Daily Scripture

Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops, and Doctors of the Church

Scripture Readings:

1 John 2:22-28
John 1:19-28

Reflection:

Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.  -1 John 2:23

Saints Basil and Gregory ministered in the early Church, in the fourth century, in what is modern-day Turkey. Their challenges were similar to those we face today—they lived in a time of great political and religious polarization. The Arian heresy divided Christians for decades, as followers of Arius promoted the idea that Jesus was not divine.

As bishops, Saints Basil and Gregory defended the Church from Arianism, one of the most damaging heresies in the history of the Church. In 325, the Council of Nicaea was convened to deal with the Arian crisis. The first version of the Nicene Creed was formulated. The creed states that Jesus is “of one substance with the Father,” also expressed as “consubstantial.” In today’s first reading, written some two hundred years earlier, the Apostle John could be speaking to the Arians when he said: “Anyone who denies the Son, does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.”

After the Council of Nicea, the Arians continued to gain power and political influence throughout the fourth century. Even so-called Christian emperors were Arian, which put Bishops Basil and Gregory in conflict with civil authorities. Sometimes there was an assault on their lives, as well as constant threats to their ministries. On the vigil of Easter in 379, an Arian mob burst into St. Gregory’s church during worship services, wounding Gregory and killing another bishop.

As bishops, St. Basil and St. Gregory never stopped ministering to their deeply divided flocks. Despite St. Gregory’s dislike of conflict, he continued to dialog with people who were contentious and confused by the heresy, and he is known for his sermons on the Trinity. St. Basil is also known for his preaching, as well as his pioneering work in establishing systemic responses to poverty: hospitals, soup kitchens, and guest houses. Both Basil and Gregory are remembered for their contributions to the Church’s theology of the Incarnation and Holy Trinity.

As 2023 begins, let us draw inspiration from Saints Basil and Gregory for the new year. We pray for their perseverance in contemplating sacred mysteries, so we may share the fruits of our contemplation in our teaching and preaching. We pray for their love of the Church, so we may provide leadership in times of disunity and confusion. And we pray for their courage and compassion when we are in difficult conversations. Amen.

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

Editors’ note: It is with great sadness that we mourn the death of our Passionist brother, Father Don Senior, CP, who died on November 8, 2022. We have published Father Don’s Scripture reflections over the past several years. As we look for a new reflection contributor, we will continue to repost Father Don’s past reflections on the first day of the month.

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

Scripture:

Numbers 6:22-27
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21

Reflection:

Over the years this feast that marks the beginning of another calendar year has had different designations: the Circumcision, a day of prayer for World Peace, and now in later years a celebration of Mary as “the Mother of God.’

In a certain way all three designations point to the mystery of the Incarnation.  The ritual of circumcision is a sign that Jesus of Nazareth was a Jew, marked with this traditional sign of his belonging to God’s people.  Jesus was not a “generic” human being but was born in a particular time and place in history. 

And praying for peace also reflects the deep longings that all humanity has for the cessation of violence and the blessing of authentic peace.  “Peace” refers not only to armed conflict (of which there are still hotspots throughout the world, for example, the raging civil war in Ethiopia and the massing of Russian troops on the border of Ukraine—to mention only two), but also the violence that marks our city streets and the verbal violence and conflict that seems to characterize a lot of our public life and discourse today. 

But honoring of Mary as “the Mother of God” is perhaps the most profound assertion of the Incarnation.  Mary was officially declared theotokos—literally in Greek, “God bearer”—at the Council of Ephesus in 431.  In one startling declaration, the church affirmed what we can hardly imagine—that God so loved our world that through his Son Jesus, the divine and transcendent God has completely embraced our human condition.  

Recent theologians have noted that the incarnation did not begin only with the advent of Jesus but was already anticipated in the act of creation itself when God, out of love, fashioned the world to reflect the divine beauty and order.  The creation of the human person is the crowning achievement of God’s creation and is made “in the image and likeness of God”—a foretaste of the Incarnation itself.  And God’s adoption of the people Israel and his abiding providence in human history are all expressions of God’s enduring embrace of humanity.

The second reading today from Paul’s Letter to the Galatian affirms this mystery in blunt phrases: “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law…so that we might receive adoption as sons [and daughters].”  The result, Paul notes, is that we are able to cry out to God in affectionate terms as “Abba, Father,” that, is not as “slaves” but as “sons and daughters.”

Jesus’ conception in the womb of Mary and her giving birth to her Son seals forever the incredible mystery of God’s love for us as human beings and for our world of which we are a part. That is the reassuring teaching of our Christian faith we can take to heart as we begin a New Year, come what may.

Fr. Donald Senior, C.P. was President Emeritus and Professor of New Testament at Catholic Theological Union.  Until his death, he lived at the Passionist residence in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Scripture:

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 or Colossians 3:12-21
Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Reflection:

In today’s gospel, on the Feast of the Holy Family, we see the undying faith of Joseph, husband of Mary. Like many people in today’s world, we see Joseph going where he needed to go to keep his family safe, trying to find an inn, but having to settle on a stable for Mary to give birth. In today’s reading, Joseph sees the angel of the Lord in a dream and says, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”  Not trusting the son of Herod, Joseph decided that it would be best to go to Nazareth to fulfill what the prophets had said, “He shall be called a Nazorean”.

During all of the bumps in the road of Joseph and Mary, the birth in a manger, the flight into Egypt, they remain strong in their support and protection of their precious family. Lord, help us to remember to keep sacred our vows of marriage, remind us to treasure the gifts of family that you have placed in our hands, and keep the bond of our families strong! 

God bless you all!

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

Feast of Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr

Scripture:

1 John 2:3–11
Luke 2:22-35

Reflection:

   . . . for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. -1 John 2:8

In 1935 the play Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot, was published. The play focuses on the story of the death of Thomas Becket who was the childhood friend of Henry II of England. When Henry II ascended the throne he appointed Thomas as the Primate of England or Chancellor. Today that would be the Prime Minister. Everything was going along fine when Henry II decided that the Church had more power than he did and so wanted an inside man to help him with gaining control. Becket pleads with him not to appoint him Archbishop of Canterbury, which today is the highest ordained position in the Church of England, the Queen is considered the head of the Church of England. And all of that history is another story. Becket is already a deacon in the Church and so he is ordained a priest and the next day elevated to Archbishop. Over the course of several months Becket is changed by his position. He helps the poor and serves as a faithful shepherd of the people. Henry II and Becket disagree several times on matters of the Church and State. One night, in a drunken fury, Henry II makes a comment about being rid of the bothersome Archbishop. Four loyal knights interpret this as a command to assassinate Becket and so in the middle of the night they ride off to Canterbury Cathedral and murder him as he is saying a private mass.

The First Letter of John gives us the message of walking in the way of Christ through the commandments. The two commandments that Christ gave to his Apostles and us; To love God with all our heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbors as ourselves. The message goes on to speak about what it means to walk in the light and what it means to walk in the darkness. Two leaders of England made choices. One walked in the darkness of wanting more power and the other followed the path of Light and was changed by that Light. Even in the time of Jesus there were people who thought that they were following God through the commandments and the multitude of prescribed laws. But instead became blinded by them and were unable to see the true Light when it appeared as promised.

Christmas is a reminder for us that the Light has come into the world and that we can choose to walk in the Light or to choose the path of darkness. Simeon, a man waiting in the Temple for the Messiah is blessed by God to be able to see the true Light before he died. He spent his life waiting patiently for that moment. What a great joy that must have been for him! The words of Simeon, from today’s Gospel offer us food for thought:

              “Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
              your word has been fulfilled:
              my own eyes have seen the salvation
              which you have prepared in the sight of every people,
              a light to reveal you to the nations
              and the glory of your people Israel.”

We don’t need to wait. The Light of the World has come, Emmanuel.

May the coming New Year bring you peace and joy!

Let us also keep Pope Emeritus Benedict in our prayers.

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

Scripture:

1 John 1:5-2:2
Matthew 2:13-18

Reflection:

In today’s first reading, we hear: 

God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.

We are still basking in the Christmas season, celebrating the birth of our savior just three short days ago.  Jesus the light of the world shines through our darkness. The brilliance of colorful lights and candles continue to shine throughout our neighborhoods, homes and churches.  Our Jewish sisters and brothers celebrate Hanukkah, the eight-day wintertime “festival of lights,” with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods.  Hanukkah means ‘dedication’ and is named because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple.

There is so much darkness present in our world these days. It seems wars, famine, droughts, homelessness, poverty, racism, daily violence in our neighborhoods and cities can be overwhelming!  Remembering the tragic deaths of the Holy Innocents who died at the hands of a devious tyrant brings to mind the dark days many people past and present experience because of rampant corruption and evil.

GOD is light, and with God there is no darkness at all!

This is the hopeful message of Bethlehem!  Jesus brings light to any darkness we may be experiencing! For me, Bethlehem hope and promise has come in many ways during this special time of Advent and Christmas.  The look of joy and gladness on the faces of our homebound and sick when we sang carols to them brightened the evening for all of us. Gathering each evening for vespers, hearing the scriptures proclaimed, sharing times of how the light of Christ was present in our lives and praying for those in need gave us Advent hope and promise. The opportunity to spend quality time visiting with friends and family near and far, to see the light of Christ and know that God is making our lives a little brighter during these days has been a gift to be treasured.

May the light of Christ continue to guide us and dispel the darkness we may encounter.  In turn may we share that light with those who walk in darkness unable to see the life-giving light of Christ.  A Blesses New Year to All!

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

Scripture:

1 John 1:1-4
John 20:1a, 2-8

Reflection:

Advent through Christmas is such a busy time of year. We are in a hurry – shopping, baking, planning. We rush to get the perfect tree, to put up the lights, to plan the perfect meal, to make sure everything is perfect for those we love when we can finally gather together. We cling to the joy of this season; a season of our Lord’s birth and the hope that His birth brings to us.  

But how often are we in a hurry for Jesus? The Gospel today says that Peter and John were in a hurry to find Jesus because the tomb was empty. We carry Jesus in our hearts, always! But we must stay vigilant, getting the distractions out of the way so we can finally hurry to the manger to await the coming of our newborn King! 

Be in a hurry, be anxious, for Jesus’ coming – and when he comes, languish in his beautiful presence, and treasure your time with this perfect Prince of Peace.

God bless you all!

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

Scripture:

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Matthew 10:17-22

Reflection:

Preparing our home for Christmas includes arranging a nativity set that my grandfather made. He took up pottery in his retirement and made a nativity set for each of his three daughters, my mother included. The one we have was his gift to his youngest daughter, my aunt.

I like sitting near that manger scene. It helps me pray. I was introduced many years ago to the practice of imaginative prayer while making the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. He asks you, the one praying, to put yourself into a scene. Where is it? What do you smell and see? Who’s there? What’s happening? And, most important, where are you in the scene? Once you enter the scene, you begin to have an ordinary conversation with one or more of those “present.” Let it play out and trust in the Holy Spirit to give you the graces you need.

Back to my grandfather’s nativity set. There are the requisite characters…Mary, Joseph, the Child Jesus, shepherds with their animals, and the Three Kings. Interesting that he also included the innkeeper. But even more interesting is that there is no maidservant or midwife. The gospels do not say there was someone there to help Mary during her delivery, but we assume so since it is very likely Joseph was not going to be all that helpful. In the Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius has you imagine Mary, Joseph, and a servant girl setting forth from Nazareth to go to Bethlehem. He encourages the one making the Exercises “to see Our Lady, Joseph, the maidservant, and the infant Jesus after his birth.”

What did the maidservant experience? What does her experience of helping Mary during childbirth tell us about what we might do to help bring Jesus into the world? As I place myself in the scene in those precious days that follow the birth of any child, I am drawn to that midwife who is there trying to make things easier for this young family. I talk to her about what she sees. What stories would she tell afterwards, like the shepherds did when they returned to their fields? They all must have experienced something special, but its significance would need to play itself out over time. For now, though, it is simply enough to be there in that moment.

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.