Daily Scripture

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.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31a
Luke 7:11-17

Reflection:

The story of the widow of Nain, found only in Luke and is the first occurrence of restoration from the dead in this Gospel. According to tradition, Nain is located close to the Carmel mountain range and so we have a connection here with the prophet Elisha who performed a similar miracle in the same region in Shunem (2 Kings 4:8-37). Similarly, the story of the prophet Elijah, who raises the son of a widow in Zarephath (1 Kings17:8-24) may be also linked to the crowd’s reaction, “A great prophet has arisen” and “God has visited his people.” And, here is where Jesus’ actions and healing power is separated and distinguished from the great prophets. While both Elijah and Elisha had to physically touch, Jesus merely speaks his command while touching the coffin and the widow’s son immediately sat up. Further, in this story Jesus takes the initiative because he was moved with pity as we read over and over in Gospel stories. Compassion means to suffer with and Jesus clearly suffers with this woman.

Life for this widow was over; she would have no means of supporting herself in that culture.

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians frames our reflection; we are to understand and value the Body of Christ recognizing our Spirit—generated unity in diversity and care for each member. Jesus, through his cross rearranged our conventional order—the weakest or the least must be a priority within our body. His outpouring of compassion must be ours as well.

I remember when my grandmother, Kathleen, passed away. My heart was broken. She was my mentor and friend. I used to dream that she was brought back to life before our eyes and it was glorious. Then I would wake up to life without her and my grief returned. I would feel jealous of this widow in today’s Gospel story. In my naiveté as a teenager I would question God’s actions—why that widow? Wasn’t it unfair that the rest of us were not chosen—was God playing favorites? I’ve learned that this story is much deeper than my surface dwelling mighty deeds expectations and I wonder sometimes if this is the operational image we have of God. If my prayers are not answered in the way I expect then does God really love me? Is he even listening? Do I matter to him?

St. Paul places mighty deeds below apostles, prophets and teachers for a reason. He is inviting us to correct our lens so that we do not overvalue the spectacular and undervalue the more important gifts given by the one Spirit for the good of all. Jesus’ cross was real—it is real in mine and yours because we bear in our bodies his dying and rising—mystically, one cross for all. It isn’t about me being special apart from anyone else—together we are all special because we count as members in the one body.

Let’s strive to respond to this sacred gift of unity and divinity today.

May the Passion of Jesus Christ be Always in Our Hearts, Amen.

Jean Bowler is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, and a member of the Office of Mission Effectiveness Board of Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-10

Reflection:

Has an airline ever lost your luggage?  It’s happened to me.  It’s a terribly inconvenient experience, what with my clothing, toothpaste and toothbrush packed in that suitcase, not to mention other valuable items, all missing.  My business trip was disrupted.  I was distracted and anxious about my belongings.  I checked in with the airline’s lost and found department.  They promised to call the moment they found my luggage.  Being of little faith, I held out little hope.  But, find it they did!  I was never more relieved and joyful.

Those feelings and emotions come to mind when I reflect on the parables of this gospel.

In the first parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd represents God.  The shepherd astoundingly leaves an entire flock of sheep in order to search for a single lost one.  How impractical and reckless is that?  Yet, that is how much God, the shepherd, loves us.

But the second parable is even more astonishing.  Here, it is a woman – an ordinary, poor woman at that – who represents God.

Most of us refer to God almost exclusively as a male.  But Scripture makes no such exclusions.  Scripture also personifies Wisdom as the feminine character of God present to us.  So, then, who is this woman sweeping in dusty corners for the lost coin?  It is the Wisdom of God searching frantically for her lost currency.

And when the woman – this feminine God – finds the coin, she invites her friends and neighbors to celebrate with her.  In the Greek of Luke’s gospel, the words for friends and neighbors are both feminine.  After finding her coin, she calls together the women who are her friends and neighbors and says to them, “Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.”  She wants share her great joy with those close to her.  There is something maternal and warm in this image of the neighborhood women gathering to celebrate.

Together with the parable that evokes the biblical image of God as the loving shepherd, Jesus chose a story that resonates with the equally biblical image of God among us as Mother Wisdom.  Wisdom herself is doing the searching.  She is searching for something small but, to her, ultimately precious.  That coin is you and me.

This is a story about who God is, a God present in our midst, choosing to live in our home, lighting a lamp to pierce the darkness and searching, not for money, for but us – we who became invisible, lost in the dark corners of our lives.

Look closely.  Whether resembling a good shepherd or poor woman, it is God who searches until he finds us – the God of the lost and found.

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

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 10:14-22
Luke 6:43-49

Reflection:

Jesus tells us several times to build our foundations on solid rock so they can withstand whatever threatens them. He knew that without a strong foundation, we are fearful and anxious, searching for anyone or anything that will keep us “safe” and “protect” us from the bad things of this world, whether from the local economy or global terrorism. Without a strong foundation, we have no base from which to reach out to those whose social, racial, or ethnic characteristics are not ours. We cannot be confident in ourselves, passionate about mercy, open and vulnerable, loving and willing to engage. We become exclusive, drawn inward, anxious, and self-preserving. That is clearly and unequivocally against God’s will for us.

Yet when God built the foundations of the church, of Christ’s body on this earth, did God follow Jesus’ teachings? Not really. God’s “house” is built of human stones, of people like you and me. Individually, none of us is all that stable. We are imperfect, struggling, sinful, rebellious, suspicious, stubborn, ever-learning creatures who have to consciously work, pray, stretch and grow to become half the disciple that Jesus wants us to be. What was God thinking?

Yet somehow, when we humans join together with God, we are stronger than anything that threatens us. We have confidence that even when we screw things up royally, even when we sin, even when we head in the wrong direction, whether individually or collectively, God is always there to forgive, teach, admonish, and gently lead us on to the right path.

What Jesus does, then, is take this message that seems so simple on its face and turn it on its head. It’s the same thing he did with the Good Samaritan, when he turned a question about who my neighbor is into a lesson about how to BE a neighbor to all. In this case, he tells us to build our house on strong foundations, and yet he presents us with a stark and important choice: Are WE willing to be part of God’s foundation on earth? Are we building ourselves on prayer, reflection, and service in order to become solid supports for God’s reign? In other words, we are not to build for ourselves alone or for just the foundations of our private homes and individual lives. Instead, we are to become God’s foundation in service to the world. That is a much greater challenge indeed!

So as I look at the world today, as I consider the upcoming election, and as I decide how to act and react to local, national, and global events, I must look at the ways in which I am a crumbling or cracked part of the foundation. I need to examine my motives and my life, so I can fill in the cracks with faith, mercy, justice, and compassion for all. I need to be continually re-shaped so I can be an ever-stronger part of God’s house on earth. I hope you will, too, because none of us can do it alone. Although Jesus is the cornerstone, even he is not enough. God needs us. Let’s become worthy to be his building materials.

I end with the beautiful lyrics written by Rory Cooney in his song titled You Have Built Your House (WLP 2005) and I pray that we all may become ever-stronger foundations stones for God.

“You have built your house of living stones;
Nothing of our hands can hold you.
Who can build your house but you alone? Who can hold you?
Build us into a house of prayer, a house of peace, a house of care – inn and hospice, fortress, banquet hall.
Home for all!”

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/.

Feast of Saint Peter Claver

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22b-27
Luke 6:39-42

Reflection:

When is a Work of Art Finished?

The inaugural exhibition of the new Met Breuer museum this spring was entitled, “Unfinished Thoughts Left Visible”. It raises the question, ‘when is a work of art finished?’. If the artist captures a goal of a beautiful facial expression, is the work done then and there? Can the artist skip the rest? The exhibition showed some artists who didn’t worry about filling the whole canvas with paint, and displayed modern artists whose work expressed incompletion itself and unending change.

The letters of Paul make visible for us ‘unfinished thoughts’. We can understand Paul’s unfinished thoughts as those things that are always new and never exhausted in reaching our goal. Like an athlete there is always the next event to train for, and preaching the gospel requires the strength to live the words preached. Paul would probably comment that our work is not finished. In Our Lord’s time things will be brought to completion. Our work at best is unfinished. We strive to capture the vision that we have, to show Christ present and at work among us. Christ’s work is not finished either! I don’t think Paul talks about art work. In Athens he calls his hearers to note the altar to the ‘unknown god’. Paul must have explored the Greek temple and saw all the altars and the images they contained, but he doesn’t seem to care for their beauty or creativity. He wants his hearers to know about Jesus. Paul may not have been into art, but he would have appreciated the sweat and mess and confusion behind the work of the artists. There he might have found another image of our work as we follow and witness to Jesus?

Luke says guides must see, teachers communicate to see their students grow, and our own eyes need tending before we can help others see well. In Dante’s Divine Comedy one of the groups in purgatory have their eyes sown shut and are gathered on a cliff with an long drop. They have to help one another lest someone fall off the cliff, (good luck), they ask the communion of saints for help as would beggars at a church door. In life they were the envious who looked on others only with the desire for what they possessed. They are learning now to see others as God sees them, all of us together in the unity of mutual charity. Indeed, Luke suggests something unfinished that we all work on, seeing clearly. We ask God to guide, teach and make our vision clear.

Finally, the Church gives us today, on the feast of St Peter Claver, SJ, a finished portrait. This Jesuit priest labored for forty years at the port where slaves from West Africa were brought to be sold and forced into labor, some in mines. He became one with the slaves in many ways. He met them upon their arrival at the wharfs and entered the horrid conditions below deck, he cared for them with medicine and kindness while they were on display waiting to be sold, he visited later to tend the faith of those baptized, and on his visits he avoided the lodgings of the wealthy to share the quarters of the slaves. His tireless work often met with negative criticism from the establishment, but in the end, after four years of illness, unable to minister and forgotten, at his death he was accorded a state funeral. The moral witness he lived, although not avidly embraced was heard and acknowledged none the less. We honor St. Peter Claver, a finished work of art whose grace may inspire us.

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