Daily Scripture

 

Scripture:

Jeremiah 17:5-10
Luke 16:19-31

Reflection:

Three distinct themes were introduced to us as we entered Lent on Ash Wednesday: Prayer, Fasting, and Alms Giving. In these early days of Lent we have been looking more closely at these aspects. For example last week we had both Matthew’s instruction on how to pray and Jesus’ teaching of the Lord’s prayer. And today’s gospel places before us many of the same issues we face when we give alms.

Almsgiving is a long-standing practice within the Judeo-Christian tradition. “Whoever is kind to the needy honors God” (Proverbs 14:31) Alms are money or goods given to those in need as an act of charity. The word alms comes from a Greek word meaning “pity or mercy.” In its original sense, when you give alms, you are dispensing mercy. Almsgiving is a form of prayer because it is “giving to God” — and not mere philanthropy. It is a form of fasting because it demands sacrificial giving. Almsgiving has the ability to change us. It frequently starts with seeing a need within another person. When we recognize we have the ability to help that person in need we experience compassion. Ideally, we respond to the person in need with compassion; the same compassion Jesus gave to all people. Indeed we have the ability to dispense the compassion of Christ!

We are told this parable is specifically addressed to the Pharisees. The Pharisees are not bad people. Just like us, they have a zeal and desire to please God. Just like us, they need to have their vision readjusted. Jesus challenges these Pharisees to begin seeing those who are overseen, the forgotten, the lost, the hungry, the invisible ones. Isn’t this same lesson we all need?

For most of us, the Lazaruses of life, come at very undesirable times. We’re usually quite busy about many things and to respond to someone else’s need is a major inconvenience. It’s a lot easier to overlook Lazarus. Sometimes, to quote Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan, we may actually cross over to the other side of the road to avoid the ones we don’t want to see.

In every town and every community this Lazarus story is relived. Occasionally the events of the story will shift, jarring us and causing us to ask, how could this have happened? For example, last week here in Louisville amidst the sub zero temperatures, a man froze to death on the front steps of a shelter. Then people began asking, how could this have happened? It took several days for the newspapers to shift from calling him a homeless man to actually giving him a name. As long as he is named “homeless” he can remain invisible. But to use his name suddenly lifts his status and beckons people to pay more attention. The last line of the story written in Louisville’s Courier-Journal states, “He was invisible to most of us because he was homeless.” Lazarus was invisible to Jesus’ target audience.

The same newspaper last Thanksgiving recalls an event that happened forty five years earlier. The story seemed incomprehensible. The day before our entire community celebrated Thanksgiving with an abundance of food, a nine-year-old boy, Bobby Ellis, died of malnutrition. He was found in bed surrounded by his five staving sisters. How is it a child can die of starvation in this city the day before we all celebrate Thanksgiving? Bobby’s death woke people up to rally around a need most were blind to. The movement that followed led to the creation of Dare to Care food bank which last year provided 15 million meals. This NPO reaches out to especially vulnerable populations. In this area one in five children face hunger every night.
And while some may turn their head away from this reality, Jesus simply tells a story about a person who appeared invisible to the one who claimed he can see.

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

Feast of St. Joseph, husband of Mary

Scripture:

2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22
Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Luke 2:41-51a

Reflection:

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.  –Mathew 1:16

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Over the years, I have reflected on St. Joseph as a just man, a descendant of King David, a carpenter, the father of Jesus and similar themes. Today, I’m focus upon Joseph as husband.

This feast invites me to enter more profoundly into the significance of what it means to be a husband, and more specifically, what it meant for Joseph to be the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. So, join me in taking a long, loving look into key moments that defined Joseph’s role as Mary’s husband.

The first time we get a glimpse of Joseph as the husband of Mary is when he is confronted with a very difficult moral problem, whether to divorce Mary publicly or quietly because she is found to be with a child that he did not father. There was no question in his mind what he had to do, he needed to divorce Mary. That’s what the law said. The question was, what kind of divorce?

According to Hebrew bible scholars, a woman betrothed to a man is considered to be a married woman. And so, it was with Mary. Thus, imagine Joseph’s surprise when he learned that Mary was pregnant, and the child was not his. I am sure that Joseph and Mary had many conversations about this matter. Think about how terrible and disappointed Joseph much have felt as he talked to Mary about their future. She made no sense. He finally told Mary of his decision, he was going to divorce her quietly.

Finally, God intervened. In a dream, God asked Joseph to take Mary into his home as his wife. Both Joseph and Mary were learning what it meant to be husband and wife.

The second moment that we reflect upon Joseph as husband, comes around the time when Mary is due to give birth. Every plan that Joseph and Mary had made about the birth of Jesus in Nazareth was dashed when Julius Caesar ordered a census, demanding the heads of the households to return to their ancestral homes to be counted.

Suddenly, Joseph and Mary found themselves away from home, family and friends, going to Bethlehem, seeking shelter and food from the kindness of strangers. They were homeless, hungry and frightened and Mary time to give birth was near. After knocking on doors, someone took them in and allowed them to stay in a manger. Joseph had to make the place suitable and safe for his wife as she gave birth to Jesus. Joseph, Mary’s husband and soon to be father, did not run away from his duties as husband.

Still in Bethlehem, Joseph got word that they were being threaten by their own king. The king was a jealous and cruel tyrant. Joseph did the only thing that he could do under the circumstances. He packed up as many of their belongings as he could and left with Mary and the Baby Jesus in her arms, to seek safety in a foreign land, across the border into another country. Imagine the hardship of traveling as a small family in a countryside filled with dangers and devoid of food, water and hospitality. We may be sure that Joseph, as Mary’s husband and Jesus’ father, would do all he could to keep Mary and Jesus safe. What husband would not do that for his family?

Finally, we see Mary and Joseph, parents of the adolescent Jesus, looking for their lost son when he stayed behind in Jerusalem after a religious pilgrimage. Can you image their worry and pain? When they did find him in the Temple, Mary says to Jesus, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” (Luke 3:48) Any parent who has lost a child just for a few minutes or for years knows the pain they experienced.

So, today we celebrate St. Joseph, the husband of Mary. Like all husbands, his life was filled highs and lows, joys and sorrows, difficult conversations and moments of loving silence. He, indeed, is a model for all husbands! St. Joseph, pray for us!

Fr. Clemente Barrón, C.P. is a member of Mater Dolorosa Community in Sierra Madre, California. 

Scripture:

Daniel 9:4b-10
Luke 6:36-38

Reflection:

“The measure with which you measure, will in return be measured out to you”

Our reading from Daniel reads like a confession that follows a good examination of conscience…we screwed up – BIG TIME!  And like the psalmist, we plead ‘don’t deal with us according to our wrongs and our actions.  Then Luke holds us accountable – be compassionate and merciful stop judging and condemning.  Luke reminds us that we have what we need to make things right, we have the ability to change the world.

Abraham Joshua Heschel, wrote “Idealism has always been out of fashion, especially in a place where cynicism is a cheap substitute for wisdom”.  Our world today is less than ideal, cynicism is running rampant – like a deadly flu virus it seems to be ‘infecting’ everyone and everything.  We know that if we simply allow the flu to ‘run its course’ we are going to have some pretty miserable days ahead of us, flu can kill.  But if we catch it early, flu-shots, tera-flu…we can avoid the ugly, paralyzing symptoms and enjoy life.

Can we catch the symptoms of cynicism early?  Can we treat them with compassion and love?  Can we recognize that we are a connected people, all created in the image and likeness of a God who called us into being and loves us into goodness.  Can we replace cynicism with wisdom – the wisdom of God, the wisdom of love?  This Lent can we pledge to ‘enter another’s story’ can we step out of our comfort zone and really try to ‘understand’ the journey of the other.  Can we begin to believe that this world is big enough for all of us – God has a plan for peace and harmony, love and joy.  Can we step in and let God lead and enjoy life?

Faith Offman is the Associate Director of Ministry at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 9:28b-36

Reflection:

The account of Jesus’ transfiguration is one of the most mesmerizing gospel stories as well as one of the most abundantly hopeful. But it begins in a very ordinary way. Jesus calls Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray. There is no suggestion that anything unforgettable is about to happen, no hint that this will be anything other than a typical day. But then something truly overwhelming begins to unfold: while praying, Jesus’ “face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.” Moreover, Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus, conversing with him. No wonder that the three apostles who had fallen asleep (as they will again the night before Jesus dies) are suddenly “fully awake.” Peter is so spellbound by the glory he sees in Jesus that he does not want to budge from that mountain. Maybe he wants to linger there because at that moment he sees clearly who Jesus truly is: the fullest revelation of the stunningly beautiful love, goodness, and holiness of God.

Perhaps Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain that day not to draw attention to him, but to teach them that his glory can be our glory. The greatest blessing God can give us is to enable each of us to be transfigured in the love, goodness, and holiness of God. But that is possible only if we take to heart the final words spoken in this marvelous gospel story: “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” And it is possible, Paul assures us in today’s second reading from Philippians, only if we refuse to allow our minds to be “occupied with earthly things.” We must remember that “our citizenship is in heaven.” There, Paul assures us, Christ will “change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body.” Surely that is a hope we should never abandon, a promise we should never forsake.

Paul J. Wadell is Professor of Theology & Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the extended Passionist family.

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Matthew 5:43-48

Reflection:

This particular passage is reminding the Mathew Community that even if hatred for them is systemic they cannot return this hatred with hate.  The enemy must be treated with love.   The Jewish leaders forbid the Christians to enter they synagogues.  The Romans considered the Christians subversives who could enter a revolt at any time. So were to be regarded as possible as subversive.

The Christians were expected to love all.  One reason being that “God let the Sun to rise and fall on all: the good and the bad.  This challenge was regarded by others as impossible. The Dead Sea Community had a motto which said “Love the Children of the Light. Hate all the children of the Dark.”  With God as an example Christian must love everyone.

Love of enemy is unparalleled in Jewish and Pagan literature at the time of Jesus.   Love (tamin) is used only twice in the scriptures.  Here and when Jesus spoke to the rich young man and “Jesus looked on him and loved him.”

In Paul’s letters to the Corinthians Jesus shows us how to love those who do not love you.  Paul was asking the Corinthians to contribute to the Jerusalem Community. At the same time the Jerusalem Community persecuted Paul because he was sharing the Gospel with Gentiles.  They also resented Paul’s calling himself an Apostle!”

Matthew gives us one of the most difficult passages in Sacred Scripture.  “Be per-fect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Scripture tells us we are perfect when we fulfill our purpose.  That is “We are perfect when we fulfill God’s Will for us”.  God is universal benevolence.  We become like God when we seek the highest good for our neighbor. We become like God when our love is unwearied, forgiving, sacrificial love, when our love is for our neighbor.  We are perfect like God when we never cease to care for our neighbor.  We are perfect when we can forgive as God forgives.

Fr. Ken O’Malley, C.P., is the local superior at Holy Name Passionist Community in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

Ezekiel 18:21-28
Matthew 5: 20-26

Reflection:

As we continue our Lenten retreat today (yes we can consider Lent a 40 day retreat) we are both edified and challenged from the words of Christ. Don’t you love it when our Lord begins with the words, “You have heard that it was said…..But I say to you”? In that simple phrase our Lord is telling his hearers, yes you have been governed by the law, but the law is no longer sufficient, now we will bring it to fulfillment and here is how we will do it. The law says, “You shall not kill” but I say do not even be angry with your brother. Imagine if you were one of the hearers in the crowd. Yes, he is eloquent, but that is quite a challenge, anger is equated with taking a life? Then you realize he is removing the rigidity of the law and replacing it with the warmth of the heart. If you discern within in your heart that the sun should not set on your anger, perhaps it will lead to reconciliation before it escalates to violence. Jesus is causing his hearers to think, he is causing them to reflect, he is changing the direction of their faith. Faith is not a set of laws or rules that are followed blindly. Faith now causes us to consider the outcome and the outcome is reflected by our actions and our actions are reflected by the love in our hearts.

Jesus does not want robots for disciples, those that read the law and follow it to the letter with no thought or concern of how their actions could affect others, “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” These words should challenge and then soften our hearts. In a world in which we have become so critical of our brother, it is time to bring our gift, our forgiveness, our heartfelt reconciliation to the altar. Lent is a time for reflection, perhaps this weekend as we see your brother or sister bring the gifts from the community to the altar, we can take a moment to reflect on how we can reconcile your relationships with those that we may be estranged from, those that we may have hurt, those that may have hurt us and consider how you can be reconciled with them.  To do so may be our ticket to the kingdom, to do so surpasses the actions of the scribes and Pharisees, to do so is an action that comes from the depth of our hearts and from the depths of the love that our savior has for us and remember those words that some pray daily, the words that Jesus taught us, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Deacon James Anderson is the Administrator at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

Jonah 3:1-10
Luke 11:29-32

Reflection:

About 8 years ago around this time of year, our daughter-in-law was hospitalized due to a medication reaction. My husband and son are both CPA’s and were working 7 days a week at that time and I was charged with looking after our 2 and ½ year old grandson, Mikey, and 8-month-old granddaughter, Cate. I will always remember the sheer panic I felt as my husband left for work that morning leaving me with our grandchildren for the next 8+ hours. While they were frequently at our house and I was well accustomed to their schedule, this was not what I had planned for my day to be sure!

My week was set out before me with a task list for each day and suddenly I found myself moving from go, go to stop. I admit it took me a while to slow down internally, I used all the clichés and metaphors I could remember to convince myself that this work was my call for the day.  Meeting agendas, papers to be written, and email responses would need to be done on a different day. I told myself that this was my invitation from God to slowdown, be present and receive the gift of each moment.

Mikey was going through a Thomas the Tank phase, so I entered into his world of Thomas and listened to his stories of what each character was doing. We ended up outside with sidewalk chalk drawing tracks and islands, and Mikey was enthralled with what we were creating together. I remember looking deeply into his eyes, feeling mesmerized by their clear, earnest and joyfully expression. It was then that I understood I was looking into the Imago Dei and joy filled my heart.

Later that afternoon when both children were napping (and Grandma was sitting starting into space with a cup of coffee to bolster her during the rest of the evening), I realized that in forcing myself to be present to my life circumstances, I understood the “something greater here.” I once read that we all want to find the Pearl of Great Price, but we do not want to pay the price. We want it without putting the time in…. Putting in the time requires hard work and discipline and it doesn’t sound very exciting.

Last Thursday, following Ash Wednesday, we heard the call to choose life from the Book of Deuteronomy. This is an invitation given to us each day—to choose to enter into the day we are given which is perhaps not the day we had planned. The Ninevites heard Jonah’s call to repent or be destroyed and they allowed their day and their life to be rearranged. So, maybe our day doesn’t require such a so radical shift, nonetheless the invitation to experience the something greater is offered to us as well.

Jonah entered hostile territory; the Assyrians were enemies of the Israelite kingdom. If they listened to Jonah and repented, then what is the issue with Jesus’ message to his own people? Why are they looking for a sign? If the “queen of south”—a pagan—recognizes something greater, why don’t they see what is before their eyes? Why don’t we see what is before our eyes?

The kingdom of God is among us and in us, may our eyes be opened to see the movements of God in our lives. Amen!

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