Daily Scripture

Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle

Scripture:

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
Matthew 9:9-13

Reflection:

St. Matthew recommends himself to us today because he represents what so many of us have had to do in the course of our lives: rework our relationship to the demands of our religious faith.  Few of us have an unblemished track record of fidelity to the faith into which we were incorporated by our baptism. Those of us who are concerned about this do well to reflect on the saint whose memory we recall today.

For we value the memory of the apostle St. Matthew. He had the privilege of being one of the first disciples called by Jesus Christ, not long after Peter, Andrew, James and John.  He might have been one of the better educated among this group, to the extent that his job as tax collector likely placed certain requirements on him that would not have been called for by the background of the other apostles, such as Peter and Andrew, for example.  And this seems somewhat substantiated by the way he organized his recollections, in later years, about Jesus in such a way that it made its way into that venerable collection of memories and recollections called gospels.  For we now refer to the gospel of Matthew, along with that of Mark, Luke and John.

And his gospel is noteworthy because it has the stamp of Jewishness about it, perhaps more so than the other three, because Matthew was likely quite intent on establishing his credentials as a loyal son of Abraham, given his occupation as tax-collector and thereby a collaborator, in some form or fashion, with the Roman occupiers of the land.  That would not have endeared him to his fellow-Jews, and probably tainted his reputation as he collected Jewish tax money on behalf of the Roman occupiers.  So he may have welcomed the invitation Jesus held out to him to join the ranks of this already well-known Jewish spokesperson. Matthew may have seen this invitation as a way of reintegrating himself with his Jewish background.

He is an instance of what our reading from the letter to the Ephesians addresses today: the theme of unity amid diversity.  For St. Paul, incarcerated in prison, writes on the theme of unity, urging the church in Ephesus “to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”, and later on in that same letter Paul vindicates the already growing diversification in the church of Ephesus (apostles, prophets, evangelists, etc.), not as detrimental to the unity of the Christian faith they profess, but as contributing to it.  As a result, Matthew too may have felt vindicated by this variety in the church.

So it must have been a relief for him to leave his customs post at the invitation of this young popular leader, even to the extent of throwing a party for Jesus and His disciples, along with some of the crowd that had been the friends and associates of Matthew: tax collectors and sinners.  Jesus accepted his invitation and seemed quite comfortable with the table fellowship that developed.

So Matthew left his mark on the early beginnings of the church.  His gospel reflects the relationship of our early Christian church with the Jewish religious faith.  It is an important source for noting details of this relationship, and much credit for this goes to Matthew, who, in the process of purging any misgivings about his own Jewish background, serves to illustrate the example of an early relationship between Judaism and Christianity.

Fr. Sebastian MacDonald, C.P. is a member of the Passionist formation community at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. 

Memorial of Saint Andrew Kim Taegŏn, priest and martyr and Saint Paul Chŏng Hasang, martyr, and their companions, martyrs

Scripture:

Proverbs 8: 1-7, 10-13
Luke 8: 19-21

Reflection:

Many of us are familiar with and inspired by the stories of heroic men and women who have lived remarkable lives of faith.  Their witness to Christ and to God’s presence in the world model for us various ways to be faithful disciples of Jesus.  The saints we celebrate today are just such wonderful people.  They are St. Andrew Kim Taegon, St. Paul Chong Hasang and their companions.  They were all martyred during the major persecutions of the Christian community in 19th century Korea.  St. Andrew is singled out from the group because he was the first Korean Catholic Priest and St. Paul Chong Ha Sang was an important lay leader and catechist during that time.  It would seem that the “companions” were ordinary, everyday Catholics rounded up by the government in its attempt to stamp out the Christian faith.  All were put to death in a most violent and public way.

By the time these Catholics were martyred, Christianity had been growing in Korea for more than seventy-five years.  It is believed that Christianity had been brought into Korea by some Christian Japanese soldiers in the latter part of the 18th century.   The Christian Japanese soldiers baptized the first Korean Christians and the Christian community began to grow quickly.  By the time the first foreign priest arrived in Korea in 1836 there was already a substantial Christian community flourishing there.  The Korean Catholic Church is the only known Catholic Christian community that first developed completely from the witness and work of lay Christians.

The rulers in Korea were not at all pleased to have this foreign religion thriving in their country.  At first they just discouraged it but soon enough outlawed this practice and began to actively persecute anyone who took it up.  As Christians were arrested, tortured and put to death the Church quickly moved underground

St. Andrew’s parents, members of the Korean nobility, were an important part of that early community and secretly remained faithful to their life with Christ.  Andrew, born in 1821, was baptized at fifteen and soon expressed his desire to become a priest.  He traveled to Macau to attend the seminary and was ordained in 1845.  He was the first Korean to become a priest and returned home shortly after his ordination to help organize the Church and bring the sacraments to the faithful.  He ministered in Korea only a year before he was arrested and put to death.

There were intense persecutions of Christians in Korea in 1839, 1846, 1866 and 1867 and 103 Christians were martyred for their faith.  We celebrate these heroic martyrs on this day.

May their faith and courage inspire us to live our lives faithful to the Gospel and have the strength to be fearless witness for Christ in our everyday lives.

 

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Proverbs 3:27-34
Luke 8:16-18

Reflection:

How confident are you that you’re going to heaven?  Are you very confident, somewhat hopeful, a bit worried, or maybe afraid that you’ll never make it?  Many of us find it hard to imagine how God sees us.  We work so hard to present out best selves to the public we can forget that God sees everything about us, the private darkness as well as the public image.  And, when we do remember that, it can be a bit scary.

If we do find ourselves struggling with some anxiety about how God sees us, today’s Gospel passage can be something of a surprise for us.  Jesus tells us that we are a light for the world.  We need to put ourselves on a stand and let our light shine for all to see!  Who?  Me?!

Yet, that is what Jesus tells his disciples!  Whether we feel confident about our relationship with God or not, it seems that God has a great deal of confidence in us.  He tells us that we are to get up on the lamp stand and shine for all the world to see.  We are to be living witnesses of God’s love for the world.  Even though he knows that we’re not perfect, or rich, or powerful, or famous, or whatever else we imagine is important to do the job, Jesus still tells us that we have everything we need within us.  And that “everything” consists of God’s love for us!

So, today, let’s make an attempt to listen to Jesus and do what he asks.  Let your light shine so everyone can see what God’s love has done in you.

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Amos 8:4-7
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Luke 16:1-13

Reflection:

“Beloved: First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim 2: 1-4

I definitely need to take this scripture to heart about praying for our leaders. I have been remiss in this area, and I certainly don’t pray in thanksgiving for some of them. Apparently there is a benefit for doing so as this scripture tells us: “that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life”. It makes sense that if I prayed for them instead of complaining about them or judging them, I would have much more peace.

On a different front, God used this verse to help me come to peace about my own children and their salvation. When they were teenagers the possibility of one or more of them not making it to heaven gave me great cause for concern. As I prayed and sought the Lord about this, He put two verses together for me and now I don’t worry about it. He gave me the verse above that He wills for all to be saved; and then He reminded me that if we ask according to His will, He will hear and answer us. (1 John 5:14-15.)

I haven’t stopped praying for my kids, and now I pray for their kids too. I truly believe with all my heart that they will all make it to heaven one day. Praise God for His mercy and unconditional love that wishes all of his children to make it home one day. Let us continue to pray for our loved ones, for those in authority over us, and for everyone the Lord brings to mind!

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 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-49
Luke 8:4-15

Reflection

God’s word—God’s very being, God’s very life—is hidden away in each of us like a seed waiting to sprout, take root, and blossom into something truly good and beautiful. That is the message of today’s gospel, the well-known parable of the sower and the seed. Like any gospel, it’s good news because it says that the God who loves us and lives within us wants to come fully to life in each of us.

But, like any parable, there is much in this gospel story that makes us uneasy. Indeed, we may even protest that what Jesus narrates is horribly unfair because the seeds have no say in where they are sown; where they fall seems entirely at the whim of the rather careless sower. Some seeds are trampled before they even have a chance to grow. Some land on rocky ground; they struggle to live, but die from lack of moisture. Other seeds are flung among thorns where any promise of life is slowly choked out of them. Very few seeds find themselves in soil where they can grow and blossom and flourish as seeds are meant to do. We are prompted to ask: “Why didn’t the sower do a better job with the sowing?”

And yet, before we object too much, isn’t it true that we can see ourselves in each example of sowing? Don’t we sometimes “receive the word with joy” but “fall away in time of temptation”? And aren’t we sometimes like those that Jesus says hear God’s word but allow it to wither in them because of the “anxieties and riches and pleasures of life”? Perhaps the parable’s point is that just as we do not sow the seed, neither do we harvest it. We should, as Jesus teaches, embrace God’s word “with a generous and good heart,” doing all we can to nurture and care for it. But ultimately a fruitful harvest—God coming fully to life in us—is much more God’s work than our own.

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:

1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Luke 8:1-3

Reflection:

Luke introduces Mary Magdalene for the first time. She, who earlier in the Gospel had washed the feet of Jesus with her tears, and dried his feet with her hair. He cured her of several illnesses. Accompanying her is Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s financial steward. And Suzanna, of whom no more is known. What we do know is that they ministered to Jesus out of their resources, which implies that they had some wealth. We are told they “provided for” Jesus and the Twelve’s ministry. “Provided for” is the word used to serve. A rich theological concept. Mary Magdalene and Joanna will be mentioned as being at the foot of the cross and at the tomb. Some commentators think this passage is a prelude to the healing of Jairus’ daughter and the healing of the woman with hemorrhages.

Tucked away in this periscope are Luke’s favorite themes. One, the use of possessions and wealth, Two, the two groups who ministered with Jesus, the Twelve Disciples, and this group of women who out of their resources supported the ministry of Jesus and the Twelve. Three, the diversity of persons included in Jesus’ ministry. Luke tells us Jesus had the ability of taking the most diverse personalities and welding them together into a corps of learning and ministry.

This talent of Jesus is a hallmark for the Church even to today. Students of religion tell us the great contribution of the Church for the world today is that the closer and the more diverse the people we include in our embrace, the more like God we are. Robert Frost tells us that, “Fences make good neighbors!” The Gospel tells us that is not true. Fences separate us from one another. The fewer the fences we have in our lives, the easier it is for us to befriend one another.

Today, September 16, is the feast of St. Stephen of Hungary. He was a king dedicated to the poor. His feast day reminds us of a more recent Catholic leader, Vaclav Havel (1936-2011). He was a Czech President, poet, play write, mystic, etc. He composed a prayer which he called a “Credo.” It reads this way:  “I simply take the side of truth against any lie; I take the side of sense against non-sense, and of justice against injustice.” His achievements and admirers are diverse. Like Jesus, the diverse his followers, the more Christian he became.

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

Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 15:1-11
John 19:25-27 or Luke 2:33-35

Reflection:

No mother should have to experience what Mary did as she watched her Son die. Is the actuality worse than a mother can imagine? Think the pain of that mothers all over the world experience every day. Think of the military wives and mothers who go to Dover Air Force base to receive the flag draped remains of their husbands and sons. Think of the wives and mothers of those killed in drone attacks or air strikes who wonder why their husbands and sons do not come back.

But of course mothers do see their children die even in 2016. In the faces and eyes of mothers who watch their children slowly die, Mary’s sorrows continue.

Other gospel writers mention the presence of the women at Golgotha, but it is John who explicitly tells us that Mary and the beloved disciple stood by the cross. He reports Jesus’ words: “Woman, behold, your son” and to the disciple whom Jesus loved: “Behold, your mother.”

Mary, may I appreciate you as my mother. May I go to you with my doubts and fears. May I confidently trust in your loving care for me. Help me to have a compassionate heart as I see Jesus suffering in the crucified of today.

Be with me always and at the hour of my death. Amen.

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

Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

Scripture:

Numbers 21:4b-9
Philippians 2:6-11
John 3:13-17

Reflection:

With their patience worn out by the journey.

How often do we feel that way, with our patience worn out by life’s and faiths journey.. Where do we turn in such times?   Today’s feast reminds us to turn to the cross.  For God so loved the world He gave His only son.  There is no greater love. He didn’t come to take away our suffering or challenges, He came to share in them with us, to be fully with us in life’s difficult moments.  In our times of struggle and strife, in difficulty and challenge may we turn to the Lord on the cross and allow His unfathomable love and mercy to pour over us.  In the cross we find our hope.

Steve Walsh is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, and a good friend of the Passionist Community.