Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Acts 9:26-31
I John 3:18-24
John 15:1-8

Reflection:

“Remain in (stay with, dwell, settle in), as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

Last summer I grew some flowering vines on a new trellis in my garden. As they grew and intertwined, it was hard to tell the vine from the branches. By contrast, tree trunks and branches are more clearly defined and distinct, growing to appear to be almost separate entities.

But with a vine, the branches are kept very close to the nurturing vine, so close it is often difficult to distinguish between the two. And this is the graphic image that Jesus chose to describe His intimate and nurturing relationship with us, his disciples, that we read about in today’s Gospel reading!

As we remain (stay with, dwell in, and settle in with) Jesus, he promises we will “bear much fruit”. And we see that “fruit” in today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. In these earliest years of the Church, people who would normally not meet because of their religion or ethnicity were drawn together as disciples, as they recognized the same life of Jesus in each other. Saul of Tarsus (modern day Turkey), a Jewish persecutor of Christians had become “Paul” after his conversion experience with Jesus. He tries to join the disciples in Jerusalem, and they are understandably afraid of him. Enter Barnabas who befriends Paul and later goes on mission with him, establishing Christian communities all around the Mediterranean area.

How has your life as a branch on Jesus’ vine been opened to new and fruitful relationships?

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.

Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

Scripture:

Genesis 1:26-2:3 or Colossians 3:14-15, 17, 23-24
Matthew 13:54-58

Reflection:

In December, Pope Francis declared this liturgical year of 2021 as a special year to honor St. Joseph.  In fact, Joseph’s role is so important in our Christian tradition that he is honored on two feasts—March 19, the “Solemnity of Saint Joseph, the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary” and today, May 1, “St. Joseph the Worker.”  Both feasts celebrate gospel scenes in which Joseph is mentioned.  The infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke point to Joseph’s role as the spouse of Mary. Matthew’s Gospel emphasizes the protective role of Joseph, as he is counseled by a heavenly messenger in a dream to take Mary and the infant Jesus to Egypt, out of the deadly reach of the despot King Herod who seeks to kill the infant as a potential rival to his throne.

Today’s feast reflects another dimension of Joseph.  As the gospel selection from Matthew notes, Jesus is known in his hometown of Nazareth as “the carpenter’s son.”  The Greek word used here—tekton— literally means a “craftsman,” someone working with wood but perhaps also with stone.

Appropriately the special readings for this feast cite the opening chapter of the book of Genesis, which in majestic poetry describes God’s creation of the world.  The segment selected for the first reading today notes the creation of the human being, with the astounding assertion that God made the human being, “male and female” in God’s “own image.”  Distinct from all the rest of creation, the human is endowed with self-awareness, a capacity to love, and sharing in God’s own stewardship of the created world. 

Awareness of the threats to earth— “our common home” as Pope Francis refers to it in his encyclical on ecology, Laudato Si’—modern biblical scholarship has noted that “dominion” over the created world entrusted to humans by God is probably not the best translation.  The responsibility of humans for the development and well-being of the earth should mirror God’s own “dominion”—that is, recognizing its innate goodness and beauty and, therefore, caring for it and not destroying it.  Perhaps the English word “stewardship” catches more accurately the meaning of this key passage in Genesis.

It is this God-given commission to care for the earth—to be its “stewards”– that ultimately gives human work a sacred character and confers dignity on those who labor.  This feast of St. Joseph the Worker coincides with the celebration of labor that takes place in many countries throughout the world on May 1.  Pope Francis again, in his decree inaugurating the year of St. Joseph, noted this connection. In accord with the gospels, it is true to say that Jesus himself was from a “working class” family. From our Catholic and Christian point of view, human labor of all types is to be respected.  Working conditions that demean or exploit human labor are unjust and to be condemned. 

Because of the ravages of the pandemic, we are aware more than ever today of those who have lost their jobs and families who live in acute poverty and uncertainty about their survival.  In the responsorial Psalm 90 for this feast, we earnestly pray: “Lord, give success to the work of our hands.”  This feast honoring Joseph the “worker” invites us to pray and to strive for justice on behalf of those who work, particularly those most vulnerable.

Fr. Donald Senior, C.P. is President Emeritus and Professor of New Testament at Catholic Theological Union.  He lives at the Passionist residence in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Scripture:

Acts 13:26-33
John 14:1-6

Reflection:

One of my favorite readings – today’s gospel from the book of John; I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Those three words – way, truth, life – reflect who Jesus can be to every one of us. 

There is only one way – Jesus’ way. I want to live as Jesus would have me live, because I want to go to heaven when I have finished my earthly journey. I want to be Christ to others; I want to turn the other cheek (that is a hard one) and I have to serve others in whatever capacity the Lord sees fit. I want to see my Father’s house at the end of this journey.

There is only one truth – that Jesus Christ is Lord, and he is our one saving grace. His words and actions should be reflected and shared through us to others. In trusting in him, we know that he will lead us to his truth, enabling us to see through the mess through which some have blurred the clear vision of truth.

There is only one life – a life sharing Jesus with others and living in a way that promotes his unending and beautiful love. And in living this life, I am reminded of the steps to grace that we can accomplish, enabling ourselves and others the chance of entering the gates of Heaven:

• to hear Christ’s words and put them into practice (Matthew 7:24)
• to believe in Him, and have an everlasting faith; for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him will have everlasting life
  (John 3:16)
• to repent from our sins (Luke 5:31-32)
• to confess Christ to others (Matthew 10:32)
• to being baptized into Christ’s death, and living and sharing his Passion (Mark 16:15-16)
• to remember a constant commitment in presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1-2)

May the peace of Christ be with you all!

Patty Masson supports the Passionists from Spring, Texas.

Scripture:

Acts 13:13-25
John 13:16-20

Reflection:

If you are what you should be, you will set all the world ablaze!     – St Catherine of Siena

Today the Church celebrates the feast day of one of the four women Doctors of the Church, Catherine of Siena. Her influence on Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome from Avignon, France was Divine intervention only because she listened to God with deep love and was open to the Holy Spirit.

In her Dialogue she writes about many visions and experiences and conversations she had with God. About midway through her Dialogue she writes about Christ being the Bridge for those on earth to be able to travel to heaven. The bridge has three steps or levels. These levels relate to the spiritual life. Under the bridge are the raging waters of sin. Those who choose the waters of the earthly distractions will drown. Those who take hold of the feet of Christ have begun their journey in the Light. The feet are where the person becomes a servant, a follower and is “lifting her from the affections of the earth”. As the person continues the journey they move higher towards the heart of Christ where “she fills herself with love and virtue”. And then climbing higher reaches the mouth where there is an experience of great peace. The importance of the Cross is that it never leaves the earth but remains rooted so that Divinity remains with the “humanity of the earth”. This is the Bridge that frees those who wish to climb from earth to heaven. Through the suffering of Christ. The stones are what the bridge is made of and are the virtues. These stones are cemented together with the Blood of Christ. 

In the reading from Acts, Saint Paul is recounting to the Jews, in Antioch, the long journey that they have taken to arrive at the coming of Christ. Speaking of each step as like a bridge from the past to the present and how they are connected to that very moment of the coming of Christ. This journey is ours as well throughout the centuries. We, as the People of God, recall at the Eucharistic celebration the sacrifice of Christ’s Body and Blood for our redemption. Each time we partake of this celebration and put our faith into action, we climb further up the Bridge of the Cross. When we find ways to feed our soul this too helps us to climb further and not in a way where we are racking up points, but truly deepening our relationship with Christ. Faith and good works, in balance, can lead us to a better understanding of who we are in Christ.

Paul was an unlikely messenger to the Jews but he was called to be an instrument to carry the news to, what was at that time, the whole world. Some received the word of God through him and thus were open to God and the gifts and graces of faith. The reading from the Gospel of John affirms that when we hear the Word through another sent by God then we receive Christ and God. Opening our heart to the Gospel message is not always easy. There are some challenging messages that we might not always be willing to take hold of. The good thing is that we can try and as we try, we are working on our relationship with Christ in becoming the person that God created us to be. Climbing the bridge one stone at a time with the grace of God to guide us.

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

Scripture:

Acts 12:24-13:5a
John 12:44-50

Reflection:

From the Acts of the Apostles in today’s first reading we hear:

 The Word of God continued to spread and grow!

We read of the ongoing mission of Barnabas, Saul and John Mark as they preached the word of God in Antioch, Seleucia, Cyprus, and Salamis.  These disciples of Jesus were faithful followers of Jesus, anointed and called by the Holy Spirit to continue the mission of Jesus Christ.  I have always admired the leaders of the early church for their faithfulness and tenacity to spreading this mission and growing and serving the early Christian communities.  We know from the scriptures that they did this often at great peril to themselves.  I think the Church of 2021 can learn much from these early faith communities.  They represent an Easter hope that we in this post-modern church and world may have forgotten at times.

We live in a very fractured church and world!  Many are suffering around us from the woes of pandemic, unrest and violence in family and communities, injustice and inequality suffered by our sisters and brothers because of the color of their skin or gender, economic despair, homelessness, indifference, sickness, addiction, etc.  The members of the early church suffered in similar and different ways to be sure.  They were privileged to be a part of Jesus’ earthly ministry and grieved his death but carried on in faith spreading the Good News of salvation.

This past Holy Week was my first time in forty years that I was not in the role of pastoral leader.  I served as Minister of Communion, Sacristan, Lector and pew sitter at different times.  It had its rewards as well as challenges!  I found many of the celebrations/rituals to be personally and spiritually rewarding.  Some of my profound experiences during the Triduum and Vigil included;  Receiving Eucharistic bread made by a parish family, Veneration of the Cross from our pews as the cross was carried in procession up and down the main aisle of Church, watching the altar cloth/Pall carried reverently out of church at the end of the passion reading on Good Friday, the Easter light coming into a darkened church, sharing the light of Christ with the parish assembled and  welcoming 3 adults and 1 child into the Christian community through the waters of Baptism.

So, how do we as Easter people continue to spread the message of the Risen Jesus?!

We continue to gather and remember those Holy Week experiences, big and small that happen each time we gather as a faith community to listen to the Word of God, each time we break bread together at the Table of the Lord, each time we profess that Jesus Christ is Lord in word and sacrament!  The next step is to take our nourished selves through the doors of our churches, schools, homes, workplaces and share the Easter message with the hurting Church and world around us!  Our Risen Jesus calls us to pattern our life on that of the early Christian community. Let us work towards unity in diversity, safety in our neighborhoods and cities, hope for a better future for the marginalized and shunned and most of all, help others to recognize the light of Christ in each one of us in the way we live, act, pray and play.

JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN TODAY, ALLELUIA!  HE IS ALIVE IN EACH OF US!  ALLELUIA!  LET US CONTINUE TO LIVE THE EASTER MESSAGE!!

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

Scripture:

Acts 11:19-26
John 10:22-30

Reflection:

It’s hard to imagine that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day would not easily accept Jesus as the Messiah – his followers knew, just by his words, his actions, his teachings. They doubted that this man truly was the Son of God! But, how would we react if someone came into our midst, sharing the teachings as Jesus did – would we immediately accept his word that he was the one true King? 

We see our doubts flourish as we enter into decisions in our own lives – election choices that will bring our nation to its fullest, choosing the leaders we need to better our own communities and our churches, even personal decisions within our own families. We’ve seen families and friendships fall away because of political and opinionated discourse.  And it is a difficult path, at times, to decipher truth from untruth. But I would treasure a chance to hear Jesus preach, feeling the depth of his love in every word, wanting so desperately to see him rise. Oh, but wait – that is the experience we can enjoy every day! We hear his words every time we open a bible, and he arose in a way that has given strength and hope for us, and for future generations.

There must be prayer with every decision we make, and there must be a trust that the one true leader is Jesus Christ himself. He will take care of the rest, and through prayerful discernment, we will come to a place in this world where fear and doubt will no longer exist but be replaced by an undoubtable trust.

Patty Masson supports the Passionists from Spring, Texas.

Scripture:

Acts 11:1-18
John 10:1-10

Reflection:

The talk of circumcision in the first reading from Acts of the Apostles makes most of us very uncomfortable. However, the struggle of the Apostles to understand who is and who is not included in the Kingdom of God is, in this biblical context, all tied to who is or who is not circumcised. Obviously, the reference only pertains to males. But let’s not lose the point.

What is glorious, as we make our way through the Acts of the Apostles during this Easter time, is that Acts is really a story about how the Apostles make sense of what they know about Jesus and his teaching, and how they apply what they know to new situations along the way. Jesus promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit not a roadmap. They have to figure things out as they go.

In the first reading, Peter is relaying a revelation about the generosity of God welcoming all—Jews and Gentiles—into the Kingdom of God. Peter says, “Who was I to be able to hinder God?” And those who doubted then believed. They understood that all are welcome, circumcised or not.

In our own time, we pretend to be so sure about who is in and who is out. Who is right and who is wrong. Who is included and who is excluded. It may not be about circumcision, but it might be about conservative or liberal, gay or straight, Black or White, rural or urban, documented or not, married or divorced.

What inspires me—and gives me hope—is that God is gracious and welcoming no matter who we are. And the Apostles began to realize this. They lived in a culture that defined itself too often by who was in or who was out, a part of their community or not. Soon, they began to understand that Jesus is calling them—and us—to include, not exclude. Let us welcome, not shun others and rejoice in how the Spirit draws diverse peoples together into community.

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:

Acts 4: 8-12
1 John 3:1-2
John 10:11-18

Reflection:

I am the good shepherd. Jn 10:11

A friend asked me a few weeks ago “Would your life be different if you had grown up with a black Jesus?” My instinctive answer was, “Yes, of course!”  But, at that moment, as a white woman, I hadn’t really given much thought to the ins and outs of that reality, hadn’t yet imagined my way into what a life lived with a black Jesus might have been like.  Yet, in the weeks since, his question keeps coming back to me–in times of prayer, in conversations with my black sons, now 22 and 26, and as I listen to the reports on the Chauvin trial and read about Ma’khia Bryant, the 16 year old black girl fatally shot by police in Columbus, Ohio, my home state.

A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Jn 10:11

When I was in my twenties, I had an experience of Jesus that can never quite be fit into words. In a moment, I felt in every cell of my body the vast, incomprehensible love for me that is Jesus’. And understood, simultaneously, that Jesus loves everyone in that exact same incomprehensible, overflowing way.

I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me. Jn 10:14

In the weeks since my friend posed that question, I’ve imagined what it is like to connect that feeling of overwhelming love with the face of a black Jesus.  In fact, around the same time, another friend coincidentally sent me a prayer card with an icon of a black Jesus and I’ve spent time simply gazing at the icon and taking in the divine love that is now always with me. It’s made me wonder how a practice like this might open the hearts of so many of us who have been educated into certain ways of seeing the world.

There will be one flock, one shepherd. Jn 10:16

Now we all know that Jesus was neither white nor black.  He was Middle Eastern.  He likely looked much like the four Sikh victims in the recent FedEx shooting by a young white man who had visited white supremacist websites.  Our society gives us so many opportunities to hold ourselves apart from each other, by appealing to our basest fears.  Jesus invites us to go beyond our fears. He is the good shepherd in whose name we too, like the cripple in Acts 4, are made whole, in his one body.

Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 Jn 3:2

Lissa Romell is the Administrator at St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.