal’!  I am wondering if we can buck up, wear our masks, social distance from others, observe the protocols in place in our churches, schools, cities and neighborhoods with less grumbling and dissent!  YES, it has been a long seven months and YES, we want to gather again in large groups to eat, pray, laugh and cry.  We want to be able to minister to our sick friends and family in person rather than outside their hospital room or home.  We are tired of ZOOM and want to be together in-person, we want to have the freedom to vacation in far off lands or gather with neighbors for a backyard BBQ.

The ‘new normal’ has so many graced moments! The generosity, creativity, tenacity, care and concern for each other by young and old is indeed a blessing!  Educators, pastoral workers, government officials, health care agencies, families are working together to provide relief where needed.  Last week I read an article highlighting the selfless actions of people providing meals, transportation, healthcare, education and social interaction to others in need. 

May we continue to be people of hope and echo the words of the prophet Job,

“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;

Blessed be the name of the LORD!”

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

Scripture:

Ezekiel 18:25-28
Philippians 2:1-11
Matthew 21:28-32

Reflection:

I was blessed to work as a Pastoral Associate for a Passionist retreat center in Houston for three years, and I cannot begin to tell you the blessings that came from that position. Let me just clearly state that it was not a job, but a gift. One of our seasons was based on today’s second reading – Phil. 2:1-11. Regard others as more important than yourselves. Do we? Jesus did not just simply take for granted that He was the son of God, but he took the form of a slave, suffered through his Passion, and died on a cross, rising on the third day, as we all know. We also know that he did all of that for us.

One of the common prayers for the Passionists is, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess to the glory of God the Father, that Jesus Christ is Lord.” That prayer is ablaze on my heart, and it is a scripture and prayer that I plan to never forget. Realize that glorious name and the weight of responsibility in it to everyone who speaks it – to everyone who shares it with others – to anyone who lives it.

Today’s gospel reading reminds us that when John went to the people in the way of righteousness, they would not believe him. He says that tax collectors and prostitutes were entering the kingdom ahead of those who thought they were more worthy, that they were more important that the prostitutes and tax collectors. Were they? Of course not! Walk the walk, talk the talk. And so, it goes with the first son saying no, but decides to go – the other says yes, but doesn’t go. I think Matthew wanted people to become aware of their wavering to the call of God, a wavering to their prayers and promises in trusting him and believing him.

So, trust, be obedient, believe and don’t waver, for we know eternity awaits us, and we just can’t be wishy washy when it comes to following Him.

Patty Masson supports the Passionists from Spring, Texas.

Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8
Luke 9:43b-45

Reflection:

Jesus has just come down the mountain after the Transfiguration experience.  He encounters a man whose son is afflicted with epilepsy, which the disciples were not able to heal.  Jesus heals the young man.  Then Jesus makes His second passion prediction.  In this prediction, Jesus mentions being “handed over.” This is a reference to Judas’ betrayal.  The more Jesus reveals Himself to His disciples the quieter they become. They are beginning to realize the implications of Jesus’ mission and their discipleship.  Only after the resurrection will the disciples understand the total implications of His death on the cross.

Some say the purpose of the Transfiguration was to give Jesus the courage He needed to face his sufferings and passion.  Others say the Transfiguration was for the sake of the disciples to follow Jesus into His sufferings and death.  Slowly the disciples will realize that discipleship means giving up one’s own ambitions and taking on the demands of faithfulness to Jesus and the demands of the Reign of God.

There are times in our own life when life is bleak and we need hope to continue.  In Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, the daughter, Frances has just given birth to her baby.  She asks her mother why bring children into a world filled with poverty and pain.  The mother responds: “Things will get better.  In Austria, everyone worked twenty-four hours a day for a landowner.  At the end of the day, you still owned nothing.  In America, one works twelve hours a day.  You get a check for your family. You can hope to own your own home.  First, you must nail a star bank in the darkest corner of a closet.  When you shop, select a defective head of lettuce, or a bunch of carrots.  Ask the manager for a discount.  Put that saving in the star bank.  When it is cold, instead of turning up the heat, wrap a shawl around your shoulder, and you will save on the cost of electricity/coal.  Put that saving into the star bank.  Eventually, you will have enough to own your own home.  When you own your own home ‘you are nobility.'”  John Hassler, in his book, North of Hope, which is set in Minnesota, a character is very despondent and says: “Hope doesn’t come this far north!” “Christina, hope has no limitation.”  The Transfiguration gives all Christians the power to be the presence of hope wherever God places us.

Fr. Ken O’Malley, C.P., is a member of the Passionist Community at Sacred Heart Monastery in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
Luke 9:18-22

Reflection:

Lissa Romell is the Administrator at St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11
Luke 9:7-9

Reflection:

Who is This Man

“Who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him.” -Luke 9:9

Herod’s question is the most important question of our life!   And to seek Him is the most important action of our life! “Jesus is every thing for every one!” Col 3:11 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Rev 22:13    

Ronald Wayne joined Apple co-founders Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, who were 21 and 25 at the time, to provide the company with “adult supervision” and to oversee mechanical engineering and documentation, all in exchange for a 10 percent stake in the business.

While both Jobs and Wozniak were young and broke, Wayne had assets, including a house, and feared that the financial burden would fall entirely on him if the deal went south. So after spending a mere 12 days with Wozniak and Jobs, Wayne had his name taken off the contract and sold his shares back to his co-founders for only $800.

Ronald Wayne’s decision to leave the start-up cost him big. Today, a 10 percent stake in Apple would be worth more than $80 billion. That kind of fortune would make Wayne one of the richest men in the world.  Not to totally come to Jesus would make me one of the poorest persons on the earth!  Not to seek Jesus is to miss the biggest opportunity of our lives! Not to evangelize the world about Him is the biggest omission of our lives!  How right was St Paul!  “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of ^aknowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,” Phil 3:8

St Paul’s reflection reminds us of the task before us.  “In whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Cor 4:4                        

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Proverbs 30:5-9
Luke 9:1-6

Reflection:

In these days of Covid-19, I have been invited to few parties, if any. But I always appreciate when people say, “Just bring yourself.” More and more, that is how I read the Gospels when Jesus sends out His disciples to proclaim the good news and drive out demons and cure diseases. In today’s Gospel reading, He says, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.”

For me, Jesus is saying two things. One, trust in God. Two, the most important thing you can bring to the people in proclaiming the Good News about Me is yourself. I want to heal the people through you, not the things you own or the money you have.

Think about that. Even if we had nothing, Jesus would still want to use us to bring good news and healing to the world. There is a quote from St. Louise de Marillac that expresses this in another way: “To share what one has is nothing if one does not give oneself.”

Jesus is seeking to send us out to give of ourselves to others, as a sign of God’s love in Him. We do this not out of a sense of superiority, but a sense of service. We need not browbeat people, but simply “shake the dust from our feet” if they do not respond.

May we be instruments of God’s healing and messengers of His love, especially as we continue to carry the cross of this pandemic.

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

Scripture:

Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13
Luke 8:19-21

Reflection:

“Blind man stood on the road and cried.  He cried, ‘Oh Lord, show me the way’.   Blind man stood on the road and cried”.   

                        ~ Spiritual, anonymous, about 1920

The Responsorials today really touched me as they spoke with authoritative words of guidance in making decisions in following God’s law. But I struggle to understand what God wants from me when the world presents such complex choices, when there is no clearly right path.  “Lead me in the path of your commands”. 

I remember something Fr. Randal told me that has stuck with me all these years; “You have real faith when you keep on listening even when we think we can’t hear His voice.”  

“Guide me Lord, in the way of your commands.”  I strive to understand the commandments and look to live a good life, but Lord I look to you to help me discern the way to turn when the decisions are important and confusing, when the roads are all dimly lit and none offers a clear path? 

I am that blind man on the road begging for guidance, Lord.  In desperation I fall back on the old cliché of “What would Jesus do?”   But there are times when I wish I could read the mind of God because I have no idea what Jesus would do.  “Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart”.  I must spend the time to continue to listen for Your voice, my Father. I must turn off the vacuous calliope of noise and distraction of constantly streaming media and search for your voice in that silence where true discernment can be found. I must find Your voice which I know I will find only in that silence, and in that one humble request, “Lord, show me the way”.

Ray Alonzo is the father of three children, grandfather of two, and husband to Jan for 45 years. He is a USN Vietnam Veteran, and a 1969 graduate of Mother of Good Counsel Passionist Prep Seminary. Ray currently serves on the Passionist Alumni Council.

Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

Scripture:

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
Matthew 9:9-13

Reflection:

Today is the feast of St. Matthew Apostle and Evangelist and little is known about him. He was a tax collector and in other synoptic gospels referred to as Levi. The story of Matthew’s call is found in Matthew 9:9 “As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.  He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him”.

The “Call of Matthew” is captured on canvas by the  Italian Baroque painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610).  Caravaggio focuses on the first moment that Matthew realizes he is being called. 

Do you remember when Jesus called you to follow him?  In our first reading, St. Paul urges us to ”live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and

gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace…” Jesus calls all of us baptized Christians to follow him. Like St. Matthew and St. Paul that ought to make a significant difference in our lives and influence how we behave. God has given all of us gifts.  Are we living in a manner worthy of our call and gifts?  Are we humble and gentle, caring for one another through love? Are we daily building up the Body of Christ by our mercy, and compassion including self-compassion?

Carl Middleton is a theologian/ethicist and a member of the Passionist Family.