Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Hebrews 10:11-18
Mark 4:1-20

Reflection:

The seed sown among thorns… “They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches and craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.”

This can be a danger for even “good people.”  We get so busy with work, family, school, social media, health concerns, paying bills, etc.  We are surrounded by noise, with so many people trying to get our attention. We put off praying, meditating, and spiritual reading.  We start to lose an awareness of God’s presence, forget to ask what is his will, forget to thank him, and just go about our daily lives living on the surface.

How do we ensure that we are not living among thorns, that we are good soil, so that the word bears fruit?  The answer: A Passionist retreat.

At a Passionist retreat there is the gift of silence. This produces an atmosphere that is conducive to hearing God speak to us.  On a retreat there is time for listening, learning, reflecting and being present to God in ways that are often not possible in daily life.

Through the preaching, through participation in the Mass and other forms of prayer, through the sacrament of Reconciliation, the soil of our hearts is prepared and nourished so that the word of God can sink deep roots, grow and bear fruit.

The sower in today’s parable sowed seed not just on a small patch, but lavishly, all over the place.  He was not efficient; he was magnanimous.  On retreat we grow in awareness of God’s love.  Then we are sent forth to spread that love lavishly, all over the place.  God’s magnanimous love flowing through us will bring a harvest of joy.

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

Scripture: 

Hebrews 10:1–10
Mark 3:31-35

Reflection:

Behold, I come to do your will, O God – Hebrews 10:7

Turning our will over to someone else is an unfamiliar activity in our society. We love our independence and freedom to make choices in our everyday life. At our Baptism we became children of God. And just as a child is to listen to their parents so too are we to listen to God’s Word and Commandments. God does not hang on to us but gives us the freedom to choose to follow his will or not. Christ is the greatest example of being open to the will of God. Through this openness Christ allowed himself to be sacrificed on the Cross for our salvation. Giving himself up for us he gave us his own Body and Blood for our salvation. Mary offers us another example of “thy will be done . . .” She was open to God’s plan for her as an instrument that would bring Christ into the world.

When we say “thy will be done. . .” we open ourselves to what God has planned for us. Usually it is a life we never thought we would be living. Being open to the will of God offers a new freedom to live our life more closely to God. It may demand things from us we are not sure we can do or be. It will certainly change and mold us into the person God created us to be.

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

Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas

Scripture:

Hebrews 9:15, 24-28
Mark 3:22-30

Reflection:

We celebrate Saint Thomas Aquinas OP this day.  He was an Italian Dominican friar, Catholic priest, and Doctor of the Church.  He was an immensely influential philosopher, theologian, and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism.  His writings are well known to all in the theological world of study and learning.  In looking beyond the scholastic contributions of Thomas Aquinas, I found a series of quotes attributed to him.  I look at these simple words as good pastoral advice for those of us called to ministry in the church today.  There were many quotes, but for the purpose of this reflection, I offer you the following:

‘Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine.’

Ah! ’how wonderful it is after a long day to enjoy happy hour relaxing in a bubbling Jacuzzi or bubble bath and end the evening with the simple prayer that St. John XXIII ended each day with, ‘It’s your Church, God, I’m going to bed.’

To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary.  To one without faith, no explanation is possible.’

Jesus tells us to bring the good news to all people. At the same time he reminds us that there will be those who are unable to hear the gospel message because of their hard-heartedness, disbelief, stubbornness or whatever!  Let us remember there will never be 100% participation at bible study, faith formation events, Sunday worship or the myriads of programs and events offered.  Rejoice in the 50% and do not let our hearts be troubled!

‘The things that we love tell us what we are.’

Fr Michal Judge, Franciscan priest, chaplain for the New York Fire Department, died at 9/11 as he ministered to those in need. His daily prayer:

Good morning, Lord.  Take me where you want me to be today.  Let me meet who you want me to meet.  Tell me what you want me to say.  And keep me out of your way.  Amen.  In love, may this be our daily prayer.

‘There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.’

True friendship rests in the celebration of the big (S) Sacraments and how we live out our lives of faith through the many small (s)sacraments.  True friendship calls us to continually look for the face of Christ in our family, friends, parish, community, nation as well as in the faces of those who are poor, lonely, sick, displaced, homeless and in need in any way.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life!  He is our best friend!  May we enjoy true friendship in him and through him.

Saint Thomas Aquinas, pray for us!  Amen.

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

Scripture:

Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
1 Corinthians 12:12-30 or 12:12-14, 27
Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Reflection:

Many scripture commentators consider today’s Gospel the Inaugural Address of Jesus – words that chart out his platform for ministry, about to unfold. Our temptation is to reduce or even dismiss this narrative as a kind of pseudo-piety, or glaze over Jesus’ words, wrapping them in a cellophane of religiosity and placing them high on the shelf of spiritual mumbo-jumbo. Perhaps, in some ways, we fail to recognize how exciting – and how demanding – his words really are!

When Jesus quotes the prophet, Isaiah, “…he has anointed me to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year of favor from the Lord,” we will soon see how revolutionary Jesus’ ministry will be, creating a whole new world order. Some say the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5), for example, is more subversive than the Communist Manifesto!

Earlier in Luke’s Gospel, our Blessed Mother reinforces this prophetic role in her great Magnificat prayer, praising God who tears down the mighty from their thrones, lifts up the lowly, feeds the hungry and sends the rich away empty-handed. Because our Nicene Creed and the Mysteries of the Rosary (now beginning to change with the Mysteries of Light) and other devotions, for example, have focused only on Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, we could easily avoid engaging with this Jesus who calls us to radical transformation, a different social order. Today’s readings introduce us to Jesus’ full ministry.

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

Scripture:

2 Timothy 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5
Mark 3:20-21

Reflection:

One must wonder what’s going on in our world. The tensions among peoples and nations, even among ourselves in our cities and Church rattle our sensibilities. Did we somehow think we were advancing as a people and as humans?

It seems as if a bandage has been pulled off an open wound or the lid lifted from a simmering cauldron. Perhaps the moral proscriptions intended to guide human interactions were only thinly applied to our personal morality. Whatever the issue—turning away immigrants fleeing poverty, clerical sexual abuse and the abuse of authority, racial and economic and educational disparity in our cities, rural communities feeling left out and ignored, rise of authoritarian leaders—it seems all our dirty laundry is out there for all to see.

In his “Rules for the Discernment of Spirits,” St. Ignatius Loyola provides this insight about how the Evil Spirit works: “When the enemy of human nature turns his wiles and persuasions upon an upright person, he intends and desires them to be received and kept in secrecy.” But when that secret is shared and comes to the light of our loving God, the Evil Spirit loses the advantage.

As uncomfortable and disheartening as these times may be, perhaps this is the appointed time to shed light on our human sin. Perhaps we have hidden away in secret places in our hearts the fears, brokenness, hurts, and disappointments of our lives. When these see the light of day, though, when exposed to the mercy and love of Christ, we can begin to be healed. Healing and reconciliation cannot begin as long as we hide our sin or pretend there are no social injustices. Yes, it’s embarrassing and it’s humbling, but it is necessary.

I admit I don’t like a lot of what I am seeing at work in the world or in my own heart at times. But seeing it and naming it for the evil it is takes the advantage away from the Evil Spirit. This time may be God’s invitation to seek forgiveness and reconciliation, to become the human beings and the human community God created us to be and we know we can be.

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:

Acts 22:3-16 or 9:1-22
Mark 16:15-18

Reflection:

Many years ago, it was barely sunrise, and I was driving from our Louisville monastery to Bardstown, Kentucky — about 45 miles. The young man on the side of the road was clean-cut, vigilant, right-thumb-out-hitchhiking. “How far ya goin’?” and William began a robust conversation about journeys and pilgrimages. “Have you been saved by Jesus Christ, Jack?” he eventually questioned, and while I didn’t want to identify myself as Catholic priest, I did want to continue engaging with his topic of conversion.

Every time the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul rolls around, I think of that fine young man — not because his core evangelical theological convictions might have been different from mine. Rather, I think it’s because I can identify with the smugness of Saul, and that hitchhiker underscored my sin. You see, full of certitude on St. Stephen’s Day, Saul held the murderers’ cloaks. So sure of himself, I think he confused fidelity with arrogance. So sure of himself, he was willing to die for his beliefs; unfortunately, he was also willing to kill for them. Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith, it’s an essential part. The trouble with certitude is that it can be not only transitory and delusional, it’s impertinent and dangerous.

And then one day the rug was pulled from under, his faith fell apart; he had to face his misguided zeal. Some call it conversion, some call it a breakdown. Doesn’t matter. Paul re-directs his life. That’s why I admire Paul — it’s his conversion from insolence to meekness.

In his apostolic exhortation, Gaudete et Exultate, Pope Francis writes of humility and accepting daily humiliations as the path to holiness. (“If you are unable to suffer and offer up a few humiliations, you are not humble, and you are not on the path to holiness.” ¶ 118)  So thanks to William and the many travelers and ramblers who gently keep teaching me.

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

Scripture:

Hebrews 7:25-8:6
Mark 3:7-12

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the feast of St Francis de Sales who died in 1622 at age of 55.  Many years ago I made a special effort to visit his tomb in the Presentation Sisters’ convent on Lake Annecy.   His remains rest near St Jane de Chantel.  St Jane with Francis was the Foundress of the Presentation Sisters

During his years as bishop, Francis acquired a reputation as a spellbinding preacher and something of an ascetic. His motto was, “He who preaches with love, preaches effectively.”  One of his main efforts was to teach ordinary folks how to pray in their busy lives.  His life and teachings influenced St Paul of the Cross. I love among his many quotable sayings: “Half an hour’s meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed.”

Today’s Gospel relates how “A large number of people followed Jesus from Galilee and from Judea.

Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.  He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him.”

In the Greek inspired Text striking words of closeness to Jesus by the Jews and Gentiles are used!  Words like thlibō which means crushed or “squash” or “hem in”.  That’s close!  Another word is epipiptō; which means fall upon, gripped, pressed around!  I am sure most of these folks were common ordinary people who probably were not the intelligentsia of the day but were given the wisdom of the Gospel which is “to come to Me all you who are weary and overburdened and I will refresh you”.  Mt 11:28

This kind of healing closeness to Christ is caused by faith filled prayer!   A prayer that is a close relationship with Christ.  Pope Francis said it so well: “Our relationship with Christ, that is the primary thing: all else is secondary.”

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

Scripture:

Hebrews 6:10-20
Mark 2:23-28

Reflection:

I love this reading from Hebrews, “We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises.” (Hebrews 6:10)

Isn’t this the joy of sharing in our lives with others around you! Last week was the 4-year anniversary of the death of my deacon husband, Mike. In the last 4 years I have come to realize, that for those I love, the most important thing that I can pray for, wish for, hope for is that they have the same ‘eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end.” that my husband had.

I love reading about the saints, one of my current favorites is Blessed Isidore De Loor (of Saint Joseph). He was a Passionist blessed from the late 1800’s.  Isidore was known as the ‘good brother…the brother of the will of God” (Passiochisti.org). I have been connected with him since I randomly ran into a statue of him at an antique store outside of San Antonio, Texas. A surprise to say the least! Blessed Isidore has been teaching me about this, “eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end” that Saint Paul is talking about in this letter to the Hebrews. Blessed Isidore was in terrible pain at the end of his life and found that suffering to be an opportunity to become more conformed to Jesus Crucified. This is not someone who was sluggish in his faith.

As we go about our day, let us remember this challenge, to be eager, not sluggish and through faith and patience, have an eagerness for hope in Christ!!

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