Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Jonah 3:1-10
Luke 11:29-32

Reflection:

About 8 years ago around this time of year, our daughter-in-law was hospitalized due to a medication reaction. My husband and son are both CPA’s and were working 7 days a week at that time and I was charged with looking after our 2 and ½ year old grandson, Mikey, and 8-month-old granddaughter, Cate. I will always remember the sheer panic I felt as my husband left for work that morning leaving me with our grandchildren for the next 8+ hours. While they were frequently at our house and I was well accustomed to their schedule, this was not what I had planned for my day to be sure!

My week was set out before me with a task list for each day and suddenly I found myself moving from go, go to stop. I admit it took me a while to slow down internally, I used all the clichés and metaphors I could remember to convince myself that this work was my call for the day.  Meeting agendas, papers to be written, and email responses would need to be done on a different day. I told myself that this was my invitation from God to slowdown, be present and receive the gift of each moment.

Mikey was going through a Thomas the Tank phase, so I entered into his world of Thomas and listened to his stories of what each character was doing. We ended up outside with sidewalk chalk drawing tracks and islands, and Mikey was enthralled with what we were creating together. I remember looking deeply into his eyes, feeling mesmerized by their clear, earnest and joyfully expression. It was then that I understood I was looking into the Imago Dei and joy filled my heart.

Later that afternoon when both children were napping (and Grandma was sitting starting into space with a cup of coffee to bolster her during the rest of the evening), I realized that in forcing myself to be present to my life circumstances, I understood the “something greater here.” I once read that we all want to find the Pearl of Great Price, but we do not want to pay the price. We want it without putting the time in…. Putting in the time requires hard work and discipline and it doesn’t sound very exciting.

Last Thursday, following Ash Wednesday, we heard the call to choose life from the Book of Deuteronomy. This is an invitation given to us each day—to choose to enter into the day we are given which is perhaps not the day we had planned. The Ninevites heard Jonah’s call to repent or be destroyed and they allowed their day and their life to be rearranged. So, maybe our day doesn’t require such a so radical shift, nonetheless the invitation to experience the something greater is offered to us as well.

Jonah entered hostile territory; the Assyrians were enemies of the Israelite kingdom. If they listened to Jonah and repented, then what is the issue with Jesus’ message to his own people? Why are they looking for a sign? If the “queen of south”—a pagan—recognizes something greater, why don’t they see what is before their eyes? Why don’t we see what is before our eyes?

The kingdom of God is among us and in us, may our eyes be opened to see the movements of God in our lives. 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:

Isaiah 55:10-11
Matthew 6:7-15

Reflection:

My word shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.   –Isaiah 55:11

So the Word which is sown within you on any given day, at any given hour, is destined to be fruitful. Another way of imagining this is to think of “divine providence” which is “God’s loving care and concern for all God has made.” (Catholic Catechism) We believe that God watches over God’s creation, sustains its existence and actually “presides over” its development and destiny.

So here is a question to ask myself as I proceed through this season of “spiritual maturation” (- “to grow up”). Do I live my daily pursuit of imitating Christ in such a way that life appears for the most part to happen coincidentally, accidently, or providentially? It would be like asking yourself did I marry my spouse coincidently, or providentially? (Hopefully not accidently!) You can apply that question to your state in life, as well.

This is the question I put to our parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes, Birmingham, Alabama. Two years ago the parish, officially (through approval of the parish council), deemed the mission of the parish to become one, respecting diversity but not division. It has been a lot of work, since it has been difficult to find parishes from whom to learn where the “host” community puts aside the obstacles to belonging and welcomes the guest, to become an equal. It will continue to be a challenge for a long time.

To this day, I believe it has been providential because of how the Word continues either to challenge or affirm our working interdependently. People are encouraged to explore the Word to provide wisdom as to how to continue to grow as one.

Review, if you will, the “providentiality” of your life in Christ.

Fr. Alex Steinmiller, C.P., is the administrator at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Birmingham, Alabama.

Scripture:

Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
Matthew 25:31-46

Reflection:

This past January, four volunteers with the group No More Deaths were found guilty of illegally entering a national wildlife refuge along the Arizona-Mexico border to leave food and water for immigrants crossing the hot, pitiless desert illegally.  The area is called the “Trail of Death” because of the 155 who have died there since 2001.  Did these four violate federal laws?  Yes.  Nevertheless, many debated have debated the morality of the group’s actions.

In today’s gospel, however, Jesus makes no distinctions whether one should show compassion to the needy whatever their circumstances. The commandment is unequivocal, it is unambiguous, it is clear:

“I was hungry and you gave me food.  I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me…” (Mt 25:35).

Jesus expresses his identification with every human being who suffers and in need of compassion.  The principal sin of the wicked “goats” was not what they did, but what they didn’t do.  Theirs was a sin of omission, inaction.  The opportunities to help others were abundant.  But they chose to do nothing.  Perhaps, because it was illegal to do so.

We are challenged to express our “preferential option for the poor.”  That phrase is not to be domesticated, to be made safe, by adding qualifications and clauses.  Expressing our “preferential option for the poor” may even come at a cost.

The Church offers us this gospel during the Lenten season to remind us about almsgiving.  We are called, not to horde our goods and possessions, but to share them with those in need.  We will be judged, not so much by our right and proper beliefs, although they are important, but by our conduct, our actions — our incarnational preferential option for the poor in Jesus.

Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Romans 10:8-13
Luke 4:1-13

Reflection:

We are told repeatedly in scripture that the most important thing in life, even more important than having bread to eat, is the word of God. Thankfully, we don’t have to go anywhere to find this treasure. I remind myself of Romans: “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” God’s word is already within. All we have to do is listen.

Unfortunately, we don’t do a very good job of listening. When things are going well, for instance, we tend to assume that everything we have, own, and accomplish is because of our own efforts and toil, and we can feel entitled to it – as if our lives and possessions are deservedly ours. We can feel less engaged and more distant from the suffering and pain of the world, even as we are grateful it is not happening to us. In those times, we may not even hear the words of temptation that are constantly playing out in our minds and hearts. After all, when we aren’t listening well to God, we don’t recognize voices that are not of God either, and the lures of wealth, power, control, and exclusion are strong.

When bad things happen, when we struggle, are tired, or feel weak, we turn to God and cry out in pain. Yet ironically, our suffering can also block our ability to hear God’s word. To use the analogy that C.S. Lewis wrote in “A Grief Observed”, we become like drowning persons who, when lifeguards arrive, are so frantic that our flailing and fear can drag our rescuers under with us. As Lewis says, “Even divine omnipotence can’t give if we are unable or unwilling to receive.” Then, because we are deaf to the help God offers, we not only hear temptation but are even more vulnerable to it, grasping at supposed “lifelines” that promise to offer relief.

The only antidote is constant attention to God’s word, no matter the circumstances of life. While most of us can ill afford to go on retreat for 40 days as Jesus did, we can create mini-retreats in daily life. In order to do so, we need to offer God something better than the leftover time of the day, when perhaps we’re too tired to do something else. We need to offer the “first fruits” – times of energy, concentration and focus. I try to start each day with prayer. I first humbly and gratefully recognize that all I have, all I own, and all I am is God living within me. Then I focus on the truth that my very breath is the breath of God, my prayer is God within me praying to God universal, and the deepest desires written in my heart are God’s will for me. My suffering and pain is one with the suffering and pain of all God’s children and of Godself, and my groans are the birth pangs of a greater “kingdom”, one that is not of this world. I allow God to see me and love me as I am, and I ask for ears that hear, eyes that see, and the courage to follow.

Without persistent, daily prayer time, I so easily lose sight of all this and get caught up in the world’s word instead of God’s. I become disconnected from myself, feeling strung out, worried, fearful, and reluctant to speak out or use my gifts. I am tempted to withdraw and just cocoon in my own safe world. I lose sight of what is truly important.

But I’ve learned that the best time to deepen a practice of listening is today, right now, in these circumstances. Don’t wait for a better time or an optimal time. Do whatever is necessary to make it happen. Just as I never go out of the house in the morning without setting aside enough time to brush my teeth, get dressed, and be prepared for wherever I’m going, I try to not go into the day without setting aside time to sit in the presence of God and listen. Then I listen throughout the day. I try to stay connected to the God in whom we live and move and have our being. I look for the true rescuer who will never abandon me and will always give me everything I need. It’s hard! I fail way more often than I like to admit. Sometimes I am tempted to despair that I will ever be as faithful as I’d like to be. But I keep at it, sometimes starting over every day, every hour.

What about you? Can we join together to change, starting now? Can we better practice listening to the Word of God instead of the word of the world? If we can do that, perhaps we can also work together to bring that Word to life for the salvation of the world.

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:

Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Luke 9:22-25

Reflection:

Eating lunch with a few regulars last week at the senior lunch program sponsored by the Lakeview Presbyterian Church, one of my fellow diners asked me what I was going to give up for Lent. I responded that I hadn’t given it much thought at that point. Then another diner at the table, who knows me pretty well, said you already give up so much. There’s nothing left for you to give up. That caught me off guard: “What are you talking about?” I asked. She said: “Well, you don’t eat meat or sugar. You gave up your car and you really don’t watch much television. What else is there?” LOL!

Thinking about that encounter later, I realized that what she saw me as giving up, I saw as a choosing life. I don’t eat meat because I want to participate in a diet that can feed the whole world; I don’t eat sugar because I feel much healthier when I don’t… I have to admit though when I initially made these choices I really thought I’d be giving something up. Over time, I have learned differently.

I wonder if that is what Jesus means when he tells us in today’s gospel selection: “For whoever wishes to save his life, will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (LK 9:24) It’s probably a stretch, but one that I can live with and feel good about. I don’t believe I can say I’m willing to lose my life as Jesus suggests. I believe that by being willing to try to give up habits that once looked to be life giving, I open the possibility to discovering that they truly aren’t. It’s only after giving them up that I learn they were not life giving.

So it’s Mardi Gras as I write this, better known as Fat Tuesday, and I still haven’t decided what I should give up this Lent. Whatever I do decide, I’m sure it will lead to following Moses’ exhortation to his Hebrew tribe: “…Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live…(DT 30:19)

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

Ash Wednesday

Scripture:

Joel 2:12-18
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Reflection:

Ash Wednesday in our time in history is an opportunity for me to fast and pray for guidance in a very troubled world.

In Pope Francis’ great encyclical on climate change and inequality, Laudato Si, our church’s leader summons each of us to deep reflection on the crises of our time: the deadly inequality among our sisters and brothers and the destruction of our earthly home.

The pope rightly points out that the two crises are intertwined – our focus on consumerism and status, and the destruction of our planet that follows.  We must care for the suffering of others in our world today – and we must care for the suffering of the earth, “Our Common Home.”

As I stand before the altar of God on Ash Wednesday receiving ashes on my head, I want to heed the pope’s words and understand what I am doing to foster inequality and environmental degradation.

Do I make alms giving a top household budget priority? Do I make sacrifices (not just give from my surplus) to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked and heal the sick? Do I waste electricity? Can I live more simply?

This Lent is an opportunity for deep conversion…a turning of my heart. It is a chance for a thorough examination of my conscience so I live the Gospel as outlined in Laudato Si.

God will provide the grace for the conversion, if I am open to God’s movements within me.

Jim Wayne is a board member of the Passionists Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Office, state legislator, and author of The Unfinished Man. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Sirach 35:1-12
Mark 10:28-31

Reflection:

But offer no bribes, these He does not accept!  –Sirach 35:14

Our readings today concern giving up things. When I was younger this was my whole picture of Lent: a (seemingly endless!) time to give up the things and activities I most treasured. Cartoons, chocolate, playtime, all were sacrificed for God. It was a transactional exchange. The more I valued the thing I gave up, the more God valued my sacrifice.

And yet, as I have matured, so has my understanding of this great time of the year. Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting are the three calls of Lent. Today’s readings give us insight on how we are to meet these three calls.

Today’s first reading comes from the Old Testament wisdom literature, a series of book containing sayings and commentaries on how we are to live our lives in alignment with God’s plan. The author here equates giving to the poor and seeking justice with the finest offerings on the altar of sacrifice. Almsgiving is the sharing of our blessings with those who have less. While this is usually thought of as money or material goods, time and attention can be given as well. And we are urged to follow these suggestions with “a cheerful countenance,” and a “spirit of joy.” How different this is from the mournful repentance that is often presented as how we should comport ourselves for the next six weeks.

Prayer, at it simplest, is being open to God’s presence. In the responsorial psalm God says, “Hear, my people, and I will speak.” Notice that first we have to listen, to turn our ear to God, before we can hear His voice. Although God is constantly seeking to be in relationship with us, we need to turn to Him in prayer to complete the conversation. If we are turned towards our things, our affairs, our wants and desires, it is difficult if not impossible to hear God’s voice.

Finally in the gospel Peter says to the Lord, “We have given up everything and followed you.” This seems a little out of place without the preceding verses. A rich man has come to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells the man that he already knows the way. But the man continues, ‘I have done all that from my youth and am still lost.’ Then Jesus invites him to stop letting his possessions possess him and, at that, the man goes away sad, “for he had many possessions.” This is what elicits Peter’s statement and Jesus’s response. In fasting, we are called to give up ur attachments, the most basic one being food. The call is not to starve ourselves to illness or leave those who depend on us alone to fend for themselves, but to pay close attention to when and what we desire. Can we restrain our desires and turn them to God?

These three calls of Lent can sometimes seem challenging. But as Jesus says, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

My prayer for today is that I am able to enter this Lenten season open to God’s word, sharing the abundance with which He has blessed me, and release my attachments to all that is not of Him.

Talib Huff is a lay member of the retreat team at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, California. He can be reached at [email protected].