Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Colossians 2:6-15
Luke 6:12-19

Reflection:

I’ve been trying to improve my posture at the behest of my physical therapist. When I concentrate, I do fine, but the next thing I know I’m slouched over as my muscles return to their familiar position.  St. Paul warned that the familiar is oddly comforting and incredibly easy to fall back into, even if it is destructive. He especially charged us not to be seduced by human philosophies that our discipleship has already stripped from us, and instead to do the hard and conscious work of remaining alive in Christ.

I think of this when I hear news of the recent horrific shootings and attacks against Hispanics, Muslims, immigrants, and asylum-seekers. Part of that is familiar. Growing up in rural Iowa, our town was 100% Catholic and 100% white. Instead of being taught that all people are children of the same God and part of my own family, I was taught that outsiders, Protestants, people with colored skin, or those not “like me” were dangerous and should be shunned.

Now that I reside in the Chicago area, I live, work, and regularly encounter those of other races, religions, and cultures, and I know my upbringing was wrong. I consciously choose to be open, accepting, curious, generous, and kind, and I am amazed at the common humanity that binds us all together. Yet I catch myself. I have to constantly examine my unintended reactions when, for instance:

• The person on the phone has a non-European foreign accent
• I drive into a neighborhood populated by another race or culture
• I see a woman wearing a burqa
• A young black man wearing a hoodie and low-slung jeans walks toward me on the street

Your list is likely different than mine, but all of these situations trigger emotions inside of me that I work and pray I can understand and eliminate. It is all too easy to succumb to the emotions, to go back to what once was familiar. But that is not the way of Christ. Jesus reached out to all, and especially to the immigrant, marginalized, poor, and hurting people of his day. God needs my voice to keep fighting the seductive human philosophies of power, superiority, and cruelty that would denigrate, cause suffering to, or kill these precious children of God. This is not what Jesus would do. In fact, it is against everything Jesus taught, stood for, and died for. May God help me to stand straight and tall in the Gospel, and live in a way that is true to our Christian calling.

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:

Colossians 1:24-2:3
Luke 6:6-11

Reflection:

Paul the Mystic Tackles a Practical Question

Each week a pop-up on my computer suggests five top picks among weekend events taking place in the city. This week a video sampling of one of the music groups shows people searching and discovering beautifully decorated musical instruments hidden in a lush, jungle landscape, where they are making lovely music. The Museum of Fashion offers an exhibit of styles from Paris. There is a commemoration of 9/11 with a ritual for peace and healing.

There is a lot to nourish the spirit in the city. Searching and the joy of finding; peace and healing; presenting ourselves to others and the significance of our bodily presence.

Grammar school just opened and I joined a class walking to the public chapel of the monastery where there was exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The classes will visit for a short time to pray in silence, sitting in the quiet. The focus of everyone was on the host held in the monstrance. In the line of vision behind the host is the large wooden crucifix which hangs on the wall.

The day will end in the parish with an evening Mass. Those who come will brave the sideswipe of hurricane Dorian with some rain and a messy drive. The Friday evening Mass gathers those offering prayer for the needs of the sick, as well as peace for loved ones who have died and comfort for those who mourn their passing. Those who come are not easily deterred by the weather because of the importance of their mission.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians went to people Paul had never met, but people like each of us, products of ‘Deep Time’. This is the name of the exhibit at the Smithsonian in Washington about our body through time, and the vast tree of created beings, the result of 3.7 billion years of evolution. The exhibit does not talk about our spiritual being. Yet even being made from dust, the psalmist proclaims in Psalm 8, “O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place – what is man that you should be mindful of him?”

The Colossians have welcomed the Good News preached to them. They also have a question. How did Jesus fit into their lives, how does Jesus fit into this world through which they walk each day. Paul the mystic says tells them, “Christ is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creatures. In him everything was created; all were created through him and for him. It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in him…to reconcile everything in his person, everything, I say, on earth and in the heavens, making peace through the blood of his cross.”

We have our questions, we search, we peer at the horizon. Christ in us is our hope of glory. We share this wonderful mystery it is not lessened even in suffering. How marvelous our moment in Deep Time, using talents or performing, contemplating or offering our prayers, even suffering, we are bringing Christ to completion in one another.

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

Scripture:

Wisdom 9:13-18b
Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Luke 14:25-33

Reflection:

School is in session and Jesus is the teacher

Jesus is teaching us in today’s readings on what it takes to become his disciple and he also teaches that you cannot be his disciple if you do certain things. As a teacher I know that you cannot be a good student unless you are ready to learn. Teachers can teach all they want but if the ground is not fertile the seeds of wisdom will not flourish. Throughout Jesus life, school was in session and He was the teacher. All He wanted was some good students. He performed miracles, He taught parables, He led by example and He spoke with authority.

What does it take to be a disciple of Jesus? A couple of weeks ago, we learned it takes discipline, a word derived from the same Latin root, disciplina, which means teaching or instruction. A new school year has just begun for many of us. What an appropriate time to act as a student, eager to learn what it takes to follow the Lord. Are you willing to be the pupil? School is in session today and Jesus is the teacher.

Today’s lessons are not easy. Wisdom acknowledges that God’s ways cannot be understood through human thought. There’s that leap of faith every good student must have to follow Jesus and be his disciple. Jesus, explaining what it takes to follow him, repeatedly frames the requirements as “whoever does not…cannot be my disciple.” These are the don’ts of being a good disciple. As we listen today, let us find hope in our mission as Christ’s twenty-first-century disciples. School is in session today and Jesus is the teacher.

Jesus called Simon Peter after filling his net on an otherwise fruitless evening of fishing. Having witnessed this miracle, Peter and his partners immediately left their families and jobs to follow Jesus. Jesus is now teaching by miracles. Then his teaching method switches and he teaches through the example of others. Jesus encourages would-be disciples to follow the examples of a tower builder and an army leader, each of whom deliberates at length before reaching a practical conclusion. We may be bowled over by a miracle, but it is more likely we will follow based on practical considerations. Jesus asks us to consider the practical question: is it more important to accumulate possessions or to follow the One who opened the way to eternal life? School is in session today and Jesus is the teacher.

Interestingly, each statement Jesus makes about discipleship he phrases negatively, ending with “…cannot be my disciple.” Jesus is aware that the demands of discipleship are not likely to be accepted. Jesus is challenging us to do what seems impossible, spurning one’s family, one’s possessions, one’s comfort, even one’s own life. The great teacher is now teaching through what it means to not be his disciple.

A few Sundays ago, we heard Jesus say that he would divide family members against each other (Luke 12:52-53). Now he tells the crowd that his disciples must hate their families (14:26). Is Jesus really anti-family? No, He is not anti-family, this is an old Semitic Idiom, which means He is more important. Perhaps He just wants to redefine “family.” Look at Onesimus in the second reading. Seen as a slave, he was excluded from Philemon’s family. But Paul is encouraging and positive, speaking of the conversion of someone who was once a slave, but is now a brother and partner. So Paul urges Philemon to welcome Onesimus as a partner and brother as well. Families are wonderful, but the Christian family can be so much more. Perhaps it’s not the members of one’s family Jesus is criticizing, but our narrow concept of “family.” School is in session today and Jesus is the teacher.

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:

Colossians 1:21-23
Luke 6:1-5

Reflection:

My father loved animals, especially, dogs. As a kid growing up, I remember that love leading to some tense moments in our household. Mom did not share that same level of love for animals. One evening dad brought home Rusty, a beautiful purebred boxer. He walked in the back door with Rusty who immediately took off running through the house with seven kids chasing after him—all wanting to play. (Shortly before that, we lost our pet cocker spaniel). While we kids were all happy to have another dog, I imagine my mother was hoping for a bit longer respite before the inevitable next pet joined the family. An argument ensued. Luckily for us kids, we got to keep Rusty.

Today it’s “in” to love animals. At one time, however, the Irish people were made fun of and demeaned for their love of animals.  According to Wikipedia, Gerald of Wales took a trip to Ireland in 1185, and he later wrote disparagingly of the Irish: “…They depend on animals for their livelihood and they live like animals.” While I believe many of us today would think those laudable traits, Gerald evidently, did not.

Clearly Jesus had to deal with this same kind of criticism as we read in today’s scripture selection:

“While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath,
his disciples were picking the heads of grain,
rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.
Some Pharisees said,
“Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” (LK 6:1-2)

Many more such differences occur between Jesus’ time and my mom and dad’s opposing views—living together can be challenging after all. Before Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, African Americans ballplayers could only play in their own, Negro League. Native Americans were considered inferior because they didn’t live in houses or cities or practice religion or dress the way the European settlers did. The list goes on…

In today’s scripture selection, Jesus tells us what is important:

“Have you not read what David did
when he and those who were with him were hungry?
How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,
which only the priests could lawfully eat,
ate of it, and shared it with his companions?”
Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.” (LK 6:3-5)

Help me today God to be less hasty to criticize people who see things or live differently than I do. Help me first to love them as you do and learn how to live with them in peace and harmony by changing me and not expecting them to change.

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

Scripture:

Colossians 1:15-20
Luke 5:33-39

Reflection:

One of my favorite photos of my parents is a small black and white snapshot taken with a Kodak Brownie camera in 1944, shortly after their marriage. Dad is a tall, thin Army Air Corps cadet in uniform, standing next to mother, who wore a light summer dress, her hair pulled back with a sash. Each is licking an ice cream cone while eyeing one another with unalloyed delight.

The picture captures the pure joy Jesus speaks of in today’s passage from St. Luke’s gospel. As a church, we are the bride of Christ. Indeed, the special grace given to newlyweds (and older weds!) is a near-blind joy at just being with one another.

This is not to say that eternal bliss is the staple of every marriage. Indeed, shortly after this photo of my parents was taken, dad spent months in the war zones of the South Pacific as a B-24 bomber pilot, escaping death numerous times. Mother kept vigil (fasting and praying?) back home, awaiting his safe return.

In our dark, difficult days, we rely on Christ to provide what we need. This may require great sacrifice on our part, maybe even death. But underneath the suffering, the struggle, the temptation to give up, we can find a deep, persistent joy.

This is the joy of knowing that, “He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together.” (from the first reading today). He is the center of everything, including our lives. He will never abandon his bride, the Church and each member of the Church.

When I feel the joy of Christ in my life, holding me together, I like to compare it to the joy of mother and dad on that sunny day in Riverside, California, savoring ice cream and each other, seventy-five years ago.

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

Scripture:

Colossians 1:9-14
Luke 5:1-11

Reflection:

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”  Luke 5:4

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”  Luke 5:8

You just have to love Peter. Once again, he bravely shows us the most common reaction to God’s working in our lives. God is always asking us to come nearer, to listen more closely, to love more dearly, to fish deeper. And we usually respond with, “Well, I tried that, so I’m pretty sure it won’t work.” But, just to prove God wrong, we sometimes give it one more try.

I once was helping coordinating an Easter retreat. With all of the liturgies, prayer services, devotions and behind-the-scene details to manage I found myself becoming frazzled and overwhelmed. I found myself wishing people would stop asking for special considerations and (what I perceived as) petty needs and just let me do my job. I was nearing my wits end with one request when I felt an inner prompting that asked, “What if you just meet this need as best you can and let go of any judgment about it?” I know, it sounds like a simple answer, but it shifted my entire experience of the retreat. I started enjoying the “problems.” I even found myself joyfully unclogging a toilet, happy I could help! My net was full to breaking.

But, like Peter, after the glow of the Triduum faded, I began to doubt God’s working in my life. I wonder if we don’t fear what we might accomplish if we really allowed God to use our hands to bring His kingdom about here on Earth. It’s that fear that drives us to say “Depart from me Lord, for I am sinful.” Lucky for us God doesn’t listen to us then. He only comes closer and whispers again, “Lower your nets.”

My prayer today is that I listen to God’s promptings in my life and that I put my hands into His service.

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].