Daily Scripture

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. 

Scripture:

1 Samuel 1:24-28
Luke 1:46-56

Reflection:

The Magnificat; Mary’s declaration of her love of God in response to an angel of the Lord. 

Lord it sure would be a great help if every time You had something to tell me, You would send an angel with the message.

I’ve never been good at picking up hints. My wife will tell You I’m not even good at hearing “suggestions.” It’s usually when I get slapped upside the head with a disastrous result, from something I should have or should not have done or said, that I perceive the rock catapulted my way.

But that’s on me, Lord.  I try to hear what people are saying to me and try even harder to understand what Jan is saying.  But sometimes it seems married folks, like Jan and I, need a Rosetta Stone to decipher each other’s messages). But either lack of attention or one of the indignities of old age deny me comprehension of those communications.

It’s even harder to hear and understand what You might be trying to say to me. I think if I would stop complaining, requesting help or doing all the talking in my prayers, I might hear Your voice in the silence. It seems very timely to seek Silent Nights, and in doing so, like the shepherds who attended their flocks, we too may hear a voice leading us to You.

Merry Christmas to all my Passionist brothers and sisters. A healthy and Happy New Year to those you love.

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

Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18
Luke 1:39-45

Reflection:

Our first reading comes from the Song of Songs which is an allegory of God’s love for his people. In this passage the groom represents God, and we see God inviting the beloved to come and live with God in happiness. In the alternate reading from the Prophet Zephaniah proclaims rejoice for the Lord is in your midst. God has protected them from their enemies. In the gospel text, we see Mary traveling to visit Elizabeth and her unborn son rejoicing for Mary is carrying the Lord and therefore is blessed. (Adapted from Reflections on the Daily Readings; The Irish Province of the Order of Carmelites (O. Carm.) http://www.carmelites.ie/prayer.html)

There are just a few more days till Christmas. These texts remind us that God is renewing us with affirming love. Have you ever thought that God is glad because of you and me? This fills me with Advent hope. The first two texts are about living our life in union with God and about our being restored in God’s life and love. “God sings joyfully because of you” (Zephaniah 3: 18). Can we imagine that God is singing joyfully because of us? Like Jerusalem, we too have fallen short of our best self at times. Our God yearns to be one with us. God is the Great Restorer. In these final days of Advent let us take time to be mindful and if we can’t be joyful, be grateful for God’s blessings as we prepare for Christmas. Let us pray for all those persons and families affected by the recent natural disasters in the United States and around the world. (Adapted from Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B., Living Faith, October, November, December 2019, Saturday, December 21, 2019)

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

Image credit: ArtbyCorby— Corby Eisbacher,Kernersville, North Carolina. 

Scripture:

Isaiah 7:10-14
Luke 1:26-38

Reflection:

Today’s readings are about promise and fulfillment, fear and courage, cynicism and trust.   Just five days before we celebrate the birth of Christ, the readings remind us that the coming of Christ was no accident, no twist of fate.  Rather, the coming of Christ was the fulfillment of a promise made long before.

The first reading tells us about the Prophet Isaiah’s encounter with Ahaz, the King of Judah.  Isaiah is trying to give Ahaz a spine so he can face his enemies who are at the gate.  He assures Ahaz of God’s care and tells him to ask for a sign of God’s favor.  Ahaz can’t imagine how God could make a difference in this crisis so he begs off with the words, “I will not ask.  I will not tempt the Lord.”  Isaiah, in disgust, responds, “…the Lord Himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.”  The fear and cynicism of Ahaz result in the destruction of his Kingdom.

In the Gospel, we hear the story of Mary’s encounter with the Angel of God.  The angel tells her that God has a plan for her that boggles her imagination.  She is told that she will bear a son “who will be called holy, the Son of God…and who will rule over the house of Jacob forever.”  Though she is unsure how these things could possibly happen, her personal courage and complete trust in God move her to respond, “I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.”  Luke clearly sees that the promise made by God through Isaiah is fulfilled in the “yes” of the Mother of Jesus.

These readings call us to realize that God’s promises are best fulfilled in the hearts and lives of those who are open to Him.  As we prepare for Christmas let our prayer be, “Lord, help us welcome you with trust in our hearts whenever you come.”

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

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Scripture:

Micah 5:1-4a
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45

Reflection:

For our Gospel reading for today, we have the account of the Visitation, when Mary visits her relative Elizabeth. We see here one of the most exuberant sharing of joy we find in all of Scriptures. Mary has found out from the angel Gabriel great news, not only about herself and the world, but also about Elizabeth, who was thought to be barren and too old to have a baby, but is now six months pregnant. Luke tells us that Mary goes “in haste” to make the visit.

When the two see each other, there is such joy! In fact, when Elizabeth hears Mary say words of greeting, the infant in her womb leaps for joy. And Elizabeth, filled with the Spirit, says two things which are important to remember as we near the end of Advent and enter into the mystery of Christmas.

One thing Elizabeth says is, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” We could ask ourselves, “How does this happen to me, that my Lord should come to me? That He should become like me, in order to save me?” We know the answer to that is God’s love for us. But we also know that we can’t even begin to understand the immensity of that love. If we are open to it, this can fill us with wonder and gratitude.

Which leads us to another thing that Elizabeth says to Mary: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Blessed are we who believe that what has been spoken to us will be fulfilled for us, and in us, and through us. Can we believe that God is for us? That God does not seek our destruction but our healing and redemption? That the promise that is Christmas has been fulfilled for us in Jesus Christ and will come to complete fulfillment in the coming of the kingdom? As we near the end of Advent, , we may reflect on how we can be ambassadors so that others can believe that what has been spoken to them will be fulfilled. I think a good way for that is to go back to the words of Elizabeth: “and how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” How would our Advent and Christmas and New Year be if every time we encountered someone we would wonder, “How does this happen to me, that the brother or sister of my Lord should come to me?” Is not making room for Jesus inextricably linked to making room for our sisters or brothers?

May we be filled with wonder and joy as we contemplate the coming of Jesus, and share that joy with the sisters and brothers we have in the Lord.

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

Scripture:

Genesis 49:2, 8-10
Matthew 1:1-17

Reflection:

In eight days, Christians will again celebrate the miracle that forever changed the world. When God became one of us in Jesus, being born into our world in Bethlehem, we received a promise of hope we never thought possible and a blessing of joy we never believed our hearts could know. This is why Christians profess that in Jesus we meet our king and redeemer, our savior and messiah.

But Jesus will be a king dramatically unlike other kings and a savior it is easy to overlook. The reading from Genesis foretells the royal life of Israel. Jacob announces to his son Judah that he, like other kings, will conquer his enemies, receive homage from the people, and be like a lion, “the king of beasts,” that everyone fears to approach. By contrast, the psalm response envisions the reign of God that will break into the world in Jesus. Jesus will rule with the wisdom, mercy, and goodness of God. Under his kingship, the world will overflow in justice and peace. The poor will not be trampled, crushed, and forgotten, but liberated. The suffering will not be overlooked or ignored but comforted and healed.

The gospel passage from Matthew recounts the genealogy of Jesus. What can seem like a bewildering chronicle of names nearly impossible to pronounce reveals something wonderful: God works through human beings—including some who were dramatically flawed—to bring about something extraordinarily blessed. But it is easy to miss the blessing because God, who is savior and king, enters our world not in wealth and majesty, but as a helpless child in a family looking for shelter.

Today’s scriptures remind us that to prepare for the coming of Christ we must look for Jesus where perhaps we least expect to find him. Jesus is right before us, once more beseeching our help, in the stranger, in migrants and refugees, in the poor and homeless, in people of other races and cultures and religions, who, like Joseph and Mary and Jesus, are in need of assistance. Are our hearts open to receive them? Are our hands ready to help?

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

Scripture:

Isaiah 45:6b-8, 18, 21c-25
Luke 7:18b-23

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel John the Baptist through his followers asks of Jesus, “Are you the one”?  Isn’t that a question we all ask at some point or even frequently during our lives? We might ask the question in a different way. Are you real God? Are you there? As we move through our faith journey and face challenges or struggles, we may wonder. We too want to know and want some assurance. At the time of John the Baptist, Jesus was in full view performing miracles and curing many, yet at times today we can lose sight of His actions in the world or in our lives, might not so clearly see His work or feel He is here.

John sent his followers to ask the question that would impact his life in a significant way. How do we answer that question for ourselves? Do we approach the Lord in prayer? Do we talk to Him? Do we ask Him? Do we invite Him into our life? Do we ask for confirmation? Do we stay close to Him spend time with Him ask others about Him or read the Bible that we might learn? Like John, the question is important. We have to ask.

The alternative is not to ask. To not ponder the question and what it means. To keep our faith at a safe distance. Comfortable with having the Lord around, but not too close. Really knowing the truth told John the Baptist a lot and changed things meaningfully for him. He would decrease and fade away while the Lord would increase. Knowing the truth would change a lot of things for us. Our plans and our ways would also decrease in importance and the Lord’s influence would increase in our lives. The answer might ask things of us and make us look closer at ourselves, challenge us.

Oh, but what we would gain. To know His presence, His truth, His love. To rest in Him. Like John, may we develop a hunger to know the truth about The Lord.

Steve Walsh is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Sierra Madre ,and a good friend of the Passionist Community.

Monday of the Third Week of Advent 

Scripture:

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a
Matthew 21:23-27

Reflection:

Spirit-filled Balaam cries out his oracle and portrays for us the image of a great person called forth to speak on behalf of the Lord:

…One whose eye is true, the utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled.

Balaam sees Israel in its most pure state, and praises it, likening its tents and encampments to gardens beside a stream, like cedars that were planted by the Lord himself.  You know something amazing is about to flow from the mouth of this servant of the Lord!  And then he says it:  “I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near:  A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel.”  Imagine, Balaam looks upon the stronghold of Israel but announces the coming of a messiah who comes not from the encampments but a child to be born in a stable!

But we see him!  We see this “star advancing from Jacob”, this “staff rising from Israel” for it is Jesus, the Lord.  We see him in the temple area preaching and teaching with great authority.  But the chief priests and the elders do not see what Balaam saw; they do not see what we now see.  They wonder at his authority instead of the truth of his words.  Their eyes are veiled and not clear.  They are lost in their own power!

How fitting that these days we await the coming of the Lord, a coming that is pure and simple, not veiled with power and authority, but in the unexpected and amazing birth of a little child.  Is this not how the Lord works in our lives?  He catches our attention by drawing us to a newborn babe, vulnerable and innocent, carefully avoiding the mighty and powerful rulers and kings!

Fr. Pat Brennan, CP is the director of St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan.