Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
Matthew 25:14-30

Reflection:

In the political climate in the U.S., it seems that being in the “middle” is deemed to be unsatisfactory. When we read books about family dynamics, being the “middle child,” seems to be fraught with its own challenges and problems. But as I reflect on the parable we hear in Sunday’s Gospel reading (Matthew 25:14-30), I find myself drawn to the servant in the “middle,” the one who was given two talents, between the one who was given five and the one who was given one.

In the parable, a man who is going on a journey entrusts his possessions to three servants. As was noted above, one received five talents; one received two, and one received one. When the master returns, the one who received five made another five; and the one who received two made another two; but the one who received one buried it in the ground.

A lot of the parable deals with the one who received the one talent and did nothing with it. I think he did that out of fear of what would happen if he lost it. Sometimes we are fearful of using all our talents. We can be afraid of making mistakes. Or we can be afraid of what other people might think of us. Or we can simply be afraid of not being up to the tasks to which we are called.

The reason I felt drawn to the middle servant is that he avoids a trap into which I have fallen many times in my life. What’s remarkable to me about him is that he does not seem to mind that the first servant got five talents, and he received “only” two. He simply works with what his master gives him and he uses it well. There are times when I can be envious of those who seem to be more talented than I. They either do what I do better than I, or they do many more things than I do equally well.

I think one of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that acting out of fear, as the last servant did, or acting out of jealousy, as the middle servant could have done, is ultimately a form of being self-absorbed, because when I’m concerned about how I will look if I make a mistake, or when I compare myself to others, it becomes all about me. The middle servant does not do that! He doesn’t even seem to look down upon the last servant.

So, strange as it may seem, the middle servant is the one with whom I identify, and the one I believe I’m called to emulate. God has given me love and grace. God has given me gifts. At times, they may not seem to be as profound or as important or as numerous as the ones others may receive, but they are the ones given to me, and I am called to use them for the sake of the kingdom.

If we use our gifts the best we can in doing God’s will, we need not fear “the day of the Lord” spoken about in our second reading from 1 Thessalonians (5:1-6). We will indeed be “children of the light and children of the day.” We need not compare ourselves to others, but instead, like the “worthy wife” mentioned in Proverbs (31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31), we can live lives of service, reaching out to the poor and the needy.

May we not waste time in fear or envy, but use the gifts we have been given for the world God loves so much.

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

Scripture:

Wisdom 7:22b-8:1
Luke 17:20-25

Reflection:

November is the month which starts us off with the Feast of All Saints, followed by the Feast of All Souls.  This is a feast we can all look forward to because it is where our patron saints and hopefully ourselves and our family and friends will be praising God for all eternity.  However, I use to dread the thought of being among those who didn’t get to pass through the Gates of Heaven at the first try.  Not until I heard a statement about the Souls in Purgatory did my thinking change.  St. Catherine of Siena said that “No happiness is comparable to that of the Saints in Paradise except the happiness of the Souls in Purgatory!”

Peter Berger a Sociologist of Religion said that the purpose of religion is to help us answer the profoundest questions life can give us and that is “What is the purpose of death for the Christian? Karl Rahner, one if not the most profound theologian in the last century agrees with Berger and others that the most profound question we must answer with our life is “What is the meaning of death?”

Another theologian, Leonardo Boff, a Latin American theologian, asked the Dalai Lama “What is the best religion?”  Boff thought the Dalai Lama would say “Buddhism.”  But the Dalai Lama answered “The best religion is the one that gets you closer to God.  It is the one that makes you a better person. Whatever makes you more compassionate, more sensible, more detached, more loving, more humane, more responsible, more ethical.  The religion that will do that for you is the best religion.”

The Gospel of Luke would tell us if one embraces the message of Jesus we will be invited to sit at the eschatological banquet. It doesn’t matter if we live in the streets, the alleys, the highways, the hedgerows.    “Life is eternal, love is immortal and death is only an horizon into to the heart of the Trinity.

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

Scripture:

Wisdom 6:1-11
Luke 17:11-19

Reflection:

Faith is central to Christianity. It is a fundamental feature of the spiritual life. Yet faith is often misunderstood as an assent to doctrinal statements. When Jesus says to the Samaritan leper, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you,” he is not suggesting the mended man has embraced a creedal statement or a philosophical principle. The faith Jesus speaks of is a capacity to affirm life, not a capability to believe a dogma.

Capability refers to a potential aptitude, skill or ability; while capacity indicates the possibility of containing something. A machine has the capability of accomplishing a task; a pitcher has capacity to hold water. Capability may get something accomplished; capacity is availability to receive.

To suggest that faith is a capacity implies that a certain feature of emptiness is necessary if we are to receive Spirit in any of its forms – graces or healings. Emptiness always means empty of something. A cup is empty of coffee. The tank is empty of gas. When we are empty of the ego we are available to be filled with Spirit.

The egocentric ego is full of itself. When in its grip, we take our thoughts, our opinions, our desires, and our self so seriously. The inflated sense of self revels in its capability to achieve and be productive.

Stress reduction programs are not the answer this problem. Ego reduction courses would be much more effective. Then, moving though life with an open mind and an open heart, we would be available for the surprising encounters with Spirit.

Fr. Joe Mitchell, CP is the director of the Passionist Earth & Spirit Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

See his website: http://www.earthandspiritcenter.org/

Scripture:

Wisdom 2:23-3:9
Luke 17:7-10

Reflection:

My sister told me that when Dad knew he was dying, he looked at her and said, “Don’t forget me, OK?” The question might seem silly, as if any of his ten kids would ever forget their father. Yet I have seen it over and over again. Dying people want to know their life made a difference, had some meaning, touched someone, and left enough of a legacy to endure. Likewise, survivors of a loved one’s death are hungry to know that someone else remembers besides them, that their loved one’s absence leaves a void in the world and they will not be forgotten. There is a deep longing in the human soul to live on and to know our loved ones live on as well.

Scripture describes it best when it says that we were formed to be “imperishable” in the image of God’s own nature. Some theologians, in fact, argue that our deep-seated desire for immortality is evidence that we are indeed immortal, that there is life beyond our earthly tenure. However, it does not change the fact that we are anything but imperishable in this life.

In my work with grieving people, I have come to see how important it is to honor that desire for memory and legacy. I often use a quote from tribal tradition: “No one is ever truly dead from this earth until there is not a person left alive who speaks their name or tells their story.” Why, then, do we tell mourners to put it behind them and get on with life? Why do we talk about anyone and everyone except the person who died? Why do we literally avoid saying the name and telling the story? It is not what the grieving person wants. It is not what the deceased person deserves. But it sure does make it easier and more comfortable to avoid the topic.

In reality, we never “put it behind us and get on with life.” We have to let go of that person’s physical presence; we will not hear the laugh again, feel the hug, or see them in their favorite chair. But we heal by creating memories out of what can no longer be, and carrying them with us into the future. We carry the life, love, lessons, stories, and memories, knowing that we are different because this person lived and died.

If you want to support a grieving person, don’t be afraid to say the name and tell the stories. Call them on the person’s birthday. Take them for coffee and share stories about their loved one. (Yes, you can include the good and the bad. Recognize that we’re not perfect people; we’re just people doing the best we can with what we’ve got, and we all mess up). Send a card on some of the monthly anniversaries letting them know you’re thinking of them and remembering with them. Accompany them to an All Souls service. Deliver flowers or comfort food or a bottle of wine on the anniversary of the death. In big and small ways, help their loved one live on in memory and story.

It can seem counter-cultural in our society that wants to deny death and grief. Ignore society. Take the chance to love someone that well, to laugh and cry together, to help them heal, and to make a difference in another’s life. Be the face of Christ to them when they most need you.

Interestingly, the more you can do that, the more “imperishable” you become. You build a legacy of love and care that is more meaningful than any physical monument, accolade, or award, and people will remember you long after you are gone. And if we can all build that kind of legacy, who knows what might happen? I suspect we may bring about the kingdom of God on this earth.

 

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/.

Scripture:

Wisdom 1:1-7
Luke 17:1-6

Reflection:

“Lord, increase our faith….” Is such a profound request by the disciples following Jesus’ teaching, because to truly live out what he suggests demands that our faith be strengthened. Frankly, unless we can better understand the mystery that our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3), his teaching makes no sense. We are told that sin never leaves us in this life; just like the parable of the weeds among the wheat, sin is to accompany us until the day we see God as followers of Christ—as we discern how to act.

What I find very tricky is the idea that I am “to rebuke” my brother when he sins; this feels as if I’m sitting in judgement on him. Even more challenging can be the infinite opportunities to forgive. This—forgiveness—can actually be seen as weakness, especially in our current culture where strong words of retribution flood and contaminate the airwaves. At the very least this can keep us off balance. Further, we may fear our voice will be drowned out; maybe we risk being dropped from our group of friends. This was true when Luke wrote to his audience and remains true today. So why even bother? No wonder the disciples asked for an increase of faith!

“Faith is letting God be God in your life,” says Fr. Bruno DeSouza C.P. of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center. It is an individual gift cultivated by prayer and surrender to God. It is knowing experientially that “the Spirit of the Lord fills the world and is all-embracing.” It is beholding all that is beautiful and tending to the holy in our midst as our first reading suggests. Letting go of all that contaminates our soul in these confusing times opens us up to savor the gift of life with thankful hearts; our Manna from heaven for today.

“Faith is stepping out into the unknown with nothing but a hand just beyond our grasp.” Fredrick Buechner

Faith helps us believe that God is present filling and embracing the whole world—somehow, someway—even as we witness acts of senseless violence and family discord. So, let us press on intentionally, to cultivate all that is true and pure in our hearts. Then we will know how to act in all situations by bringing the love of Christ to life. I believe what Christ is really saying here once again is to, “love one another.”

Lord Jesus, ignite in each of us the seed of love planted before the foundation of the world as we were formed in the silence of our mother’s womb.

May we set the world on fire with your love, today. Amen.

Jean Bowler is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California, and a member of the Office of Mission Effectiveness Board of Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Wisdom 6:12-16
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 25:1-13

Reflection:

A meditation on the symbolism of “oil” in those lamps of ours, and the grace of wisdom.

 There are times when the act of making a sacrifice” is to allow yourself, or even make yourself, take “time” (actual minutes) to do what you will do in eternity! (hopefully). Taking time is so valuable, enriching, life-giving, and, “saving” (as in resuscitation/revival). However, like every faith act, there are no guarantees because we are surrendering to God the outcome of our wishes and desires. It is out of our control as to the answer to our prayers.

 Remember St. Paul’s words last weekend? “The Word is uplifted and for this reason we, too, give thanks to God unceasingly, that in receiving the Word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the Word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.”

(1 Thess. 2:13) Yes, the key here is “you who believe.” No, I cannot rely on my own power here. But, oh my, if I can only act and let go. Remember faith is counter to anything in our world. Especially as regard “guaranteed results.”

First, dwell for a moment on the “energy” of wisdom. I define it as “grace with action.” Wisdom is not just something above the eyebrows, it moves us. Often we don’t realize till long after how something within caused us to act in an unexpected, but right, manner. It is not only the quality or state of being a wise person, it is the knowledge of what is true or right coupled with action upon our wisdom for other’s sake. Ponder the following as to what is said about her.

First, “she is readily perceived by those who love her.” Simply said, love is primarily “paying attention with care.” And, second, wisdom is found by those who deliberately ask or seek her. It does take your intention,  deliberate focus, for the Holy Spirit to fully engage with us. God’s love for us respects our free will. And, if you notice carefully, “in anticipation” means it takes a lot of “waiting,” but it is expectant, faith-filled waiting on the Lord.

All of this is said in order to “be prepared” on any given day, to be open to the Wisdom of the Spirit, for someone else’s sake. This gift of wisdom is a gift for others, not ourselves. That is why we are inspired with wisdom in the first place.

The oil in the parable of the foolish and wise virgins symbolizes our readiness for God’s grace today, just today. The oil could not be transferred to the foolish virgins because one cannot pass on to another the capability of “readiness.” Grace, wisdom teach us how to be ready. And because we are missionary disciples, sent by God to others, we assume trust, and anticipate that we will be prepared for whomever God sends on our path.The daily tasks necessary to prepare ourselves for doing something with the wisdom we receive through – prayer, acts of forgiveness and generosity, trust in providence.  These are comparable to the minor sacrifices and inconveniences of the wise virgins.

None of this “makes sense” until later, sometimes much later as to how you responded to or got through a critical, and personal situation where you trusted that God would come through with you lovingly acting, acting towards others with care, overcoming inconvenience and fear. Be wise through Christ.

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

Scripture:

Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27
Luke 16:9-15

Reflection:

At first glance, today’s gospel sounds rather disturbing.  “I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings,” Jesus tells his disciples.  He had just shared a parable about a dishonest steward and his master.  It sounds as though Jesus is instructing his disciples to be as dishonest as that steward.  This, of course, is not the message.  What Jesus is saying is that we ought to use our spiritual wisdom with the same zeal and commitment as the steward used his dishonest business wisdom.

And while Jesus’ parable is ostensibly about money, it really is more about values.  It is quite possible to be wealthy and still enjoy God’s favor.  The question is not about how much money one has, but about how much one loves money and clings to it.  Jesus was challenging a popular belief of the times, that wealth was a sign of God’s blessing, and poverty a sign of God’s displeasure – the prosperity theology popular even to day among some Christians.  Perhaps, this is why the Pharisees “sneered” at Jesus.  The word “sneer” in the Greek is ekmykterizo, and it means literally to turn one’s nose up at someone.  The Pharisees’ turned up their noses at Jesus’ warning about serving God or serving one’s wealth and possessions.

Mammon will do no good in the kingdom.  This currency will have no value.  True wealth comes from faithfulness in serving God and others.  The disciples of Jesus – that includes us – are called to use our resources generously so that when it’s gone, we will be welcomed into the kingdom.  But what is the welcome Jesus is referring to?  Is it the welcome of the angels and saints?  The rabbis of old may have the answer with their saying: “The rich help the poor in this world, but the poor help the rich in the world to come.”  That would be joyful welcome indeed.

A final thought.  Some may believe this gospel isn’t for them, since they’re not wealthy.  True, most of us may not have great financial wealth.  But we all have another kind of wealth, a more valuable wealth, like love, forgiveness, and compassion.  This is the wealth all can share with the poor.  This is the true coin of God’s realm.  Now who can turn their nose up at that wealth?

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

Scripture:

Romans 15:14-21
Luke 16:1-8

Reflection:

Today’s reading is hard because Jesus seems to be upholding being dishonest/unethical and protecting your own back as a prudent way of being. But I think the message goes deeper.

This steward didn’t care about the poor people who owed money and goods to his master…UNTIL… he saw things from the other side. He realized that he would soon be fired and therefore joining the ranks of those without money or resources. There is no substitute for truly encountering those in need and imagining oneself walking in their shoes for gaining motivation to help. In this case, yes, the steward was trying to pave his own path by having people feel grateful and indebted to him. But in the process, and through putting himself in their shoes, perhaps he realized the value of generosity, the reciprocity of compassion, and the fundamental truth that this is the way we should all be dealing with each other anyway.

Interestingly, the master wasn’t angry at him for depriving his business of payment, which may reflect the likelihood that those payments were inflated to the highest level possible, allowing the powerful master to take advantage of the powerless to line his own pockets. Perhaps, ironically, the master saw that a little easing of a debtor’s burden could be a way to increase his business even more, thereby generating good will and gratitude among customers who would spread the word about the benefits of working with him.

In other words, Jesus was pointing out that businesspeople who get in trouble or who act out of pure self-interest often act more kindly to people than so-called Christians act toward one another in the regular course of their day. In fact, our society today is rapidly turning viciously mean-spirited and judgmental, and the worst of the offenses are often led by people who claim they are Christians acting according to the Word of God. What an indictment! Christ is being crucified by his own followers.

There is a social experiment in which participants are asked to create laws for a society without knowing whether they will be at the top or the bottom of that society. The laws created were more just and equal than anything that currently exists. When we believe we honestly could be next in line to suffer whatever dignity or difficulty we see around us, it would change us profoundly.

For instance, what if every Christian of means lived for at least one week without the money, home, and privilege to which we are accustomed, to truly discover what it’s like for those without it to try to survive? What if non-minority Christians stood side-by-side with our minority brothers and sisters to insist on equal justice, equal opportunity, equal education, and equal wages? What if rather than trying to ban them from the country, Christians stood up for those of other faiths, learning from them, breaking bread together, and defending them from those who would do them harm simply because of their garments or beliefs? What if all Christians could truly listen to and have respectful dialogue with those who disagree politically so we could understand each other and find common ground instead of issuing death threats, refusing all compromise, cutting off connections, and proclaiming judgment on their souls?

Unlike the dishonest steward, we are called to compassion, empathy, and action, not because it enriches us financially, but because we are instruments of Christ in a hurting world. As St. Paul is fond of saying, we should out-do each other in generosity and love, rather than looking out for our own interests, building barriers that keep others away, judging as lazy or unworthy those of lesser means, and allowing fear and mistrust to define our interactions with those of a different skin color, culture, religion, or life.

Can we reverse the indictment? Can we stop putting our own interests first, and live as disciples of the Gospel? What lessons might we learn and what hard places in our hearts might be softened if we do whatever is necessary to share in the sufferings of others and experience the fact that all of us are children of the one God, intimately connected one to the other and deserving of utmost respect?

We need to stop operating by the rules of me-first business and instead operate as disciples of Jesus Christ. Our brothers and sisters cry out from one end of this nation to the other, from one end of the earth to the other. Can we hear? And can we act?

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/.