Daily Scripture

Scripture:

1 John 3:7-10
John 1:35-42

 

Reflection:

The Christmas Event & St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Today’s Gospel selection features John the Baptist and two of his disciples meeting Jesus as he walked by – “the Lamb of God”.  This encounter led to Jesus’ invitation to “come and see” where he was staying – and ultimately, that first encounter with Jesus led to lives of dedicated discipleship.

Over the centuries countless women and men have responded to Jesus’ invitation to “come and see”, to follow him by lives of selfless service.  One such 18^th Century American woman-disciple is honored today:  St. Elizabeth Ann Seton…the first American-born saint.

Born in 1774, Elizabeth Ann was raised as an Episcopalian.  She married William Seton and helped rear their five children.  She was drawn to the Catholic faith by an Italian Catholic family whom she met while traveling in Italy with her husband.  After her husband’s untimely death from tuberculosis at age 30, Elizabeth Ann fully embraced the Catholic faith – and subsequently opened a parish school in Baltimore to support her family and witness her Catholic faith, despite rather severe protests from her anti-Catholic family and friends.

Drawn by Elizabeth’s faith and fervor, a group of young women gradually joined Elizabeth Ann in her approach to education and Christian life.  In 1809 they formed the American Sisters of Charity, following the rule of St. Vincent de Paul; later they help found other schools and orphanages.  By the time of her death on January 4, 1821, the community had expanded their valued ministries as far west as St. Louis and was involved in some twenty schools and orphanages.

Elizabeth Ann Seton was called by God to help build up the Church in her day.  As noted in today’s Gospel, Jesus drew disciples to himself and began the Church; Elizabeth Ann joined those early disciples in saying “yes” to Jesus and working tirelessly to build the Church, especially among those on the fringes of society.

The new year 2017 is upon us, and God continues to bless us with our Passionist charism as enfleshed in our holy Founder, St. Paul of the Cross, and the countless men and women who have shared in his spirit.  May we deepen our personal relationship with Jesus these new year’s days – and encourage others to “come and see” God’s love present in their lives and our world.  With St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, we pray Psalm 98:  “Sing to the Lord a new song, for God has done wondrous deeds…”

Amen!

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

Scripture:

1 John 2:29-3:6
John 1:29-34

Reflection:

See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. 1 John 3:1

As I scramble to write this reflection, I am surrounded by children! We are staying with our oldest son John, his wife Sheelagh, and their four kids. It is still Christmas break, so silence is a rarity! Tomorrow we move to our temporary new home which is with our second son and his wife and 2 children. We are on an adventure to see if we will in fact move onto an island in the state of Washington. So what is God speaking to me in this situation?

He is reminding me that even if I can’t find a quiet space to be alone with Him that He is still here. He is not only within each of us, but we can see Him in the faces of His children. They are so close to Him in their trust and faith and innocence. They mirror His love and give us a glimpse into pure beauty.

They rarely sit still, and I am reminded that life is to be lived! We can settle into a rut as we get older, and being with these bundles of energy reminds me to engage in activities that I enjoy. I need to force myself some days to get out and take a walk, but that walk always makes me feel better and more alive.

In the Gospel John refers to Jesus as the “Lamb of God.” When I picture a little lamb, I also picture little children near, wanting to hold the little guy and feel his wool. May we all become more as little children and take time to draw near to the Lamb of God each day and so receive His love. May we be open and trusting as little children and abide in Him as this New Year begins.

Janice Carleton and her husband Jim live in Portland, OR 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].

Scripture:

1 John 2:22-28
John 1:19-28

Reflection:

How wonderful to be at the threshold of a new year. As Christians, we treasure time because it was in a moment of time that Jesus took our human flesh as his own, Jesus took us as his own.

In today’s Gospel reading, John the Baptist handles the queries about his role by saying that the one to pay attention to is the one who is still coming after him, and who is greater than himself, John.

This response of John to the priests, Levites and Pharisees is also a response that speaks to us. Priests, Levites and Pharisees are respectable religious leaders in the social fabric of the Holy Land at the time of Jesus.

Many of us are engaged in service to the Church, whether in local parish communities, in religious endeavors, or in Religious Life. Some of us can probably draw on a long history of formation and practice in the structures of the Church.

When these emissaries came to John to inquire about his preaching and baptizing, he gave them the one challenge that can bridge the gap between us and Jesus, the gap that keeps our good will from achieving all that God expects of us. “…but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”

That person is Jesus, and the person of Jesus in our neighbor. If we hope to see the person of Jesus in our midst, we have to recognize the person of Jesus in our brothers and sisters.

New Year was popularly a time for making “resolutions.” One is enough: to look for the person of Jesus in our surroundings, and to point him out to others.

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

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

Scripture:

Numbers 6:22-27
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21

Reflection:

 This is a feast day with several identities: the octave of Christmas, World Peace Day, the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord (Jewish tradition called for the male child to be circumcised on the 8^th day after birth as a sign of membership in God’s covenant people), and, of course, New Year’s Day.  Since the Second Vatican Council, the Church subsumes all of these under the beautiful tribute of this day to Mary as the Mother of God, a tradition that goes far back into Christian history.  In 431 A.D., the Council of Ephesus declared Mary to be theotokos, a Greek term that literally means, the “God-bearer.”

Giving Mary this remarkable title was not primarily to praise Mary—although that is certainly part of the picture—but rather to protect the church’s tenacious belief in the genuine humanity of Jesus.  Jesus, the Church affirms, is truly divine but he is also truly human—and it is that mystery of the Incarnation that enables the church to acclaim Mary of Nazareth to be truly also the “Mother of God,” because she gave birth to the God-man Jesus.  Nothing is more essential to Christian faith than this belief in the identity of Jesus, as the Incarnate Word of God, truly human and truly divine. Yet in celebrating this feast on this first day of a new year, the Church proclaims that the mystery of the Incarnation also affirms something astounding about us as human beings.  The Bible is convinced that all creation is sacred as a gift of God, as the opening chapter of Genesis describes.  But within the kaleidoscope of beauty that is God’s creation, the human person alone is made “in the image of God.”  The human person is able to love and be loved, to know and to understand—all qualities belonging to the divine.

In “becoming flesh” Jesus the Eternal Word not only became one of us but also affirms in an unimpeachable way the beauty and dignity of the human person.  This conviction finds expression in the readings for today’s feast.  So, the famous blessing from the Book of Numbers speaks of God’s great love for his people: “May the Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face sine upon you, and be gracious to you!  The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!”  As does the Psalm response that accompanies Psalm 67: “May God bless us in his mercy.”  And no emphasis on the sacredness of the human person can be stronger than Paul’s famous words in the letter to the Galatians in the second reading.  “You are no longer to be called slaves but you are God’s sons and daughters”—able to address God in the intimate terms that a child uses to address his parent, “Abba, Father!”—a phrase that seems to echo Jesus’ own way of praying to his Father.

It is vital that we as Christians remember this affirmation of human dignity, indeed of human sacredness, as this New Year begins.  We are not blind to human frailty and even the human capacity for terrible evil.  But as Christians we also remember human goodness and the human capacity for the divine.  We remember that Mary, the Mother of God, is one of us.  In so many circumstances our world seems to devalue human life: wanton violence in war-torn Aleppo, gang shootings in despairing Chicago neighborhoods, innocent life cast aside before seeing the light of day or the elderly warehoused without love or attention; desperate refugees turned away or vilified by demagogues.  Mary, Mother of God, do not let us forget our dignity and our responsibility as children of God.

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.

Scripture:

1 John 2:18-21
John 1:1-18

Reflection:

And the Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us. John 1:14

Do you remember Christmas?  I know… seems so very long ago.  Even more shocking, do you remember Advent?   So much has happened since we first heard the cry of the Prophet, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”

And now, here we stand on the cliff of the end of 2016.  The New Year is viewed by most as the impetus to take an eraser to their past and resolve to be better people: to repair broken relationships, to restore themselves emotionally, to refresh themselves spiritually, to rebuild themselves physically… an opportunity to just get it right.

In meditating on this thought, I was struck with the realization that we just came from such a time.  We Catholics should have been yelling “Happy New Year” on the First Sunday of Advent.  No, I’m not crazy (no comments!!!) … with Advent starting, we began a new Liturgical Year (Cycle A), with the call to “Prepare, ye, the way.”

Prepare.

If you’re at all like me, you were probably more concerned about the preparations for Christmas. Gifts, cards, decorations, food, parties, planning… Advent calls us to get ready, that’s for sure – but, not gifts or food or parties.  I’m wondering now if my spirit was ready for Christmas.  I wonder if I made the room in the inn of my heart for Jesus to be born?

Emmanuel.  God, with us. As it says in today’s Gospel, “The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.”

I think I may have missed the Advent opportunity to sweep out the junk from my life so to make room for a new Bethlehem in my heart. Maybe you also feel the same sense “whoops” that I do.

But there is good news – 2017 starts tomorrow.  We have the chance to create our resolutions anew with a focus on what’s really important. And that’s not all – God gifts us with endless opportunities to come home.  To get it right.  To throw ourselves on the inexhaustible love and mercy of our creator.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation, the daily Eucharist, Lent, Advent… every single breath… all points in time to put a step in a better direction.

To “testify to the true light” by the way we live our lives.

So, friends, what’s your first step?

Dear God of New Years, thank you for the gift of fresh beginnings. Grant us the grace of a broom with which we can sweep away all that keeps us from recognizing and welcoming you into our hearts and lives. And please, help us all never break our resolution to be closer to you. Amen.

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

Scripture:

1 John 2:3–11
Luke 2:22-35

Reflection:

… for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 1 John 2:8

Today is the fifth day in the octave of Christmas. The readings remind us of the great gift that has been given to us through the birth of the Christ. In the First Letter of John gives us the message of walking in the way of Christ through the commandments. The two commandments that Christ gave to his Apostles and us; To love God with all our heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbors as ourselves. The message goes on to speak about what it means to walk in the light and what it means to walk in the darkness. Walking in the light requires us to love our “brother” which is not in reference to a sibling but to our next door neighbor, people in our neighborhood, people in our subdivision or living complex. It is in reference to those who live in our city, country and all who live on earth.

 How am I the light of Christ to others?

The Gospel of Luke is about Mary and Joseph taking Jesus up to the temple to offer a sacrifice, which was the custom of the day. They meet Simeon a “righteous and devout” man who also hoped in the promise of a messiah. What a gift he had been given to be able to see the one who would bring salvation to his people and to the world. I have always loved his words:

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.”

The one phrase from the above passage that strikes me the most is “a light to reveal you . . .”

This phrase has been a reminder for me about being a light that reveals God to others. It calls me to reflect on how I am growing in my faith. Am I taking time to pray each day or reflect on the daily readings? Do I really listen to Father’s homily on Sunday and be open to how God is calling me to grow in my spiritual life? The winter time offers us an opportunity to sit in silence and the stillness. Just as the trees and plants rest over the winter to prepare for the coming of Spring so too for us it can be a time to relax and reflect on growing in our spiritual life. We can’t be a light if we don’t have the light.

May the coming New Year bring you peace and joy!

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

Scripture:

1 John 1:5-2:2
Matthew 2:13-18

Reflection:

Beloved:  This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in God there is no darkness at all. 

The darkness that enveloped all of the families who lost innocent children in the massacre ordered by Herod must have been overwhelming!  This passage from the gospel of Matthew paints this sad state of affairs as we read:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
Sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
And she would not be consoled,
Since they were no more.”

The tragic end of life for so many innocent children in Bethlehem so long ago continues to happen daily, hourly and in some instances minute by minutes in our families, communities and throughout the world!  Whether these atrocities happen in our neighborhoods, cities, towns, or as far away as Aleppo and other wartorn countries, we feel Rachel’s pain and weep for the lost.  The Herod’s of our time are just as dangerous and in some way even more so than the Herod of Rachel’s time!

Our faith in a God who is light and walks with us through the darkness that can be overwhelming is the hope we carry with us during this Christmas season!  The great gift of that innocent child born in Bethlehem so long ago is the light that will guide us through dark days and nights.  May we embrace this miracle and give thanks for the gift we all have received at Christmas.

May God’s light continue to shine on you during the coming new year!  Christmas Blessings!

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