Daily Scripture

Scripture:

1 John 3:22–4:6 
Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

Reflection:

Across the entire Christmas Season, we are invited into the family dynamics surrounding the life of Jesus. Of course, the stories around the birth of Jesus highlight this par excellence, but so too do the stories of the birth of John the Baptist and his subsequent ministry.

Today’s gospel is no exception. We see how an event in the life of his cousin John affects Jesus in a most profound way. John may have been silenced by Herod, but his message is about to be taken up and amplified by Jesus himself. The gospel today begins with the confronting news of John’s arrest. This arrest must also have been a stark reminder to Jesus that to engage in prophetic ministry and to call for change was a dangerous mission. Yet, it is as if the arrest of his cousin propels Jesus himself into a more active role. He sets out from Nazareth and begins his wider public ministry. We see too that he takes up the cry of John and that his first message to people is ‘to repent’. 

We know Jesus will refine and redefine this basic message, and expand it to include all people in this wildly visionary call to live within the ‘reign’ of God in our own world, and to anticipate the life we will share with God in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus truly brings a new vision and in the light of this vision people see a new way forward. Hope surfaces once again to empower them. Where the drudgery of life, and the various levels of oppression they suffered felt like they were walking in the valley of death rather than living, they now see a way forward and are bathed in a new light.

Jesus will also adds new dimensions to the preaching that John had begun. He will become itinerant and traverse all around Galilee with his message of hope. His message will be so attractive and appealing that people will flock to him to hear him or be cured by him. Further, people will now accompany and follow him on his travels.

This will create a three-way dynamic – Jesus will go to people in their own places, they will flock to be with him when he is in their environment and people will also follow him beyond their own areas and become his companions.

This might suggest to us three moments of hope as we begin this new year. We know Jesus will come to us no matter what our circumstance, we know we are invited into his presence and that his message for us in a healing one, and we know that we can be companions and accompany him – we can be his disciples.

 Happy New Year and every blessing for 2022.

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

The Epiphany of the Lord

Scripture:

Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

Reflection:

Surprisingly, in today’s Gospel of Matthew, the first people to visit Baby Jesus and pay homage to Him were Gentiles who travelled from another country, not Jews who lived close by. The Greek word “Epiphany” (epiphanos) meaning  appearance or manifestation or showing up, describes Jesus’ first appearance to the world. And the foreign visitors, the searchers from the east, represent the entire world. 

A major theme in Matthew’s gospel is that God’s salvation extends beyond Jesus’ immediate Jewish community to include the Gentiles as well as the Jews. In other words, God’s love embraces all. The visit of the Magi is a message of inclusion at the very beginning of Jesus’ life. We hear this message of inclusion again in Jesus’ final commission: “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you”. (Mt. 28: 19-20) 

In today’s second reading, St. Paul tells the Ephesians: “the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” In God’s mind, there are no insiders nor outsiders. As members of the same body, we are interconnected in a common life. So, as we begin 2022, how does the feast of Epiphany’s message of inclusion effect our relationships? Do we really believe God is calling us to an ever-deepening inclusion, to extend our arms and hearts as Jesus did, to embrace the whole world?

And so, we may ask ourselves:

Are most of our days spent with those who look like us, live like us, worship like us, and think like us? The Magi went way beyond their comfort zones in search of Jesus. Can we do the same?

Do we trust that we will gain from being with those different from ourselves? Can we make the commitment to hone our skills in dialog, and in cultural literacy this year?

As citizens, where does the message of Jesus’ Epiphany lead us this year? Will the public policies we choose to support serve to break down the barriers to inclusion in our own country and around the world? Will the suffering of those discriminated against because they are “Other” disturb us to action? Will we hear the calls from those on the margins of this world?

May all our travels of the heart and mind and soul this year end as happily as they did for the Magi:

They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage. ~ Matthew 2:10-11

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.

Scripture:

1 John 2:18-21
John 1:1-18

Reflection:

Children, it is the final hour. -1 John 2:18a 

Those are the first words of our Scripture today.  The Church, in her wisdom, offers us this stark reminder.  Here we are, sitting on the last moments of 2021.  Tomorrow is New Year’s Day.  Aren’t we supposed to make some resolutions?  

For me, I suppose I’d begin by reflecting a bit on these 365 days – the good and the bad – the moments I’ve savored, but also those moments I really just don’t want to taste anymore.  The more I think, the more I’m reminded of all the insanity of these last months – murder, hate, disaster, and also the “Holiday Season” which is chock full of Black Friday fighting, and “I didn’t get what I want for Christmas,” and what seems like a sorrowful loathing and even anger at just anticipating family gatherings.

It really amazes and saddens me how cluttered our lives, as a society, have become with things like selfishness, consumerism, inconsiderate behavior, lack of understanding of other people, rejection, hate – the list goes on and on.  And no matter who we are, we’re all guilty of these things from time to time.  I try hard, but, friends, I can be forgetful of my calling and so often fail to live like the man God wants me to be.  There’s so much cluttering our hearts that we are just overflowing.  There’s no room for anything else.

Again, the Church, in her wisdom, reminds us also that Jesus wants to live with us… with-in us. In reading John’s words in today’s Gospel, “And the Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:14 To me, it’s like a slap in the face.  “Paul, do you have room?” Is there space in the inn of my heart?  Is Jesus able to make his dwelling in me?

Thinking about that, I realize I sure have a lot of cleaning to do…  So much so, that perhaps making some resolutions would be the prudent thing.

So, then, here are my resolutions:

• • Lose Weight:  I’m going to drop the weight of hurt and hate and live the lightness of Joy.
  • Clean the House: I’m going to sweep the junk from my mind and soul and make room for love and peace.
  • Stop Smoking: I’m going to stop burning myself up and allow time to rest and pray.
  • Eat Healthier:  I’m going to feed my spirit with the healthy words of life.
  • Be A Better Person: I’m going to treat every person I meet like they are Jesus; with love and mercy.

How are you going to ready your house for God?

Dear God of new year’s, thank you for the gift of fresh beginnings.  Grant us the grace of a broom with which we can sweep away all that keeps us from recognizing and welcoming you into our hearts and lives.  And please, help us all never break our resolution to be closer to you. Amen.

Paul Puccinelli is Director of Liturgy & Music at St. Rita Parish in Sierra Madre, California, and a member of the retreat team at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center.

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

For the past few months, our parish has been busy resettling an Afghani family of eleven.  They are beautiful people, so happy to be in a safe place with a future that brings much hope and promise.  They have been busy transitioning into their new life in America.  There is much asked of them as they begin to learn a new language, customs and expectations. Our team of volunteers has been busy helping them to weather some of these changes. Even though they continue to be grateful for this new start in life I am sure their thoughts return time and again to those family and friends who they left behind.  Recently they were showing us news from home that included some very graphic scenes of the horrific conditions besetting their countrymen at this time.  The Herods of the world are still wreaking havoc upon innocent victims whether that be Bethlehem, Afghanistan, Syria or the many places here in our own country.  Today as we remember the Holy Innocents, we must be aware of all the innocent who suffer past and present at the hands of powerful and cruel people.

Mary, Joseph and Jesus were also a refugee family willing to make sacrifices, pull up roots and relocate to a foreign place just to give safety to their family. Three days ago we celebrated the birth of that newborn babe who was born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem.  He is that light sent from God to guide us through the darkness to new life. It is this light that brings us hope in whatever darkness that may cloud our life journey.  We are called to be people who follow that light, give thanks to our loving God, befriend the innocent and lead others to justice.

The Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, God with Us has come into the world!  Let us celebrate this good news by how we live our lives anew.  May peace reign in the hearts of all people today and in the days to come.  Amen.

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

Scripture:

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Colossians 3:12-21
Luke 2:41-52

Reflection:

I regret the practice of discarding all things Christmas so soon after December 25, as if the journey is complete. Maybe it is because we begin celebrating the holy day six weeks or more before the feast that, by the time Christmas Day comes and goes, we’re done. Trees discarded to the curb, wreaths and stockings packed away, wrapping paper and creche stored until next year.

But for me, I cherish the days that take us from the Nativity to the Epiphany, perhaps more so in this unbelievably difficult year. These are the days that carry the most Christmas meaning precisely because the hype is over and life calms down. It’s this image of “the journey” that resonates within me. It’s a journey that can only begin with the birth of Jesus.

Certainly, Mary and Joseph making their way to Bethlehem and the journey of the wise men come to mind, but so too the journey the Holy Family will take to Egypt to seek safety. Less known—but certain nonetheless—is the journey back to the fields of the shepherds where they share their experience at the manger in Bethlehem. Some of us may recall the 1985 movie, The Fourth Wise Man, the story of another wise man whose own journey to Bethlehem is waylaid only to find Jesus, finally, in Jerusalem on the Cross.

“It’s the journey, not the destination” is a familiar saying that urges us not miss what is happening now, not to be blind to the graces in the moment. Christmas did not end yesterday; it only just began. It’s okay to put away the Christmas decorations, but maybe we can see that as preparing ourselves for our own Christmas journey in the days and year ahead. What experiences of the birth of Jesus will I share with those I encounter along the way, on my Christmas journey that begins today?

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:

Isaiah 52:7-10
Hebrews 1:1-6
John 1:1-18

Reflection:

Please enjoy this Christmas message from our Passionist Family:

Scripture:

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Luke 1:57-66

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the account of the birth of John the Baptist. As is the case with Jesus, which we will hear when we celebrate Christmas, there are many remarkable things that happened with John’s birth. There is the message brought to Zechariah his father in the Temple. And when Zechariah has his doubts, he is struck mute. And John’s mother, Elizabeth, was thought to be incapable of having a child, and yet here she is, giving birth to a son. And when Zechariah confirms Elizabeth’s statement that the child would be named John, his mouth is opened, and he praises God. And so the people wonder, “What, then will this child be?” As Luke writes, “For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”

It seems that anyone associated with Jesus has some remarkable things happen to him or her. But these extraordinary things that happen with John should not blind us to the remarkable things that God has done for us in our lives. The very fact of our having life is remarkable. The birth, life, Passion and death, and Resurrection of Jesus for our salvation is a mystery that can never be fully comprehended. But as we strive this season to enter more deeply into this mystery of God’s love for us, we may ask ourselves, “What, then, am I called to be?”

Perhaps we are called, in the words of our first reading from Malachi, to “prepare the way” of the Lord. Perhaps we, like John, are called to help “turn the hearts” of parents toward their children, and the hearts of children toward their parents, and the hearts of people toward each other.

Such a remarkable thought! But, as the angel told Mary when he informed her that Elizabeth was pregnant, “nothing will be impossible for God.”

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