Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Sirach 48:1-14
Matthew 6:7-15

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the memory of a remarkable young Jesuit named St. Aloysius Gonzaga.  The elevation of Aloysius to the “honors of the altar”, so to speak, was the beginning of a trend in the church that has continued into our own time.  He died as a young man, 23 years of age, and, ever since then, the church has grown particularly interested in other young people like him, both men and women, who have caught the eye of the church for their remarkable holiness.  Prior to Aloysius, most of those raised to the honors of the altar were men and women who had lived long enough to achieve some remarkable feat, showing their holiness of life.

Aloysius came from a wealthy Spanish family, and, at an early age, decided to join a religious order, in this case, the Jesuits.  The Jesuits themselves were a young religious order at the time—just 34 years since their beginning.  But in a remarkable sequence of young saints (such as John Berchmans and Stanislaus Kostka) the Jesuits attracted much attention for their success in attracting such outstanding young men to their community.  And ever since then, the church has been sensitive to the remarkable lives lived by such young people.  The Passionists too have produced some outstanding young saints such as Gabriel Possenti, Gemma Galgani and Maria Goretti.

Of course, the constant series of remarks that has risen in their regard is: what have these young people done to deserve all this attention?  They have just gotten their lives underway.  The answer, of course, is that they have done nothing remarkable, in the way we usually think of remarkable deeds.  But the answer to our wonderment lies in our bible readings today.  For we have just heard the words of the apostle St. John extolling the value of faith, faith in Jesus Christ, that leads us to a close bonding with God and enables us to “conquer the world”, as St. John remarks today.  And closely bound up with this faith is the love of God that merits the beautiful encomium of Jesus to the effect that the greatest of all the commandments is to love God and to love one’s neighbor.  Simple truths we have heard time and again, but they contain the answer to our wonderment as to why a young person like Aloysius Gonzaga should be raised to sainthood.  The answer is: his faith and his love.  And this is the case with that whole series of young men and women who have caught the attention of the church over the past number of years.  Faith and love: not remarkably complicated, but significantly enriching.

A few years ago, in the 1950s and 1960s, the Detroit Lions professional football team acquired a young quarterback from Texas named Bobby Lane.  He had played college football down there.  Unfortunately, he had a drinking problem, and it only got worse during the years he played for the Lions.  There are stories about him going into huddle totally drunk, and having to be told what play to call by other players huddled there.  But that’s all Bobby had to know.  He acquired a reputation of being one of the best quarter backs in the game.  People always wondered: how could that be?  What enabled him to throw the ball on target?

This is not an exhortation about the value of drunkenness but it is an example of someone with a major problem and liability yet nonetheless achieving success.  He enjoyed only one asset, and used it well.  Such was the case with St. Aloysius.  He had faith and love enough to make him a saint.

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

Scripture:

2 Kings, 2:1, 6-14
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Reflection:

Have you already sought and received your reward?  There are few of us who don’t often seek the approval of those around us.  Sometimes, we even go out of our way to make sure they notice the good things we do.  Sometimes, we will even choose to do something for others just to impress our friends…or anyone and everyone!  In today’s Gospel from Matthew we are challenged by Jesus to pay attention to our motivations in making our choices.  And, he insists that choices made to do good deeds, or to pray or fast are most effective and most praiseworthy when they are not made in order to make ourselves look good, but out of our love of God and our neighbor!  And, even if no one sees us do these good things, Christ assures us that God notices and will bless us all the more.

These teachings of Jesus about the best attitude to have when we do righteous deeds, pray or fast are a continuation of a whole series of surprising teachings we have been hearing over the past several days.  In the Gospels of the past two days, Jesus advised his disciples to respond to evil or conflict with the following:  “offer no resistance…turn your cheek…offer your tunic as well…go the extra mile…love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.”

Wow, talk about a demanding way of life!  Every time I begin to think that I’m doing pretty well in living out my life with Christ, these readings from Matthew, and others similarly demanding, remind me how far I still have to go!  How about you?  Are you able to build into your life these remarkable responses?  Clearly, Christ calls each of us not just to avoid sin, but to really learn how to love deeply, even those who are almost impossible to love.  Today we pray for the grace of listening and taking to heart these challenges of Jesus.

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

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.