Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Jonah 1:1-2:2, 11
Luke 10:25-37

 

Reflection:

Surprise Our Neighbor as God Surprises Us

The God of Surprises meets us this Monday morning! There is the surprise of hospitality shown by a Samaritan who welcomes and unexpectedly cares for a wounded man. And as we advance through the post-exilic history of Israel we meet Jonah who tells a surprising tale that carries a surprising message for Israel.

Jonah bears the same name as a prophet who spoke words of hope alongside the Prophet Amos, a prophet of woe for Israel. Amos was correct. Shortly after these two prophets spoke the Assyrians destroyed the Kingdom of Israel. Our Jonah appears as one who speaks words of hope for the pagans, and the people of Jonah’s day would judge him as wrong as his namesake. He speaks what Israel is against.

When Israel returned from the exile in Babylon, there was a lot of work, opposition and time that passed before the people were reestablished. The Judaism that Jesus was born into has its foundation laid in these years. As a remnant struggling to survive Israel closed in upon itself, it became conservative, as for instance moving to prohibit inter-marriage to make itself a pure, strong people.

Jonah upholds the values of his people. He disdains Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrians, a place synonymous with brutality and oppression. He tries to escape God’s call which sends him to preach to the pagans. But God uses the story of his adventure as a challenge to Israel.

The people who heard the story of the Good Samaritan were humbled at that man’s goodness; a man against whom much prejudice was felt. From the book of Jonah’s perspective Israel is invited to be humbled because their representative, Jonah, is angry and unyielding, a man uncooperative with God’s good will. Jonah is acting just like Israel. Jonah needs a change of heart; Israel needs a change of heart.

It is not a surprise is that the Book of Jonah was not easily accepted into the canon of Scripture. A challenge to a change of heart touches us deep down where we find meaning and life. Can we today examine our hospitality? Jonah wanders through his adventures with great freedom and the wealth of the God of Israel to draw from. We possess that treasure too. Do we limit God’s freedom by holding back in sharing the wealth that comes from our experience of God’s generous love? We are surprised by God often. Sharing that surprise may translate into ways of being hospitable in the ordinary things of everyday life. Can we hear also in the calling to love our neighbor as our self, an invitation to a surprising hospitality that is reason to open our hearts without limit to all?

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

Scripture:

Isaiah 5:1-7
Philippians 4:6-9
Matthew 21:33-43

Reflection:

Living in Rome one sees many ‘keystones’ –   the central and crucial stone in arches and other weight supporting constructions. All the weight bears upon them and they are held in place by the load they bare, but in turn they hold and keep the surrounding stones in place (and thus each stone strengths the arch). Different from ‘cornerstones’ but not unrelated to ‘cornerstones’ in their function.

And indeed, in today’s text, Jesus refers to himself as “the Cornerstone” (or foundation stone). Here this means not a stone in an arch, but the first stone set in the construction of a foundation, and according to our friends at Wikipedia, the cornerstone is vitally important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.

So today’s texts first orientate us to the central image of Jesus as the cornerstone for our lives and faith. We are not meant to take this image as a static one, we are not a mere institution, rather we are his living body in this world and we are established in and upon him. He is our foundation and the one who shows us the ‘way’ to live.

The other image we might note today is contained in the parable of the vineyard and its workers.

In story form, Jesus outlines God’s care for us and the trust that God places in us. It is all gift. Viewing our lives through the lens of this parable enables us to see that God is the landowner, that it is God who does the planting, who protects the boundaries, who provides good water for the crop  and who watches over the vineyard (from the tower built for this purpose).

But the ‘cornerstone’ the ‘key’ to this whole project of God’s goodness and unbounded generosity is us! We are entrusted with the ‘vineyard’; we are placed in the coveted position as the trusted stewards of God. Our ‘space’, our vineyard, is no less than this beautiful world. To this commission we might add that we are also stewards in the sense of being a neighbour to those around us in life and of course we are entrusted with the care of our planet and of our own well-being.

A commentator on life in Palestine in the days of such vineyards noted that the time of harvest was a particularly fine time for families – the weather was pleasant for people, they tended to have less domestic duties and even lived outside their houses staying in the vineyard itself. In both their day of labour and in their times of recreation they could live a more relaxed life. They enjoyed the cooler climate, the communing with nature and the freedom to relax and rest after harvest work was over for the day.

Perhaps we see in this image of ancient life a glimpse of God’s wish for us. To live closer to our earth, to be more relaxed and celebratory in each other’s presence and to see the fruits of one’s labour – these are ‘Eden-like’ images and provide a glimpse of the beauty of life under God’s reign.

How different these images are to those attitudes of the stewards in the parable! As the story unfolds we see that these stewards are seduced by self-interest. In their selfishness they poison relationships and are violent and murderous in their quest to possess the vineyard! Ultimately their greed brings no gain or joy – only a dramatic failure; as the parable ends we see their lives come to an end – destroyed by their own selfishness.

Our life with God stands under God’s grace, but we are always invited to make our contribution – to enter in the relationship with God and serve the world. We are given the vineyard, we are only asked to see that it produces good fruit.

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:

Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29
Luke 10:17-24

Reflection:

I don’t remember many of the books I read in high school, but one often comes to mind, “I Had to Know” by Gladys Baker. My then spiritual director (isn’t that something? —I had a spiritual director in high school—I’m so grateful) Fr. Randal Joyce, CP, suggested I read it. Gladys, as I recall, was a foreign correspondent who spent years traveling and reporting on world events, and at the same time searching for something more. She finally met up with Bishop Fulton J. Sheen who opened her heart to God, not a God who was aloof and mysterious, but as Bishop Sheen was so good at depicting, a God who was rooted in the everyday experience of life.

I sometimes think I’ve learned enough! I think: “Now, I can just spend the rest of my life sharing and passing on all the great knowledge I’ve acquired after my many years of study and prayer.” Then I wake up and find myself almost like a time traveler in a strange, alien world: a world where the civil dialog of ideas is only a memory; a world where lies are not only accepted but an expected form of discourse; a world of 24 hour-a-day news broadcasts and instant worldwide satellite communications.

Often I long to return to those more simpler days—days where people would practice strange other worldly habits, like going on a pilgrimage to visit a holy person like Gladys did. Often while on that journey they would say the rosary. Today we as a church celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. During the recital of rosary, we are encouraged to think about life’s mysteries, mysteries like, the birth of a God who took human form, or a young virgin who heard a message and dared to follow it with no science to tell her she made the right decision. A mystery like a god-man who chose to not fight back when accused of heresy and blasphemy, but to accept His fate, a cross to die on leading to an even more mysterious resurrection.

Yes, I’ve got more to learn and as Jesus prays in today’s gospel selection shows me an attitude, an attitude like Gladys’ that I think I’ll try to imitate:

“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.”(Luke 10: 23-24)

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

Scripture:

Baruch 1:15-22
Luke 10:13-16

Reflection:

To understand today’s gospel passage takes some work. Not so much intellectual struggling as plain research. If we only read the quoted verses, at first it seems as if Jesus is saying how poorly He was received in Chorizan, Bethsaida, and Capernaum (His home town!) but then, He compliments them! After His condemnation He says, “Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me…” How does this follow? Going back to the full gospel provides the answer. Jesus is addressing the 72 disciples He is sending forth to perform great deeds. It is to them that He says “Whoever listens to you listens to me.” Jesus is speaking of the repentance of entire towns and lands. He is sending His disciples out to accomplish this.

It is sometimes easy to despair when it seems that everyone in our organization, our city, our country, our world is in need of repentance (a change of thinking). And yet, we see that this is possible. The Civil Rights movement in the 60’s, Ghandi’s march across India, the end of apartheid in South Africa, these all show that God can call entire nations to repentance through the work of individuals.

My prayer for today is that I listen for God’s call to repentance in my own life and that I have the courage and strength to call others by example.

Talib Huff is a volunteer at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, California.

Scripture:

Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12
Luke 10:1-12

Reflection:

Images and stories of the devastation from hurricanes and earthquakes continue to fill my consumption of current events in the world.  And surprisingly, just as the spirit always does, I’m reflecting on the book of Nehemiah as the reading of the day.

Of all the books of the bible, Nehemiah isn’t in the top fifty in terms of popularity.  Yet it holds a most remarkable story of people who have influenced Judaism and Christianity to this day.  And we hear about this in today’s first reading.  In 538 BC the Edict of Cyrus permitted those captive in Babylon to return to Jerusalem. The reality was that those returning didn’t find much to return to.  Since the Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem fifty years earlier, little progress had been made economically, politically, and religiously.   While many were delighted to go home, they quickly discovered this wasn’t the home they remembered, nor the home of their heart-warming stories.  Sitting in the midst of the ruins was demoralizing.  It did nothing to motivate them to rebuild. Nor did the lack of economy spur any desire for construction.  It was difficult enough to rebuild a home.  The idea of rebuilding the city of Jerusalem or the Temple must have been far too lofty.  This is when the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah come into their own.  Their immediate purpose was to spur the lethargic religious spirit of the people to rebuild the temple and fully restore worship in Jerusalem.  In short, their argument was that the sooner the temple is rebuilt and the sacrificial system is functioning, then the sooner the LORD God will be on their side.  After all, who is going to motivate us? And who will defend us from our enemies?

Amidst destruction and lethargy, Nehemiah, Ezra strove to motivate the people to work for the fulfillment of the vision of restoration.  And today’s first reading is the promulgation of the law when Ezra gathers everyone, men, women, and children old enough to listen and proclaims the law again to the people.  They all sit listening attentively.

Why is this remarkable?  This is our first written account of people sitting listening to a public proclamation of God’s Word.  Yet it isn’t written as a news report merely stating the facts of a particular day in human history.  It is descriptively written, touching the senses of seeing and hearing.  One can almost smell the motivation in people beginning to bubble up into a desire to positively respond to this Word of God being proclaimed.  It is remarkable to me on a second level.  When I witness 900+ people coming to a Sunday Eucharist and listening to God’s Word is most impressive. They take time out of their schedule which is far busier and more hectic than our ancestor’s schedules.  Sometimes it is a miracle for that many people to put their cell phones down for 15 minutes.  And to choose to listen to what this Word of God says, not what we want it to say, testifies to me how powerfully Jesus continues to teach and feed his people in the Liturgy of the Word.

To move a group of people from lethargy to motivation requires inspiration touching the depth of sacredness in the human person.  In the past several months we have all seen loss, violations, and desperation beyond our comprehension of how to respond.  So how is it something written 2500 years ago speaks so clearly to us today?  Because first and foremost we start with God’s Word and listening to what is said to us, we discover God’s love for us, resulting in determination, and motivation.

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

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Scripture

Nehemiah 2:1-8
Luke 9:57-62

Reflection:

Today’s Gospel recounts Jesus inviting people to share his mission of proclaiming the Kingdom of God.  Some made great professions of faith as they joined Jesus; others put some conditions on their program of discipleship – seemingly honorable deeds of burying deceased parents or saying farewell to families at home.  And yet Jesus asks for a full and sacrificial commitment of his disciples…with nothing standing in the way of a person’s 100% response!  To join Jesus in going to Jerusalem, to suffer and die…and rise …for the salvific love of all creation.  Amazing!

That bold challenge spoke to the heart of the well-known saint we celebrate today, Francis of Assisi.

Francis heard that personal call of Jesus in the 12^th Century and ultimately gave himself wholeheartedly to Jesus in an exemplary life of praise, sacrifice and service. The Scriptures came alive for Francis of Assisi.  His carefree youth was radically changed by the call of Jesus; he renounced his personal possessions and redirected his life to evangelical poverty and preaching.  Francis’ life witness was truly charismatic, compassionate, and loving of all God’s creation.  God used Francis to call others to join in lives of radical discipleship – so many that Francis compiled a “rule of life” and established a number of religious communities of both men and women.  In the 44 short years of his life, he shared the joy of those early disciples of Jesus and sparked a spiritual renewal that continues to inspire men and women of all ages and walks of life – especially our own Pope Francis!  “Rebuild my church…”

Today Jesus and Francis of Assisi challenge us to generously live and promote God’s Kingdom in 2017 and beyond.  Our world is being dramatically challenged by disasters of all types and intensities, violence, selfishness, poverty and hunger, hopelessness, injustice, etc.  And, our witness as faith-filled disciples today?  How do we respect God’s presence in people, nature, created things, the daily events in the lives of our worldwide sisters and brothers?  How do we reflect the life-giving simplicity and humility of Jesus and Francis in our lives?  How do we best lovingly proclaim God’s mercy and compassion in the midst of our world’s suffering and hopelessness, and thus help build up the Church?  Today’s Scriptures, the life of St. Francis, and the example of our contemporary disciples encourage us to say “yes” and leave all behind to join Jesus in proclaiming God’s love by word and deed.

Today and every day, in the spirit of Francis of Assisi:  May we be simple, faith-filled, joy-filled, compassionate, and respectful disciples of Jesus!  May we be channels of God’s peace!

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is a member of the Passionist community in Chicago, Illinois. 

Scripture:

Zechariah 8:20-23
Luke 9:51-56

Reflection:

“Yahweh Sabaoth says this, ‘In those days, ten men from nations of every language will take a Jew by the sleeve and say: We want to go with you, since we have learned that God is with you.’” Zechariah 8:23

Have you ever met someone that touched you so deeply by their faith that you wanted to “go with them?” And the more important question… do people want to go with you because they know God is with you?

When we first moved to Chico a year after we married I did meet some people whose faith seemed much deeper than mine. I wanted what they had, and I did follow them – to a church camp that they had once a year up in the mountains. There I learned how their faith was different, and was able to begin my own deeper journey into our faith by the power of the Holy Spirit.

About 10 years after that happened, Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, came to our parish to lead a mission. During the mission I knew I had met a brother in the Lord and that God was definitely with him. Jim and I followed him around California to hear him preach whenever we could. He finally allowed us to begin taping his talks to share with others and as they say, “the rest is history.” We have been in ministry with him ever since.

But back to my second question… do people want to follow you? Are they drawn to you because of your love, mercy, forgiveness, kindness and compassion? The more we become like Jesus, and not just in our words, but more importantly in our deeds, the more others will want to know what makes us different. May we take our role to heart and be ready to share the great hope to which we are called. And may we love others into God’s incredible family and ultimately to our heavenly home.

 

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].

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

Scripture:

Exodus 23:20-23
Matthew 18:1-5, 10

Reflection:

In previous years, for this memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, I have written about the roles of angels in God’s provident care for us; I have written of the role of angels in the lives of children and of those who are “young” in their baptism into the Church.

One of the roles we traditionally ascribe to the Holy Guardian Angels is that they keep us safe on the roadway of our lives, on our journey to the Father’s home. We describe this role to our children as the kind of guidance that an angel walking alongside of us will give us at dangers in the road.

As we get older, we may think of our Guardian Angels as “taking a break” because we are pretty good at avoiding the pitfalls, potholes and the dangers of the road on our own.

And as we get older, perhaps we begin to realize that for some things we can use a little extra help: we don’t see as well, we may not hear as well, and we don’t get out of the way quickly enough. We might have to step up our dependence on our Guardian Angels.

This Sunday, October 1, 2017, I have spent the day preaching in a parish in Texas on behalf of our Passionist Missions. Four times today I have read the congregation the Gospel episode from Matthew 21:28-32 (Jesus rebukes the high priests and the elders of the people for not accepting the message of John the Baptist and his call to conversion.) With each reading, I have felt the inspiration to continue my reflection into the celebration of the Holy Guardian Angels on October 2, today.

The key text is Jesus’ accusation of the priests and elders when he says: “When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him” (Mt 21:32).

Jesus accuses the “leadership” of the inability to see beyond their powerful positions and roles. What the “ordinary sinners” could see and accept, their leadership rejected in favor of their own positions of power.

Today, the second of October, we celebrate the intention of God to guide each of us in our daily decisions and responsibilities. Our Guardian Angels are the parallel of John the Baptist in the times of Jesus; just as John came to call the people to conversion and to prepare them to recognize Jesus as the Savior, the role of our Guardian Angels is to help us find our way to the home of the Father.

If we have closed ourselves off to the inspirations of God in our lives (“angels”), we are like those who would not listen to the message of The Baptist, and who gave ground on the way to the Father in favor of tax collectors and prostitutes.

Perhaps the tragic events surrounding hurricanes and earthquakes in this last month of September are a reminder to us that our God surrounds us with warnings and foreknowledge; which we may choose to ignore, or we may choose the path of solidarity in order to help one another to the better life which is within our reach, a life built of truth, justice and compassion for one another.

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