Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Matthew 16:13-23

Reflection:

Can a Leopard Change His Spots?

Like the vassal state before its overlord, so is Judah toward her God. Vassals obey their master until the master looks elsewhere, then they do what they want. So with Judah, she prays to the God of the covenant, but when Judah feels independent she trusts in other gods with less demanding loyalties.

Jeremiah says that Judah has dug a deep whole for herself. Sin is written in stone in her heart. Can the leopard change his spots? (Jeremiah 13:23). Doesn’t look it.

Because Judah’s ways stand against God’s desire to help and to free them, what can God do? God does not forget Israel, the past and the special relationship with the chosen people, their love story. But a new relationship must start. Not with the stone tablets of the covenant on Mt. Sinai but now a covenant of heart and will; an internal communion and a change of will. Only God can bring this about. God chooses to do so by offering a deep and totally personal relationship as the basis for this new covenant.

Jeremiah does not give up his belief in the promise of God. God will not abandon the chosen people but will fashion an even better relationship with them. Forgiveness and mercy from God will restore Israel to their land, they will now know God from personal experience with a intimacy that will make teaching about God unnecessary.

How incredible that Jeremiah who suffers personal doubt and pain, and even wonders about God’s presence in his ministry, gives us today this most famous passage of his prophecy, the beautiful vision of the gift God’s fidelity when we are undeserving. ( See the excellent summary of the Book of Jeremiah in Vol. 10 of the Old Testament Message by Lawrence Boadt CSP., Glazer, 1982).

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein, martyr in Auschwitz during WW II. There is rich material on line about her. May these quotes resonate with our reading of Jeremiah today.

Jeremiah wonders if there will be a new covenant, but he says no because God will not do away with the first covenant that expresses God’s enduring love to the Chosen People. “You don’t know what it means to me to be a daughter of the chosen people, to belong to Christ, not only spiritually, but according to the flesh”

Her words on love and suffering bring Jeremiah into the Paschal Mystery, “Love is stronger than hatred. In the end there will be only the fullness of love… If we accept the whole Christ in faithful self-giving, by choosing and walking in the way of the imitation of Christ, then he will lead us through his Passion and Cross to the glory of the Resurrection.”  Jeremiah will disappear from the Scriptures as he is led away to Egypt. “Enkindle your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall meet with peace.” And her final recorded words to her sister when arrested, “Come, we are going for our people.”

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

Scripture:

Jeremiah 31:1-7
Matthew 15:21-28

Reflection:

In the time Jesus the two cities of Tyre and Sidon were prosperous Roman port cities and as we might guess despite the wealth of the citizens therein, there was also ‘poverty’.  Commentators suggest that there was a great spiritual hunger in the region and it seems that news of Jesus and his message and probably news of his reputation as a healer had proceeded him. Thus when he withdraws to the region it might not surprise us that a Canaanite would approach him for help.

Certainly Canaanites did not normally mix with Jews and indeed Jesus often faced hostile receptions in such places. But in fairness, there was also prejudice and mixed feelings on the part of both ethnic groups about the other – feelings that found their way into language and attitudes.

So we have a puzzling story of why Jesus does not at first answer the woman and why he repeats and uses ‘common’ language in his dialogue with her – a dialogue that at first seems to be dismissive.

Yet as every parent knows, one will fight and advocate for one’s children to the end of our strength – such is the power of love. So why does Jesus seem to ignore her at first?

We can struggle to easily and simply explain away some of troubling words in this text – or we can look a little deeper and see what lessons there might be there for us to notice.

Let’s look at one very important message. If we look to the story as a whole, we see that this woman becomes for Jesus a wonderful example of humility, persistence in prayer, and faith.

This indeed might be the essential truth for us to notice – and the example for us to imitate in living our own discipleship. We are called to be like this woman!

To be humble is to allow God to work in and through our lives. It is the defining stance of a Christian, and to be humble is to put ego and self aside and stand before our God in all our needs and powerlessness and accepting from God all the graces we need.

To be persistent in prayer is likewise a central reality in our discipleship and a stance that underpins our very lives. It is to be constantly in relationship to God in our thoughts, words and reflections and to listen attentively to God’s word to us.

To have faith and to live from it is the foundation of our everyday life. It is at the core of our being Christian. It is at once the ‘compass’  that guides our every decision and act, the rock on which we stand in times of trial and suffering and the place from which we draw meaning and offer our thanks to God.

Ultimately through her interaction with Jesus the Canaanite woman shows us that indeed our God “will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.” This truth is evident and it is one we can place our trust in.

Let us imitate the example of this woman in our Christian journey each day – living a humble life, being persistent in our prayer and having faith at all times and in all circumstances.

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.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22
Matthew 14:22-36 or 15:1-2, 10-14

Reflection:

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.  ~Matthew 14:22, 23

“Go to your room and don’t come down until I tell you!” –my mother’s favorite form of punishment. Oh, how I hated that. I’d go to my room and wonder how did this happened again and then sit there and do nothing (those were the days when bedrooms were simply rooms with beds where you slept—no TV’s, radios or books to occupy your time). I suppose my mother’s strategy worked, at least I think it reduced the behavior that prompted my mother’s remedy in the first place.

“Doing nothing often leads to the very best something” (Winnie the Pooh, Disney’s new Christopher Robin film) I went to the movies this past Friday evening and at the suggestion of a friend we saw Christopher Robin. I wanted to see another movie, but agreed to his choice. I could not believe how much I enjoyed seeing it and how it has inspired me to once again recall the importance of doing nothing. Spoiler alert: It’s a lesson Christopher has to learn all over again as a successful efficiency expert in a luggage manufacturing firm.

Finally, I have a friend who is dying of cancer. His friends, myself included, want to assure him of our love and prayers, but he emailed us all with the following request: “In lieu of prayers, please go be nice to someone.” This past Saturday, recalling his request, instead of doing my normal household chores, I helped a friend put in a window air-conditioner. That proved to be a challenge, but we succeeded and she later emailed our morning coffee group including a picture of the new AC, she wrote: “As you can see Dan was able to install my new AC and it’s working fine! So quiet! So cool! I am blessed! Thank you Dan!”  Her simple statement warmed my heart and convinced me of the importance of my other friend’s request to be nice. I doubt that all would have happened if I hadn’t spend much time mulling over in the quiet of my home, (praying by myself) how I could honor my friend’s request.

Thank you Matthew for telling us about Jesus’ witness to the worth of doing nothing and all the great things that can follow, like walking on water, learning new behaviors, finding efficient ways of dealing with today’s problems, cool rooms to escape the soaring temperatures and the chance to fulfill a dying friends simple request. I pray in the quiet of my room as I write this, that I may never again forget this lesson.

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

Scripture:

Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15
Ephesians 4:17, 20-24
John 6:24:35

Reflection:

Today the church gives us the second set of readings from a five week series as we move deeper into the Bread of Life discourse from John’s Gospel.  Recall last week how the people pursued Jesus because of the signs they saw him perform on the sick.  In today’s gospel, they are still pursuing Jesus but this time Jesus suggests it is for a different reason.  He states, “I assure you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled”.   And yet by the end of today’s Gospel they are begging him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”  The way Jesus entices us and pulls us in is unique to all of us.  The stories of individuals sharing how God has called them are always intriguing, unique and fascinating. Most people can name different stages of how Jesus has enticed them in order to lead them to something that is deeper and more substantial.  What good is a feel-good religion which doesn’t really transform us?

A second item worth reflecting on is how God meets us in our human need, and responds to us out of compassion.  The impetus of this feeding story is Jesus seeing the crowds and knowing the hunger of the people.  Out of this awareness the Divine responds with a deep abundant compassion, meeting the needs of the people.  We see the same dynamic from the Exodus story written hundreds of years earlier.  Out of compassion to the grumbling of the Israelites, the Holy One responds with an abundance of food, feeding the people.

Third, when I put both of the above two truths together I recognize that God does not fulfill us  with what we were searching for, because our search and the conditions around our search are too limited. Rather, God creates something new beyond my limited conditions.   I frequently find in spiritual direction that a person’s scope can be so narrowly defined that there isn’t much space for the Divine Spirit to move.   How can a person with a rigid limited scope ever be surprised by God?   Yet this is precisely what happens in this event or “sign” as John calls it.  When the people were expecting a healing sign (6:2) they were astounded with a feeding sign.  It caught them by surprise and yet their eyes were truly opened because they saw it as they reflected on the experience.  The God who surprises us is consistent with numerous New Testament themes.  After all, isn’t that the Christmas story?

How about the contrast with scarcity and abundance?  Jack Shea has a wonderful distinction between the world of the flesh which is based on scarcity versus the world of the spirit which is over abundance.  Thus the feeding of the multitudes has an over abundance of food.

A fifth very important theme is the human tendency to make Jesus be something he is not.  Last weekend’s Gospel ended with Jesus having to move away from the people because he knew they would carry him off and make him king.  Again in confessions and spiritual direction I continually see people disappointed in God because God didn’t fulfill what they had hoped for.  Yet most all the time it is the human person who wants God to be something God is not.

This Bread of Life discourse has some tremendously beautiful gems of truth.  As we take plenty of time pondering them over the next several weeks, may we grow in an appreciation of who we are in the eyes of God.

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is the pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 26:1-9
Matthew 13:54-58

Reflection:

“‘A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.’” Matthew 13:57

Jim and I were talking about this verse, comparing it to how many people feel that their words and even their lives don’t have much impact on their own children. So many children have fallen away from the faith! And yet there are times too, when the opposite happens, and we as parents are challenged to grow deeper in our faith by our children.

That has been the case for us since Julie entered the Sisters of Life nine years ago. I am a cradle Catholic, and have loved the Church since I was a little girl, but I have learned so much from Sr. Cecilia Rose! When she entered, we promised her that we would pray the rosary for her every day as she discerned this calling to religious life. And in so doing, the rosary has become a very important part of our day. We even attend a group that prays the rosary together at church.

Sister has told us about many of the books that she has read and reading them has also led us deeper into our faith. One of my favorites is “The Family that Overtook Christ,” a story about St. Bernard of Clairvaux and his holy family. Another great one is “The Father’s Tale” by Michael O’Brien.

After praying the Liturgy of the Hours when visiting the Sisters I was inspired to get my own set of books. Now whenever I pray Morning or Evening Prayer, I feel connected to Julie and all of the Sisters who have become our family. Just three days from today, Sr. Cecilia Rose and 7 other Sisters will profess their final vows, which is a beautiful testament to the future of our church!

We would so appreciate prayers for safe travel for all those attending, and for each of the Sisters as they give themselves completely to the Lord. The ceremony itself is very beautiful and can be watched on the Basilica’s website: www.stjohnsstamford.com. Just click on the Live Webcam in the upper left corner. Mass begins at 11 AM (ET) on Monday, August 6^th. Thanks for praying!

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].

Scripture:

Jeremiah 18:1-6
Matthew 13:47-53

Reflection:

The figure of the potter in today’s first reading really makes one pause and savor all of the images that flow from this “earthy” example of God’s desire to provide for the chosen people.

This is an image that has inspired sacred songs, sacred art and more than a little personal introspection. Although in the context of the prophet, God’s message is a warning of the consequences to the people’s infidelity to the covenant, it has become the very rich basis for trusting in God’s provident care for the people who recognize their dependence on such a loving “creator.”

The potter is, first of all, someone who massages life into the sterile clay slab that sits on his wheel. In the book of Genesis, Chapter 2, we read that the “earth” (adama) became a human being (adam) in the garden under the careful sculpting of God followed by God’s breathing life into the clay out of his own respiration.

Once placed onto the potter’s wheel, the careful massaging of the clay in motion can create new and harmonious shapes, over and over again. The shaping tools are the palms and fingers of the potter. This is a challenging image because it means that when we feel that the “pressures” of life are forcing us into awkward or useless shapes, we might remember that the potter is never finished until he is finished.

My life has known many ups and downs; it has been “restarted” many times; it has been at times very functional, and at other times, mainly decorative. Sometimes I have been part of a set, and at other times, very much alone. At times I have felt complete, and at other times very deficient. All the while, the potter has continued his work. I have no idea what will be the outcome of my life in the hands of the potter, but I know that the potter won’t be finished until I am.

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

Feast of St. Alphonsus Ligouri

Scripture:

Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21
Matthew 13:44-46

Reflection:

 Today we celebrate the feast of St. Alphonsus Ligouri, a bishop and doctor of the Church who is also the founder of the Redemptorists.  The Redemptorists began in Italy about the same time as the Passionists and our two congregations were inspired by a similar mission to reinvigorate the church by preaching God’s love expressed through Jesus’ giving of his life for us.  St. Alphonsus was a great moral theologian, whose writings and teachings pondered the challenge of living a moral life in an imperfect world.

The readings for today are taken from the prophet Jeremiah (15:10, 16-21) and from the parable discourse of Matthew’s Gospel, comparing the joy of the Kingdom of God to the discovery of the “pearl of great price” and the “treasure hidden in the field” (Matt 13:44-46).  The reading from Jeremiah shows why he has earned a reputation of strong lament; we even refer to a type of doomsday speech as a “Jeremiad.”  Jeremiah lived in stressful times in Israel, beginning his role as a prophet around 626 BC, at a time when the southern kingdom of Judah was under extreme threat and seemed doomed to experience the kind of devastation that the northern kingdom of Israel had experienced earlier from the Assyrian invasion.

Jeremiah’s warnings fell on deaf ears and so he rues the day that his mother gave him birth.  Everyone seems to “curse” him.  He cries out to God, “why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?”  He calls God a “treacherous brook whose waters do not abide!”  Yet despite Jeremiah’s anger and frustration with God, the Lord stands by him.   Jeremiah will continue to be the Lord’s “mouthpiece,” a “brass wall” against which the prophet’s enemies will not prevail.  “For I am with you, to deliver and rescue you, says the Lord.”  Here is the beautiful reassurance of God’s abiding care and protection even in the most difficult of times.  The Psalm response for today picks up that same theme: “God is my refuge on the day of distress.”

There seems to be a lot of bad news converging these days: poor families separated from each other in the chaos of our southern border; terrible fires sweeping the southwest; floods raging through the northeast; and seemingly endless conflict in our political world—the list can be a long one.  As the reading from Jeremiah teaches us today, we do not have to pretend that all is right with the world.  Even in the midst of our world’s beauty and joys, there are experiences of inexplicable tragedy and suffering.  Great characters such as Jeremiah and many of the psalms were not afraid to lament such experiences—to ask why such things happened in a world created by a loving God.

The biblical response is not to come up with an easy answer to the mystery of suffering but, instead, to insist over and over that God is with us, even in time of distress, and that God’s loving presence will sustain us through it all. The words of Psalm 59 eloquently proclaim: “O my strength! Your praise I will sing; for you, O God, are my stronghold, my merciful God.”

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.