Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16
Matthew 7:21-29

Reflection:

And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.

As a people of God, we are given specific gifts that we should use for the continuation of God’s kingdom on earth. But, we must “walk the walk”, if we choose to “talk the talk.” Sharing the word of God but not doing His will, using the name of Jesus but not establishing a relationship with the Lord, witnessing our faith experiences in one breath, and hitting a low point in our lives and then doubting God’s existence just won’t cut it with the Lord – we have to be all in.

We need to be in the habit of practicing what we preach, living what we believe, and standing strong in our faith, to be His legacy – His presence in this world, rather than our own. There is a song by a contemporary Christian music group called Casting Crowns that says, “I don’t want to leave a legacy; I don’t care if they remember me – only Jesus.”

We have to realize that our security in this life isn’t a product of what WE have accomplished on this earth because, honestly, without Him, we are nothing. We can be firmly planted in Him – he alone is our rock. And no matter how great your marriage is, how talented your kids are, or how awesome your job is, it isn’t what you made of it on your own, but what God bestowed upon you for your complete joy. He loves us that much.

Patty Masson is the Pastoral Associate at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Matthew 7:15-20

Reflection:

In our home growing up, my father asked us to apply the “smell test” to life’s situations we might find ourselves in.  “Take a whiff,” he’d tell us.  “If it stinks, it’s probably rotten.”  We all know when milk has soured or meat is rotting.  Our noses are pretty good at detecting something gone bad, and this is particularly true about human behavior and being in situations that just don’t seem right.

It does not take long to see the hurt, the suffering, the hunger or the violence that plagues our world.  We don’t have to look far to see ruined fruit fall from diseased trees around us.  Our noses can pick up pretty quickly the smell of rotten human behavior.  At times, as we all know, that rotten smell even comes from within when we say or do something hurtful or unkind or just plain wrong.

The lyrics of British pop singers Pet Shop Boys strike me as wise: It is not easy, but don’t give up now. It is not easy.  Happiness is an option. That’s the name of the song, Happiness is an Option.  Unlike the diseased tree in today’s gospel, we can choose to bear good fruit.  We can choose to make choices that improve the lives of those around us.  Being happy and bringing happiness to others is indeed an option.

Perhaps we can better apply the smell test to the circumstances of our lives.  We often think we cannot make a difference in the world, that all we can do is plug our noses and put up with the stench.  That resignation is certainly the work of the evil spirit.  We can make a difference with our words and actions. We can distance ourselves from those who tear others down or whisper vicious gossip.  We can name the injustice of domestic violence or unbridled greed.  We can feed the hungry and clothe the naked and visit the sick – maybe not every single person who is hungry, naked or sick, but one or two certainly.  And simply exercising our option to be a happy person can much improve the air quality for those around us.

Robert Hotz is a consultant with American City Bureau, Inc. and was the Director of The Passion of Christ: The Love That Compels Campaign for Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Genesis 13:2, 5-18
Matthew 7:6, 12-14

 Reflection:

 The Golden Rule

The coupling of today’s two readings is wonderful… Abraham and Sarah once again acting selflessly, even magnanimously, and Jesus unremitting in his call to holiness and depth in our spiritual journey.

Whenever I ponder this marvelous Gospel of “the Golden Rule” where Jesus also adds, “…enter through the narrow gate,” I am challenged by the holiness of people I know. Perhaps they are young parents who get up in the middle of the night — over and over again — with a newborn child. They are the parents who suspend their own desire for gratification to pay tuition dollars or to purchase a pretty prom dress or a down payment on a used car for their daughter or son. They are the Provincials in religious life who sacrifice their “down time” to telephone someone in their community who simply needs reassurance, or they travel for hours to attend a funeral because their presence is such an encouragement, such gift.

Maybe that’s why the prayer that Mother Teresa had in her room can be such an inspiration for us today; it speaks of Christ-like love. Now that’s a GOLDEN rule!

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

Fr. Jack Conley, C.P. is a member of the Passionist formation community at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Scripture:

Isaiah 49:1-6
Acts 13:22-26
Luke 1:57-66

Reflection:

John the Baptist

“The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel: Lk 1:80

John the Baptist lived in the wilderness. All of nature is a word 0f God to us.  In creation, God reveals Himself to us.  Every word we speak tells of what is inside of us. Every piece of nature reveals the wonders of God.  The Judean desert is awesome.  I can see John grabbing a Grasshopper for a light lunch!  The desert wilderness is no place for the faint of heart!

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power, and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened” Rom 1:18 

“It is our humble conviction that the divine and the human meet in the slightest detail in the seamless garment of God’s creation, in the last speck of dust of our planet.” -Pope Francis, Laudato Si 

John heard the voice of God around him.   I am writing this surrounded by Sugar Maple Trees.  The mature tree I am looking at has 140 miles of leaf surface on it!  One square millimeter on a leaf which is a little bigger than a dot on my page contains about 500,000 chloroplasts on it. These are minute little factories producing sugar and other important ingredients for its growth.  I thought Detroit had a lot of factories. God is wonderful in His works!

Today we are growing in appreciating the wonder and beauty of God’s Word to us in the stunning earth!  We are finding each day the incredible wisdom and complexity of God’s creation! “O Lord God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty Lord?^” Ps 89:5  John the Baptist was formed in the wilderness with an awesome image of the magnificent God!

God finally spoke His most wonderful Word Jesus to him.  No wonder why his first sermon was on which is rather poorly translated as “repent”. Metanoia is the original word in Greek and means a change of heart and mind.  God is bigger and more loving than you could dream!  Open your mind to the startling Good News of Jesus! “The word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. … preaching a baptism of repentance (Metanoia) for the forgiveness of sins; Lk 3:3

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Scripture:

Genesis 14:18-20
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Luke 9:11b-17

Reflection:

Lately, my prayers before Mass have centered on my openness to receiving Jesus into myself. On the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ which we celebrate this Sunday, we call to mind what the Eucharist means to us. To reflect on the Body and Blood of Christ is to remember that Jesus has given us His entire self for our salvation. At Mass, we believe that His sacrifice, made “once for all,” is made present for us.

What is our response to this total gift of Jesus? If we remember that the word “Eucharist” is Greek for “Thanksgiving,” our first response is gratitude. Our second response is giving of ourselves in return. In the context of the Mass, this involves being present to Jesus as we believe He is present to us. We also make ourselves present to each other. When we are not there, something is missing from this sacred celebration.

Giving of ourselves, of course, has also to do with what we do before and after Mass. The gift of Jesus which we share at Mass is a challenge to how we relate to the world in all aspects of our lives. In our Gospel reading (Luke 9:11b-17), when the apostles see that it is getting late and that there is a great crowd to see Jesus, but it is in a deserted place, they come to Jesus with the suggestion that He dismisses the crowds so that they can buy something to eat. To the apostles’ credit, they are aware of the needs of the people. But when Jesus (rather mischievously, I think) replies, “Give them some food yourselves,” you can imagine the look on their faces: “Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people. [And surely, Jesus, you don’t mean that, right?)”

Sometimes our hesitancy to give comes from thinking we don’t have anything worthwhile to give. Sometimes we’re afraid to lose what we have if we give. Maybe the apostles had these fears in mind. But in the multiplication of the loaves and fish, Jesus dispels these fears and gives the food to the apostles to give to the crowds. As Jesus has given us His Body and Blood poured out for us, He invites us to trust that He will give us all we need to do what He commands us to do. We need not be afraid to give, no matter how little we think it might be.

And so we’re called to give of ourselves, both materially and spiritually. In our second reading from 1 Corinthians (11:23-26), St. Paul writes: “I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you …” He then proceeds to articulate what we believe about Jesus and why we celebrate the Eucharist. In our first reading from Genesis (14:18-20), Abram gives Melchizedek “a tenth of everything,” in response to Melchizedek’s blessing and all that God had done for him.

Receiving the gift of Jesus and giving of ourselves in return leads us to abundant life. Now I know this doesn’t make sense in a worldly way. Often, the wisdom of the world celebrates greed and sees giving as losing. But this Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ tells us that the greatest gift of God’s love cannot be taken away from us! Giving what we have been given does not diminish what we have, but helps it to grow! Giving is not lived out in isolated incidents, but as a way of life, in gratitude for the gift of Jesus, we share at Mass.

May we be fed in the Eucharist to help feed others and to share our abundant life in Christ with the world.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Community in Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Matthew 6:24-34

Reflection:

 Therefore, that I might not become too elated,
a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan,
to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.
Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,
but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for power is made perfect in weakness.”
I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,
in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.
Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and constraints,
for the sake of Christ;
for when I am weak, then I am strong.

­­­­­­_____________

The weakness in this reading from Saint Paul has always captured me.

It is counterintuitive. Boasting of weakness. This is not a language that we learn on the playgrounds of elementary school. In climbing the ladders in the corporate world there is no perfect weakness. I think we trip over ourselves trying to hide each and every weakness.

Let’s take a minute and reread Christ’s answer to the plea of Saint Paul to take away the thorn. “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2Cor12:9)

His grace is all we need.

Saint Paul realized this, and what it did was make his personal weakness be a glorious strength.

What are our weaknesses? Are we prideful? Do we have cancer or another serious illness? Perhaps we have anxiety or other social issues? Maybe we just don’t think we are good enough? These weaknesses, often make us powerless. It is in this powerlessness that Christ shines the greatest.

“My grace is sufficient for you.” It’s not always an easy answer, I much prefer, ‘go in peace and be cured of your affliction” (Mark 5:34).

Unfortunately, being cured of our affliction isn’t always what is best for our salvation. What is best, only God knows.

“Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor12:10)

Kate Mims is the Retreat Center Director at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30
Matthew 6:19-23

Reflection:

Today is the longest day of the year–or close to it.  This means we can accomplish more today than on any other day of the year.  Correct?  Not exactly, we caution.  It’s just a different disposition of our tasks throughout the 24 hours available to us.

It’s also the memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, a Jesuit scholastic who died at a young age.  He’s a saint, accomplishing much in a short period of time.  Was he at an advantage over us older folks in getting a lot done in the amount of time available to him?  Or at a disadvantage?  And he is joined by other young saints in his achievements, such as his fellow Jesuits Stanislaus Kostka and John Berchmans, and young Passionists such as Gabriel Possenti, Gemma Galgani, Mary Goretti.

Well, it’s a matter of accomplishing the tasks to be done in the time available.  We call this packaging.  One way to approach this is by citing what “we have to do”: keep the 10 commandments, the 5 precepts of the church, the1752 entries in the code of canon law, the tax code weighing in at around 25 pounds, city and country ordinances, rules at our workplace–among others.  Can we repackage all of this?

Jesus does so for us today.  What is the greatest commandment in the law?  This from a scholar in Jewish law (613 laws).  Jesus responds: love God, and your neighbor as yourself.  This accounts for the whole law and the prophets.

And John comments in today’s first reading that this commandment is not burdensome for one who has faith, believing that Jesus is the Son of God.

This faith is like an elixir.  It contains all the nutrients we need for the day.  We don’t have to engage in a harried chase after scores of substitutes in order to achieve the same ends.  It’s a question of simplifying.

So, if we love and believe, we are associates of Aloysius Gonzaga and his peers in codifying “the things we have to do” to achieve our place with God.  This is a simplification well worth pursuing.

Fr. Sebastian MacDonald, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 11:1-11
Matthew 6:7-15

Reflection:

The readings for today seem to be about simplicity and transparency.

In the first reading we find St. Paul wondering if he made a mistake in his approach to bringing the Gospel to the people of Corinth.  His preaching was straightforward and very clear.  As you recall, when Paul first came to Corinth, he did so in fear and trembling.  He had just been mostly unsuccessful in his preaching at Athens and had come to realize that it was the message of God’s love that had power, not his oratorical skills.   So, he basically spoke of Christ’s great love in accepting even death on the cross for them.  It was a powerful message and many people converted.

But time has passed.  Other evangelizers have travelled to Corinth and preached a more complex and esoteric Gospel message.  The fine rhetoric of the latest preachers has caused confusion in the community and some have strayed into strange beliefs and superstitious practices.  Paul is telling them that they are losing the simple and profound truth of the Gospel.  He urges them to return to their original faith in Jesus because it is there that the true understanding of God lies.

In the Gospel, Jesus clears away the some of the false beliefs about what makes prayer “work.”  Apparently, some believed that they needed to bombard God with a constant “babbling” of their needs and petitions.  Jesus tells them they don’t need to babble on endlessly because God already knows their needs.  And then, Jesus goes on to help us understand that the reason prayer “works” is God’s love for us and intimate relationship with us.  It is within that relationship of trust that our prayer becomes effective and nourishing.  And, the most important arenas for prayer are God’s will, daily bread (all those needs and relationships that nourish us), and forgiveness, a forgiveness that we’ve already received through God’s love and are called to share with the people in our lives.

We hear a lot of different things about what it means to be a religious person.  The readings today remind us that an authentic relationship with God needn’t be complicated or arcane.  Rather, it should be a straightforward embrace of God’s love for us revealed through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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