Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Ezekiel 28:1-10
Matthew 19:23-30

Reflection:

“…for God all things are possible.”

The rich young man had just left Jesus and the disciples and ‘went away sad, for he had many possessions’.  Jesus, turns to the disciples and says ‘it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven… So hard, in fact he compares it to an ungraceful and clumsy camel trying to get through the eye of a needle – truly am impossible feat on many levels!

Now we come, as Paul Harvey would say, to the rest of the story!  Jesus statement, unsettles the disciples – maybe even ‘rocks them to the core – well then ‘who can be saved?’ Don’t we have these same thoughts sometimes? In some ways, selfish thoughts – we all want good lives, better lives, we work hard, we have things – things that we like, things we want even – we too wonder who will be saved…

Jesus response is the rest of the story – you can’t do it by yourself – it’s impossible! – but for God all things are possible!”  It is God who helps us open our hearts, our minds and our attitudes and begin to live in right relationship.  Right relationship with God, with others and with self.  It is God who helps us live in right relationship with the ‘things’ of our lives.  What really does matter?  Not the things, so much, as what we do with the things, do the ‘things’ make us better people?  Do they help us open our hearts to others?  Do we share the ‘things’ with God in our daily prayer and conversations with Him?

We don’t know what happened with the rich young man; impetuous Peter asks What about us?  What about us?  Are we willing to let God in?  Are we willing to follow his lead?  Are we willing to be last sometimes?  Eternal life is possible – with God!

Faith Offman is the Associate Director of Ministry at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

Ezekiel 24:15-24
Matthew 19:16-22

Reflection:

It is easy for us to identify with the rich young man in today’s gospel because most of us are so much like him. The young man asks Jesus, “Teacher, what good must I do to possess everlasting life?” The question speaks to us because we too want to know how we must live today if we are to reach the most complete fulfillment of our lives that is found in unending communion with God. If we are not to end up with a life that was tragically misguided, what must we love and aspire to every day?

Jesus answers the young man’s question in two stages. First, Jesus tells him, “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Jesus’ counsel confirms that the commandments comprise the attitudes and actions that lead to life. But notice that Jesus distinguishes between entering into life and possessing fullness of life. Obeying the commandments, which the young man has always done, puts us on the path of life; however, it is not enough to lead us into everlasting life. That is why in the second part of his answer Jesus says that if the young man truly seeks “perfection,” he must rid himself of his possessions and “give to the poor.” In other words, if the rich young man will ever cross the threshold into fullness of life by becoming the person God created him to be and that God’s grace, love, and goodness enable him to be, he must strip himself of anything that prevents that from happening. Because he cannot yet let go of a lesser good for the sake of a much greater good, the rich young man “went away sad.” His attachment to wealth and possessions kept him from the wholehearted commitment to Christ that leads to fullness of life.

In the rich young man we meet ourselves because like him we are afraid to relinquish whatever we love and trust and care for more than God. Until that changes, we will spend our lives walking away sad.

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

Scripture:

Isaiah 56:1, 6-7
Romans 11:13-15, 29-32
Matthew 15:21-28

Reflection:

In this passage of Mathew’s Gospel Jesus just left the Gentile territory of Tyre and Seddon and was talking with his disciples about tearing down walls.  A Canaanite woman follows after Jesus pleads with Jesus to heal her daughter who is sick.  Jesus has already violated several laws, i.e.  Gentile territory, speaking to a pagan, speaking to a pagan woman etc.  Jesus says that his priority was to bring salvation to the “lost tribes of Israel and not to the Gentiles.  Matthew makes it obvious in this passage that Jesus is the great “boundary breaker.”

Jesus pays attention to the Canaanite woman’s plea after she listened to his explanation that his priority was to care for the “people of Israel.” Kneeling she continues her request saying that even the crumbs off the table are appreciated by the dogs.   Israelites did not have dogs as pets but the Gentiles did have dogs as pets.  In speaking of the dogs the woman used the affection term “puppies.”  Jesus is impressed by her “great faith.”  Her daughter was healed.

From this brief encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman we see that God is not limited by any “theology.”  Nothing stands in the way of God’s compassion.  We can never have “enough” faith.  Matthew challenges our categories and boundaries.  The “other” can also bring us closer to God.  Matthew tells us that it is the woman’s faith that is more important than the miracle.

This passage asks the question “who is the Canaanite in my life?” Who do I exclude from my circle of faith? Who is it that I exclude from the embrace of my friendship? Who is it that I exclude from the crumbs off my table?

Fr. Ken O’Malley, C.P., is a member of the Passionist Community at Sacred Heart Monastery in Louisville, Kentucky.

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Scripture:

Revelation 11:19a; 121-6a, 10ab
Luke 1:39-56

Reflection:

Today the Church celebrates the Assumption of Mary.   The readings given to us are the oldest writings we have honoring Mary and they reflect a tradition that began in the early church, certainly within the first 100 years after Jesus’ death.  The first reading from the Book of Revelation indicates the early community of believers had a very special place for the Mother of our Lord.  This is complemented with the Gospel, which is frequently referred to as the Canticle of Mary, and sometimes called the Magnificat. For many of us, we frequently hear this text, or recite or sing it.  But this year is different.

This year, on this Solemnity, it is different.  It is different because of Covid-19.  It is different because of the unrest and demonstrations in our streets.  It is different because of loved ones we have lost.  It is different because we understand this virus is global, affecting people all around the world.  It is different because of financial instability, radical changes in business and jobs, and evictions.   It is different because we have lost a lot of the stability we thought we were standing on.  And we are questioning and re-evaluating what stability even means.   It is different because our world has been turned upside down.

Is it any different than what Mary sings:   She describes a world which, because of the birth of Jesus, gets turned upside down:  And her song forces us to re-evaluate life based on our belief in Christ.

The hungry get filled with good things.
The rich are left with emptiness.
The mighty and powerful are cast from their thrones.
The lowly have been lifted up.

And she, a woman, a teenager, unmarried, pregnant, with no rights according to the Law, discovers her blessedness!    As Elizabeth says to Mary, “Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Today, things have been turned upside down for all humanity in much the same way they were in Mary’s day.

I’m reminded of another story of our history which is not in the Gospel accounts either. In fact, the Church celebrated this story earlier this week.   It takes place in the third century when Christians were harshly persecuted.  It is the story of a deacon in Rome named Lawrence.  The account tells us about the remarkable deed he performed a few days before he was martyred.

A Roman official came to Lawrence demanding that Lawrence give him the treasure—or riches—of the Church. The official said that the emperor needed the money he would receive if crucifixes and sacred vessels like chalices were melted down and the gold sold.

Surprisingly, Lawrence agreed. He asked the official for three days to prepare the “treasures.” During those three days, Lawrence sold everything he could and gave the money to the poor, the sick, orphans, widows, and anyone in need. He asked all of those people then to go with him to the official. The legend says that Lawrence lined all the people up and announced to the official, “These are the treasures of the Church!”   The Roman official was furious. Lawrence was immediately arrested and brutally executed. As he was led to his death, Lawrence said these words: “I rejoice greatly because I have been considered worthy to be a sacrificial victim for Christ”

Perhaps amidst all the truths we are learning, about society, and humanity these days,  today is more about the joy and delight Mary can teach us in finding Joy in the Lord our God in spite of all the other things in our lives which are being turned upside down.  Yes there is time to respond to all that but today Mary reminds us that we need to rejoice for our citizenship is written in the Book of Life.   Knowing this priority, and God’s faithful stability, empowers us to face the challenges of tomorrow.

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is the local superior of St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.

Feast of St. Maximillian Kolbe

Scripture:

Ezekiel 16:1-15, 59-63
Matthew 19:3-12

Reflection:

Today we celebrate a very special feast remembering a heroic contemporary of ours, Maximillian Kolbe.  His story is well known, as is his willingness to die in the place of another, all out of love and compassion. Maximillian was a true martyr who is worthy of recognition today when acts of pure selflessness may be so rare.  The life of this contemporary, courageous man of faith can inspire us all to try to do the same in the little day by day acts of kindness and charity toward our brothers and sisters.  But the life of St. Maximillian Kolbe is a reminder to us of something else, as well.  Through his profound act of faith in God and his willingness to sacrifice his own life for another, Maximillian also mirrors for us the unending, faithful love of God found in the covenant, a love that is unconditional and unending.  Such was Maximillian’s love for God and neighbor; such is God’s eternal love for each and every one of us.

Our first reading for today’s feast comes to us from the prophet Ezekiel whose description of this kind of love is almost too raw and earthy to be a reflection of God’s holy covenant, yet it is!  Take a moment, pick up your Bible, and return to the reading, the whole selection from EZ 16:1-15, 60, 63!  Imagine the birth of a female child that is thrown onto the ground as something loathsome on the day of her birth!  The abandoned child is left in the field in a way too horrid to imagine, yet this is what the prophet portrays!  The Lord passes by and sees the child but does not yet act.  Only later does the Lord lift up this abandoned life, bathing and clothing it, dressing it in fine garments and bestowing upon her the dignity and love that was so long denied her from birth.  The Lord even dresses this child in silk and adorns her with fine jewelry made of gold and silver – what a contrast to how she was treated when she first tasted the gift of life!  Ezekiel tells us the child was now renowned for beauty and splendor, so gifted was she by God’s unconditional love.

But as the tale continues this child upon whom so much was freely and lavishly bestowed becomes captivated with her own beauty, becoming if you can imagine, a harlot, so self-obsessed was she with all that she had been given by the loving hand of God.  She forgot who lifted her out of the dirt and destruction making her one of God’s own beloved.  This is the rough, earthy language that describes for us the remarkable and unconditional covenant love that God has with each of us.  We are that child; we are that forgotten one lifted up and given new life.  And yes, we are even that redeemed and saved life that has forgotten how we were redeemed, how we were saved, becoming harlots, absorbed with our own finery, our own beauty!  And how does God respond to such ignorance?  Listen carefully to the amazing words of Ezekiel:  “Yet, I will remember the covenant I made with you…I will set up an everlasting covenant with you, that you may remember and be covered with confusion, and that you may be utterly silenced for shame when I pardon you for all you have done, says the Lord God.”  Does the Lord abandon us, cast us back into the dirt of the field.  Far from it!  Rather, if we wake up and pay attention to our shame, the Lord pardons us.  Our faithful God returns again and again to that faithful, unending love of the covenant.  God will never forsake us even when we forsake God.  What a great mystery to reflect on this day!  And in love, we do what Maximillian did.  We selflessly reach out and love one another!

Fr. Pat Brennan, C.P. is the director of Saint Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

Ezekiel 12:1-12
Matthew 18:21-19:1

Reflection:

There is such richness with which this Gospel offers us as a way forward from unforgiveness to understanding, and compassion, however, I was reminded of a recent incident between our grandson, William, and his grandpa. Spiritual writer, Paula D’Arcy, suggests that “God comes disguised as your life.” So here goes a parable from my life! William, who just turned six-years-old and has quite the independent streak, to say the least. On this occasion, we were swimming in our neighbor’s pool along with his older brother and sister. William jumped into the pool a little too close to the edge for our comfort and his grandpa cautioned him to be careful. William looked straight at his grandpa and jumped in the same position as he had done the previous time. Adding insult to injury, he refused to get out of the pool as a “time out” for a violation of safety rules. Not to be deterred, his grandpa lifted him out to the sideline to make a statement.

As you can imagine, this “time out” did not go down well with our William, he caused such a ruckus that our neighbor came out to see who was being attacked. ?

Luckily, we were at the end of our time, so we began to make our way back home to shower and dry-off. Before I knew what was happening, his big sister, Cate, who just turned ten-years-old threw her arm on his shoulder as he screamed up a storm. “Grandma, I’ve got this, don’t worry.” She gently guided him into the shower and closed the door while William shouted, “I hate grandpa!” While he showered, we could hear them talk over the situation and when they were all done, William came directly out to grandpa and told him he was sorry for what he had done. Needless to say, his grandpa offered him forgiveness and we moved on to snack time in peace. To finish up the story, Cate came quietly to me explaining that her brother was too upset to listen to reason at the time. She knew exactly how to deal with him, she gave him the space he needed, told him that he should apologize to grandpa because grandpa only wished for his safety. After all, he loved him. Would that we could all have a gentle advocate like Cate in matters of forgiveness.

You might be thinking, how simple, but life is complicated. Yet, this is exactly as Jesus suggests earlier in this chapter, “Unless you turn and become like little children…..”(18:3). Children are humble, they are not impressed with status, they simply know us by our actions towards them. They have a keen sense of fairness and justice. They do not bear grudges.

Jesus’ words to the community at the beginning of this chapter reflect his desire that we keep renewing our commitment to being in right relationships with everyone—to be at peace. Sadly, we can make things complicated, and honestly, some of us do find it hard to forgive and we carry our deep wounds with us into every day. Is that why the first reading speaks so much about baggage?

Jesus himself leads the way in asking his Father to forgive his crucifiers (Luke 23:34). Forgiveness is a process and is totally in the hands of God as it can only come to us through his grace (2 Corinthians 12:9). It can take moments or even a lifetime, the lesson that I hear from this Gospel is that God understands our heart and knows what is best for us. So, if this is your struggle, with each dawn pass that baggage along to God just for this day…and the next…. Who knows maybe an angel like Cate may come to help guide you.

Dear Lord, heal us from our wounds and unforgiveness, free us from bondage so we may move into the future with hope. Give us the courage, humility, and desire to repair our relationships. 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:

Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-22
Matthew 18:15-20

Reflection:

“Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to him. That is all the doing you have to worry about.”  St. Jane Frances de Chantal

If someone were to ask you, “give me an example of faith in action,” try, “Prayer.” And when someone asks me to pray for them, or for a special intention they have, does the thought occur to me to say: “Well, let’s pray for that right now?”

In one version of today’s opening prayer at Mass we pray for one another that we “may see what must be done and gain strength to do what (we) have seen.”

That prayer assumes that we are not, exclusively, to pray alone. Yes, there is personal prayer, that which the Lord wants to speak to our hearts. I recall vividly kneeling down in our rectory chapel at Holy Family Parish in Birmingham, Alabama, asking the Lord for a blessing upon me as I traveled to my new assignment, and adding to that prayer the following: “that I may do penance for any wrongdoing that I have committed during my time in Birmingham.” At the time the prayer sounded awkward but sincere.

Within three weeks at my next assignment, I had a very humbling experience which brought me to my knees. It was an opportunity to repent. So much for the power of personal prayer!

And, there is much to say for that form of prayer into which brings others are invited. We hear Jesus’ advice when someone offends us. It may not be enough just to have another with whom to talk and pray. It may take two or three witnesses” or a collective of the Church. That did happen to me when it took 45 people to sort out a grievous matter in a parish to which I had been assigned.

And, even when things do not get resolved, Jesus’ cryptic statement makes all the sense in the world. “Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Some things that happen simply are not resolved, forgiven, nor reconciled at that time. They are simply bound on earth and bound in heaven.

We assume, in faith, that the Father is present in the realization and patient waiting and hope is which we are held.

Be grateful for those two or three who gather with you in the name of Christ who recognize that God’s Will is in all of this.

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