Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Ezekiel 17:22-24
2 Corinthians 5:6-10
Mark 4:26-34

Reflection:

Typically, when we think of power what comes to mind is the ability to dominate, to get one’s way, and even to hurt or to destroy. We seldom connect power with bringing things to life, but that is what we are called to do today. Both the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel and the parable from the gospel of Mark affirm that in God we find a startlingly creative power that can bring things to life in very unexpected ways.

In the passage from Ezekiel, God takes a tiny, “tender shoot” and plants it on a mountain where it becomes a “majestic cedar.” This same God makes “the withered tree bloom.” The message is that God can bring life to even the most unpromising situations. Similarly, in the gospel parable Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a tiny mustard seed, “the smallest of all the seeds on the earth,” that “becomes the largest of plants” under which “the birds of the sky” find shade. Again, from bleak beginnings springs forth an abundance of life.

But not without our help. In today’s second reading, St. Paul tells us that we are pilgrims making our way “home to the Lord.” As we make our way, we should “aspire to please” God by doing God’s good work in the world, and we do that when we work with God to bring about the kingdom of God. Any act of love, any act of kindness or thoughtfulness, any act of justice or compassion, no matter how small, helps bring the reign of God more fully to life. That whether we do or not matters is underscored in Paul’s closing comment that God will judge us on whether we used the gift of our lives to do “good or evil,” to bring light and hope to the world rather than to further the darkness. Like God, we are to use our power to bring things to life.

Paul J. Wadell is Professor of Theology & Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the extended Passionist Family.

Scripture:

1 Kings 19:19-21
Matthew 5:33-37

Reflection:

After having given his disciples the Beatitudes, Jesus continues to share the values of discipleship.  He speaks of the process that moves from Anger to Murder, Lascivious glance to Adultery, Infidelity leads to divorce, and how swearing moves to Oath taking.  Jesus is especially concerned with taking an oath, truthfulness.

In Hillel there is a whole treatise on the seriousness of taking “Oaths”. To take an oath is to ask God to witness something between two or more persons.  To take a vow happens when a person asks God directly to be a witness to a situation. To avoid calling on God to witness a transaction Judaism created substitute words, e.g. “By Heaven,” “By Earth”, “By Heaven and Earth,” “By Jerusalem,” etc.

Jesus encourages disciples always speak the truth.  Let their words by “yes” or “No.”  In 1989, in his letter to the laity St. Pope John Paul II mentioned that the three things were of utmost concern to the people of the world.  First, is whether their children will have air to breath, water to drink, and food to eat.  Second, he was concerned with people’s ability to tell the truth any longer, and the Third, whether people can keep promises.  If we cannot do these things it is the end of conversation and ultimately the end of civilization.

There is a story told about Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the foremost Architects of our times.  Once he was in court when he was asked by the Judge, who he was?  He responded something to this:  “I am the greatest architects in the world.”  When he and his wife, Oliviana left the court room, his wife told him he could have had been a little more modest about his achievements.  He replied to her, “Oliviana, I was under oath! I had to tell the truth!”

Jesus instructs us that in matters of great importance we have to speak the truth.

Scripture scholars tell us that this portion of Matthew’s gospel is unique to Matthew.  The words are so lucid, precise, simple, and direct we can say that this passage and these words are the original words of Jesus Himself.  If we speak with more precision in our choice of words and truthfulness it would be a much better world in which to live.

Fr. Ken O’Malley, C.P., is the local superior at Holy Name Passionist Community in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:
1 Kings 18:41-46
Matthew 5:20-26

Reflection:
On the one hand, our readings this day remind us that we are called to be alert, to study the horizon and to see where the Lord may be leading us.  This takes patience, time, and a willingness to enter into silence.

On the other hand, our readings remind us that we are also called to be people who are even willing to let go of the anger we may have toward our own brothers and sisters.  We are called not only to trust in this unusual desire of God for his people, but we are being told that we must even act in a way that seems totally against our nature – to forgive and to let go of the anger that we carry within our hearts.

In my years of ministry as a priest I do not think there is anything that is harder for us as human beings than this demand of the Lord, to forgive and to surrender the anger that can easily dominate our hearts.

We know this is more than a single act of the will but it begins there, like a tiny cloud on the horizon.  One single act of the will to let go, to forgive, and to carry peace in our hearts rather than discord and resentment, will lead us to a victory within that we cannot even imagine.  This single, tiny act will bear fruit that will lead us to an inner peace that we could only hope for.

 

Fr. Pat Brennan, C.P. is the director of St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

1 Kings 17:7-16
Matthew 5:13-16

Reflection:

“…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven.”

So, there is such a thing as “boasting in the Lord?”  I want to share a brief “conversion story” I had recently. I share this, strictly in the hopes that it may help someone else.

Soon after beginning to work in a parish here in Birmingham, I realized that I was feeling “negative vibes” towards one of the staff. It was not anything intentional toward me from that person, it was just that I thought (remember “I thought,” not the other person “thought”) that they always had an answer and that their experience gave them all the wisdom they needed. I was turned off by the person. I rudely would not pay attention if I didn’t have to, especially at team meetings. He had to have noticed, it was so obvious. It was my selfish way of discounting him.

This had gone on for almost a year! I’ve been praying for light in this matter. I did not want to be like this. It was really hampering progress on the team. But my pride and ego were telling me that I should not let this person get away with seeing their wisdom as sufficient to resolve any issue.

During the course of the year we really did not have any direct, cooperative projects until we “agreed” to team up on the Adult Vacation Bible School.

“This is was not going to go down well, “I thought. But, I, somehow, stopped myself, from continuing down that negative path of selfish thinking, and I prayed for a change in me. At least, I think I did!

When we met I just made the decision to allow him and his ideas to flow. I paid attention, and was able to respond with ideas of my own. It became a give and take. The “climate” for me became inviting and creative. In fact, some self-revelatory information came out on both sides which has opened up new avenues of cooperation.

Jesus’ reflections on salt and light brought this whole incident to the fore. Salt and light describe grace for me. Neither salt nor light add anything to which they are applied. Salt adds nothing to food but only sharpens its flavor; light puts nothing in a room, but, instead, allows us to see what is already there. What was already in this relationship was the possibility for creativity and growth. So in a similar way Jesus is a light in our world. It is in the light of His life that we see who we are and what we are capable of being. Unbeknownst to me the other person was playing a role in this. There were spiritual dimensions we would never have known if he hadn’t helped to light them up inside of me.

Jesus does this. No one has shown that of which human love is capable. Nobody shows better how to relate to the source of our being, or to each other. It is in His light that we discover our own depth, width, length and worth.  Where would we be without Him?

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

Scripture:

Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12

Reflection:

“Count your blessings” was the theme of a retreat season several years ago at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Sierra Madre.  During one of my conferences, I would ask our retreatants to share a special blessing in their lives.  Their responses ranged from “my wife,” “my children,” “life,” to “faith,” “good health,” and “family.”  Wonderful blessings, all.  But, then I noted that no one said they were blessed when calamity struck, when they lost their job, or when the doctor told them they have a serious illness

All too often we fail to recognize that God blesses us at all moments in our lives – in our struggles, trials, and grief, as well as in our joys.  We have only to gaze on the crucifix, to see that it was in the moment of Jesus’ greatest suffering that he bestowed on us his greatest blessing – our redemption, and his love for us.

The beatitudes in today’s gospel make this abundantly clear.  The first four blessings are for those who are suffering.  “Blessed are the poor;” Blessed are they who mourn;” Blessed are the meek;” “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

The beatitudes also reveal another important dimension.  They too are blessed who care for and comfort those who are suffering.  “Blessed are the merciful;” Blessed are the clean of heart;” “Blessed are the peacemakers;” Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.”

It’s easy to speak of God’s blessings when all is going well.  The challenge is to recognize God’s blessings even in difficult times.  With his beatitudes, Jesus challenges his followers – and us (after all, Jesus says “blessed are you when they insult or persecute you”) – to see life from God’s viewpoint, not the world’s, and from the “mount.”  And which mount is that?  It can only be Mount Calvary, the place of the cross, the place of greatest blessing.

In issuing his beatitudes, Jesus declare we have a mission to fulfill.  That mission is to comfort one another, to alleviate pain and suffering wherever we find it.  We are called to heal, to repair this crucified world however and whenever we can.  Those are blessings we can count; blessings we can count on.

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

Scripture:

Genesis 3:9-15
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Mark 3:20-35

Reflection:

Dreams are an important part of our prophetic and biblical tradition, and modern psychology asserts that dreams can be indicative of issues we’re working out in our lives. Many people (in fact, 4 out of 5) have a recurring dream in which they find themselves naked in front of a crowd or as they’re walking down the street. A small percentage of these dreamers find they are quite comfortable being naked, which shows they are unafraid to tackle difficult tasks, have great confidence in their own abilities, and feel they have nothing to hide. This is the way we were meant to be, and it’s the way Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden.

Far more people experience their nakedness as a source of embarrassment or discomfort. Jungian analysis sais this can indicate things like fear of having one’s true self exposed or the realization of trying to be something one is not, fear of being vulnerable, a sense of not living up to expectations, guilt over some action or fear of having a wrong deed exposed, a sense of not being prepared for something crucial, etc. Interestingly, Adam and Eve didn’t experience any of this until they sinned. Then they realized they were naked and took action to literally and figuratively cover up. Then they had something to hide. Then they were afraid, and couldn’t truly be themselves. Then they were no longer free.

It is because of sin that we develop unhealthy pride, jealousy and envy, a desire to be better than others, and a tendency to want to locate sin and evil outside of ourselves as if no such thing exists in our own hearts. This was evident in the Gospel, for instance, when the Pharisees saw Jesus doing great things and driving out demons. They couldn’t handle the threat to their power and beliefs, and they dared not be so vulnerable as to look inside to discern what personal demons they needed to drive out of themselves. So instead they defended themselves, built walls of exclusion, and accused Jesus of being a disciple of Satan.

In reality, Jesus is the antidote to this pretension, the reminder of who and whose we are. Jesus tells us we are all worthwhile and intrinsically worthy of respect and dignity. We don’t need to be someone we are not. Even as we are challenged and coaxed to be better, we are thoroughly loved and supported just as we are.  In God’s eyes, there is not a hierarchy of lovability – even Jesus’ own mother is on a level field with anyone else who follows the will of God.

So how does this apply to me? I admit to having the “naked dream” many times in my life. Sometimes it occurs when I don’t feel sufficiently practiced for an important talk that’s coming up, and I fear failing in front of everyone. More insidious, though, are the times when I’ve been afraid to let people know what I really think or who I truly am inside for fear of being judged, being “found out” as the imperfect person I am, and being unloved. It can cause me to feel defensive and guarded, to blame others, and to build a safety net around my heart.

Yet, God calls to that tender heart within me. As I open myself to God, I have gradually experienced the reverse process of Adam and Eve.  Sometimes more easily and sometimes with great struggle, the sinful me accepts that I am worthwhile, lovable, and “enough” just the way I am. I discover anew the unconditional love and perfect acceptance of God. I realize that God created each of us (including me!) as a unique and uniquely beautiful creation, with talents and gifts that on one else has, and with no need to hide or cover up. This is good news!! If only we could hear it.

I’m still uncomfortable being naked in my dreams. But can I continue working to allow myself to be “seen” as who I am without judgment? Can I believe in my own worth, while also constantly discerning the sinful aspects of my life that need to be removed? Can I reach out to others, even those I consider haughty, hurtful, or greedy, knowing that their sins exist in me, too, and they are also worthy of respect and dignity? Can I work to change systems that require those on the margins to be unseen, unclothed, and unloved?

This seems like quite a challenge, and sometimes I feel like a really slow learner. After all, it has taken over 60 years to get me as far as I am now!  But with the help and grace of God, I’ll keep trying. It’s worth if at least some people can have just a little more Garden of Eden in their lives because of me.

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/.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Scripture:

2 Timothy 4:1-8
Luke 2:41-51

Reflection:

The Immaculate Heart – a Tender and Real Heart

Today we celebrate the Immaculate Heart of Mary. With yesterday’s celebration of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus we have a beautiful couplet. The origin of the feasts can be found in St. John Eudes’ (1680) devotion to the hearts of Jesus and Mary.

The readings for the 9th Saturday from Timothy and Mark show responses of the heart. The poor widow who gives from her heart is a fitting and the final weekday reading from Mark’s gospel. Monday we will begin reading Matthew. The readings for the Immaculate Heart of Mary give us the finding of Jesus in the temple from Luke.

Caryll Houselander expresses in a few words the meaning of the first part of the couplet, the Sacred Heart, ‘we are called to love others, those who do not love us, all sinners, because Jesus loves all, even those who hurt and despise him. Our hearts are to grow to the size of the heart of Jesus, full of the love of all. In the love of Jesus for us we want to love as Jesus loves.

Does it seem easier to feel and respond to the heart of Jesus that is full of boundless love than to respond with affection to an “Immaculate Heart”? Perhaps we see Mary the dawn and Christ the perfect day, Jesus the bright sun and Mary the shadowed moon? Mary the quiet woman who like the ‘reed of God’ (Caryll Houselander) is open to receive the breath of God, God’s will

In this vein today’s feast may draw us to the love of Mary, by her not calling love to herself but to her Son. Mary our mother, humble and empty before God, teaches us how we are to love God. She directs us not to herself but to her Son, such is her love. A love to imitate. Our love grows from Mary’s yes to God, her will, her Immaculate Heart. Our love for God grows as we honor Mary today.

Augustine says, Mary was more blessed having borne Jesus in her heart than in having carried him in the flesh. It is dangerous to take quotes out of context. But with Augustine’s thought, and hearing how Mary leads us to God’s love can we lose sight of the heart part of the Immaculate Heart of Mary? Can we get too heady? The abstract idea of ‘will’ becomes visible in the mess, joy, tears and touches, the shoves and embraces of daily life. The gospel tells a story that we step into, there we can join with Mary. Maybe we can use two women’s insight so we do not dissect love too much. May I conclude by offering a quote from a book published in 1945  by Maise Ward and Caryll Houselander, “The Splendor of the Rosary”.“[Finding] …Through Mary, seeking her lost son, may we be given grace always to seek for the Christ Child and always to find him. Let us find him in all children, and in all who have a child’s needs – the helpless, the sick, the simple, the aged; in all who serve and are trusting and poor; in all who are lonely or homeless. Let us too become as little children to find the Divine Child in our own hearts.” Mary is leading us to her son with a human heart full of love. That woman we love and want to love like her as she leads us to her Son.

Fr. William Murphy, CP is the pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Jamaica, New York.

Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus 

Scripture:

Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9
Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19
John 19:31-37

Reflection:

Across the centuries writers of prose and poetry have taken such liberties with the word ‘heart’, so much so that in the English language we are swamped by the use of ‘heart’ to describe so many varied situations. One can be ‘heart-broken’,  emotions can be heart-felt, one can love with all one’s heart, a cruel person can be cold-hearted and a kind person warm hearted, secrets or another person can be held in one’s heart, compassion seems to flow from the heart or when we want to speak at our deepest, most vulnerable level we speak ‘from the heart’.

Perhaps because a heartbeat is the first sound a baby ever hears (that is, the beating of a mother’s heart is very loud within the womb), we tend to unconsciously associate the heart with the reality of love, protection and belonging as well.

Of course, and this seems true across all cultures, the heart represents the life force or essence of a person.  And why not, for from the moment of its formation in our developing body within the womb till our dying breath, this muscle beats unendingly and faithfully keeping our body alive and well.

Today’s’ scriptures utilise the image of heart in similar ways. Hosea speaks of God’s heart being full of love and of God as the one who lifts an infant to his very cheek in an embrace. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians speaks of Christ dwelling in our hearts. And in our gospel text John speaks of blood and water rushing from the side of Jesus which in itself bears witness to the physical pain he bore and the heart’s role in keeping him alive till it was overwhelmed and he had breathed his last.

Today’s Feast – that of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – places our prayers within a similar, symbolic setting.  The Feast celebrates the fact that all through the gospel passages we see Jesus’ ‘heart’ revealed to us in a myriad of ways which one might best interpret not necessarily as theologians, but through the lens of a poet. Jesus feels peoples pain and is moved to reach out to them from his very heart, he constantly interprets the law and life itself through the lens of a compassion that we associated with heart-felt love of others. He is particularly attuned to the situations of women and children, the poor and dispossessed, the outcastes and sinner – all of this awareness flows from a heart full of love. His heart is our safe haven, let us welcome him into our hearts in turn.

O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. (from the prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus).

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is a member of Holy Spirit Province, Australia.  He currently serves on the General Council and is stationed in Rome.