Daily Scripture

Scripture:

1 John 1:1-4
John 20:1, 2-6

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the feast of John, Apostle and Evangelist.  We also are experiencing the quiet time between Christmas and the Epiphany.  This “quiet time” is something I need in my life.  I need this time every day but it seems particularly important to me between the busyness of the Christmas holiday and the beginning of the New Year with all the resolutions, etc.  This quiet time is underrated in our world of 24/7 news (most of it bad) and constant e-interruptions!

This time is like going on a retreat.  It is a perfect time to remember and experience my relationship with God, everyone and every part of creation around me.  I recall the words from Psalm 85, “Peace is promised to God’s people”.  Being at peace in God’s presence and silence is better than every blood pressure pill I am ordered to swallow every morning.

I can call this time prayer but I prefer to refer to it as a time of simply being open to the movement of God within and around me.  It is a time of intimate peace.  This is especially helpful in this stage of my life when activities have become more circumscribed by health, resources and energy.  I relish these moments as an unearned grace.

These moments also act as fuel for my acts of kindness with others, my efforts for justice in our troubled world, my striving to be a better person to those around me and in relationship with me.  I guess my reflection today is to strive to carve these moments out every day and in our new year.  Maybe this would be a good year to spend time at one of our Passionist retreat centers or just in a chapel at one of our Passionist communities.

In any case, I am promising myself more of this “quiet time”.  Indeed, as John refers to it, the “Word was made flesh and dwells among us” and in these quiet times, “within us”.  Peace be upon you.

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

Scripture:

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Matthew 10:17-22

Reflection:

The expectation of a new child is a precious time in the life of any family, but the real adventure starts at the child’s birth. There is an unfolding, an unveiling that takes place over time. Learning to walk, to speak, to reason (way down the line!). A personality emerges and talents develop. It is a journey of a life time.

What captivates me about Christmas is the unfolding journey of the Three Kings or Magi, a journey that symbolically fills in the days from now to Epiphany, January 6th being the traditional feast. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Epiphany is more celebrated than Christmas. What intrigues me is their journey of faith, in faith. These three journeymen represent us who find our way to God. They represent our journeys of faith both to and from Bethlehem.

We don’t know really where Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar came from or even if these are their names. We know little about how long they journeyed or how they met along the way. But the Gospel of Matthew relates the story to us and from the early centuries of Christianity, their journey to the manger has consistently been celebrated. But after they make their way to Bethlehem and present their gifts, they leave. Their journey is not over. In a sense, it is just beginning.

It is with the encounter with Christ that our real journey begins. And it begins anew each Christmas Day. We not only journey with the Magi to see Christ, but we—like them—continue our journeys of faith, each day in faith. Let’s commit ourselves to the unfolding journey of Christ in our lives in the days, weeks and year ahead.

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:

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Luke 1:57-66

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel reading, as we move closer to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we hear the account of the birth of John the Baptist. Because of all the incredible things that happen around John’s birth: the announcement of his birth to Zechariah in the Temple, which ultimately left Zechariah mute; the fact that Elizabeth, thought to be barren and at her age, conceives and bears a son; the naming of him as John, an unfamiliar name in the family, and then Zechariah able to talk after affirming that his name was John; the people who witness all this say to themselves and each other, ”What, then will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”

We see what John becomes. He becomes the fulfillment of all the prophecies about one who was to come and prepare the way of the Messiah. One of those prophecies is our first reading from Malachi: “Thus says the Lord God: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me.” And later: “Lo, I will send you Elijah the prophet, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and terrible day, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers…”

I wonder what kind of a world we would have if our ambitions for our children included the notion that they might be messengers of God’s love and would help bring people together, no matter what their profession and vocation might be. And what if we had that ambition for ourselves?

May we not only prepare the way for Jesus to enter more deeply into our hearts, may we also open our hearts that His love will be seen by all with whom we encounter, and we be messengers of reconciliation and peace.

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

Scripture:

1 Samuel 1:24-28
Luke 1:46-56

Reflection:

We recently heard news of a royal wedding coming next summer in England.  Prince Harry will marry Megan Markle.  A great many journalists are delving into the wonder of this love from differing perspectives.  For example, Harry, like his brother Prince William, will be marrying a “commoner” rather than a woman of royal lineage.  Prince Harry will be marrying a very beautiful actress who has an African American lineage.  These were once considered unusual for the royal House of Windsor.  How has this shift taken place?  Although there may be multiple factors involved, perhaps the key reason behind this evolution lies in a mother’s influence.  Princess Diana was a determined mother who directed her sons’ upbringing in such a way that they would know, respect and appreciate people from all levels of society and every economic status.  They would have fine dining in the palace one week and be sharing soup and bread with the homeless at a soup kitchen the next week.  They would travel to discover the wonder and beauty of differing cultures and learn to appreciate the customs and traditions which differed from their own.  They would learn to be comfortable with everyone in every set of circumstances.  Princess Diana made a very large difference in her sons’ lives.

In today’s Sacred Scripture, we are invited to ease drop on two mothers who experienced miraculous conceptions and births.  Both had been chosen, blessed, and given a mission to bring into the world sons who would make an enormous difference in the faith journey of Israel and the world.  Hannah’s Samuel would become the wisdom figure who would lead Israel from a heritage of tribal rule and custom to a nation ruled by a King of Israel.  He would be an Israelite through and through avoiding the pagan customs like strong drink and the cutting of hair.  Samuel would anoint David king and so bring about the monarchy.  We all know what Mary’s Jesus would accomplish through His preaching, healing, sufferings, death and resurrection.  Jesus would  bring about salvation not only for the People of Israel but for the whole world.  His conception and birth would become the turning point of faith for human history.  God’s promises would all be fulfilled in Him.  We celebrate this gift off faith with hope and love on Christmas day.

Perhaps today’s Scriptures invite us to look  at the story behind the stories.  How did Samuel and Jesus become the men they were ?  There is no doubt in my mind that the two mother’s were a powerful influence in their sons’ appreciation and enjoyment  of a life with God the Father, of faithfulness to prayer, of living out of the values which were grounded in their heritage, and of courage and wisdom in leading God’s People forward toward the fulfillment of God’s promises in their lives.  Hannah and Mary raised their sons with this vision of their faith journey and remained perhaps the most powerful influence in their understanding and determination to complete the mission God had given them.  Perhaps our Advent Scriptures invite us to two reflections today.  Firstly, we are invited to remember with love our own mothers and the powerful influence they were and have been on our own lives and faith development.  To be sure, none were perfect but their care, concern and love together with their own faith journey with God helped us to become who we are and who we will be.  At Christmas time, we take the opportunity to pray for our mothers asking God’s blessings upon them for the gift of life given to us.  Secondly, we are invited today to remember that we, too, by virtue of our baptism and life with Jesus, have been given the mission  by our heavenly Father to be one with Jesus in our world today making known to others – family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, the strangers in our lives and in our land – the Good News of salvation.  Most of all, we do so by living the values Jesus taught us in His teachings and in His actions.  For most of us, we learned these first from influential mothers.

Fr. Richard Burke, CP, is a member of St. Paul of the Cross Province.  He lives at St. Ann’s Monastery in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Scripture:

Isaiah 7:10-14
Luke 1:26-38   

Reflection:

Today’s readings are about promise and fulfillment, fear and courage, cynicism and trust.   Just five days before we celebrate the birth of Christ, the readings remind us that the coming of Christ was no accident, no twist of fate.  Rather, the coming of Christ was the fulfillment of a promise made long before.

The first reading tells us about the Prophet Isaiah’s encounter with Ahaz, the King of Judah.  Isaiah is trying to give Ahaz a spine so he can face his enemies who are at the gate.  He assures Ahaz of God’s care and tells him to ask for a sign of God’s favor.  Ahaz can’t imagine how God could make a difference in this crisis so he begs off with the words, “I will not ask.  I will not tempt the Lord.”  Isaiah, in disgust, responds, “…the Lord Himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.”  The fear and cynicism of Ahaz result in the destruction of his Kingdom.

In the Gospel we hear the story of Mary’s encounter with the Angel of God.  The angel tells her that God has a plan for her that boggles her imagination.  She is told that she will bear a son “who will be called holy, the Son of God…and who will rule over the house of Jacob forever.”  Though she is unsure how these things could possibly happen, her personal courage and complete trust in God move her to respond, “I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.”  Luke clearly sees that the promise made by God through Isaiah is fulfilled in the “yes” of the Mother of Jesus.

These readings call us to realize that God’s promises are best fulfilled in the hearts and lives of those who are open to Him.  As we prepare for Christmas let our prayer be, “Lord, help us welcome you with trust in our hearts whenever you come.”

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

Scripture:

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a
Luke 1:5-25

Reflection:

“Do not be afraid because your prayers have been heard.” Luke 1:13

There are times when the Scriptures remind me of great works of art, especially symphonies. Musical masterpieces weave major and minor themes throughout the score. It seems to me, Scripture does the same thing. In this case, the Scriptures weave in the themes of barrenness and fruitfulness.

One of the first Scripture passages that illustrates this for me is the story of Abraham and Sarah in the Book of Genesis, chapter 18. We read how the elderly Abraham welcome some strangers into his tent and gave them something to eat. Sarah did the cooking. As these strangers were leaving, they told Abraham that they would return next year, and by then he would have a son born of his wife Sarah. Sarah was barren. In this account, both Abraham and Sarah laughed at the absurdity of very old woman giving birth. A year later, they were no longer laughing, but taking care of a baby boy, their son, Isaac.

Our first reading is taken from the Book of Judges. It is an account of a woman who is barren but continues to pray for children. Her prayer is heard, and she gives birth to a son. She consecrated him to God and gave him the name of Samson. He proved to be a protector of the people of Israel.

In today’s Gospel reading, we have the dramatic birth of John the Baptist, born of the barren wife of Zechariah, Elizabeth. Her condition was introduced to us just verses before, right before the Annunication to Mary that she was to be the Mother of God. Even though Zechariah and Elizabeth had prayed for children, they had lost hope after Elizabeth had passed her child-bearing years. God let them both know that there is nothing impossible with God! So, a son was born to them, John the Baptist.

Advent is a time of prayer and hope. It is the perfect time for the Church to reflect upon the interplay between barrenness and fruitfulness. There is so many things that seem barren at first glance. In a short, profound book, The Desert is Fertile, Dom Helder Camera, Archbishop of Recife, Brazil, reflected how much life can come from those place in our life we consider barren. Scientists constantly remind us of how much life there is in places where there does not seem to have any life. And if we look deeply within ourselves, we discover that the areas we have named barren have been fruitful after all.

Advent is an invitation to us to look deeper into our own barrenness. The more we pray for the arrival of the God of Life, the more alive we will become. We will realize that Jesus can be born in a stable, that shepherd can hear the choirs of angels singing in the fields, and people from far away countries have gifts to give.

God is always full of surprises!

Fr. Clemente Barrón, C.P. is a member of Christ the King Community in Citrus Heights, California.