The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Daily Scripture

Upcoming Daily Scriptures

Daily Scripture, November 4, 2018

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 12:28-34

Reflection:

All-Inclusive Love

Today’s Gospel selection recalls question put to Jesus by the scribe:  “Which is the first of all the commandments?”  The scribe knew the many regulations of the Old Testament…some 613 distinct commandments!  Most likely the scribe was sincere in asking about the first, the greatest.

Jesus didn’t hesitate as he quoted the Book of Deuteronomy:  “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength”…and He took things one step further with a quote from the Book of Leviticus:  “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Jesus rolls all the commandments into one commandment:  love God totally, who is likewise present in ourselves and our neighbors…God present in all creation.

One serious “catch” in the statements of Jesus and Deuteronomy:  the tiny three letter word “all”…all your heart and soul and mind and strength.  This implies “totality”, giving ourselves totally to God, with nothing left out, no holding back.  In our humanness, we can easily dream of holding back, of loving God “out there” in a general way with minimal life consequences.  We human beings…at times good and gracious, and at other times belligerent, lazy, offensive, selfish!

Today’s Scriptures challenge us to take Jesus’ words to heart, to love and not hold back in any way…to love everyone…God, neighbors, self.  Truly a Gospel challenge with far-reaching consequences for ourselves, our families, our Church, and our world.  And…we can do it!  Jesus is our Way, our Truth, and our Life.  Each day, we’re invited to open our hearts and lives to Him and respond with lives of love.

As we faithfully try to live each day, may Jesus look at us as He looked at the scribe, and encourage us as well:  “…you are not far from the Kingdom of God.”


Fr. John Schork, C.P. is a member of the Passionist community in Chicago, Illinois. 

Daily Scripture, November 3, 2018

Scripture:

Philippians 1:18b-26
Luke 14:1, 7-11

Reflection:

For to me life is Christ, and death is gain… I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. ~Philippians 1:21, 23

I don’t know about you, but sometimes my prayer is “Beam me up Lord!” Some days I just want to go home and be done here. It’s usually when I’m sick or tired, or tired of fighting off negative thoughts that seem to overwhelm me somedays.

I think I’m afraid of getting old. The call of heaven gets stronger and stronger as I experience the inevitable signs of aging. Already I have some arthritis-like pain in one of my hands, my hearing is definitely getting worse, and I question whether I’ll be able to take care of Jim if anything happens to him. My brother has dementia at only 66 years old, and I’m praying we don’t have to go through that!

It can be tempting to say “Well, I’ve done enough. We raised 4 kids who are now 4 awesome adults, I’ve written two books, recorded 3 CDs of music, had a nice run as a retreat leader, and enjoyed all of the ministries I’ve been involved in for so many years.  It’s time to kick back, quit worrying about trying to lose weight, do nothing and enjoy the quiet. (And the not-so-quiet when my grandkids come over.)

My prayer however, is that I won’t do that! My prayer is that I will get up each day, thankful for another one, and try to learn something new; that I will continue to use the gifts God has given me to bless others; and that I will get out of my rocking chair and explore the beauty of the world around me.

Yes I look forward one day to meeting the Lord face to face and to begin exploring heaven with those who have gone before me. But until then, I want to keep living life the best I can, giving all I can, loving my family and all those the Lord brings into my life and cherishing whatever time I have left here. Please pray for me, and I will pray for you!

Janice Carleton and her husband Jim live in Bainbridge Island, Washington,  and partner with Passionist Fr. Cedric Pisegna in Fr. Cedric Ministries. She is the mother of 4 grown children and grandmother of 6. Janice also leads women’s retreats and recently published her second book: God IS with Us. Visit Janice’s website at http://www.janicecarleton.com/ or email her at [email protected].

Daily Scripture, November 2, 2018

All Souls Day

Scripture:all-souls-day

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

Reflection:

While I was sitting here curmudgeonly lamenting the rise to prominence of Halloween over a good, Christian holy day like All Souls Day (full disclosure: I know “curmudgeonly” is an adjective, not an adverb), I began to wonder whether the fate of Purgatory was somehow a consequence of the importance being given to this pagan feast of Halloween.

Once upon a time, for those of us who lived in seminaries, the coming of All Souls Day meant “get ready to serve three Masses,” back-to-back, same celebrant and same altar. This feast was one of the two days of the year that a priest was allowed to celebrate three Masses (Christmas was the other day). We could imagine the hopefulness of the souls in Purgatory that this could be the day that they’d make it over the threshold into heaven.

Or maybe the “holy souls” would be helped by our “exequies” rite which was celebrated at our Community Mass on November 2nd. We brought out what looked to us like an ironing board, covered it with a floor-length black cloth, and then carried out the ritual that today we call the “Final Commendation and Blessing” at a funeral Mass.

There was a time, it seems a long time ago, when we really thought about all of our deceased loved ones who might be in need of our prayers to “get out of Purgatory.” Today, however, it seems that we automatically consign our deceased family members and friends to “God’s hands”, like giving them a pass on Purgatory.

There is a verse in today’s gospel that is re-assuring, and does tend to erase thoughts of a temporary exile into a land of dark and longing: “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life (John 6:40).” This passage is part of the “Eucharistic Discourse” in Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel. Jesus is the life-giving Bread from Heaven, which means that our sharing in the Eucharist is itself a triumph over death, and a foretaste of heaven.

Today’s reading from Romans (Rom 6:7) also suggests that with death, we are no longer subject to sin: “For a dead person has been absolved from sin.” But the death it refers to is not our physical death, the passage clearly is in the context of our “dying to sin” by our Baptism into the death of Christ: “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death (Rom 6:3)?” We are already “dead to sin”, and we live now for Christ, a life nourished by the Sacraments of our Faith, and which will be brought to fulfillment in our passage from this mortal life to the life into which we have already been initiated by our baptism.

So, does All Souls Day really have any meaning for a contemporary Christian, and Catholic? Briefly, “yes.” This is a day when we might no longer focus on the dividing line between purgatory and heaven, but really should consider that all of us are “in the line”, “on the way,” or “soon to be,” coming home to the Father. All of us are among those who “have died” to sin, and are already awaiting entry into the Father’s House.” We pray for the “Poor Souls,” but the “Poor Souls” are we. We are “almost there,” we are confident that God’s grace will help us pass from this life to heavenly life. We pray for those who are on the journey with us, that together we will continue to live the life of grace begun in us with baptism. We pray for those who have “gone before us,” that their faith has brought them safely home, and we pray in thanksgiving for the life of faith which our parents, grandparents, friends and family members have nurtured in us.

This is our feast day!

Fr. Arthur Carrillo, C.P.  is the director of the Missions for Holy Cross Province.  He lives in Citrus Heights, California.

Daily Scripture, November 1, 2018

Feast of All Saints

Scripture:

Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12a

Reflection:

A remarkable feature of earliest Christianity is how the various communities of Christians spread throughout the Mediterranean world kept in touch with each other. Historians tell us that because of the network of Roman roads that developed in the first century, travel became much more widespread.  The roads were built mainly for military purposes, but ordinary people traveled on them because it made journeys easier and safer.

The early fathers of the Church considered the umbrella of the Roman Empire a stroke of Providence because it helped spread the gospel, even though the Empire would also become a source of persecution for Christians.  Thus, Paul and many other early Christian missionaries took to the road to proclaim the gospel and create new Christian communities.  And Paul and other leaders such as Peter and other anonymous authors would use that same network of roads to send letters of encouragement and instruction to far-flung communities of Christians.

But underlying—and inspiring—this amazing network of communication was something deeper—the reality we celebrate today on the feast of “All Saints.” The Christians believed that they shared a deep bond with each other, even though separated by distance and language and culture. Paul would urge his Christians in Corinth to think of themselves as “one Body in Christ” or as a harmony of many gifts but “united in One Spirit.”  A favorite designation Paul used in referring to his fellow Christians in the communities he wrote to was that of “the saints” or “the holy ones.”  Christians were “holy” not simply because they led exemplary lives but because they were united in faith and part of the Body of Christ.

That sense of being profoundly united as Christians is expressed in the eloquent words of Ephesians: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Eph 4:4-6). This the underlying motivation for this feast of “All Saints.”  So strong is the bond that ties us together is that it extends not only to Christians living now in various parts of the world but even to those who have gone before us in death.  They, too, are the “holy ones”—the “saints.”  Not just the famous saints like Augustine and Theresa and Paul of the Cross, but all the everyday saints who have been part of our lives—our parents, our siblings, our dearest friends whose deaths we mourn but not without hope.  These form the “great multitude which no one could count”” referred to in today’s reading from the Book of Revelation.

We trust that the bond of life that God has given to us—and enhanced by our baptism and Christian faith—will transcend death and enable us to hope in a future where we will be united with all those we love—with all the saints.


Fr. Donald Senior, C.P. is President Emeritus and Professor of New Testament at Catholic Theological Union.  He lives at the Passionist residence in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Daily Scripture, October 31, 2018

Scripture:

Ephesians 6:1-9
Luke 13:22-30

Reflection:

“Lord, open the door for us.”

Sounds like all the kids at our door every Halloween.

Who do you think will come knocking at your door tonight?

Historically, Halloween, contrary to the rumors calling it a pagan religious event, is actually a Christian celebration that’s nearly 1,300 years old.  “Halloween” is a name that is simply a contraction of “All Hallows Eve” – the vigil of All Hallows Day – which we celebrate now as All Saints Day.  The word “Hallow,” as a noun, is an old English word for saint. As a verb, it means to make something holy or to honor it as holy.  All Saints Day, November 1, is a Holy Day of Obligation (so be sure to get to mass!), and both the feast and the vigil have been celebrated since Pope Gregory III instituted them in the early eighth century.

On the eve of the Feast of All Saints, people will come to our doors in hoards, dressed as all kinds of things.  We’ll see ghosts and sports-stars, goblins and politicians, witches and princesses, bumble bees and dinosaurs, giraffes and super-heroes.  Perhaps we’ll see some dressed as holy women or men.  They knock, hoping for acceptance and some graciousness and sustenance.  And for what we give them, well, we really get nothing in return.

Today’s Gospel reminds me very much of this.  Jesus says that “After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’”

What costume would you wear when knocking on the door to God’s house?  If you’re at all like me, you’d likely want to hide in the clothing of a Super Hero, Saint, or some other amazing and unflawed character.  I certainly wouldn’t want to show up as a devil, scary ghost, or – worse of all – myself… the Costume Built of All I’ve Said & Done.

But that’s exactly what will happen.  We’ll show up, in front of God, wearing a garment borne of all the scars, all the hurt, all the sin, all the mistakes, all the humanness that we’ve lived.  Our “costume” is one of our own making, the good and the bad.

For me, that’s the most frightening costume of all.

But that doesn’t have to scare us!  God loves us, and offers us so many opportunities to turn back to Him and be saved!  Everything from the Sacrament of Reconciliation to many of the prayers we recite during mass, if only we would truly mean it.

“Kyrie elieson.”                “Lord, have mercy.”
“Miserere nobis.”            “Have mercy on us.”

For me, though, the strongest is a prayer we recite at every Eucharist:

“O Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

We can be healed… and the treats at God’s house are beyond imagination.

Dear God, thank you for the gift of your never-ending love.
Hear me knock on your door,
and please, grant the grace of your mercy to me, a sinner, looking to change. Amen.


Paul Puccinelli is Director of Liturgy & Music at St. Rita Parish in Sierra Madre, California, and a member of the retreat team at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center.

Daily Scripture, October 30, 2018

Scripture:

Ephesians 5:21-33
Luke 13:18-21

Reflection:

This reflection is addressed to husbands.  A song of some years ago, sung by Garth Brooks, had this haunting refrain: “If tomorrow never comes, will she know how much I loved her?”  In our second reading today St. Paul says, “Husbands, love your wives.”  How will she know how much you love her?

She will know if you tell her.  So use these three words frequently, “I love you.”  And use other words, like, “You look marvelous.”  “That was a great meal.”  “I appreciate all you do.”  She will know how much you love her by your positive words.

Not a person of words?  Then service. Cut the lawn, wash her car, do the shopping, take out the garbage, etc., etc.  By making her life easier, she will know how much you love her.

Is she still not convinced?  Then try gifts.  Flowers, candy, jewelry, her favorite meal, a movie, etc.  She will know the message.

No money for material gifts?  Then give the gift of time, quality time.  Do fun stuff together.  Enjoy each other’s company.  Make her laugh.  And give the most difficult gift, the gift of listening.  Put aside the “I” word and say instead, “Tell me more.”  Listen until you fully understand.  The gift of attentive listening is a priceless gift.

And be sure to hold hands, embrace, kiss, and do all you can to make her know she is Number One, the only one in your heart.

With the frequent use of words, service, gifts, quality time and touch, you will nourish your wife and care for her as Christ cares for the church.  And your wife, in turn, will know how much you love her.  (Cf. The 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman.)

What does the reign of God resemble?  In the Roman Liturgy of Canada, we read, “Marriage… is the most powerful symbol of God’s love for the world.”  A little spark of love can grow into the beautiful flame of marriage that illumines the world with the truth of who God is.


Fr. Alan Phillip, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.   http://www.alanphillipcp.com/.

Daily Scripture, October 29, 2018

Scripture:

Ephesians 4:32-5:8
Luke 13:10-17

Reflection:

Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love . . . Ephesians 5:1

In today’s Gospel Jesus heals a woman who is unable to stand up straight. The leader of the synagogue, where Jesus healed the woman, is upset about a healing taking place on the Sabbath. This was seen as work and no work was to be done on the Sabbath. The religious leaders of Jesus’ time were focused on the Law. The Law was what told them how they were to live their life. Jesus healed many people of many ailments and physical disabilities and he did this out of compassion and love for humanity. His teachings and parables also challenged the religious leaders to go beyond the Law. Jesus’ law, is the law of Love.

In Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we are called to imitate God and to live in love by being kind, compassionate and forgiving. The Scripture message today is very poignant for all that has been occurring in our cities, states, country and throughout the world. The message of Saint Paul and Jesus’ Law of Love is needed to refocus us on what is truly important. Kindness, compassion and forgiveness are tools we can use to diminish hatred. The Scriptures call us to be that instrument of the law of Love, to be “imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love”.

How can we be instruments of God’s love to others?


Linda Schork is a theology teacher at Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky.

Daily Scripture, October 28, 2018

Scripture:

Jeremiah 31:7-9
Hebrews 5:1-6
Mark 10:46-52

Reflection:

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha lost her Christian Algonquin mother and Mohawk father to smallpox, which also weakened her sight.  Her uncle, a Mohawk chief, took her into his longhouse and called her Tekakwitha, One Who Walks Groping Her Way.  Even though Tekakwitha was not able to physically see as well as others, she developed a keen insight which led her to become a Christian and live a life of faith and service to others.

If we were to take on the persona of Saint Kateri as One Who Walks Groping Her Way through life, how would we deal the hand that has been dealt us?  I think we all experience times in our life when we seem to ‘have eyes but do not see’ or turn a blind eye to something or someone we would rather not deal with.  Where do we go to find the insight or direction to make the right decision or act appropriately?

Do we sit at the side of the road with Bartimaeus waiting for Jesus to come and heal us?

A life well-lived can be marked by the times our eyes have been opened to see as Jesus sees, to respond in the manner he would respond and to serve with the eyes of love for all.  in the beautiful song we often sing at liturgy, OPEN MY EYES, LORD, we ask for help as One Who Walks Groping Our Way with these lyrics,

Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see your face.
Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see.

We give thanks this day for the gift of faith that allows us to see the face of Jesus in our sisters and brothers, regardless of color, race, religion, political affiliation or state in life.  As we grope our way in faith, may our eyes be opened to the many needs of those around us especially in the poor, abused, lonely, sick and suffering.  Lastly, may we appreciate the beauty around us in sunsets, starry nights, the smile of a child and most of all in those we love and who love us.

Amen.


Theresa Secord is a Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.