Daily Scripture

Scripture:

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17
Matthew 23:23-26

Reflection:

Our Church is once again plunged into despair and anger with the recent report of abuse and cover-up on the part of our church leaders coming out of Pennsylvania.  As we search to understand the meaning of these terrible deeds, we are filled with angst and empathy for the victims and maybe not so much for the perpetrators!  Even though we know and believe God is a loving and merciful God, many find it hard or impossible to cast a merciful or loving eye on those responsible for these hideous deeds.

Indeed our Church is in trouble!  Where do we go from here?  How can we be instruments of peace?  Is it wrong to demand justice for those involved?

As we work through these feelings of hurt, betrayal and anger where do we find hope?  As ministers called to lead and serve the People of God it is important to be as transparent, honest and loving to our people as possible.  I do not have the words to explain this upheaval.  I can listen with an open, loving heart to those in pain and uncertainty.  I can pray for a compassionate heart and forgiving spirit while acknowledging my own feelings of sadness and righteous anger.  The presence of evil in the world and especially in our church is overwhelming at times.

At the same time I find comfort in the blessing to the people of Thessalonica as found in our first reading of today.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,
Who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement
And good hope through his grace,
Encourage your hearts and strengthen them
In every good deed and word.

It is good to remember that our God who loves us and calls us to be members of this church gives us the hope and grace and support to carry on the mission of Christ.

Here in our parish as we move into the Fall season we become busy once again with school activities, parish programs, sacramental celebrations and all the hundreds of things we are about in ministry in this Church we call home.  The Holy Spirit is alive and well in our parish as we welcome smiling children back to school, excited couples preparing for marriage, eager RCIA inquirers anxious to begin a journey to the Easter sacraments.  Our refugee ministry has been planning and is ready to welcome our third refugee family at the end of this month.  The parish community shares wholeheartedly in this effort to give shelter to the homeless and food to the hungry as we say hello to this family of seven from the Congo.

Today we also celebrate the Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.  Augustine’s early life was marked by dissolute living and upheaval.  His conversion experience which led to his baptism and subsequent service and giftedness to the Church is something we are grateful for.  We are reminded that even in the midst of the current darkness we are experiencing as Church, the grace of the spirit will lead us to a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

May we find comfort and hope in the love God has for each of us as faithful followers of Christ our brother and friend.

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

Scripture:

Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18
Ephesians 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32
John 6:60-69

Reflection:

The questions of “Where are we to go?” and “What do we seek?” are front and center in both of today’s readings from the Book of Joshua and the Gospel of John.

First Joshua. He addressed the people: “If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling.” But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord for the service of other gods. For it was the Lord, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery.”

Then in John, after the disciples hear some tough preaching, Jesus says to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go?”

After the recent release of the report from Pennsylvania on the decades of clerical abuse of minors, which follows on the same systemic crisis inflicting the entire church in Chile and Australia and so many other places, do we blame anyone who asks, “Where are we to go?” With all the political hyperbole that saturates the airwaves, do we blame anyone who asks, “Who are we to believe?”

There have many been periods of darkness and despair in times past. We too often misplace our hopes and dreams in institutions, rituals, leaders, ideologies or any other golden calves. And they invariably disappoint us, if not worse. So, where do we go?

The choice to follow Jesus is ours to make. We can leave. But, as Peter says, “Where else are we to go?” We could hear that as a snarky remark or we can hear it as a realization that it is only Jesus who will not disappoint, bully, manipulate, abuse or shame us. If we are hurt, disappointed and angry, let’s go to Him in quiet prayer and let Christ hold us and assure us that He is our savior…not any other person or institution or ideology or political party.

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:

Ezekiel 43:1-7ab
Matthew 23:1-12

Reflection:

Everyone is welcomed, loved, forgiven

It has been a grim week in the world of religion and politics — for both the Catholic Church and Washington, the headlines have been devastating; we’re shaken to our core, as we cannot begin to imagine the suffering of countless victims. The grand jury report in Pennsylvania, combined with the felony convictions in New York and Virginia, paint a picture of dishonesty, corruption, the denial of truth.

It is difficult to imagine a greater contrast in God’s Word, as the words “humility” or “servant leadership” best summarize today’s readings. In the first reading, the prophet speaks for our God, thundering, “Here I will dwell among the children of Israel forever”!  In Ezekiel’s vision, he saw the glory of God enter the temple. [“The temple was filled with the glory of the Lord.” 43:5]

Jesus connects the dots for us; in admonishing the scribes and Pharisees (for “…placing heavy burdens on others and not lifting a finger to help them… all their works are performed to be seen), he addresses church and politics today, too, as when ministers or government officials use office for personal gain, to enhance and glorify self, or to protect a system, rather than caring for the vulnerable and marginalized.

Today might be a time to ponder the words of some of our contemporary prophets, along with Ezekiel and Jesus:

“I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security,” or“Let the Church always be a place of mercy and hope, where everyone is welcomed, loved, forgiven.” Pope Francis
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” C.S. Lewis

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

Scripture:

Revelation: 21:9b-14
John 1:45-51

Reflection:

No Deceit

“Behold, an Israelite in truth (ä-lā’-thā-ä) in whom there is no deceit” (dolos)!

In my fishing days I took special attention to baiting my hook. I impaled the poor little worm in such a way to make him irresistible by wiggling. I did this not because I was doing the fish a favor but because I wanted a nice Trout dinner!

When Jesus complemented Nathaniel for being without “deceit” He was saying that he did not bait people. The Greek word in NT is “dolos” which means a lure, or a snare. Nathaniel was “what you see is what you get”. We seem to be living in a world of fake news. Fake news almost always is aimed at the destruction of a person. Jesus showed no likening for lying! “When he (Devil) lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”Jh 8:44

Truth should be handled like dynamite.  I am afraid we are too quick to remain silent with “deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word^”. Mk 4:19  There is a power in the truth of Christ that far exceeds the mendacity of the secular world.  The Book of Proverbs speaks strongly about sincerity. “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal faithfully are His delight”. Prov 12:22

It is a beautiful experience to encounter a person “without deceit”. A follower of Christ must always be truthful because Jesus is the truth!  In today’s Gospel Jesus calls Nathaniel “true”. The word in original Greek text is ä-lā’-thā-ä. It means to un-hide. The reality of the fact is not hidden! Truth is the opposite of deceit. So long ago and Jesus still continues to say today ” for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”  John 18:37

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

Scripture:

Ezekiel 36:23-28
Matthew 22:1-14

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus tells the parable of the Wedding Feast, in which a king holds a wedding banquet for his son. He invites the people one would expect to be at this kind of event, but they do not come. The king sends out his servants a second time, but some of the invitees actually mistreat the servants and kill them. The king deals with these, but sends out servants again to invite anyone who will come. But when the banquet is going on, he sees a man not properly dressed for the occasion, and when the man has no response to why he is not wearing a wedding garment, he is thrown out. At the end of the parable, Jesus says, “many are invited, but few are chosen.”

When I first heard this parable closely, I wondered why the king was making such an issue of the man not properly dressed. When I was a pastor, I often cut people some slack about what they were wearing, because I was glad that they were there, especially young people. And if the king just invited anybody, what did he expect? That’s a bit of twentieth or twenty-first century thinking looking at ancient practices. But what came to me was that while everyone is invited to the banquet of eternal life, or even life in Jesus here on earth, we need to be willing to change our lives. This change for me is represented by the wedding garment in the parable.

Are we willing to be changed by the invitation to enter the mystery of God’s love in Jesus Christ? Are we willing to have God, in the words of our first reading from Ezekiel, take from our bodies our “stony hearts” and give us “natural hearts?”

Admittedly, in the light of recent revelations of abuse and cover-ups in the Church, many are looking for monumental change, especially perhaps among the hierarchy. The anger and frustration many feel is warranted, and some more serious discernment needs to occur as the church looks for a meaningful, compassionate, and determined response to what has happened.

This parable challenges all in leadership positions to be open to the change that is necessary. It also calls all of us to be open to conversion. May we hear the ongoing invitation to abundant life in following Jesus.

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

 

Scripture:

Ezekiel 34:1-11
Matthew 20:1-16

Reflection:

Matthew is challenging us today with this parable from Christ regarding the workers. In the time of Jesus and still today we spend too much time grumbling and ogling the gifts of others instead of spending that time in thanksgiving for our own gifts.

Christ asks us, “Are you envious because I am generous?” (Matt 20:15)

It’s not about what our neighbor gets, our boss, or our brother.  It’s so easy to focus on what others have. I have heard it said that there is an “entitlement’ malady in the current generation. I think we all have it. I am certainly guilty of it.  This scripture reminds me it is not what I don’t have, but instead what I do have. All that we have and all that we are is from God.

In today’s society the more we gain, the faster we get there, the greatness of our victory is what we desire, even idolize.  For me the freeway is where I really see this come to life. I feel the need to hurry, to be first, to get ahead!

A simple response to such sentiments is to look upon the crucified face of Jesus and thus recognize God’s lavish generosity.  Paul of the Cross said that by praying with the passion we give, “a drop of remedy to the world.”

How can we be envious if we are looking with thanksgiving at Christ’s generous gift?

That is the challenge for today. When we start to ogle and compare, stop, think of Christ crucified, and give thanks. Today, be the ‘drop of remedy’ to the sickness in the world.

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

Scripture:

Ezekiel 28:1-10
Matthew 19:23-30

Reflection:

So much of what we have enjoys value in our eyes, either because we have it, and others don’t, or because, while others have what we don’t, they don’t seem to be enjoying themselves, despite what they have.

The saint whose memory we recall today, Pope St. Piux X, had a motto for his pontificate: “to renew all things in Christ”.  This process of renewal was really one of re-evaluation, that is, taking a second look at the things we already have at hand.  There are people who specialize in obtaining items that show the effects of aging, but have the skill of restoring the beauty of these items so that, what was initially about to be discarded, is re-evaluated, becoming prized again.  This seems to have been the mission of Pope St. Piux X.  His reign as pope extended from 1903 to 1914.  It was during those years that the study of Scripture, especially by Protestant scholars, exploded into prominence, and Catholics were not far behind.  Protestant scholars utilized new methods of textual analysis, that is, of reading a familiar text, in this case, from the bible, and using current methods of exploring the meaning of a text in the bible, began to open up ways of appreciating the word of God that proved to be eye-openers.    Catholic scholars too began to do much the same thing, and some stunning appreciations of the bible began to appear.

Some of these were so surprising that Pope St. Pius X became concerned about Catholic scholars enthusiastically adopting some of these methods, fearing that they might change the meaning of some biblical verses that had withstood the test of time, so he tried to slow down this program.  But he wasn’t against change, or bringing the new to bear upon the old.  But he went about this his way.  He developed a new way of teaching young people the catechism, he promoted the then just developing Catholic Action, he updated church (canon) law, but above all he promoted the introduction of children to the eucharist at a much younger age than they were used to at the time, and urged Catholics to receive communion much more frequently than they were doing at the time.  The pope simply took a second look at some old practices.

So, while he was slow to accept all of the changes occurring with regard to appreciating the bible, he was not against change, and introduced many new approaches to the heart of our Catholic faith.  His motto was to “restore all things in Christ”.  So he had his way of having us appreciate the good things we have, duplicating what the prophet Ezekiel remarked about in his day regarding the wealth and achievements of a progressive people living in the city of Tyre, of whom he says that they are wise and successful and wealthy, but unable to handle all the good things available to them, so they are going to lose them all.

And later on, we hear Jesus telling His apostles that the rich will not find it as easy to enter the kingdom of heaven, as Peter and the other apostles thought, who were of the opinion that that the wealthy “had it made”.  Jesus throws some cold water on this mistaken notion, saying that a camel squeezing through the eye of a needle has an easier job of it than some successful people seeking entrance into heaven.

Pope St. Pius X polished the old, making it look good again.

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

Scripture:

Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32
Matthew 19:13-15

Reflection:

…Let the little children come to me…for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as they are.

 Jesus had been on a journey of presence and healing.  Taking away pain and disease.  Leaders were trying to discredit him, trick him up with the letter of the law.  It was nearing the end of the day, and people were bringing their children – moms likely – bringing them for a blessing – a blessing from this man Jesus, who seemed to be about healing.

The disciples were trying to protect him, they could see how tired he was, exhausted really, from trying to be present and respond to all that was brought to him.  And now children! You can just imagine how the disciples would say, No – he has no energy left for active, energetic children!!!

I just spent a week with my grandchildren, five in total, one boy and four girls; two ten year olds, two eight year olds and one six year old.  Talk about energy!  Go, go, go; do, do, do!  At the end of each day, my husband and I were exhausted; at the end of the week, we were wiped out!   We sat and enjoyed the quiet…  But then we started to go back over the week… how happy they were to see us, to share some stories of what they had been doing of late; our walks through the neighborhood and the nearby woods and their excitement at all the ‘critters’ we encountered – including two rather large deer (and how quiet the kids could be)!  We remembered the water balloon fights where ALL of us were soaking wet and laughing (aren’t those new water balloons wonderful – you can fill 20 at one time!).  We remembered the trip to the bookstore and the precious time of reading to them.  We remembered their giggling, their wonder and awe – even in the midst of some whining!

Yes, we remembered those words of Jesus, let the children come to me, for the Kingdom belongs to them.  We introduce them to God and teach them about God; they re-introduce us to God and remind us of how we ‘encounter’ God!!!

Faith Offman is the Associate Director of Ministry at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan.