Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Acts 2:14, 22-33
1 Peter 1:17-21
Luke 24:13-35

Reflection:

Three friends were on their lunch break and decided to take a walk together in Railroad Park downtown (Birmingham). They got into a conversation about current events, and although they weren’t arguing, the conversation got very intense.

As they were walking and conversing, a young man came up behind them and asked, “What have you been discussing as you take your walk?” The three looked at each other, wondering why this man intruded upon their conversation. But there was something about him that told them they needn’t worry. So, one of them, named Ashley said, “We were talking about all the terrible things that have been happening lately.” The man asked, “What things?” And Ashley said, “What do you mean ‘What things?’ Have you been living under a rock? Haven’t you heard about all the recent shootings? Haven’t you heard about the teenage boy who was shot because he knocked on the wrong door, or the woman who was shot because she pulled into the wrong driveway? Don’t you know there are serious divisions in our country, and so many people seem to hate each other just because they are different? And some people are worried about war. And no one seems to know what to do about it, or if they think they know, they can’t agree on what to do.”

And the man said, “Those indeed are terrible things. But we mustn’t give up. There are many instances in the Bible where God rescued His people. And in the Gospel of John, it says that God so loved the world that he gave His only Son to save the world. And throughout all the Gospels this Son, Jesus, spoke about love and forgiveness and mercy. Not only did He talk about those things, He lived them. He spoke about caring for those considered of no account. He healed many people and ate with those despised and scorned. And He told His followers not to be afraid, but to take up the crosses that came their way and go the extra mile in loving others. People had Him killed for talking and acting as he did. But He rose from the dead on the third day.” And with many other examples, the man talked about Jesus and about faith, hope and love.

As they continued walking, the man was about to take his leave of them, but they persuaded him to have lunch with them. When they finished lunch, the man vanished from their sight. They asked each other, “Who was that? Could it have been that Jesus he was talking about? Didn’t we feel a stirring in our hearts when he talked to us?” And the three friends decided that, even though they didn’t have a solution to the problems of the world, their encounter with Jesus inspired them to work together to help make the world a better place. And if anyone asked them why, they would tell the story of how they recognized Jesus in “breaking bread” with Him.

Thank you for indulging me in telling that story. We encounter the risen Jesus every time we celebrate the Eucharist. May His gift of His very self – poured out for us, inspire us to love and work with each other and help build up the kingdom.

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

Scripture:

Acts 6:1-7
John 6:16-21

Reflection:

See how these Christians love one another.  -Peter 1:22

The Hellenist widows in today’s gospel had many characteristics which early church members in Jerusalem would have regarded as strange and inferior to themselves.  Although the Jews were taken into Babylonian captivity for less than seventy-five years, the Hellenists’ speech, style of dress, customs and even style of worship would have marked them as different and therefore suspicious. They would have stood out from the usual members of “The Way/Jerusalem Christians”. Additionally, women had no social standings or individual rights, not even the right to inherit or own property without the supervision of a male relative.  Without male relatives to speak up for them, widows would have been especially vulnerable to the whims of the Jerusalem Christians, (They would not officially call themselves Christians for several more centuries).    

The intolerant attitudes towards the Hellenists were so pronounced that the unfair rations of community goods and food had to be brought to the attention of the Apostles.   While awaiting the anticipated return of Christ’s in the glory of His Kingdom, the early church adopted a communal living style where all resources were shared. As is to be seen, not all resources were shared equally nor reported in full.     

Peter wisely realized that the apostles, who were trained and commanded by Jesus to “Teach all nations,” could not be tied up with mundane “housekeeping” decisions. Governing would have to be done by others.   Seven good men were selected for their high moral character, devotion to service, and humble obedience to the Word of God. They had to change to structure of the social living experiment, even when change seemed threatening.

Our Church must be an agent of change, guided by the Holy Spirit.   As we age and grow, without change and adaptation we will simply stagnate, and thus be less able to discern God’s holy laws.    Lord, send forth your spirit to renew and revitalize your Church, which you promised would prevail against Satan and his unholy workings.  And help me to be more aware of my own biases and unfairness, dedicating myself to being more accepting and loving, Christ-like, each day.

Ray Alonzo is the father of three children, grandfather of two, and husband to Jan for over 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.

Scripture:

Acts 5:34-42
John 6:1-15

Reflection:

“A Pharisee…said to the Sanhedrin, fellow children of Israel, be careful about what you are to do to these men” (Acts 5:34-35)

In today’s first reading, Gamaliel, the Pharisee, is a wise man.  He utilizes the age-old dictum to wait and see.  “If what they are about is of human origin it will fail. If it is from God then you don’t want to “find yourselves fighting against God”.  Just take it easy, wait and see. It is very hard in our culture to wait and see.  Our culture is about speed and immediate results. To what degree do we rush trying to push and force life. Is God saying to us “Wait and see.” Trust me knowing that I love you and care for you.

(Today’s Good News, Friday, April 21, 2023, Sr. Melannie Svoboda, SND, p114)

In the gospel from John there is a boy with five barley loaves and two fishes.  He suddenly finds himself among thousands of hungry people.  He was called into service and he gave all that he had the barley loaves and fishes.  Like the young boy we are called into service to care for and feed those who are very hungry. How have we responded to the call? Saying to ourselves “I don’t have any gifts to give”.   “What I do have is meager and insufficient so I won’t respond”.  We are called like the young boy to share what we have with others and let God do divine work as Jesus did. (Steve Givens, “The Choice to Give” Living Faith, April, May, June 2023, Friday, April 21, 2023)

Lord, give me the courage to share my gifts in care for others and use those gifts to work miracles for others.

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

Scripture:

Acts 5:27-33
John 3:31-36

Reflection:

“As long-time followers of Jesus, how well do we witness to his presence in our lives?”  I realize that’s a very personal question but an important one for us to ask every once in a while.  Certainly, it is one that our readings today challenge us to consider.  Both yesterday and today in our Readings from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke has been telling about a formative experience of Peter and the Apostles in the early stages of their post-resurrection preaching about Christ. While the experiences of Peter and the Apostles are often harrowing, St. Luke always includes a few details that make the intimidating power of the authorities much less effective.

Yesterday he told us the Apostles were arrested and thrown into prison so they could not preach about Jesus.  Of course, he includes in his account the part about an angel coming in the night to let the Apostles out of prison.  The Apostles don’t flee but rather return to the Temple to continue their preaching about Jesus.  When the authorities, ready to judge them the next day, order the guards to bring the Apostles before them for judgement, they discover that the Apostles aren’t in prison, they have escaped.  While in the midst of their dressing down the guards for their failure to hold the prisoners, the authorities are told the Apostles have not fled but are rather in the Temple telling everyone who will listen about Jesus.  The authorities are enraged by their inability to control the situation.

This morning the story continues as Peter and the Apostles are once again arrested and brought before the Jewish leaders.  Luke comments that the soldiers arrest the Apostles “gently” because they are intimidated by the crowds who were listening avidly to the Apostles.

The dialogue between the high priest and Peter is classic.  The high priest scolds Peter not only for the content of his preaching but even worse, daring to preach about Christ after he was told not to.  I’m sure Peter’s response to him was a big surprise.  Instead of being cowed by the high priest’s position of authority and his anger, Peter strongly asserts that Jesus is the Son of God.  He places the blame for Jesus being put to death squarely on the shoulders of the Sanhedrin.   He concludes that they must preach because they have been commissioned to do so by God!

Our reading this morning stops there with the comment that the chief priest and the Sanhedrin reacted with such anger that they wanted to put Peter and the Apostles to death.  We have to wait until tomorrow to find out what happens next!

This story from the Acts of the Apostles gives us a pretty dramatic example of what it can mean to be a witness for Christ.  How do you measure up?  Are you sometimes afraid to talk about Christ in the face of opposition?  What are the ways you consistently witness to the presence of Jesus in your life?  Do you get intimidated if those around you react hostilely or with skepticism?”  Do you realize that your call to witness to Christ comes from God?

All these questions raise important issues for us.  They bring us back to the first question we started with, “As long-time followers of Jesus, how well do we witness to his presence in our lives?”  What’s your answer???

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director of retreats at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Acts 5:17-26
John 3:16-21

Reflection:

Oh, John 3:16 – one of my favorites. Our responsibility to our heavenly Father isn’t just about what we do in good works. It also encompasses how we exercise our faith and aid others in their heavenly journey – bringing those from the darkness into the light of Christ.

As believers, we find no joy in those who don’t know Christ – who don’t embrace the light of Christ, those who are not prospects for the Heavenly kingdom. Our hope is that nonbelievers find their way as soon as possible, so that they, too, may partake in God’s kingdom and have the opportunity to continue sharing a newly found love of Christ with others.

Our salvation comes from Christ – through his sorrowful passion, we see the glory of his resurrection, and the promise of life in Him that is a beautiful gift to each of us.

God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.

Patty Masson is the Director of Adult Formation and Evangelization at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring, Texas.

Scripture:

Acts 4:32-37
John 3:7b-15

Reflection:

The resurrection really matters. It makes a difference. Life is different because it happened.

We spend a lot of time during the Easter Season watching and learning about the early Christian community revealed in the Acts of the Apostles. They had so much to figure out, so much to understand. How was their encounter with Jesus to matter, if at all? And especially, what difference was their encounter with the Risen Jesus going to have in their lives?

Today’s first reading from the early chapters of Acts of the Apostles highlights their growing sense of community. Phrases like “the community of believers was of one heart and mind” and “they had everything in common” reveal a deepening understanding of being connected, bound together. In the ordinary lives they lived, these early believes knew they had to live differently.  “There was no needy person among them.” And for those who had more than they needed, it was “distributed to each according to need.”

Our cultural tendency toward individualism is a challenge to living our faith. Our political and social differences become exaggerated, driving us farther apart. We self-protect more than we reach out to help. But what so often captures our imaginations are news stories of valiant volunteers responding to neighbors in need, or of communities of sisters, brothers and priests living a common life in communities of faith. We are inspired by them because they tap something fundamental inside us. We know we are our better selves when we are in community, caring for others. The early believers understood this…even if they did not perfectly live it. And we understand it, also. We just need to find simple ways each day to live it.

Robert Hotz is a consultant with American City Bureau, Inc. and was the Director of The Passion of Christ: The Love That Compels Campaign for Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Acts 4:23-31
John 3:1-8

Reflection:

Nicodemus’ question gets right to the point: Can we be born all over again? Easter answers resoundingly, “Well, yes, we certainly can!” That’s what Easter is all about—being born again, passing from death-in-life to true life; passing from fear to trust and anxiety to peace; passing from small mindedness to a love that never stops expanding; and surely passing from old world sadness to superabundant joy. That may sound outlandishly farfetched, but Easter is nothing if it is not a total re-creation of ourselves and our world in justice and love, mercy and forgiveness, healing and peace.

Jesus’ nighttime encounter with Nicodemus testifies that an Easter way of life is not at all continuous with what we knew on the other side of the tomb. Easter is not about making everything just a little bit better; it’s about making everything dazzlingly new. To enter into Easter is to be part of a world that we never knew existed, but one so rich in promise that in light of it everything in our old world seems to be dying. In today’s gospel, Jesus calls this Easter world the “rule of God.” The rule of God is a new way of life marked not by violence and animosity and retaliation, mistrust and betrayal, but by harmony, forgiveness, and peace. It is a world that thrives not on the power of domination and coercion, but on the creative power of mutual service and generous love. To be part of this new life, Jesus tells us that we must be begotten from above, born not of flesh, but of the Spirit. It is to take our bearings not from a world that is passing away, but from the risen one. It’s saying yes to a love that’s been calling to us since the day we were born.

The trouble with Easter is that we don’t hold onto it. We celebrate it and then slide back into the tomb. Like Nicodemus, Jesus invites all of us to embrace Easter as a feast that ought to be a way of life. It is not one day to celebrate and then quickly forget, but the exultant life Jesus’ death and resurrection make possible for us, one in which no hope is too wild and no dream ever foolishly farfetched.

Paul J. Wadell is Professor Emeritus of Theology and Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the Passionist Family of Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Acts 2:42-47
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31

Reflection:

Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. John 20:20

Today, the second Sunday after Easter, we celebrate what we have come to name, Divine Mercy Sunday. Our readings for this Mass continue to remind us how God’s Divine Mercy is a beautiful expression of God’s Divine Love. The reason why this is so meaningful and important for us is because all of us are in need of God’s Divine Mercy. We all have sinned. We all are in need of forgiveness and absolution.

For today’s reflection, let us focus on the first words and gesture that Jesus spoke and gave to his disciples in the upper room after he rose from the dead, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

These were very important words that he spoke and a very significant gesture that he gave. What he said was very much in character with the Jesus of Nazareth who forgave sins and welcomed sinners into his company.

And he offered this gesture as proof of his Resurrection.

Jesus carried the scars of the crucifixion on his body. The visible wounds of his torture and death on the cross would always be noticeable for all to see. Crucifixions during the time of Jesus were not rare. The Roman authorities would often leave the bodies hanging on a cross for days, visible for all those who would pass by. Crucifixion was not only meant to be a punishment and an execution, but also a reminder to all of who had the power over life and death in this society.

When Jesus rose from the dead, he choose to appear to his disciples and loved ones with the healed wounds of the crucifixion. This was the ways that Jesus had of telling his disciples that the Jesus of Nazareth had truly risen from the dead. His scars was a reminder of the consequences of our sins.

Later, St. Peter would say in his second letter, He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. In this way, Jesus shows us what forgiveness of sins looks like.

Every time we are tempted to believe that the Risen Lord is not alive and unable to forgive our sins, then he invites us to do what he invited Thomas to do, stick our fingers into the holes where the nails were driven and our hands into his pierced side. The Resurrection had healed them completely.

While many of us seek forgiveness, we still struggle with offering forgiveness to others. One of the many questions that we priests are asked is about our unhealed wounds we carry with us in life. Our sins leave many scars. The way that we know that we have been completely honest with ourselves, that we are contrite and remorseful of our sins, is if the scars that those sins left behind are truly healed. The more that we reflect upon the healed scars of the Risen Jesus, the more we are challenged to forgive as Jesus has forgiven us. When we are able to touch the healed scars that resulted from our sins and there is no more bitterness or rancor, then we know the Risen Jesus is alive. We will know true peace and true communion with God and with one another. We will know God’s Divine Mercy. Alleluia!

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