Daily Scripture

The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Scripture:

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17
John 2:13-22

Reflection:

St. John Lateran, Mother of all Churches

We have celebrated our feasts of the dead as we join with nature who changes her gown for the season of death. Days grow short, the soil does not give the gift of food, flowers and trees do not blossom. When darkness surrounds us the most, a Savior is born. And death will bow out when a full moon announces a springtime with new life and we celebrate the victory of Life over death and sin, Jesus’ resurrection.

If we are attuned to this line of music in the great symphony of the liturgy we can see the dedication of St. John Lateran, Cathedral of Rome, and mother of all churches, in a symbolic way. The Church is our home in the overwhelming darkness. There are a variety of readings but listen to the comfort and energy of the responsorial psalms!

My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord,
Even the sparrow find a home, the swallow a nest for her young.
I rather one day in your courts, O Lord, than a thousand elsewhere. Ps 84

Be it ever so humble there is no place like home. Our little churches are a bit empty, the young elsewhere, the traditional has lost its spirit. Around us there is a struggle of faith, some are bruised and questioning. The old Cathedral of Rome remembers the Pope, Gregory who told those who fleeing Rome as the barbarians approached, that he would remain. ‘Look, here are the statues of the holy ones, the graves of the martyrs. We ask their intercession and protection’. Over there, Laurence the deacon was ordered to hand over the Church’s treasures. The officials were not impressed when he  gathered the poor and sick, the widow and orphan, those whom Laurence cared for.

“Behold the treasure of the Church”. The parishioners of our diocese.

The cathedral of Rome tells us the poor are rich, seemingly lost we are close, even in failure we are near victory. How? Simply approach the banquet table that groans under the weight of the richness that is Christ, the Spirit guides us, and God is merciful.

Happy are they who dwell in the house of the Lord
My heart and my flesh cry out for the Living God. Ps. 84

Comforted in darkness, yes, but we are also impelled to go out comforting others, like the pilgrims going to Jerusalem in psalms 95 and 122 today.

Let us glorify the Lord; In his hands are the depths of the earth the tops of the mountains are his. He is our God and we are the flock he tends.

How many people cowering in the darkness of their homes would love to peel back the curtains to see and hear and join a procession moving through darkness to light?

When tired for being tired psalm 122 arouses us

I rejoiced when they said we will go up to the house of the Lord…
To give thanks to the name of the Lord, Peace, I will pray for your good.

Grace calls out to us in darkness. The church that is the mother of all of our little churches, our domestic churches, is a home to darkness. And remember, we should always listen to mother!

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

Scripture:

Romans 14:7-12
Luke 15:1-10

Reflection:

My older sister gave me some good advice. She had just gotten married and I was in the Passionists’ High School minor seminary. We had those schools in the ‘60’s. I wrote to her telling her that she and my new brother-in-law could always call on me when they needed any advice on how best to live their married life. I think I still have the letter she wrote back to me. She did not like my offer. In fact, it was more like a complete rejection. She told me to live my life and let her live hers.

Phew! That came as quite a shock to me in 1959. I remember very few letters I received in my high school days, but that one I can almost quote. Luckily, I grudgingly took her advice, and we remained good friends to the day she died. She and her husband raised four beautiful children and actually taught me more about love and children than the other way around.

Amazingly, she did seek my advice many years later. I had been teaching boys with social and emotional problems for a number of years and Marianne and Bill were experiencing some challenges with their youngest child, a son. Their three older children were all girls. Marianne called me and in explaining the situation, asked if I had any advice. I couldn’t think of any particular action that they might want to try but I do remember telling her, just love him. Never stop telling him that you love him.

I’ve since learned that even as a teacher, it’s never been my job to tell someone else what they “should” do. I can share with them my experience in the area they are inquiring about, if I have any and if I don’t have any experience like in my story above, I can accompany them, if they want, and we can learn together what is the best course of action.

So, this is usually where I make a connection to today’s scripture selections, but sometimes, especially when it’s St. Paul, I get confused and have no idea why these particular readings led me to a particular reflection. I’m going to relate it to the first couple of lines in our first reading from St. Paul to the Romans where he says:

“Brothers and sisters:

None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.
For if we live, we live for the Lord,
and if we die, we die for the Lord;” (ROM 14:7-8)

Help me Lord to live today for you, which I somehow think means my brothers and sisters and everyone who comes into my life. Help me see you in each person I meet today.

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

Scripture:

Romans 13:8-10
Luke 14:25-33

Reflection:

This reading from St. Luke’s Gospel is one of the most challenging of the New Testament. Does Christ really expect his followers to surrender every attachment, human and material, for Him?

Reflecting on this challenge, I am not so sure I could easily, if called on, sacrifice my wife, family and friends. After all, I am called to the Sacrament of Matrimony and I have important ties to a host of other people.

As our prayer life evolves, with regular, sacred time every day to be alone with God, we can gradually develop a simpler life, a deeper life and a more authentic life in which our relationship with God becomes energizing, centered and primary in our life.

Reading the letters between Blessed Franz Jagerstatter (1907-1943) and his wife Franziska, we understand how the power of a close relationship with Christ must supersede all other loyalties. Blessed Franz was a young Austrian farmer with three daughters. His strong faith led him to conclude, contrary to his bishop and pastor, that cooperating with Hitler was morally wrong.

When drafted to fight in the Nazi army, he refused, was imprisoned and sent to the guillotine. He asked the question of himself, “How good a husband and father would I be if I chose to conform to the expectations of my society over the teachings of Jesus?”

In a world that urges us not to miss out on the latest this or that, and prioritized success, achievement, going along to get along, we must chose Christ.

Praying over today’s Gospel will no doubt be unsettling for many. Taking inspiration from Christ’s Passion and the passion of martyrs like Blessed Franz, can lead us to a stronger faith which relies, in the end, totally on Christ.

Two excellent books on Blessed Franz are Solitary Witness, by Gordon Zahn and Franz Jagerstatter: Letters and Writings from Prison, edited by Erna Putz.

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

Scripture:

Romans 12:5-16b
Luke 14:15-24

Reflection:

 Brothers and sisters: We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another. –Romans 12:5

‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ The servant reported, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out
and still there is room.’ The master then ordered the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled.’ -Luke 14:21-23

What a hard lesson we have in today’s readings. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us that we are one body in Christ. How often do I hear these words, and yet, find them so difficult to live out. Would I take a hammer and smash my own hand because it dropped my favorite mug and broke it? No! And still I fail to see those with whom I disagree as part of myself and treat them as “other.” Nowhere in this passage does Paul indicate that he is speaking only of the members of our Church. He seems to be saying everyone we meet is of the Body of Christ and everyone we meet has gifts to bring to the table. Later in the reading he cautions us not to be haughty. To not hold ourselves as superior to others. It has been said that we judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions: “Well, I didn’t mean to cause harm, so I’m still a good person. But they obviously have it in for me!” There I go again, holding myself superior to others.

Then in the gospel Jesus goes so far as to say “Gather people from all over, even those who weren’t invited, for my home must be filled!” The audacity of the Lord, to ask in—no, “make people come in,”—that I would exclude. In fact, it looks like the only ones who aren’t at home with Jesus are the ones who actively shunned the invitation. And, please note, it wasn’t out of spite! They refused politely! They all had important business that drew their attention away. I ask myself, what business could be more important to me than sitting down at home with Christ?

My prayer for today is that I take time to listen to God’s invitation and follow it wherever it leads.

Along with working as an independent teacher, Talib Huff volunteers and works at Christ the King Retreat Center in Citrus Heights. You may contact him at [email protected].

Scripture:

Romans 11:29-36
Luke 14:12-14

Reflection:

Welcoming One and All

As we move towards our holiday celebrations of Thanksgiving and Christmas, today’s Gospel selection from St. Luke offers a different “take” on the Christian concept of hospitality.  Jesus’ words to the Pharisee challenged both the Pharisee…and ourselves, centuries later!

Jesus had been invited to dine at the home of a leading Pharisee, and Jesus made it a teachable moment.  Hosting a lunch or dinner?  Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind…rather than relatives or friends.  Why?  To be generous to others without the possibility of repayment / being invited in return.  A lesson in the spirit of Jesus’ unconditional love!

We 21^st disciples of Jesus are encouraged to take Jesus’ words to heart.  He came not to be served but to serve…associating with and reaching out to the poor and the lowly – the least, the last, the lost.  Jesus challenges us to go beyond dinners and parties and association with those closest to us; we’re invited to reach out and share life with our needy brothers and sisters.

As the pace of our holidays increases, Jesus challenges us to pause, to look around, and then respond in love to those in need of help and encouragement.  Perhaps a meal for them is possible; more likely we can offer a genuine smile and a kind word to those we meet on the sidewalk or while shopping.  Indeed, our hearts will very likely be filled with the true spirit of the Season as we follow Jesus’ encouragement and reach out…a blessing indeed!

As St. Paul so aptly stated at the conclusion of today’s reading from Romans: “To God be glory forever!”

And we each can add our faith-filled:  Amen!

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is the Vocation Director for Holy Cross Province. He lives at St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois. 

Scripture:

Wisdom 11:22-12:2
2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
Luke 19:1-10

Reflection:

In Sunday’s Gospel reading (Luke 19:1-10), we hear the encounter between Jesus and the tax collector, Zacchaeus. As I reflected on this, it seemed to me that this encounter is a great metaphor for the spiritual life of a Christian. Luke tells us that Zacchaeus was anxious to see who Jesus was. Many people at the start of their spiritual life know about Jesus, but are still trying to figure out who He is.

Being short in stature, Zacchaeus climbs a tree to get a look at Jesus, and Jesus looks up and says, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” While it is Zacchaeus who is seeking to know who Jesus is, it is Jesus who initiates the relationship. Jesus not only sees Zacchaeus; Jesus wants to be with him. Jesus wants to be with us! Can you believe it? As we hear in John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “It was not you who chose me, but I chose you.” Jesus loves us and wants to be with us and have a relationship with us, as imperfect as we humans are.

Being in a relationship with Jesus changes Zacchaeus. When the people grumble that Jesus is spending time with a tax collector, Zacchaeus stands his ground and makes some bold statements: “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” Just think about what that meant for Zacchaeus. He was a wealthy man, and yet he was willing to give over half of it away! Talk about a life-changing experience! And yet, this is what can happen, if one is willing to get close to Jesus.

Note how this life-changing experience manifests itself. Zacchaeus not only has a new relationship with Jesus, he has a new relationship with the world. He’s going to use his wealth to help others. He is going to renounce extortion of others.

When we grow closer to God, and deepen our understanding of God’s love in Jesus Christ, the only visible way we have to express the change God has worked in us is how we relate to others. Zacchaeus shows us that the spiritual life can never just be about God and me.

The encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus can seem to imply that conversion and change is a one-time event. There can be dramatic events in our lives with regards to our spiritual life, but the process of conversion and change is ongoing. The more we share God’s love in Jesus Christ with others, the more we learn the extent of that love, which empowers us to love the world even more, and so on. One thing I have learned time and time again in my spiritual life is that it’s not about me, as maddening as that fact can be for my ego.

Are we willing to enter into a deeper relationship with Jesus? Are we willing to be loved and comforted and challenged, and even hurt as we respond to God’s love and surrender to God’s will? Are we willing to be changed? Jesus is calling us, perhaps to come down from an isolated tower, or up from a deep pit, or in from the cold of fear and hate, or out from the darkness of despair. Wherever we may be, Jesus wants us to be with Him, and learn from Him, and love each other!

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is a member of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

Scripture:

Wisdom 3:1-9
Romans 5:5-11 or 6:3-9
John 6:37-40

Reflection:

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

Faith in eternal life is fundamental to our Christian belief system.

While this promise of Jesus and the gift of his resurrection awaits us we must also acknowledge it as mystery. We do not know the shape and form of ‘life eternal’ we simply know that we shall be with God and that we will know perfect unity and love in God’s presence. The life of heaven that awaits is symbolised by words like ‘eternal’ and ‘perfect’ and imaged numerous times in art, poetry and story. The Book of Revelations remains one of our chief scriptural descriptions, but it is of course overlaid by significant theological meanings and messages to be taken too literally.

Perhaps a ‘visible’ symbol of eternal life is to be found in the vastness of the cosmos. This reality, of which we are but a tiny part, is vast and seemingly endless, is almost incomprehensible and yet we exist within it. Perhaps eternity is somewhat like that – something beyond our present comprehension yet something in which we are destined to participate. Indeed from one point of view eternity has already begun for us all! We are born into eternal life and death is merely our transition into a new state of being ‘in God’.

Thus we see those who have gone before us as still with us, or more precisely as the church in heaven awaiting our entry. The long tradition of prayer for those who have gone before us, and indeed asking them to pray in turn for us, is one of the hallmarks of Catholic life and devotion.

From sources such as the Encyclopaedia Britannica we can learn that the institution of a day for a general intercession for those who had died and gone before us can be traced to a monk Odilo, the abbot of the Monastery of Cluny. Abbot Odilo died in 1048, but the date set for such intercession –   November 2^nd – became practically universal before the end of the 13th century.

Of course we note too that today’s focus – on those members of the universal church who had died was chosen to follow All Saints’ Day. Thus having celebrated the feast of all the members of the church who are believed to be in heaven (the saints), the church on earth turns, on the next day, to commemorate those souls who have gone before us. Our particular focus is broad, on November 2^nd we commemorate all of the Faithful Departed, or All Souls. On this day, we pray that all those who have died. Of course we remember with love and devotion our own family and friends who have gone before us, but in faith too we extend our prayers to so many others, people we may never have met but who we pray for on this day.

Grant to all our dear departed loved ones eternal rest, O Lord.

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is a member of Holy Spirit Province, Australia.