Daily Scripture

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.   
-Matthew 21:43

Those poor Pharisees! Doesn’t Jesus see they’re only trying to protect and lead the people? They are doing their best in the way they know how. And if they happen to profit from their actions, well, isn’t that their just rewards?

Often those who find themselves in positions of leadership find there are perks that go with the position. Even beyond the respect and admiration afforded to those in power, there can be financial and other benefits. Once we find ourselves in a position of leadership, we can lose sight of our original intention: service. And to keep ourselves in these exalted positions, we need to be clear who is allowed in our special group and who is an outcast.

In the parable that Jesus shares today we see a group of people grasping at things that do not belong to them. Even the Pharisees see what the end result will be. But it is interesting that the judgement that Jesus says will be rendered on the Pharisees is not that they will lose their positions, their influence, or their prestige. No, they will lose something much more precious they will lose the kingdom of God – The peace that comes from living in the presence of God. In the original Greek Jesus says the kingdom will be given over to the ethnos, literally the family of humankind.

In the same way that the curtain in the Holy of Holies is torn top to bottom and God is revealed to all at the moment of Jesus’ death, Jesus is saying every woman, man, and child is given the kingdom. It is not reserved for those with special training, for a particular race, with economic status, with a color of skin, or any other of the myriad ways we divide our family. Jesus is living proof that God is with us. And, it seems, it is only those who would deny God to others who will lose the kingdom.

Today I pray that I remember to be of service to all who I encounter, regardless of our relationship according to human ideas.

Talib Huff is on the retreat team at Christ the King Retreat Center In Citrus Heights. You can contact him at [email protected].

Scripture:

Jeremiah 18:18-20
Matthew 20:17-28

Reflection:

Leadership is a demanding ministry. It might also be said to be an ‘art’ and a subtle one at that. It is far easier in a time when a group or organisation is growing and progressing – such times are exciting, the groups have high energy and leaders, and members can see the results of their efforts – often before there very eyes.

In times of trial, disappointment, struggle, or persecution leadership is equally vital, but it takes on a different character. Leadership in difficult times, especially when hostility is directed at leaders themselves, is deeply challenging. At such times validation must come not from external success or adulation an approval, but from deep within. In times of persecution especially leaders must draw on a well of deep resources – hope, trust, and faith to persevere and to lead. In items of persecution a trial ‘good’ can seem to be repaid with evil (as the prophet Jeremiah notes).

Jesus was all too aware of such dynamics.

“Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” He asks those who follow and seek to hold office and authority.

Power, position, privilege, and prestige are often associated with leadership – and they can be seductively alluring. To seek only these aspects is to be led astray and instead of leading one is being led – and the mission suffers.

Further if one only sees leadership in the light of its associated aspects then one misses the mark completely.

In the vision of Jesus, leadership goes beyond mere titles and even position in a group structure. For Jesus leadership might have trappings, but they were not his concern, rather he speaks to the essential dynamic of leading – service.  “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave”.

Further, while Jesus sees that leading entails witness and is observed to entail ‘seats’ of office – he is more concerned to stress that a leader must also be able a prepared to endure betrayal, restriction of liberty and even death. He speaks openly of his ‘chalice’ as symbolic of these realities.

We have the finest of leaders to follow – let us do so. “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is a member of Holy Spirit Province, Australia. 

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

The Week of Good Works

We can see a difference in the book of readings during Lent. Each day there is a particular gospel with its complimentary first reading. The readings are selected to guide us during the Lenten season. This is different from ordinary time when we progress each day through the gospel and book chosen for the first reading. There we are using the system of ‘consecutive readings’.

Although the readings may seem to jump around, we have the wonderful ability to see patterns emerge, to relate God’s word each day to the Lenten season and allow it to enlighten and enrich us. Like waves on a body of water, there is a harmony as each moves along, quietly yet powerfully, picking us up, showing us the depths, at times giving us a commanding view.

In Lent, we do battle with the tempter of our human nature. We are fighting to live fully our Christian lives. We are armed with the weapons of prayer, fasting and good works. The readings of the first week of Lent were about prayer, now, this second week, we turn to good works.

We are to be compassionate. We are not to judge or condemn, but to forgive. And we are to give, to be directed outward, to share and enrich others with what we have been given.

The Book of Daniel tells us, “But yours, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!” Indeed this is the most positive and important line in our reading today. The setting of the Book of Daniel, its stories and hero Daniel are about trust in God during the most difficult time of the Babylonian defeat and persecution of Israel. However, the book was written 300 years later when the Greeks overran the Holy Land and brought great persecution against Israel in the time of the Maccabees. The faith of Daniel in God amidst great suffering gave its readers hope and perseverance.

Our reading of Daniel is a great lament. We have rebelled and not listened at all to God’s life-giving laws. So we begin to consider our good works of lent rather humbly. We may feel at the bottom of the wave, becoming aware of our failures in this area more than how good our works have been. But in the sorrow that arises within us we know Our God who is compassion and forgiveness. He sets us on sure ground. What better way to begin this week than remembering God’s compassion and forgiveness? We humbly realize that God gives to us generously. May we undertake our good works, imitating the God who gives generously to us, our God who is compassionate and forgiving.

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

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

Our readings for today invite us to reflect on the second Sunday in Lent—called Transfiguration Sunday. We hear from the Gospel of Luke. In the previous verses leading up to this scene on the mountain top. Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, this is found at the beginning of chapter nine. Following this Jesus outlines the conditions of discipleship. The next scene is Luke’s version of the Transfiguration. Where He, (Jesus) takes Peter, James, and John up the mountain—these three become important in the early Christian community. According to Scripture Scholars, the Gospel of Luke is arranged to show Jesus as the New Adam, he is considered as the universal savior by the author of Luke. Moses and Elijah are connected back to the Old Testament prophets. Here Jesus does all the right things, he does not disobey his father—unlike the old Adam, we know he embraces his Father’s will for him in this Gospel, he refuses to be tempted and is portrayed often as going to pray, often. As disciples, we are to do likewise. So, in this scene the apostles experience his transfiguration,  as the cloud is lifted. In the Old Testament this cloud was typically understood as the presence of God.

Here in this text, we have Peter falling asleep and this brings us right to the garden at Gethsemane at the betrayal of Jesus.  These are our fearless leaders, perhaps hapless could be a better word. However, I would like to think that Peter was awestruck being in the presence of God. Can we understand that Peter finds himself caught in an unexpected situation and he says the first thing on impulse, can we identify with Peter? We’ll come back to this impulse in a moment.

In a similar fashion to Abram, in our first reading from Genesis.  As Abram waited for the animals to burn out a deep trance fell upon him. This story tells us about God’s covenant and his willingness to stay close and involved with us. Even supplying the flaming torch. God uses the same object (or similar words) to reinstate us into covenant. The important thing for us is to remember is God’s mercy and forgiveness. No matter how bad our transgressions, God desires a right relationship with us.

This leads us to our second reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul encourages his community not to be distracted with earthly things but to elevate themselves and embrace our true destiny. They and us are worthy of citizenship in Heaven. In the words of the Psalm, The Lord is my Light and my salvation—whom should we fear? In reflecting on Peter’s desire to build tents up on the mountain. Taking Jesus’ cue, we must not stay on the mountaintop. We must strive to avoid over-identifying(generally thought of as Idolatry). God does not desire us to cling to things/experiences which we cannot change we are to welcome all experiences as gift. The lesson for us on this Transfiguration Sunday is regardless of the circumstances going on around us, in the words of St. Paul, we stand firm in the Lord, our beloved—without any fear. Like, Peter, may we be awestruck and transformed on our Lenten Journey as disciples of Jesus. May we be Blessed by our continued Lenten journey. And may Peace be our gift this and every day. 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.

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

Let your meditation be “taken up” in the Holy Spirit today. The Word of God invites us to the mystical within us. The “mystical” within us is the reality within us which is not apparent to the intelligence or the senses! This reality inspires a sense of mystery and wonder. Yes, it takes a choice in our prayer to surrender one’s senses, one’s breathing, one’s heartbeat to a presence that is with us, in us, and works through us.

Make this exercise of inhaling and exhaling be the physical connection to the breath and heartbeat of our Creator. “The beat of our heart ought to be responding to God’s beat, the intake of our life-breath to the breathing of God’s spirit upon us. God first loves us with heart and soul moment by moment, and to live we must resonate or vibrate this divine heartbeat and breathing of life. And so we will “be made perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Fr. Carroll Stuhlmueller, C.P.)

In our human, limited way of thinking and perceiving, “perfect” is the end all and be all of something. There is nothing more to add. It is a static, unchanging state of being. 

But the God whom Jesus calls “Father” is superlative, all-expansive in love. God’s perfection means there is always room for more!” Our God possesses us, as God’s own, called to walk, daily, in God’s ways. Our God is ever-forgiving, ever desiring, calling forth our love in every circumstance, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health.

So rather than coming to a state of completion or perfection, we are called today and tomorrow, to remain on the way, that every circumstance would continue to stretch us with the capability of loving more and more. Take this meditation into your day. It is not magical, it is mystical!

Fr. Alex Steinmiller, C.P., is a member of the Passionist Community in Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

We are all familiar with the three pillars of Lent: prayer, almsgiving, and fasting.  The other day, as I reflected on my daily life, I concluded – with some self-satisfaction – that I already practice these disciplines.  Do I pray? Yes.  Give alms?  Yes. Fast?  Well, maybe once in a while.  As I enter Lent, then, two out of three ain’t bad, right?  Wrong.  Jesus tells us in today’s gospel: “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:20).  In other words, Lent demands more of us.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus deepened the Law, in contrast to the literal, perhaps even smug interpretation of the Torah by the scribes and Pharisees, and by extension our own understanding of the Commandments.  It is more than a matter of not killing or not committing adultery, for example.  Go deeper, Jesus urges us.  He calls us, not merely to obey the letter of law, but to go the extra mile.  Exorcise even those feelings and attitudes that can lead us to violate those commandments.  Begin with love and reconciliation.

“If you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift,” Jesus tells us (Mt. 5:23-24).  Offering gifts at the altar is a solemn duty.  Jesus, however, says the first and greater duty is to reconcile with brother or sister.  There can be no true harmony with God if there is disharmony among brother and sister.

Interestingly, the early second-century catechism, the Didache, applies this same principle to the Eucharist: “Let no one who has a quarrel with his fellow join you, until they have been reconciled, so that your sacrifice may not be defiled” (Did. 14:2).

Lent is more than checking boxes.  Jesus demands more.  Our Lenten journey of 40 days is a time to shake out of our smug and secure comfort zone.  This is a time of challenge, purification, and testing.  Love and reconciliation are the best way – ultimately the only way – we can prepare for and experience true resurrection.

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

Scripture:

Ester C:12, 14-16, 23-25
Matthew 7:7-12

Reflection:

“Ask and it will be given; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.” Can we believe that when so often it doesn’t appear to hold true? We beg and plead with God and seemingly get no answer. Indeed, sometimes someone else’s prayers seem to be answered while ours go unheeded. We can heap guilt upon ourselves, assuming it’s our fault. Perhaps we’re asking in the “wrong” way, or perhaps our faith is deficient. Or we get angry because we assume the fault is God’s. How can we please this capricious God who doles out favors so sparingly?

One distinction to note: What is it that Jesus promises? He says, “…how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him?” Ah, that changes things. We are not promised that if we ask for a new job, we will receive a new job, or if we ask for physical healing, we will receive physical healing. Instead, Jesus promises that if we ask for anything, we will receive “good things”. In other words, we will receive what we need, not necessarily what we want. What we request may or may not be good for us, and God knows the difference.  

When my dad was dying, despite our multitude of prayers (from 10 kids!) we did not receive physical healing. Instead, we received reconciliation of divisions within our family that Dad was able to witness before he died. We received the blessing of having most of the family gathered with him, praying and singing as he went to God. We received such a strong witness to spirituality and faith that even non-practicing family members were touched. Dad’s death was truly sacred. God doesn’t often give physical healing, but God always heals. God doesn’t always answer in the ways we want, but God always answers prayers.

Jesus tells us God wants us to be honest and ask for what we desire. Of course, God knows what’s in my heart even before I speak. Formulating and verbalizing my needs is a valuable exercise for my own sake, not for God’s. Then I must trust the Source of all love to winnow out the chaff and pour out what I truly need underneath it all.

Jesus’ challenge, then, is to continually be in relationship with God – asking for what I need, laying bare the depths of my heart and sharing my life. Then comes the hard part – simultaneously opening myself and learning to listen to God’s answers, so I can be an ever more receptive vessel to what God knows I need to receive. My life will not be free from sadness, tragedy, and loss. I need constantly to ask, seek, and knock. God will answer by filling me with everything I need to handle it with grace, courage, and peace. What greater answer could anyone receive?

Amy Florian is a teacher and consultant working in Chicago.  For many years she has partnered with the Passionists.  Visit Amy’s website: http://www.corgenius.com/.

Scripture:

Isaiah 55:10-11
Matthew 6:7-15

Reflection:

How should we pray?

If you do not have the words, don’t worry, the Holy Spirit will interpret them for you to the Father. What is in your heart is what is important. Hence, there is no wrong or right way to pray. Jesus left us an example of what should always be in our heart when we pray. We all speak with different words and different languages, but God knows the heart and He listens. Train your heart to always pray as Jesus taught us.

The Lord promises that the Word that comes from his mouth will be like the rain and snow that come down from the heavens: Our Father who art in heaven. God’s fruitful Word gives bread to the one who eats: Give us this day our daily bread. God’s Word shall do his will: Thy will be done. God’s Word shall not return to him void: Thy Kingdom come. God’s merciful Word changes our hearts: We forgive those who trespass against us. God’s Word achieves its purpose: Deliver us from evil.

If you forgive the faults of others, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours. If you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive you.”—Matthew 6:14-15

The above Scripture passage from today’s Gospel reading is blunt and clear. “The measure with which you measure will be used to measure you” (Mt 7:2). Our eternal forgiveness and salvation depend upon whether or not we have forgiven those who have wronged us. Yet we are only human, and our sinful nature inherited from original sin makes forgiveness impossible from a human standpoint. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing, particularly when choosing to forgive (Jn 15:5). Therefore, we must constantly beg the Lord for the grace to forgive “seventy times seven times” those who have harmed us (Mt 18:22).

Deacon Peter Smith serves at St. Mary’s and Holy Family Parishes in Alabama. He is also the Athletic Director and Facility Manager at Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Birmingham, Alabama, and a member of our Passionist Family.