Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Philippians 4:10-19
Luke 16:9-15

Reflection:

…I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. Philippians 4:11

The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones…Luke 16:10

We all want an easy life – a life without pain or even discomfort. The stories we tell each other around the water cooler (are there still water coolers?) are often filled with the disappointments, setbacks, and challenges of our daily lives. Who hasn’t told a story to friends that includes the phrase, “But wait, it gets worse!” We share these stories with each other, bonding over our common misery that seems to be the lot of those who walk this Earth. As it says in the book of Job, “…mankind is born for trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.”

However, we tend to interpret God’s favor as being upon us when life is easy and God withholding His favor when times are hard. Or we see the hard times as a test to grind through. We can sometimes feel that if we just grit our teeth and power on through, God will like us again and things will get easier.

In the readings today there seems to be another way put forth, the Way of Christ. St. Paul speaks of having endured privations and abundance, fat times and lean times. He shares his thoughts on getting through it all: “I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through Him who empowers me.” It is interesting that it is a secret for living both in abundance and need, not just need. By living in Christ, abundance and need seem to become two sides of one coin. Both are just circumstances of life. It is often said that pain is inevitable; suffering is not. Suffering can arise when we fall into the “Why me?” trap. St. Paul teaches that abundance and need follow one another. He shows us that with Christ we can endure the need and remember to show gratitude in abundance.

In the gospel, Jesus says we are to make friends with and be trustworthy with dishonest wealth (mammon). And yet later he says we cannot serve both mammon and God. This calls to mind the saying from Matthew, “Resist not evil.” This teaching calls on a strength that God shares with us. This strength is to hold true to serving God by not resorting to violence against the evil, dishonesty, and corruption we see around us. At the same time, we are called to act with integrity with the world. Dishonesty from another does not justify our acting dishonest ourselves. We are called by our conversion to treat all as brothers and sisters.

My prayer for myself today is that I find the strength of Christ within me to serve God as I make my way through this less-than-perfect world.

Talib Huff volunteers and works at Christ the King Retreat Center in Citrus Heights. You can reach him at [email protected]

Feast of St. Charles Borromeo

Scripture:

Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 16:1-8

 

Reflection:

The Challenge of Stewardship

As we continue our journey through our special November commemoration of saintly people, today we thank God for the person of Charles Borromeo.  He was a gifted and zealous man of the Church who lived during the 16^th Century, credited for helping reform and build up the Church in a variety of ways.

As a bishop and Cardinal, Charles encouraged the intellectual and moral growth of clergy and religious, especially in forming new seminaries.  He helped author the catechism that was called for during the Council of Trent; he also started the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) for children’s growth in their faith.  He held many special meetings in his home diocese of Milan, seeking to incorporate the message and teachings of the Council of Trent.  He reached out to the poor and needy of his day, sacrificing wealth, honor and influence to serve them – even in the challenges of the plagues and famines of his day, ministering to the sick, the hungry, and the dying.  Truly a gifted and zealous man who gave God his all during his 46 years of life!

Today’s Gospel from Luke recounts a parable of Jesus about a “resourceful” steward who at first dishonestly squandered his master’s property, but then prudently tried to save face by dealing with his master’s debtors.  Though we might first be appalled at his dishonesty, in his moment of crisis he was decisive and acted quickly to prepare for the future.  Jesus highlights the steward’s “gifts” and limitations as a human person – and encourages us to be faith-filled and zealous in living out our faith in Him.

St. Paul, in today’s first reading, encourages his followers to imitate his example as a convert-missionary, giving his life to help spread the Good News.  Paul’s many gifts, especially his ardent faith, was held up as an example to the many people he touched in his journeys; his last words of today’s scripture selection have encouraged many:  “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I Iove and long for, my joy and my crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.”  Stand firm in the Lord…

The Good News challenges us today:  zealously follow the words and deeds of Jesus; be good, faith-filled and active stewards of God’s many gifts; learn from St. Paul and St. Charles Borromeo to share your gifts with the Church of your day, especially those most in need.  The “value” of such an action plan of life:  priceless…for both ourselves and our world!!  Amen!!

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

Scripture:

Philippians 3:3-8a
Luke 15:1-10

Reflection:

But what were once my assets I now through Christ Jesus count as loss. Philippians 3:7

On our journey to heaven, I think we all need to learn the detachment that Paul discovered. It may be easier in other cultures where people don’t own as much as many Americans. But here in the states, a lot of us own homes, and many of us buy lots of things to fill up those homes. Even if you shop garage sales for those things so you aren’t spending large sums of money, you are still filling your home with things that will then need to be taken care of.

I really do try to be detached from these things, but as I am now in the process of getting ready to move, I see just how much I still cling to them. I will put something in the sell or give away box, and later go back and retrieve it! We know all of these things will pass away, but they may remind us of a special time, or bring us joy by their beauty, or we simply bought them because we could and we had room for them. It does help to downsize, because by having less space, it’s easier to live with less.

My point is that whether we’re moving or not, it’s good to regard our possessions to see if we can let them go. What takes first place in our hearts? What do we spend the most time doing? Two other translations of this verse use the words “liability” and “worthless” for the word “loss.” The things of this world can actually keep us from being closer to God. Let’s be sure we hold all things lightly so that we can serve God and help further His Kingdom here on earth.

Today’s responsorial psalm helps us focus on God. May we seek Him above all else. Let us pray it together: “Sing to him, make music for him, recount all his wonders! Glory in his holy name, let the hearts that seek Yahweh rejoice! Seek Yahweh and his strength, tirelessly seek his presence! Remember the marvels he has done, his wonders, the judgements he has spoken.” Psalm 105: 2-5

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].

Feast of All Saints

Scripture:

Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12a

Reflection:

One of the Nobel awards for science this year went to a scientist who headed a team that created a molecule so incredibly small that it measured 1/1000 the width of a single human hair!  This infinitesimally small entity is designed as a kind of engine all its own that could, for example, bring healing to a single human cell.  The article I read went on to say that one of the great interests of current modern science is precisely on the micro-level.  Rather than simply developing machinery and vehicles that are more massive and powerful than ever before, there is even greater work being done on elements so incredibly small that they can go to places and do things never before imagined!

What, you might ask, has this to do with the feast of All Saints that we celebrate today??  Prompted by the first reading for today from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14), I began to think of the “great multitude” that this biblical passage cites of those who praise God and are “marked” with the sign of God’s blessing.  They come, the passage notes, “from every nation, race, people, and tongue.”  So this feast of All Saints has a wide embrace, celebrating as it does the holy ones who have gone before us in faith and the millions of holy people now living.  The “saints” referred to in this great liturgical celebration are not confined to those relative few who have been officially canonized as saints but to everyone who has been embraced by God’s love and has tried to live with that consciousness.  How many people is that?  All those who lived before Christ and searched for God—people we might call “pagans” but still children of God.  All of those who belonged to God’s people Israel and tried with all their might to love God and obey God’s word. All those who over the two-thousand plus years of Christianity were baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ and strove to follow Jesus in their daily lives.  All the family members we know and love who have gone before us, trusting in God.  All the people we meet every day whose lives reflect the beauty of the gospel.

We may wonder how even God can keep track of such a multitude. But then I think of how purely human knowledge can create something as marvelous as a small “machine” whose dimensions are 1/1000 of the width of a single human hair!  I can’t imagine that either—so I trust in God’s infinite power and beauty that is even further from the grasp of my imagination, the awesome power and love of God that is able to reach out and embrace all of the saints throughout the ages and all those still to come.

The Gospel reading for today cites the beatitudes which Jesus declares at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12).  God’s blessing, Jesus tells his disciples, embraces such a wide range of people: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger for justice, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted.  It is that loving embrace of God towards all of us that makes us “holy.”  And that is the marvel that the church celebrates today!

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:

Philippians 2:1-4
Luke 14:12-14

Reflection:

12 He said to the man who had invited him, 13 “Invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.”

The more and more I read, prayed, and meditated on today’s Gospel, the more I’ve become convinced that there may not be a scripture better suited for a day like Halloween.  Sure, the case could be made for the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-45) – a former corpse walking out of the tomb – but that’s not what I’m talking about.

Historically, Halloween, contrary to the rumors calling it a pagan religious event, is actually a Christian celebration that’s nearly 1,300 years old.  “Halloween” is a name that is simply a contraction of “All Hallows Eve” – the vigil of All Hallows Day – which we celebrate now as All Saints Day.  The word “Hallow,” as a noun, is an old English word for saint. As a verb, it means to make something holy or to honor it as holy.  All Saints Day, November 1, is a Holy Day of Obligation (so be sure to get to mass!), and both the feast and the vigil have been celebrated since Pope Gregory III instituted them in the early eighth century.

On the eve of the Feast of All Saints, people will come to our doors in hoards, dressed as all kinds of things.  We’ll see ghosts and sports-stars, goblins and politicians, witches and princesses, bumble bees and dinosaurs, giraffes and super-heroes.  Perhaps we’ll see some dressed as holy women or men.  They knock, hoping for acceptance and some graciousness and sustenance.  And for what we give them, well, we really get nothing in return.

The Gospel today has Jesus instructing that we should invite everyone to the table.  Not just the wealthy or “perfect,” but the poor and outcast, the undesirables.  Like us opening the door for people on All Hallows Eve, it doesn’t make a difference who they are, what they’ve done, what they’re wearing, or where they come from.  It just doesn’t matter… we welcome them anyway, giving what we can, expecting nothing in return.

To me, this Gospel is all about welcoming the sinner.  I’m a sinner, and wow do I long to be invited.  With tomorrow being All Saints Day, I’m being hit in the head with the question, “Weren’t the Saints actually sinners first?”

Who do we welcome to the table?  Who welcomes us?

Who doesn’t?

All are welcome at the table of the Lord … even those with whom we may not want to dine.  Even you and I… saint or sinner – we’re offered the best God has to offer.

Shouldn’t we do the same?

Dear God, thank you for the invitation to dine at your table. Please grant us the grace to carry that invitation to those on the fringes, to open the door especially that person most in need of our love and acceptance.

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:

Wisdom 11:22-12:2
2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
Luke 19:1-10

Reflection:

Today we have a conversion story.  Zacchaeus, a tax collector and a wealthy man, is identified by the crowd as a sinner.  But he ends up proclaiming, “Half of my possessions I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”  That’s a major conversion from selfishness to generosity.

What made him change?  Jesus didn’t work any miracle for Zacchaeus, didn’t heal any illness or alleviate any hunger. All Jesus did was spend time with Zacchaeus, and that was enough to turn him around.

In his book, The Five Love Languages, author Gary Chapman identifies the giving of “quality time” to another as one of the five languages of love.  That is just what Jesus did.  He gave Zacchaeus genuine attention, affirmation and a non-judgmental attitude.  He listened to him and enjoyed his company.  He didn’t give Zacchaeus food for his body.  In fact Zacchaeus fed Jesus.  Instead Jesus gave him nourishment for his spirit by a genuine loving attitude.

It was Benjamin Disraeli who said, “The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.”  If we take the time and make the effort to be truly present to another, we can watch a gold mine of goodness come pouring forth.

Fr. Alan Phillip, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.   anphillipcp.com/

Scripture:

Philippians 1:18b-26
Luke 14:1, 7-11

Reflection:

For to me life is Christ . . .

In Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul seems to be wrestling with remaining on earth and continuing the work that Christ commissioned him to do; spread the Gospel to the Gentiles or moving on to eternal life. It’s the wrestling that is most interesting. His reasoning for staying and going and then finally realizing that it is God’s will that he continue.

We wrestle with decisions every day. When making a decision we look at the pros and the cons and decide what is in our best interest. We think of our family, career opportunities, living situation and other factors. Saint Paul was doing this as well and he included Christ in the process. Christ, being the center of this process is Saint Paul’s way of giving his life over to Christ and the will of God. This is a process called discernment, where we take time to look at all the factors and then take it to prayer and ask for the grace to be open to where God is taking us. A way of letting go of what we want and looking to what God wants. Saint Paul was open to whatever God asked of him. He was ready to continue working for God on earth and at the same time ready to let go of his earthly life and embrace eternal life.

Saint Paul’s wrestling calls each of us to take time to reflect on how we invite Christ into our lives. Do I invite Christ into all aspects of my life? Do I take time in prayer to listen with my heart to where Christ is leading me?

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

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:19-22
Luke 6:12-16

Reflection:

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul describes us as “fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.”  As fellow citizens, we join the apostles whose call we read about in the Gospel of Luke today.  We also join with Saints Simon and Jude, whose feast day we celebrate today as well.

As members of God’s household, we are called through baptism, to take care of God’s people, our brothers and sisters. During this month of October (and all months), the church calls us to reflect in a special way on Life in all its forms.  Oftentimes, when we hear the term, respect life, we immediately think of or are led to think only of the unborn and those millions of lives lost through abortion.  Yes, abortion is wrong, but many times we get stuck there and forget there are many other life issues calling for our attention as well! The corporal and spiritual works of mercy remind us of the needs of the poor, the immigrant and refugee, the sick, disabled, homeless, lonely, disenfranchised and forgotten. Let us seek ways to help not only the unborn, but all of those created in the image and likeness of God.

During the past year, our parish of Saint Agnes, has come together to accept the challenge as fellow citizens of the household of God to share their time, talent and treasure with those who have so little.  The Refugee Resettlement Ministers welcomed a family of 8 from the Congo recently.  This family has lived in a refugee camp for many years.  The Outreach Ministry is busy this Fall inviting those organizations to submit requests for aid.  Monies to help these people will come from parish contributions set aside in a special fund for the needy.  The school children held a walk-a-thon to raise monies for the St. Vincent de Paul organization.

With the example of Saints Simon and Jude and all those holy women and men past and present, may we celebrate and care for all members of God’s household!

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