Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Jeremiah 7:23-28
Luke 11:14-23

Reflection:

What does the Kingdom of God look like?  Today’s gospel tells us – or better, it shows us.  “Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the crowds were amazed.”

This exorcism led to a debate among the crowd: How did Jesus accomplish this wonder?  Some rejected Jesus.  Beelzebub, the prince of darkness, or literally “Lord of the Flies,” must be the power behind Jesus’ healing.  In other words, demonic powers control Jesus, and therefore his healing is evil.  Others took a wait and see attitude.  We want more proof, they demanded.  More miracles might persuade them.

These two possibilities – reject Jesus or give more proof – summarize the reaction of many in the crowd, and of many even today.

Jesus took these arguments to their absurd conclusion.  If Jesus casts out demons by Satan’s hand, then by whose power do their own followers cast out demons?  Did they really want to degrade the activity of their own exorcists by such logic?  They were stuck in a dilemma.  “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house,” he argued.

Then Jesus offered another alternative, one he unveiled with dramatic flourish.  “But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,” he said, “then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.”  Jesus is telling the crowd – and us – that his exorcism was not meant to astound, or amaze, or even to give proof of the existence of God.  No.  This and all the wonders he performs are testimony, evidence of the arrival of God’s promised, redemptive rule.  In Jesus, the Kingdom has arrived.  God is breaking peacefully into this creation through Jesus to reclaim humanity from Satan’s mute grip.  Jesus’ exorcism was loaded with theological meaning.  Satan’s power is the power to make mute, to silence.  But Jesus’ power is the power to exorcise us from Satan’s silence so that we might boldly proclaim that the Kingdom is at hand.

In this struggle between demonic silence and the proclamation of the Good News there is no neutral territory, no Switzerland.  “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me, scatters.”  Jesus rejects fence-straddlers.  He warns us that lukewarm neutrality is equivalent to opposition to him.

Today’s gospel should remind us of the memorable remarks made by Nazi Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel.  “We must take sides,” Wiesel declared.  “Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.  Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.  Sometimes we must interfere.”  To remain mute in the face of injustice, poverty, and discrimination is to be complicit with the forces of darkness.  He summons us to interfere, to speak out on the side of the oppressed, the victim, the tormented.  Lent is a time to make a choice, to ultimately surrender to the Love of God.  The Kingdom of God looks like that.

Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9
Matthew 5:17-19

Reflection:

Amnesia: A medical condition characterized by a partial or total loss of memories, facts, information and experiences.

In today’s scripture selections from the Book of Deuteronomy and the Gospel of Matthew, there are some serious references to the Law that comes from God. Moses is on the banks of the Jordan River imploring the people to not forget the commands of the Lord as they prepare to enter a new land after leaving captivity in Egypt. Jesus implores his disciples to stay faithful to the Law. But even Jesus understood that he needed to boil the Law and Commandments down to the essentials:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Yet we seem always to be afflicted with amnesia. Time and again we forget. We create and then worship idols. We imagine that others should be made in our, not God’s image and likeness. We raise up as contemporary “golden calves” pop stars or influencers or politicians.

Lent, at its best, is an opportunity to remember, that is, to be mindful of God’s goodness to us even when we fail to remember the source of all that is good. Even when we place our trust in idols made from our own hands or crafted from our prejudices, we can take a moment to remember…to be mindful again and hence make real again in our lives…that it is God and God’s love that gives meaning and joy to our lives.

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.

Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord

Scripture:

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10
Hebrews 10:4-10
Luke 1:26-38

Reflection:

One of the commentaries for today’s Solemnity of the Annunciation reminds us of how we often assume that Mary’s inner life is a spiritual blank slate before the angel appears at her door. We know from the Magnificat (Mary’s canticle of praise in Luke’s narrative) how Mary is well-versed in the Sacred Word. Mary already has a vibrant relationship with God before Gabriel shows up. It is not that the Annunciation leads her out of doubt and into faith; it is that her encounter with the angel leads her out of certainty and into holy bewilderment.

Mary hears she is to be overshadowed, that is, God will work in “cloudy,” overshadowing ways, as God did with Moses… When Moses wanted to see God face-to-face, God responded that Divine Presence would overwhelm him, searing his imagination. No one could see God face-to-face and survive.

So, God works INDIRECTLY, by OVERSHADOWING us, in CLOUDY, OBSCURE or MURKY ways. Not just in the lives of Moses and Mary… as this isn’t merely history, but mystery, OUR mystery.

That verb, “to overshadow” (or “come upon”) is a wonderful word! How are angels bringing Good News (Gospel) to you today? Maybe a grandchild who tells you that you are the best cook in the world! Maybe it’s the newspaper delivery person who makes an extra effort to place the paper just outside your door in inclement weather. Or perhaps your spouse who speaks of a God-experience they had today while you’re sharing a glass of wine together.

This week the Vatican released Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. In this holy year designation of “Pilgrims of Hope,” Francis’ message recalls that every vocation—be it to ordained ministry, consecrated life, or the laity—should offer the world a sign of God’s hope for every person. He noted that young people frequently feel dismay and confusion when they look to the future, given the background of insecurity, identity crises, unjust treatment of others, and general indifference. “Yet the Lord, who knows the human heart, does not abandon us in our uncertainty,” said the Pope. “He wants us to know that we are loved, called and sent as pilgrims of hope.”

Happy Annunciation!

Fr. Jack Conley, CP, is the local superior of St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

2 Kings 5:1-15b,
Luke 4:24-30

Reflection:

Welcoming Jesus

A wonderful experience in my life was kneeling at the altar in the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, where Jesus took on our nature. Written under the altar in Latin is “Verbum caro hic factum est” The Word was made flesh here. Tomorrow’s feast of the Annunciation celebrates and reminds us of the most wonderful event ever to happen in the whole galactic universe!  Mary’s yes to God to receive and welcome the Father’s Son in our human nature was the moment of the incarnation of God.  God loved us so much that He became the size of a pinhead, a zygote! Our awesome God Who creates and empowers trillions of galaxies comes to us. 

The most important and amazing thing in our life is to welcome Him! Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus after living 30 years in the then small village of about 300 people, he was not welcomed home! They missed the time of their life! “They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.  But he passed through the midst of them and went away.” The inspired Greek text used a very strong and violent word for drive out “exballo” (throw out). One of the saddest words in the New Testament is “He went away” (poreuō)

Do we welcome Jesus? He has been with many of us for a lot more than 30 years. There are 11 words for welcome in the NT. The one used in today’s Gospel is dexomai is used 56 times. We can see how important it is to welcome or receive Him in our lives. Many times each day we must pause even for a minute to welcome Him!  He is very close to us 24/7. Pray to Holy Spirit to help us to be like Mary. No human being ever welcomed Jesus like our Blessed Mother! Don’t walk away from Him and lose the opportunity of your life to be with Him.

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

Third Sunday of Lent

Scripture:

Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15
1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12
Luke 13:1-9

Reflection:

In Sunday’s Gospel reading (Luke 13:1-9), Jesus tells a parable about a barren fig tree. The owner of the fig tree is frustrated. The tree has been there for three years without bearing any fruit. He tells his gardener to cut it down: “Why should it exhaust the soil?” But the gardener says, “Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.”

The parable is a parable of God’s mercy. Even though we may not bear fruit as much as we could, God is still willing to work with us and in us so that we may bear fruit in spreading the Good News and in sharing God’s love in Jesus Christ. Can God be that merciful? It is God’s choice to be so. When we hear the story of the call of Moses in our first reading from Exodus (3:1-8a, 13-15), Moses asks God what to call Him when the people ask, “What is his name?” God replies, “I am who am. This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.” The same God who is the Source of all being is the same One who freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and is the same One who continues to show us mercy and love.

But this parable also presents us with a few challenges. It implies that even though God is merciful, we should not abuse our relationship with Him. We ought not to take God’s mercy for granted. As St. Paul says in our second reading from 1 Corinthians (10:1-6, 10-12), “Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.”

The parable also challenges us about our relationships with others. Unfortunately, human history is replete with examples of one group saying about another something similar to “Why should it exhaust the soil?” It has been too easy for people to consider others as non-productive or superfluous, or even as a blight on the earth. In our Gospel reading, people tell Jesus how Pilate desecrated the blood of Galileans he presumably had killed. Then Jesus mentions some others who were killed when a tower fell on them. Jesus is quick to point out that these things were not a punishment for sins. God does not punish us like that! So why does Jesus warn the crowds that unless they repent they shall perish as those victims did? I believe it is because while God does not punish us with the evil of others, or with the tragedy of an accident, He does let us at times suffer the consequences of our actions.

Using the parable of the fig tree, if we resort to violence, whether it is physical violence to the point of genocide, or systematic discrimination or oppression, it is very likely we will suffer some violence ourselves. In various situations in the world we see a thirst for vengeance that never seems to be satisfied, and so one atrocity is answered by another. When we engage in condemnation and violence, how can we hope to bear any fruit? I know that we can say that we have not participated in any genocide or outright oppression, but we need to examine how often we resort to our stereotypes and prejudices to make sense of certain situations. Just being content with what is can help perpetuate what we know is wrong. When we treat others in a way that dehumanizes them, we need to remember the mercy God has shown us. I would think most of us can recognize times in our lives when we have been just like the fig tree in Jesus’ parable! Thank God that God has been merciful with us!

May we trust in God’s mercy, and show mercy to others. May we open ourselves to God’s love in Jesus Christ, and may that love bear fruit in us.

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

Scripture:

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Reflection:

The parable of the prodigal son is so familiar a story that it is understandably tempting to automatically tune out, as in heard that story, know that story, end of story.  The most common interpretation of this parable is the allegorical application.  The prodigal son represents the sinners with whom Jesus was eating.  The older brother represents the scribes and Pharisees who resented the unsavory company Jesus kept.  The father represents God receiving those sinners who return to him.

During this Lenten season, however, perhaps a more meaningful approach to this parable may be one in which we examine relationships – with one another, and with God.

The prodigal son

Did the prodigal son make sinfully wrong choices? Yes.  In his actions, this son abused and breached his relationship with his father.  He demanded his inheritance early.  He insisted on taking full control of his own life.  He rebelled against his father.  The son effectively rudely, thoughtlessly, and hurtfully shoved his father aside.  The son departed to a “distant country” and consequently became lost, not because he did not know the way home, but because he had wasted his father’s gift, the gift of his relationship with his father.  He was found only when he “came to his senses” and returned to his waiting father to seek forgiveness and reconciliation – that is, when he returned to the embrace of his father’s loving relationship.

The father

A key point in this relationship is that the father waited, no ran to his returning son, aching and rushing to reestablish their relationship.  The father neither chastises nor punishes his son.  Instead, he lavishly, wastefully, extravagantly, prodigally, had him dressed for a huge welcome home party.

 The elder son

By contrast, the older, self-righteous brother is relationally alienated from both his brother and his father.  Notice the words “this son of yours.”  The elder brother refused the father cajoling and begging that he rejoice in his brother’s return.  Instead, he angrily rejected any relationship with his younger brother.  The gospel writer, Luke, challenges us to reflect on who is the truly lost brother, who is the one missing in a far country.

And us…

Can we see ourselves in each of these brothers?  At times, are we not the ones lost in sin, alienated from God the father, yet to accept God’s extravagant gift of grace, to come to our senses, to repent, to return to a loving relationship with him?  And at times, sadly, do we not fall into the behavior of the elder brother, righteously smug in our faith and in our literal obedience to God’s commands, that we lose our compassion, our understanding, and forgiveness of others.  We lose the loving relationship God desires us to have for one another.

…During this Lenten season

And during this Lenten season, can we see God the father?  He is the one who gives us the freedom to choose him or reject him, but who waits patiently, ready to embrace us in welcome, ready to shamelessly cajole and beg us to love and forgive one another.  Why?  Because, in God, we are called to have an extravagant, prodigious loving relationship with one another as brothers and sisters – you know, the kind of relationship he has for us.

Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a
Matthew 21: 33-43,45-46

Reflection:

For so many years, Lent was a time for giving up things such as dessert, going to movies, etc.  The focus was on giving up something that I liked instead of doing something hard such as working on my faults. In today’s first reading, Joseph’s brothers were so spiritually dead that they could not even greet him or be kind to him. Considering the behavior of  Joseph’s brothers should enable us to examine the difficult things about ourselves. Lent is a time for us to take the pulse of our spiritual life.  If there are no daily efforts to foster a spiritual life, or we refuse to speak or be kind and loving to others then we must consider that our spiritual life could be dead (spiritual arrest) or non-existent.

How do I spiritually resuscitate myself?  To foster spiritual self-renewal, we should engage in spiritual life-giving practices like daily prayer, daily meditation, scripture study, and acts of service; seek forgiveness and cultivate gratitude; and find time for reflection, solitude, and connection with nature or others. (Adapted from Self-Renewal on Google). It is important to have time set aside for daily spiritual activities. It is advantageous to designate a specific area in one’s home that is quiet, free from noise, and conducive to silence, reflection, and prayer.  A healthy spiritual life requires daily attention through spiritual practices. 

Lord, may I have the strength to engage in daily spiritual renewal activities, allowing me to grow closer to you, my loved ones, and everyone I encounter.   

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

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

Welcome: “Soft Hearts,” Sincerely Abraham

Not too long ago, at a school in the Detroit area, a faculty member proposed that the adults in the school community each select a student and write a personal letter telling what they appreciate as special about the student. There were 50 students who were singled out for such gifts as leadership, kindness, generosity, attention to other students. I heard praise both for the gifts of the students as well as how they shared their gifts. Before handing the letter to the student, we heard some of the letters being read. The letters were not finished before each child covered his or her face and cried, some sobbed. I cried too.

At the passing of our unnamed ‘rich man’ it seems not many people cried, ‘he was buried’. The parable doesn’t elicit tears. Sadly, there is no alternative ending. A petrified heart finds no place in Abraham’s bosom, and bad news continues for the five brothers.

Remember the children! The rich man had a lot of wealth with which he could have done good. The children have their children size gifts. We have ours. No matter, a small store of riches can be just as absorbing and blind us to the poor at our gate. The children were singled out because they shared what they had. Their gifts benefited others.

Why did they cry? Could it be those tears originated in the heart? In some way that none of us can explain their goodness was exposed; a goodness that reached out to many untold sufferings. Could their little gifts of kindness, help, or encouragement to a classmate alleviate some suffering. In their humble, small way sufferings were eased by their gift, but their gift brought them into contact with a bit of suffering. Maybe they do not understand this, nor could they articulate such a mystery. But what they did their hearts knew and their hearts overflowed with tears when it was named. These are the hearts that Abraham embraces in his bosom; hearts growing to the size of the love of God’s heart for us.

Would it have helped if someone wrote a letter to our rich man? Well, Moses and the prophets seem to have one this. But if we notice a friend or classmate whose heart needs some attention, it could well be that we also have a gift to speak a word to the weary. Sad, no one spoke to the rich man. Could he have been helped?

The Lenten days remind us that we are given a great gift, beyond our stored-up treasures. God gives us a sign in the resurrection from the dead that we are called t share a risen life. Life beyond this life is our destiny. We glimpsed this with the apostles Sunday. There are innumerable moments of resurrection – a peaceful death, a birth, an act of love, our boundless world of nature. These moments shout and can awaken in us, something that helps us know there is a resurrection of our humble mortal bodies. Let us celebrate them, look for them and share this gift with others.

Do not deny your gifts, use them. Affirm, awaken and encourage them in others. And in the Lenten days share the moments of resurrection that reveal the gift to come.

Fr. William Murphy, CP is a member of Immaculate Conception Community in Jamaica, New York.