Daily Scripture

Feast of St. Paul of the Cross, Founder of the Passionists

Scripture:

Jeremiah 1:4-9
I Corinthians 1:17-25
Matthew 9:35 – 10:1

Reflection:

Today, we Passionists celebrate the feast of our Holy Founder, St. Paul of the Cross.  I know that many of you have a devotion to this great saint so please join with us in thanking God for this wonderful and saintly man.  St. Paul’s life was a remarkable story of God’s great love for the people of his time, especially those who were often forgotten or were on the margins of society.  Surely, in remembering him we are opening ourselves to the goodness of God revealed in the sufferings of Christ.  Let’s remember together a few of the important moments in Paul’s life.

St. Paul of the Cross, Founder of the Passionists, was born in 1694 in a small town called Ovada, in Northern Italy.  He was one of sixteen children, only five of whom survived infancy.  His father, Luke Danei, owned a small clothing and tobacco shop that barely supported his large family.  His mother, Anna Maria, was a faith-filled woman, whose devotion to the Passion of Jesus was the source of her courage and strength as she endured the grief and loss of so many of her children.

From his earliest years Paul, by the example of his Mother, had a deep devotion to the Passion of Jesus and at the age of 19 had a vivid experience of the depth of God’s love.  As a result of this experience Paul became determined to give himself totally to God.  Due to family need, however, he stayed at home, helping to support the family by working in his father’s shop.  At 22 he joined the crusade against the Turks though it took only two months for him to realize that the army was not for him.  Returning home, he once again worked in the family business.

When he was 26, the circumstances of the family became a bit better and Paul finally felt free to pursue his own personal dreams. Bidding good-bye to his family, he went to Alessandria, where Bishop Gattinara, Paul’s spiritual director and confessor, clothed Paul in a black tunic on the day of his arrival and then sent him to the parish of St. Charles in Castellazzo for retreat.  In the small sacristy of the parish church Paul made a 40 day retreat.  It was during those 40 days that Paul had the most extraordinary experiences of union with God and wrote the Rule of Life for the congregation he hoped to found.

After his retreat Bishop Gattinara sent him back to his home town where Paul lived in various hermitages for several years.  In 1721 Paul made his way to Rome in hopes that he could get his Rule of Life approved by the Pope.  He was turned away by a Vatican guard so Paul returned home, discouraged but determined.  On his return, his brother, John Baptist, joined with him to try living according to Paul’s Rule of Life.  Paul and John Baptist became well-known catechists and Paul was even invited to give spiritual talks by various groups.

In 1725, the brothers returned to Rome and this time Paul was given verbal permission to gather companions to live according to his Rule of Life.  Cardinal Corrandini asked the brothers to work in a newly established hospital there in Rome.  The president of the hospital was so impressed by Paul and John Baptist that he arranged for them to be ordained to the priesthood.

As more men joined with Paul and John Baptist, they moved the whole community to Monte Argentario, a promontory about 150 kms northwest of Rome, where they established the first Passionist monastery in 1737.

While contemplation and prayer were at the very heart of Paul’s life and the life of his new institute, Paul himself soon became a very famous popular preacher, spiritual guide, writer and mystic.  For Paul the Passion of Christ was the most vivid witness to God’s love for us and he constantly called upon his followers to remember the sufferings of Jesus.

During his lifetime Paul founded thirteen monasteries of Priests and Brothers throughout Italy as well as a monastery of Passionist Nuns.  Today the Passionists live and serve in 59 countries of the world and are enhanced by other religious and lay groups who find inspiration in the Charism of St. Paul of the Cross.

May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts!

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

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:1-10
Luke 12:13-21

Reflection:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. Ephesian 2: 8 – 9

The story goes that St. Teresa of Avila convinced her younger brother to run away from home to be martyred when she was about 7 years old. I suppose that we who have been followers of Jesus have a deep desire to go to heaven and be with him in paradise. Sometimes that desire is stronger than other times. However, so many of us are like St. Augustine who wrote in his autobiography, Confessions of St. Augustine, “Lord, make me chaste but not yet.” We want to be good people, we want to be saved, but we are also drawn to the sinful side of life. We want to have it all. It takes a bit of time and spiritual maturity to choose God and God’s ways over all else in life.

Today, we celebrate the memorial feast of Sts. John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Jesuit priests and martyrs. Like St. Theresa of Avila, they were drawn to being missionaries when they joined the Jesuits in France. St. John de Brébeuf went to New France (Quebec, Canada) in 1625. St. Isaac Jogues joined the Jesuits in Canada in 1636. These two missionaries represent the Church’s commitment to evangelize those who resist evangelization but are undaunted by their challenge, even when facing death.

Pope Francis often calls us to be missionary disciples. For most of us, this means being missionary from the safety and comfort of our homes, like St. Therese of Lisieux, who is the patron of the Missions. So, being a missionary is not a vocation of living a certain lifestyle, like leaving our homeland and traveling into life-threatening situations. It is, rather, a commitment to evangelizing those near and far with our words and deeds, with our prayer and our solidarity with those who we are called to evangelize.

We may think that evangelization is all about convincing others that we are correct in our beliefs, in the way we speak about the truths of our faith and in forcing people into repeating formulas that we have memorized and believe. Being a missionary disciple is not being that way at all.

Being a missionary disciple will always be dangerous. No matter the age, no matter the culture, no matter the people who surround us, there will always be some who will not only reject our evangelization but will hate us for it. Yet, we are called to love them. There will be some who will want to win arguments about what is right and wrong. Yet we are called to listen. There will be others who will pretend to follow us but will denounce us. Yet, we are called to respect them as brothers and sisters.

As missionary disciples, we may suffer many deaths. The death of being ostracized by loved ones. The death of being shunned by our friends and neighbors. The death of being denounced by the “learned and the wise.”

St. Isaac Jogues was captured by the Iroquois in 1642 and later escaped and sailed back to France. Yet, his heart was set in returning to Quebec and did so in 1644. He was captured again, this time martyred on October 18, 1646. His Jesuit brother, St. John de Brébeuf was captured, tortured and then finally martyred on March 16, 1649.

May they always inspire us to be committed missionary disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Fr. Clemente Barrón, C.P. is a member of Mater Dolorosa Community in Sierra Madre, California. 

Scripture:

Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b
Matthew 22:15-21

Reflection:

…the Pharisees took counsel how to entangle him in his talk…they went along with the Herodians…

Wow!  This line could be taken directly out of today’s news…they plotted against him, they wanted to trip him up, they wanted him to fail so they could win!  Do you ever wonder why it is that human nature feels the need to make everything so transactional?  Why is it that humans need tear others down in order to feel good about themselves?  Why is it so easy to get ‘sucked’ in to negativity, mistrust, judgment and cynicism?  Pharisees and Herodians were very strange bedfellows – they hated each other!  Maybe that is the message of today’s gospel, be careful who you hate – hate never has a good outcome!

Jesus is always about love.  Oh, they wanted to trip him up, they would do anything to ‘catch’ him – even join their hate together…  Jesus is able to see beyond the façade, see into the heart – and he refuses to respond in kind.  But he does challenge – from a place of truth – give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s. 

We all belong to God’s Kingdom – in fact, we are first heirs to God and God’s kingdom, defines for us who we are and whose we are.  We have a privileged citizenship and we are called to extend that privilege to all in God’s kingdom.   We, like Jesus need to be voices of love and truth to all facets of our lives.  We can’t be about plotting against, we must be about building the kingdom, finding ways to bridge rather than divide, search for common ground that makes room for growth, vision and possibility.  Can we, like Jesus learn to make room for the light of the Holy Spirit – and trust where that light shines?

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

Scripture:

Ephesians 1:11-14
Luke 12:1-7

Reflection:

Here in the Gospel of Luke people numbering in the thousands were getting out of hand.  In their eagerness to hear Jesus they were stepping over each other. Jesus reminds his disciples not to let the success of their preaching go to their heads like the Pharisees have done.  Jesus reminds the disciples that the word used for “preaching” is (Charay).  Jesus tells his disciples their preaching should be like a string of pearls.  In other words, each word we preach should be like a precious jewel!  

Jesus sounds like he is saying that our thoughts and words need to be marshaled carefully. If they are not treated carefully, they will take on the quality of the Pharisees which is “hypocrisy.”  What we must do is first of all to” listen.”  In other words, in the Gospels “to listen” is to embrace the message of Jesus.  First, Jesus is the Son of God. Come and be with him, and second, serve God’s people.

The disciples of Jesus will undergo persecution, but do not fear.  Don’t worry about those who can destroy the body.  Remember you are precious in the eyes of God.  The sparrows are protected by God. They can be purchased for one cent. Five sparrows are worth two cents.  Luke tells us each hair on our head is precious in the eye of God.  In the time of Jesus, the Rabbis use to say “God loves each one of us.” “Every blade of Grass has its own Guardian Angel!”  We are valued because God watches over us.  This is only place in the Synoptics that Jesus addresses his disciples as “My friends” don’t worry. God is loyal.  The Scriptures reminds us one of the virtues each disciple has is the virtue of “fearlessness!” 

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

Scripture:

Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1
Luke 11:29-32

Reflection:

This meditation begins with a subtle hint that it is good that we do not go it alone when seeking to follow and imitate Christ.

You are reading this on your own, but it is wise to be able to talk it through with another, at least. There are manifestations (showings) of God’s presence and directions, i.e., signs of God’s presence and guidance. But if no one is attentive and is willing to name what is going on, we miss the opportunity to cooperate with the revelations of God’s salvific history.

Warning: you may be troubled by my conclusion. Trust me and read on. It is all about faith, which is beyond the human eye and judgement. Please follow along with this meditation.

I want to declare that there are immense depths in us. Yes, there are fantastic possibilities in us, but they can remain hidden if they are not stimulated by someone else. Thus, my warning at the beginning that we do not go it alone when seeking to follow and imitate Christ.

It is pointed out at the beginning of this Gospel incident that the crowds were getting larger surrounding Christ. They listened, observed, and touched him. Something in them stirred when they did all of this. In looking around they realized that they were not alone in recognizing that he was someone special. That is why so many accompanied him. Many converted to his way and changed their lives. Something was awakened in them. Some dynamic between Jesus and the Father was communicated to the many. They felt empowered by him.

Throughout both Testaments miracles, and unusual events, along with dreams and encounters with the Spirit are identified as signs. And God’s self-revelation continues today.

Even within the conflictual relationship between Hagar and Sarah, God planned good things for their descendants.

Important significance fills the world. And part of our spiritual work is to learn to recognize it. We need companions along the journey, we need communities that can help us discern the signs that lead us toward personal decisions and other signs of the times to interpret for us the significance of what is going on.

“Do you not see?” is a challenging question for our times. But we don’t see. But we can learn, by reflecting on the encounters, that is, what is going on around us with an eye for what forces are at work and where grace continues to happen.

God is showing us all the time what we need to know. But it is a matter of living with daily expectancy and trust that God is “witnessing” us, and accompanying us and meeting and inviting us to be channels of God’s work for the transformation of the world, always striving with hope and not necessarily knowing from moment to moment what is next.

The introductory verse to the Gospel says it all. “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”

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

Scripture:

Galatians 3:22-29
Luke 11:27-28

Reflection:

Jesus refused the cult of personality. He did not call attention to himself. He always pointed to others – to God above all, but also to those who had faith, regardless of their ethnicity, wealth, employment, or status in life. He even refused a follower’s blessing that was directed toward his mother and her role in bearing and nurturing him. He always deflected praise and attention in order to point to God.

He didn’t do this with an aura of false humility. He wasn’t a person who cut himself down or diminished himself in ways that either negated his obvious gifts and abilities or, on the other side of the spectrum, made people want to jump in with praise in order to build him back up. He was genuine – offering who he was, by the grace of God, for the glory of God and the building of the kingdom that was far greater than most of us can even imagine. He lived for a bigger purpose.   

How different that is from our situation today! We seem to live in a world where humility is no longer a virtue, where the goal is attention and personal adulation. No one else’s accomplishment is too good to claim for oneself. No negative situation is too awful or complex to simply blame it on someone else. No evidence is too strong to counter one’s personal alternative version of reality. No lie is too big to tell if it serves a purpose. All is done to gain and maintain power, and to enrich oneself at the expense of others.

Have we, as individuals, as self-professed Christians, and as a nation built on Christian principles, actually clothed ourselves with Christ? In what ways are we creating a world where “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus”? Where is this unity and kinship on display? Where are the prophets calling us to care for the least, the poor, the immigrant and refugee, the down-trodden, the unemployed, the hungry, and “huddled masses yearning to breathe free”?

We have an election coming up. I will not wade into politics here. What I will do is examine myself and urge that you do the same in the strongest possible terms. We need our votes to reflect the fullness and depth of the Gospel message. We need to live for a larger purpose and elect those who share that vision, demeanor, morality, and thirst for justice. We need to fulfill the dream of Jesus that all may be one. We need to ensure to the greatest extent we can that our laws and our nation ever more fully share God’s abiding love for all people and bring the Kingdom Jesus preached into being.

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/.

Scripture:

Galatians 3: 1-5
Luke 11: 15-26

Reflection:

Persistence in Prayer

Have you ever been worn down by someone consistently asking you for something? Today’s Gospel is God’s encouragement, and even His command, to be persistent. Jesus teaches us: “I tell you, even though he does not get up and take care of the man because of friendship, he will do so because of his persistence” (Lk 11:8). Most of the time when you give your children something, it is out of love, but sometimes, as today’s parable says, it was not out of love, but only because of the person’s persistence, which wore us down.

Our intercessory prayers and petitions are to be persistent, but not for the purpose of breaking down God so we get what we request. God is never worn down. He loves us so deeply. It is He Who tells us to ask, seek, knock (Mt 7:7). God is the One Who is persistent in loving us. He is the Parent we tried to be with our children. So, in trust and obedience, we persist in intercessory prayer. God is far from being weary of our prayer. He is more concerned with our faith, and that we would lose hope and stop praying.

Therefore, continue to ask, knock, seek, and persist, despite what seems to be no answer from the Lord. Never lose faith in God’s desire to hear and answer our prayer (see Mt 6:6). Always rely on the grace of God, on the Holy Spirit, to help you in your time of need and to aid your weakness. In return, God always gives us the Holy Spirit who comes to aid our weakness.

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 Passionist Family.

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

Scripture:

Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14
Luke 11:1-4

Reflection:

“Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.’” -Luke 11:1

This growing up business seems to be a lifetime process. Today, I wonder what it’s all about, and what do I want to be when I grow up? Just when I think I’ve got this living business down, along comes COVID-19. Today I wonder and ask my God, what do you want of me?

Pulling from my past experience and remembering today’s feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, I recall all the times the rosary has pulled me through. My first experience was as a child. After dinner we would gather in the living room, and all take a chair to kneel in front of, as my father led us through the mysteries of life: the joyful mysteries; the sorrowful mysteries; and finally, the glorious mysteries. I remember thinking that Jesus and Mary lived really strange and different lives back then.

In Warrenton, Missouri, as Passionist high school seminarians, we would gather in the chapel after dinner and repeat the same process above. I still thought, Jesus and Mary lived really strange and different lives back then. Through most of my life since then, I’ve let go of thinking of these mysteries. After all they don’t really apply to my life.

Today, I’m beginning to think maybe they do. Just like Jesus and Mary, I am challenged. While I see no angel appearing to prepare me for the new life I will help bring into the world, I do realize that COVID-19, while not an angel, challenges me, and I believe all of us to do the same thing: “You will share in the experience of new ways of learning and they will call it online. That child will be the cause of much suffering and growth for you and for many, but it will rise and take its rightful place in the creation of my world filled with joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries.”

Dear God, I pray with the apostles today: “Teach me to pray!” I say: “Thank You, God!” Thank you for the good times, the challenging ones, but especially thank you for the crosses You’ve given me to bear. Finally, I pray with Mary: “My soul magnifies the lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

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