Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Acts 2:14, 22-33
Matthew 28:8-15

Reflection:

The joy of the apostles and the community of disciple men and women followed on the realization that Jesus was raised out of the tomb, and that he intended to re-engage with them in the imminent moment.

In fact, today’s Gospel narrative relays this information in the dialogue that Jesus has with Mary of Magdala and the other Mary, who came to visit the tomb, but were told by the angel to go tell the disciples of his Resurrection, and of his going before them to Galilee (Mt 28:5-10).

It was the reason for the ecstatic happiness of the disciples who returned from Emmaus to report that they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread (Lk 24:33-35).

The importance of this enthusiastic acceptance of the Resurrection of Jesus is that it fueled the Evangelization that was to become the principal work of the Church from that day forward. This clear connection between the Resurrection of Jesus and the work of Evangelization is seen in the way that the 28^th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, from which is taken today’s Gospel reading, contains both a declaration of the Resurrection of Jesus, and a commissioning of the disciples to take the Good News of salvation to “all nations.” (Mt 28:19).

This gives the passage from the first reading, “God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32), a special significance. The self-identity of the first Christian community is not in calling themselves “Christians,” a name by which they were to become known after the establishing of the community in Antioch, they referred to themselves as “witnesses.”

Paul, in his speech to at Cornelius’ home in Caesarea (Acts 10:34-43) builds a bridge between these elements of Christian witness. Especially relevant are verses 39-43: We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and (in) Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised (on) the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.

This Christian identity of being “witnesses” is the fruit of the Resurrection of Jesus. The first disciples immediately saw the meaning of the Resurrection in the commission that Jesus gave them to become witnesses of the Good News to all the world. Today, as we celebrate the Octave of Easter, let us also renew our conviction that Jesus has called us to be His witnesses in the world, that the mission of Jesus may also be lived in and through our witness to the ongoing presence of Christ in the world. We are both his witnesses, and the living members of his body today.

Fr. Arthur Carrillo, C.P.  is the director of the Missions for Holy Cross Province.  He lives in Chicago, Illinois. 

 

Easter Sunday – The Resurrection of the Lord

Scripture:

Acts 10:34, 37-43
Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
Colossians 3:1-4 (or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8)
John 20:1-9 (or Mark 16:1-7 or Luke 24:13-35)

Reflection:

Through a Glass Darkly

Some weeks ago the United States experienced a rare total eclipse of the sun.  We were warned not to try to view the eclipse directly but only through heavily filtered lenses to avoid damaging our eyes by the blinding light of the sun.  I thought of this as today we celebrate the very heart of our Christian faith, the resurrection of Jesus Crucified, a conviction of faith that is ground zero for us as Christians.  Yet in the New Testament there is no direct description of the actual moment of Jesus’ triumph over the power of death—nor could there be.  That “instant” of transformation was an act of God beyond the arena of time and space.  As Paul the Apostle put it long ago, we glimpse life with God “through a glass directly.”

Two of the ways the New Testament testifies to the reality of the resurrection are reflected in the choice of readings for Easter.  One is the testimony of those who encountered the Risen Christ as alive.  The same Jesus they knew and loved, whose body was broken and his life taken away through a cruel and painful death, was now experienced as fully alive—not resuscitated as if somehow brought back to his former life but transformed into a new and vibrant mode of life.  We hear such a testimony in the words of Peter while preaching to Cornelius, the Roman Centurion and his household in the Acts of the Apostles.: “This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance.”   An even more compelling example of such witness is Luke’s account of the disciples on the way to Emmaus.  Two followers of Jesus, broken hearted and despairing because the Master they loved had been crucified, leave Jerusalem and take a sad journey to their village of Emmaus.  We all know the story—as they walk they are joined by a mysterious visitor who turns their despair into ardent hope—the Risen Jesus himself.  They recognize him when he joins them in a meal, as he had so many times during his life with them.  “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”  This appearance story is so characteristic of the New Testament accounts: the Jesus they encounter is truly the Jesus they knew and loved (he breaks bread with them; he still carries the wounds of his crucifixion; he cooks a breakfast of grilled fish and bread for them…).  Yet at the same time, the Risen Jesus radiates a new and transformed life (they don’t at first recognize him; he appears suddenly, unrestrained by time and place).

The other lens through which the New Testament views the brilliant light of resurrection is through a series of accounts where people who loved and knew Jesus discover that the tomb in which his crucified body had been buried is now empty. In John’s exquisite account, Mary Magdalen first discovers the empty tomb and then alerts Simon Peter and the “beloved disciple”—they run to the tomb (the beloved disciple outruns Peter!) and find that Mary’s testimony was true.  The tomb is empty and the burial cloths are neatly rolled up.   Mark’s Gospel also concludes with the discovery of the empty tomb.  Here the faithful and courageous women who had stood by the cross of Jesus (while the male disciples had all fled), come to the tomb after the Sabbath to anoint Jesus’ body.  But the tomb is empty, and a heavenly messenger proclaims the Easter message: “Do not be afraid!  You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified.  He has been raised; he is not here.”

Most of us are afraid of death and the unknowns we may face in the future.  But the very heart of our Christian faith celebrated today assures us that death is not the last word—for ourselves, for our loved ones, and or indeed for our world.  For us as a Passionist family, to proclaim this message is at the very heart of our charism for the Church.

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.

[This reflection is adapted from Perspectives on Scripture, a weekly column written by Donald Senior for The Chicago Catholic, the archdiocesan paper of Chicago.]

The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night

Scripture:

Genesis 1:1-2:2
Genesis 22:1-18
Exodus 14:15-15:1
Isaiah 54:5-14
Isaiah 55:1-11
Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4
Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28
Romans 6:3-11
Mark 16:1-7

Reflection:

Brace yourselves – it’s the “Mother of All Vigils.”

(I promise this reflection won’t be as long as the Vigil…. I hope)

This is the high point of the Christian year – the “Crown Jewel” of all the Liturgies the Church has to offer.  It’s the fullest celebration of the Paschal Mystery.  The Source and Summit of our life as God’s people.  “Gloria” is sung again, and “Alleluia” rings out with reckless abandon for the first time since before Ash Wednesday.  It’s the crucifixion and death we thank Jesus for, the Resurrection we praise God for, the feast by which we are lead into eternal life!

In a nutshell, all the readings of the Vigil (there are 7 Old Testament, 1 Epistle, and a Gospel reading) tell the story of salvation and God’s relationship to us.  There are themes of light, water, and the way God uses common relationships to reveal himself to us.  This is all about how God comes to meet us – how God has saved us, and pursued us through all ages and generations, just waiting to bring us to new life, both in this world and when our earthly journey is over.  Believing that, how can we not be joyful?

But I think the Gospel is what interests me most.  The women in tonight’s Gospel, Mary, Mary Magdaline, and Salome, go to anoint the body of Jesus.  Carrying their spices, they walk in sorrow and despair, heartbroken because of the death of their friend.  Their teacher, the one they’d followed, the man who’d understood them unlike anyone they’d ever known, had been arrested, crucified, and buried.

But when they get there, they find an open tomb.  Inside, there’s a young man dressed in white.  “He is not here – he has been raised!” he says to them.  After realizing what happened, they run back and start spreading the Good News.  These women went to the tomb, seeking the dead, but found life – and then took off running, sent to share that new life with all!

I’m someone who deeply likes to laugh.  I enjoy happy, silly movies that aren’t at all based in reality.  I prefer to ignore our human realities of hurt, pain, illness, betrayal, death… all the things that entomb us.  I seek the living, not the dead.

But I’ve realized that in doing that, I’m not living the life to which God has called me.

And I’ll admit that there are times in my journey, lots of them, that I expect only to find the dead.  Each time I see a homeless person on the freeway off-ramp, do I see a tomb of their desolation?  When I pass by a nursing home, do I see a last stop of someone’s train to death?  When I see someone in a wheelchair or someone with a developmental disability, do I conclude that they’re trapped, less than me, only a marginal person?

Or… do I see the possibility of God living there, waiting for me?  Even more, do I recognize Christ in the faces of those people?  Perhaps they are in a tomb, waiting for a resurrection of their own.  And maybe, just maybe, God is asking me to reach out to them and spread the gift of the resurrected life he’s given so generously to me.

Where do we look for Christ?  What are we seeking?  I believe we should seek the dead.  And if we do, we can find new life in the midst of our sorrow.  Without the cross, there can be no resurrection.  And there are so many in need, so many hurting, so many trapped in a tomb, sometimes a tomb of their own making… I know I feel that way myself, and I’ll bet I’m not the only one.

But we’re also charged to do as the young man – the angel – instructed, “But go, tell his disciples.” (Mark 16:7)  Go and tell.  We are commissioned, as part of our resurrected life, to be more effective goers and tellers.  We mustn’t hide our light.  We must keep our salt salty.

So go to the tomb.  Seek the dead around you.  In someone’s darkest night, be the holy fire that brings them Light.  And then run, bring God to your part of the world… a world that desperately needs you.

Remember… “Christ has no hands on earth but yours.”   From a Prayer of St. Theresa of Avila

Dear God, giver of the most incredible gift of love, thank you.
Dear Christ, beacon, let us be your light.  Let us be your hands.
Let us be your resurrected body to the world.   Amen.

Paul Puccinelli is Director of Liturgy & Music at St. Rita Parish in Sierra Madre, CA, and a member of the Retreat-Team at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center.

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

Scripture:

Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
John 18:1-19:42

Reflection:

Moses Mendelssohn, the great-grandfather of the famous German composer, Felix Mendelssohn, was not a handsome man.  In fact, he was inflicted with a grotesque humpback.

One day he was visiting a merchant in Hamburg when he noticed the man’s beautiful daughter.  Moses fell hopelessly in love with her.  But she was repulsed by his misshapen appearance.

When it was time for him to leave, he gathered up all his courage to try to speak with her.  But this beautiful girl wouldn’t even look at him.  And this caused him much pain.  After several attempts at conversation, Moses shyly asked, “Do you believe marriages are made in heaven?”

“Yes,” she replied, still looking at the floor.  “And do you?”

“Yes, I do,” he replied.  “You see, in heaven, at the birth of each boy, the Lord announces which girl he will marry.  When I was born, my future bride was pointed out to me.  Then the Lord added, ‘But your wife will be humpbacked.’

Right then and there I called out, ‘Oh, Lord, a humpbacked woman would be a tragedy.  Please, Lord, give me the hump and let her be beautiful.’”

This beautiful girl looked up into his eyes.  Then she reached out and touched his hand.  Later she became his devoted wife.

This story reminded me of the words of the prophet Isaiah:

 “It was our infirmities that he bore,
      our sufferings that he endured.
      …he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins.
     Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole,
     By his stripes we were healed” (Cf. Isaiah 53).

Indeed, Jesus took upon himself the infirmities of us all.  We who were once humpbacked with selfishness and sin have been made beautiful by the sufferings and death of Christ.

     We adore you, Oh Christ, and we bless you,
          because by your holy cross you have beautified our world.

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:

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15

Reflection:

“If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.   John 13:15

This evening we begin the Triduum, the three holiest days of the year for Catholics. The Triduum begins with the celebration of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The reading from Exodus recalls the origins of the Passover celebration of the Jewish people, who will celebrate this feast tomorrow. The lamb is slain and the blood is used to protect the people from the final plague, the Angel of Death. The blood was applied to the door posts so that the Angel of Death would know not to visit these houses. The Hebrew people were then freed from slavery in Egypt. These past 40 days of Lent was a time for us to change ourselves through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It was an opportunity to free ourselves from those things that keep us from God and to grow closer to God.

How have I changed these past 40 days?

The reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians recalls the words of the Eucharist as it was celebrated in the early Church. We still hears those words today in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Words that are two thousand years old that recall the night when Jesus took the bread and wine of the Passover feast and instituted the celebration of the Eucharist. Jesus brings forth a “new covenant” for all who believe in him. Humanity is now freed from the slavery of sin.

The Gospel of John recalls Jesus’ and the Apostles celebration of the Passover feast with a different focus than the Synoptic Gospels. Matthew, Mark and Luke have Jesus blessing the bread and wine and calling them his Body and Blood and asking the Apostles to “do this in remembrance of me.” The Gospel of John takes a different focus. Jesus, the Son of God enters the house and prepares to wash the Apostles feet. Foot washing was the role of the lowest ranking servant in the house. Imagine the shock when Jesus takes on this role. The lowest servant would have been in shock, Peter is the one who objects and the other Apostles would have had a variety of shocked looks on their faces. For them, their teacher, rabbi, is taking the role of a servant. The Son of God humbled himself to wash the muck off of the feet of the Apostles and then tells them they must do the same for each other. If the Son of God can lower himself to do the least desirable job then as Christians we too must be willing to do those tasks that seem small and not important.

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

Scripture:

Isaiah 50:4-9a
Matthew 26:14-25

Reflection:

By the time you read this reflection we will be immersed in the great celebration of Holy Week.  It is an exciting time in the life of every Christian and especially for the RCIA Elect as they journey to the Easter Sacraments. Oh Happy Day!

The gospel today recounts the familiar story of the Passover meal Jesus ate with his disciples followed by the betrayal of Judas.  BETRAYAL is such a personal insult on our very being, hurtful to the core and long lasting for the most part.  I often think of Judas and wonder what things happened to him in his life that led him to commit this sin of betrayal.  Did he grow up surrounded by betrayers, by people he loved and trusted at one time and then betrayed him.  We are reminded often that all that God created was Good.  Does this mean Judas and others who appear to be like him are really good? Let’s hope so. I think if we are all honest with ourselves we have to admit that we are guilty of the sin of betrayal.

The sin of betrayal causes us to hurt those we love with our indifference and self-centeredness,

The sin of betrayal tells us it’s okay to be silent and passive rather than challenge the corrupt practices of government and patriarchy that are rampant in our society and church today.

The sin of betrayal leads us to buy into the merits of infidelity, addiction, crime and violence that makes life difficult for those we love and care about.

The sin of betrayal rears its ugly head when we favor revenge over reconciliation.

Jesus ate the Passover meal with people he trusted and loved.  We live, work, pray and socialize with people we trust and love each day.  When the sin of betrayal enters in and messes up our world even a little bit we feel hurt, angry, alone and bereft.  Jesus felt all of these human emotions, but in his great love for us, he accepted death on the cross in order that we all may enjoy new life.

Let us enter into the Triduum celebrations, let us join the faithful at the Table of the Lord and be nourished.  Let us wash one anothers feet, let us embrace the pain of the cross on Good Friday, but most of all let us celebrate and live the Easter message!

Let us move from BETRAYAL to BEFRIENDING and glory in the Resurrection!

A new day is upon us REJOICE!  Easter Blessings to All.

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

Scripture: 

Isaiah 49:1-6
John 13:21-33, 36-38

Reflection:

In the gospel this Tuesday in Holy Week we hear the whispers of what is to come on Good Friday.  During the breaking of the bread, Jesus calls out Judas as the one who will betray him.  At the same meal, Jesus tells Simon Peter of his denial in the coming days.  Evil choices are on the same table with the bread that is shared with love.  So often in life we find evil and good together.  It’s almost as though evil prompts the appearance of love.  Maybe that’s why we pray “deliver us from evil” in the same prayer we offer for the coming of the Kingdom of God on earth, the Our Father.

The dual presence of good and evil seems to present the challenge of our lives.  How do I work to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth where all is one in Christ?  During my work on disaster relief with the Red Cross, I always was astounded by the presence of evil in the form of a disaster side by side with the presence of love and good in the people helping one another.  Love appeared often in the eyes of the suffering and those trying to help even while evil mercilessly pounded their very existence.

The presence of love and evil during Holy Week is the essence of the paschal mystery we celebrate and cherish.  Surrendering to this mystery is the heart of our prayer and action.  Walking with Jesus during Holy Week is a walk with evil and good, love and betrayal, faithfulness and denial, side by side.  Lately I have felt challenged by evil in the form of suffering in people I love.  This challenge has resulted in my own growth in sensitivity toward others and what they are experiencing.  I am reminded of my own presence in God’s hands even while walking toward the Cross we must all experience.  The words from the prophet Isaiah comfort me on this journey through the paschal mystery.

“Hear me, O islands, listen, O distant peoples.  The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.”

The Lord knows all our names, even before we are born.  The Lord comforts me, even while I experience both good and evil.  May this remembrance comfort us all as we live the paschal mystery in our hearts and lives.

Terry McDevitt, Ph.D. is a member of our Passionist Family in Louisville, Kentucky.

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Scripture:

Mark 11:1-10 or
John 12:12-16
Philippians 2:6-11
Mark 14:1-15:47

Reflection:

In her book entitled, “Dead Man Walking” Congregation of St. Joseph Sr. Helen Prejean narrates the story of her relationship with a young man on death row in the Angola State Penitentiary in Louisiana; he is accused of murdering a teenage couple. At first, he is arrogant, racist, thundering his innocence. Eventually, he admits his guilt to Sr. Helen. As he is preparing for execution, he appeals to the boy’s father for forgiveness, and tells the girl’s parents he hopes his death brings them peace. While he is lead to a chamber where he will die by lethal injection, Sister Helen tells him to look beyond the glass panels where she will be… “to look at someone who loves you.”
Today’s readings speak to us of our vulnerable God, as a suffering servant, and Jesus who empties himself. And in the courtyard, the night before he dies, when Jesus’ gaze of love falls upon Peter, we are told the disciple runs away and weeps bitterly. This is the same Jesus who looks with love upon the rich young man in Mark’s (10:17-31) Gospel, encouraging him to sell everything, and follow him.

This Holy Week might be an appropriate time to again allow the loving gaze of Jesus to fall upon us. Our tears are very different from the ones we weep when we feel judged or humiliated. Admitting we are sinner, we recognize we are loved. And Jesus’ loving gaze transforms us.

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