Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:1-10
Luke 12:13-21

Reflection

“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Those words from today’s gospel ought to become a mantra of our lives, especially as we approach the holiday season when too often more attention is given to Black Friday and good bargains than to the coming of Christ.

In this passage from Luke, Jesus offers a parable about a rich man who firmly believed that one’s life does consist of possessions, and in doing so discloses the corrosive effects of greed. The parable begins with the man congratulating himself on a bountiful harvest. There’s no indication that he worked the fields himself and not the slightest hint that he is grateful. Moreover, he obviously has more grain than he could ever possibly need, but never once considers sharing it. That’s how it goes with greed. Greed hardens our hearts, makes us perniciously unmindful of others, and leaves us caring only for ourselves. But greed also results in dangerous self-deception because this man whose only plan is to “rest, eat, drink, be merry!” forgets that our ultimate security comes neither from wealth nor possessions, but from God.

The parable ends with a shock: Jesus says that the man who thinks a life of pleasure and leisure awaits him will die before the end of the day and declares him a fool because he was “not rich in what matters to God.” What he failed to realize is that we are, as the reading from Ephesians testifies, “created in Christ Jesus” not to amass a fortune for ourselves, but “for good works.” In short, we who live by the love, grace, mercy, kindness, and generosity of God gain true riches when we spend our lives extending those blessings to others.

Paul Wadell is Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the extended Passionist family.

Scripture:

Exodus 17:8-13
2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
Luke 18:1-8

Reflection:

This short periscope in Luke’s Gospel  tells the story of the Unjust Judge and the Persistent Widow. Ordinarily, in Israel, when one had a grievance against another and is not receiving a hearing,  the victim can go to court.  Typically there are three judges:

#1.  A judge for the perpetrator;
#2. A judge for the victim, and
#3. An impartial judge.

Obviously in this passage from Luke, the widow is not receiving a just hearing.  According to the law, a widow cannot inherit her deceased husband’s estate.  It automatically goes to a son or brother-in-law or another male relative.  This leaves the widow at the mercy and compassion of the inheritor.

The Unscrupulous Judge is of questionable character.  He neither “feared God” nor respected any person.  It would not be unusual for the judge to be holding out for a bribe, or he sides with the perpetrator who is more powerful: financially, socially, or politically.  All the widow can do is to be persistent in prayer and have faith in the compassion of God.

Prayer is a familiar theme that Luke promotes.  In this Gospel  Luke has Jesus  withdraw at least six times  for periods of prayer, and six times he mentioned Jesus taught his disciples to prayer.  In this narrative the widow continues to badgers the Unjust Judge until she receives justice.  Luke tell us that if a heartless judge grants a widows prayer.  How much more would a God’s heart of love not refuse her.

The prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane is the most live-giving prayer of Jesus.  “Not as my will but your will be done.”  Luke is reminding in this passage we have a responsibility first for the widows, orphans, and strangers in our midst.  Second, we must be consistent, persistent and earnest in our prayers and never lose heart because we believe that God is a provident God of compassion and love.

The saints have told us our prayer must be 1.) Be little in humility, #2.) Be great in our hope. and 3.) Be grafted to Christ Crucified.  Prayer allows us to call down God’s mercy on those we lift up to him.  Every heart becomes an altar and every soul is a sacrifice.

Prayer depends on:

#1. The Love of God – Who desires only what is best for us.
#2.  The Wisdom of God – who alone knows what is best for us.
#3. The Power of God – which alone can bring to pass what is best for us.

 

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

Memorial of St. Teresa of Jesus

Scripture:

Ephesians 1:15-23
Luke 12:8-12

Reflection:

Paul is in prison, most likely at Rome, as he pens this letter. The best manuscripts omit mention of the Ephesians. So it seems that the audience was wider than one community. The letter begins by thanking God for reveling the mystery of Christ which is nothing more than bringing “all things in the heaven and one earth into one under Christ’s headship (Eph 1:10).

Now we can look at the verses we have to reflect on today. Paul is struck by the faith of those first Christians and their love for each other. He is thankful to God for what is happening in their hearts. Immediately his thanks overflow into a prayer of petition: “May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, grant you a spirit of wisdom and insight to know him clearly.” (1:17) It is instructive to us that Paul moves so easily into asking God to bless the new converts. He is aware of all the challenges they face. He is certain that the power that God showed in “raising Christ from the dead and seating him at his right hand in heaven” (1:20) is available to all who believe.

The question for us is: do we believe it as well? Do we have the vision that God has put all things under Christ’s feet?

Fr. Michael Hoolahan, C.P. is on the staff of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Ephesians 1:11-14
Luke 12:1-7

Reflection:

In our first reading today we hear these beautiful words from St. Paul the Apostle in his letter to the Ephesians:

“Brothers and sisters, in Christ we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.”

These words remind us that we exist and were given the precious gift of life in order to do one primary thing:  to give honor, glory, and praise to God.  During the celebration of the Eucharist we hear these profound words that precede what we refer to as the “Great Amen”:  “Through Him, with Him, and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, forever and ever. Amen!”

How frequently I remind those gathered together that this great amen, this ‘yes, may it be so’, that is declared is meant to be that crescendo moment when we fulfill our very destiny, when we live out the reason we were created, namely, to give honor, glory, and praise to Almighty God.  And how frequently we barely cry out this Great Amen because we are preoccupied with lifting the kneeler and getting ready to stand and recite another special prayer, the Our Father.  Yet, so often this Great Amen is lost.  We pass over this amazing opportunity when, as a praying community, we are all able to literally shout Yes, Yes, Yes and give glory to God!

And so, dear friends, the next time you are present for the celebration of the Eucharist please remember – lest the moment sneak up on you and passes by in a cacophony of clanging pews – that when you hear the words “all glory and honor is yours Almighty Father” be prepared to shout and to cry out with joy to the Lord, that Great Amen.  For in this we give honor, glory, and praise to God; in this we fulfill the very reason we were given the gift of life itself!

Fr. Pat Brennan, C.P. is the director of Saint Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

Ephesians 1:1-10
Luke 11:47-54

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel we see a stern and courageous Jesus who, in modern terms, is “speaking truth to power.” In our daily lives, it’s hard enough to confront family, friends or political leaders when the truth has become cloudy, much less take a stand that could put our life in jeopardy!

Luke’s Chapter 11 begins with the Pharisees and Scholars of Law “amazed” that Jesus does not follow the prescribed ritual of washing before the meal.  “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.” Jesus speaks very piercing words, especially to powerful leaders of the Jewish community, but He speaks them from a place of righteous anger. Jesus goes on to hold the Scholars of the Law accountable for their public expressions of respect in building monuments to the prophets even while they will secretly plot to take away their very lives. That is the fate that awaits Jesus, the contemporary prophet in their midst.

Hypocrisy has no place in the world of Jesus.  Outward but empty expressions of piety are without worth, and even worse are the attempts by those who should know better to distract people and bar them from genuinely seeking the truth.

In our nation and world today, there are untruths, stories and claims buzzing around us like flies. The truth seems so elusive. Perhaps in our families we are coping with addictions or destructive behaviors that seem to threaten our very sanity.  How do we hold on and go forward from a place of authenticity? How do we not “buy-in” to the pretenses that seem so prevalent?

Our inner truth, our “true north,” comes from God through Jesus and is enlivened by the Holy Spirit.  And it is from that divine compass that we find our own strength to remain honest with ourselves and others, and to speak truth to power wherever in our life that is needed.

 

Nancy Nickel is the former Director of Communications for Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1
Luke 11:29-32

Reflection:

Scripture today is rather harsh. Jesus talks about an evil generation that will be judged on our actions, a caveat that rings all the more true in a society where we are so quick to condemn, vilify, and denigrate others. St. Paul begs us not to return to the slavery from which we were freed, even as we continually struggle against the chains of intolerance, self-aggrandizement, mistrust, hate, and prejudice. Jesus tells us there is something greater than Solomon, something greater than Jonah, issues on which our generation will stand or fall, and we will have to answer for them.

This prompts probing reflections in my heart as we approach the election. Our faith and our church do not tell us who to vote for, but they do tell us what to vote for. I consider things such as:

Our Church, especially this year, proclaims mercy. Our Pope emphasizes caring for the disenfranchised, poor, and marginalized. Those who are wealthy are called to use that wealth as the gift it is, to serve others and lift up those who have so much less. We are to share in the bounty we have been given, especially recognizing the great extent to which any accumulation of wealth is due to circumstances of birth and family that too many others in this world do not have.

A basic Catholic principle is the common good of all God’s people. We are called to reach out, compromise, and work diligently with others in order to achieve the best results possible for all. This requires going beyond focused self-interest to a recognition that we are all brothers and sisters, increasingly inter-connected and inter-dependent. Isolationism is not an option for followers of Christ.

Jesus lifted up the rights and dignity of each person, and our Church declares that such rights and dignity are independent of country of birth, religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other factor. Every person is a child of God, every person has worth, and we need to uphold the highest ethical standards even when others violate them. This principle needs to operate globally, as we respect, honor, and work with those of other cultures, countries, and faiths. It also needs to operate locally, in interactions between members of communities and police, between immigrants and natural-born citizens, and between those wearing a cross and those wearing a hijab.

Our Church and our Pope challenge us to care for our earth and its environment. This, too, is a tremendous gift to be nurtured, yet human actions are contributing to the disappearance of coral reefs and entire species of animals, the pollution of air, water, and food, the mistreatment of animals, and a host of other damaging effects. God created all things, then wisely or unwisely put humans in charge of caring for creation. We can and must do a better job, even if it is inconvenient to businesses or expensive to clean up.

It seems to me that in this election we have stark choices. Both candidates are flawed. But in light of scriptures and our Church, I look at questions such as: Who is more likely to capably lead a country built on integrity and justice? Who will work for the common good of all? With whom can we trust our men and women in the service, and the negotiation of peace? Who can improve our standing and our leadership in the world? Who has the proven skills, experience, and mettle to tackle the toughest issues facing our country today?

Perhaps your questions are different than mine. Regardless, we all must take our choices in this election most seriously, setting aside emotional reactions and, as objectively as possible, considering the qualifications and the eventual implications on the national and world stage of each candidate. Stand before Jesus, pray, look at the consequences of your decision, and choose wisely. Our country depends on it, and our generation will indeed be judged by our actions.

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:

2 Kings 5:14-17
2 Timothy 2:8-13
Luke 17:11-19

 

Reflection:

How to be Firm in Faith

After his cure Elisha the prophet accepted no gift. Naaman then asked him if he could take two mule loads of earth. He wanted the earth where the God of Israel was worshipped. He told Elisha, ‘May the Lord forgive me, when my master enters the temple of Rimmon, then, I too, as his adjutant, must bow down in that temple. But I will not longer offer sacrifice to any other God except to the Lord’. Elisha said to him, “Go in peace.”

Our readings speak of faith today. Timothy gives a good summary of the gift of faith we are given in Baptism. Persevere! He is faithful to us even in our failures. But do not deny Him.

We may all have our way of describing the gift of faith. For Naaman, it came simply as believing the word of a child. We may have expressed our gratitude also. We may grope as blind people clinging to this gift of faith.

Naaman speaks to us especially if we find ourselves unable to celebrate our faith. It sounds like Elisha is not a party prophet, there is not slap on the back or embrace when Naaman returns full of joy. But the prophet says to him, “Go in peace”. Did he know there would be difficulties ahead when it came to holding on to the gift of healing that was like a Baptism for Naaman. Even Naaman could anticipate some trouble. How many people, maybe you, in some way run into circumstances that prevent celebrating and living the gift of faith? No good proof lately, too many negative things, personal failures that are depressing, unsettledness or insecurity. The words of God to us are those of the prophet to Naaman, ‘Go in peace’. Did those words see Naaman, as they can see us, through times when it is hard to welcome the gifts that faith brings us.

But Naaman did have his two loads of special Holy Land. What did he do with it? Perhaps he kept it in a fenced in area outside or in a large box kept in a shrine in his house? This was important, more important than any money he would gladly have given away. Have you kept any Holy Ground from a sacred event? Something from a wedding or another sacrament? Peter Hebblethwaite begins his biography of

St. John XXIII by entering his room after his death and examining the artifacts that John had saved from the events of his life. A lovely examining of the little things that told what had made up his life. We need our piles of dirt! Our momentos of the Holy Ground we have stumbled upon by accident or the special time we felt the closeness of God or heard God’s voice loud and clear. These ‘little things’ that we have by our night stand or desk drawer or in a sacred place help our faith. They remind us, especially when we are groping in the darkness that we have met the God that we have faith in. We go to them, remember and our renewed.

Persevering, treasuring our experiences, and the gratitude seen in our other leper today, all of these feed our faith. Like Naaman we do not need to dissect or explain what happened, but in treasuring the experiences of our faith we become more firm in this gift and it seems to grow stronger.

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

Scripture:

Galatians 3:22-29
Luke 11:27-28

Reflection:

A group of enthusiastic retreatants shouted “Amen!” one weekend when asked if they believe in the Communion of Saints.  They were affirming and celebrating an ancient truth – Yes, we, the Church Militant, are part of the Communion of Saints.

But later during Mass, the priest challenged them with another question: “Are you willing to put God before anything else in your life – before family, before material things, before your own needs?”  No shouts of Amen.  Just uncomfortable mumbling.

The woman in the crowd shouted her own enthusiastic Amen: “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that fed you.”  She was affirming and celebrating a truth – Yes, Mary was indeed privileged to be the mother of Jesus.

But Jesus responded to the crowd with what sounded almost like a denial of his mother: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”

This was no repudiation.  On the contrary, Jesus proclaimed to the crowd – and to those tongue-tied retreatants – that there is a higher truth.  We are closest to God when we hear the word of God and obey it.

It’s not enough to be counted among the Communion of Saints.  Not enough to talk about the gospel.  Not even enough to claim blood relationship with Jesus. We cannot merely hear the radical words of Jesus. We must change our life to do the will of God.  And no one has heard and obeyed the word of God better than the Blessed Mother.  Jesus gave his mother the highest possible praise.

What about us?  Do we merely listen to Jesus’ words or do we really follow him by giving him our whole life?   The Blessed Mother and the saints glorify God in heaven, not for what they said, but for what they did.  They obeyed the will of God.

Jesus challenges us to do the same.  Can we shout “Amen” to that?

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