Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Sirach 27:30-28:7
Romans 14:7-9
Matthew 18:21-35

Reflection:

Recently, I caught an interview with a Holocaust survivor. He was in his 90’s and if I remember correctly, he was the only one in his family to survive. What struck me at the time were his comments on forgiveness. When asked by the interviewer about his approach to his captors, he offered that his journey to forgiveness was an act of self-healing. He shared that he had lived with hate for many years and discovered that he was the one keeping himself in prison. Forgiveness, according to this Holocaust survivor was a journey to “self-healing, self-empowerment, and self-liberation.”

Today’s Gospel, taken from the end of the 18^th chapter of Matthew is Jesus’ fifth discourse, or teaching, to his community. Scholars suggest that this discourse is connected to Chapters Nine and Ten where Jesus is teaching the disciples about mission, his disciples are named and summoned into mission. We come to the end of this chapter which began with Jesus teaching on becoming like little children and encouraging us to take great care not to cause any harm to the little ones. We hear about the parable of the lost sheep, where the shepherd leaves the 99 to go find the 1. Being in community is that important to the shepherd. Each of us counts in the eyes of God. Today’s text corresponds with Jesus reminding the community about how they are to behave towards each other. We are to live in harmony with the community, always in right relationship because this is our true freedom. One commentary I read recently suggested that perhaps Jesus knew well the challenges of living in community and how our personalities would clash. We hold on to unforgiveness like a dear friend. When we are out of step with our true nature, we are essentially off-balance and out of harmony with God’s desire for our lives.

We are reminded of a debt that is impossible to repay and like the unforgiving servant, we can often impose that debt of unforgiveness on others. We put them in prison even while we know we have been released from our debt. Does this make sense? Jesus’ warning is clear, we have been forgiven and so we must make every effort to offer that freedom to others. This is how we are to conduct ourselves; this is true liberation. 

The Book of Sirach reflects the same idea in our first reading, taken from the Wisdom writings of the Hebrew Bible. It offers a reflection of Jesus’ teachings which would not be new to his audience. In our journey to forgiveness, we learn more about life and ourselves. It asks us to offer mercy to each other and in so doing we can recognize mercy for ourselves. The psalmist endorses this, “The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger and rich in compassion.” Similarly, Paul’s words to the Romans build on this, “no one lives for oneself… whether we live or die, we are the Lords” (v.7). As Christians, we are all called to live in unity. Jesus offers us his final teaching on how to be community. We must be awake and prevent our humanity from getting in the way of abundant life. (John 10:10) 

May we live in such a way as to recognize the gift of mercy and offer that to others. Come, Lord, change our hearts and make us truly united in your Spirit. 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.

https://passionist.org/daily-scripture-september-13-2020/

The Most Holy Name of Mary

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 10:14-22
Luke 6:43-49

Reflection:

We honor the holy Name of Mary today, the bearer of our Savior. Let’s explore the wonderful grace that flows from that name and invigorates us, even to this day. Hail, Mary! Full of grace, the Lord is with you. We acknowledge this day as holy by invoking the holy name of Mary.

Honoring her name is a way of calling her into our presence! And what a presence it is! And to heighten our awareness of that grace in our midst let’s recall that her presence, in person or virtually, accompanied the disciples from the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through His Passion and Death, burial, Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven. 

She was “there” through all of it. 

St. Paul reminds us today that “a good person, out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good fruit.” Some of those who had been at the crucifixion came to the tomb to bury him properly. This was Mary’s Son, after all! They went to the tomb to wash and clean him, to anoint Him. They knew that he had been buried in a hurry. Before sunset there had been no time to do anything but put him in the tomb. He had to be taken care of. This was Mary’s Son.  Simple acts of compassionate kindness made them do this. They just could not leave him like that.

Mary was present in their hearts, and thus greater initiative to do this act of respect, which they had learned from Him! Even though they knew about the resurrection, his life had begun in them, a life that manifested itself not only in all kinds of extraordinary things, but the ways their lives had changed.

The awareness of Mary’s “presence” enabled them to find new meaning and immense joy,

Thus, we continue to honor and proclaim the name of Mary, in everything that we undertake for we are furthering the salvation of the world, that is, living for others and promoting peace, forgiveness and justice from the store of goodness inspired through Mary.

Hail Mary, full of Grace!

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

https://passionist.org/daily-scripture-september-12-2020/

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22b-27

Luke 6:39-42      

Reflection:

I love baseball. I have fond memories of playing short-stop on my little league team.  I remember how our coach made us practice the double-play over and over and over.  Ground ball to the third baseman who throws to second, out one; second baseman throws to first, out two. Then, it was my turn.  Ground ball to me at short-stop, I toss to second, who throws to first.  Next, a grounder to second, while I run to cover second and take the toss, then I throw to first.  We did this over and over until we grew tired and cranky of repeating the drill.  By game time, however, we were ready.  We didn’t have to think about what to do when a grounder came our way.  We moved quickly, almost automatically.  It’s called muscle memory.  And, of course, muscle memory is what all athletes must build up if they are to support the team.

That is what Paul is talking about in his letter to the Corinthians.  He urges them to condition their spiritual muscle memory.  They are to live their faith just as intensely as the athletes in an arena.  He warns against easy shadowboxing or aimless running.  Rather, he encourages them to follow his coach-like example in pursing their faith lives with the commitment of a true athlete.  They are urged to work on their game – their spiritual skills, their strengths, and weaknesses, if they expect to contribute to the team effort in building up the Body of Christ. 

Jesus warns in today’s gospel that our failure to condition and discipline our spiritual muscle memory is like the blind leading the blind, or like an athlete criticizing a teammate’s weakness, but blind to his or her own failures.  This spiritual muscle memory is not something we can do solely on our own, any more than my little league team could learn without our coach.  We need God’s grace to overcome our failings through the sacraments and daily prayer.  In the Eucharist we take Christ’s body and blood into our own body to strengthen us and nourish us for the race we are running – or completing that double play.

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

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 8:1b-7, 11-13
Luke 6:27-38

Reflection:

It seems that we have increasingly been sucked into an “us” vs. “them” state with no middle ground. So many people act as if anyone who disagrees deserves to be villainized, demeaned, ridiculed, accused, and cut off. Even scientists receive threats, sometimes against their lives, when objective facts they present are inconvenient or not consonant with already-determined beliefs. There is no reaching across, reaching down, reaching out and bringing in. 

This is the absolute antithesis of what Jesus taught! It is more centered on protecting individual or group power than on living the Gospel and working toward the common good of all. It is anti-Christian, anti-Catholic, and sinful.

As usual, any time I make a commentary on our society or our Church, I must examine myself for ways in which I contribute to the very things I decry. And then I must start the desired change with myself, deciding what I can do to work toward a better end goal in my own life while encouraging that change in others. 

So, I begin looking at my interactions with those who disagree with me. Do I truly listen? Do I want to understand where they’re coming from, or am I “listening” to determine how I can contradict, disprove, or argue with them? Most especially, am I focused only on their words, or can I hear the deeper emotions behind those words? What is it that the other person is clutching closely enough to defend it against challenge or change? What are they terrified of losing? If I can go deeper, truly hearing another person, there is at least a chance for understanding and common ground. I must remember, too, that if I am so set in my ways that I refuse to open my ears to hear another’s pain, hurt, fear, or personal experience, how can I ever expect them to listen to mine? 

Jesus always went to the heart. That’s why he preached love of enemies, doing good for those who persecute you, refusing to condemn and instead offering peace and understanding. As he said, “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

There’s so much more to do beyond this. Yet I believe this is where we need to start, and this is where I plan to start. How can I listen with the ears and mind of Christ? How can I look at a person I oppose and see that we are part of the same body? How can I learn to truly, deeply listen, and then work for the good of all? May God help me, and all of us, to do a better job. Our communal life depends on it.

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/.

https://passionist.org/daily-scripture-september-10-2020/Daily Scripture, September 8, 2020Daily Scripture, September 8, 2020

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 7:25-31
Luke 6:20-26

Reflection:

A Time for Beatitudes

Yesterday was the prelude to Luke’s Beatitudes that we will read through Saturday.

He showed us Jesus praying. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus prays at important moments of his life – his Baptism, when he taught the forgiveness of sin, at the Transfiguration and beginning of the Passion. After this prayer, Jesus selects the twelve who will be apostles. Having prayed and called the apostles, they come down the mountain and are surrounded by a large crowd. Jesus heals everyone. Then he looks at his disciples, his followers, and speaks the Beatitudes.

Jesus began his ministry, announcing the fulfillment of Isaias, ‘to bring good news to the poor and liberty to captives.’ Through word and deed, he is at work proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Speaking as a prophet, he now describes the values necessary for those who will work for the Kingdom of God. They will believe that the poor will be rich, the hungry satisfied, the weeping will laugh, and those whose values are rejected, who are pushed to the margins and called evil, they will be like the prophets of old. They will receive the reward of the prophets.

For Luke, Jesus is a prophet, and those who follow Jesus will share his calling. Expect a surprise; there will be a great reversal. Woe to the rich and satisfied, those now laughing, and the false prophets!

We might imitate Jesus this week and surround our reflection on the Beatitudes with prayer. The Beatitudes are real and among us today. It is not just those trapped in war or made refugees who are poor and hungry. The pandemic has spread hunger and poverty along with illness. Weeping is close at hand. Weeping follows suffering and pain, but anger follows next – for the good of for the bad – to redress the causes of suffering. We are dealing with the anger of much frustration. Values are rejected, people are marginalized, and judgments passed. Many ‘deaths,’ not just the physical deaths, but things that touch the control of many aspects of life that we take for granted, cause us sorrow. The pandemic we expect and hope will bring with it new scientific understanding and health. We hope there will be a deepening knowledge of our human family that even as values are tested, we will grow closer together in community.

The Beatitudes tell us we shall ‘laugh.’ The only use of that word in the New Testament.

And we will ‘dance.’ The word used when John ‘leaped’ in the womb of Elizabeth upon the visit of Mary, who carries the Savior in her womb. Strong but simple words in the Beatitudes. Let us read them alongside our newspapers these days; hopeful blessings alongside worrisome news. Jesus said them looking at his disciples; let us surround them with prayer and turn our hope-filled faces to Our Lord.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Peter Claver. He lived the Beatitudes among slaves, the poorest of the poor. He never saw a system that was a daily contradiction to living the values of Christ change. We don’t know his weeping or deepest hungers or frustrations. He believed the Beatitudes and in living them did what makes one holy.

Fr. William Murphy, CP, is the pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Jamaica, New York. 

https://passionist.org/daily-scripture-september-9-2020/

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary  

Scripture:

Micah 5:1-4a
Romans 8:28-30
Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

Reflection:

Sister Mary Jean (+1988) quoted her in the perfect sense, “Morning Star,” we call her in the litany; in the Canticle of Canticles she is prefigured by the words, “Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising?”

To us looking back, as to those patriarchs looking ahead for the long four thousand years, Mary is the dawning, Christ the perfect day. Dark as the world may seem today, it can never be quite dark again since Mary came on earth. Mary, whose birth was the dawning hope for mankind, brought to us the light of the world.

Sister Mary Jean Dorcy, O.P.

Mary, Mother of God. Wow what a title. God is the creator, the almighty, the beginning, the middle and the end. To be born full of grace is indeed a blessing from God. To carry God in her stomach for 9 months is a blessing. To raise Jesus Christ the Son of God is a blessing. Blessed are you Mary, mother of God. Hail Mary full of Grace. Our new Eve. Mary’s yes was the biggest leap of faith a human being can make. God bless the day you were born. Through you a Savior was born. Through you we have everlasting life. Through you we offer up our prayers. Through you our sins are forgiven by your Son, Jesus Christ.

Happy Birthday, Mary.

Deacon Peter Smith serves at St. Mary’s/Holy Family Parish in Alabama, a religion teacher at Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Birmingham, and a member of our extended Passionist Family.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 5:1-8
Luke 6:6-11

Reflection:

“On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.” (LK 6:6-11)

As a student of education, I learned that I must evaluate my students’ behavior and their academic progress. When I actually ended up in the classroom, teaching boys with special needs, I learned that the best I could do was to create an environment where learning could take place. I further learned that evaluating them, i.e. giving them grades was not very conducive to that environment unless I gave them all “A’s”. To the total chagrin of my principal that is exactly what I did, I gave the majority of my students, “A’s”.

Learning to listen to others, children or adults, continues to challenge me almost on a daily basis. I witness behavior that I believe deserves punishment and correction and I am often crazy enough to think it is my job to administer, if not the punishment, at least some correction. Of course, that doesn’t work. Like what my students taught me above, I have to first recognize the ideas and suggestions that I can relate to, confirm them or give “A’s” to the ones I agree with, and hope that in the encounter, we both will recognize our common humanity and create an environment in which we can grow together in peace and harmony.

Like my experience with my first principal, Jesus’ experience in today’s gospel selection, leads to problems for Jesus. Jesus acts on his beliefs and cures the man with the withered hand enraging those in authority. (I only caused my poor principal some vexation).

Today, I have to remind myself that unlike Jesus, I am not god, and maybe I am or have been wrong. My prayer, however, is that like Jesus, I will continue to listen, to listen especially to people who see life differently than I see it, identify with what I can, be willing to take action and hope for the miracle. The miracle for me in my teaching career, came years later when a returning student who was a grandpa by then, told me: “You taught me to read.”

Dan O’Donnell is a Passionist Partner and a longtime friend of the Passionists.  He lives in Chicago. 

Scripture:

Ezekiel 33: 7-9
Romans 13: 8-10
Matthew 18: 15-20

Reflection:

During these difficult days of the pandemic, economic crisis, demands for racial justice, environmental threats and divisive political hyperbole, we followers of Christ are put to severe tests.

We may move close to despair, become weary, tense, angry and be tempted to verbal or even physical violence within our families and social circles.

Today’s readings could not be more appropriate for dealing with this moment in history. God placed us here, now. God will provide what we need to endure and grow close to one another and to Him.

The first reading from Ezekiel defines the role of the prophet as the one who warns the house of Israel of pending disaster. As the People of God, we have a prophetic role in 2020. We are to call out hatred, divisions, lies and vindictive distortions that must cease or we face our own demise as a people.

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, offers the alternate way that applies just as much to us, now, as it did to the divided community of Christians to whom the letter was addressed nearly 2,000 years ago. “Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.”

In a world of revenge, falsehoods, power and demonizing, we are the prophetic counterforce. We respond with mercy, truth, collaboration and gentleness. Nothing is more countercultural at this moment in history.

We, as followers of Christ, are made for this time. Following the guidelines of today’s selection from Matthew’s Gospel, we confront evil, but the way we do it is with diplomacy and in the context of the community of love. Should the sinners refuse us, defy us, ignore us, they place themselves outside our circle of love and forgiveness, to their own peril.

We don’t ignore or minimize injustice, deceit, manipulation of truth. But the way we confront it is always as important as the of goal of conversion of hearts. This marks us as different in a world where the oppressed attempt to destroy the oppressor. Our way is modeled by Martin Luther King, Jr., St. Oscar Romero, Dorothy Day and Pope Francis who are themselves models of Jesus Christ.

As we confront evil together we are assured that, rooted in individual and communal prayer, Jesus is there: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Can any statement of Jesus be more reassuring during our moment in history?

Jim Wayne is a board member of the Passionist Solidarity Network (PSN), and author of The Unfinished Man. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.