Daily Scripture

Feast of St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

Scripture:

Ezekiel 43: 1-7a
Matthew 23: 1-12

Reflection:

Some people are just worth remembering.  They live their lives in such a way that their peers, both friends and foes, respect them.  As a result, they have a profound influence on the very best that emerges in their time.  We celebrate the feast of such a remarkable man today, St. Bernard of Clairvaux.  He lived in the 12^th century (born in 1090 and died in 1153), a time of great turmoil in the Church and in society.

He was born into one of the noble families in Burgundy, France.  He had a great future before him in the society of his day but chose instead to give his life to God.  Against his family’s wishes, he rejected the ambitious plans they had for him and, instead, followed his heart and at age 23 entered one of the most austere religious orders in the Church, the Cistercians.  He was already so influential among his peers, he brought a total of 30 young nobles (among whom were several of his brothers) with him into religious life.  Even at the early age of 23, he was a man of prayer and his prayer life deepened quickly under the guidance of the Abbot of Citeaux, St. Stephen Harding.  Though the Cistercians lived a very austere life, they were growing so rapidly at that time that just two years after he entered, he and fifteen other companions were sent out to found another abbey.  Bernard was elected the first abbot of this new abbey located in the Clair Valley.  He remained Abbot of Clairvaux until his death in 1153

As abbot, Bernard emphasized three important spiritual disciplines:  an austere and simple form of life, lectio divina and personal prayer, and finally, a deep personal devotion to Our Blessed Mother.  His Abbey flourished and Bernard founded three additional abbeys with the monks from Clairvaux.

But it wasn’t just within the confines of the Cistercians that Bernard exerted enormous influence.  He participated in several Church Councils, brought unity to the Papacy (persuaded most of the secular rulers to accept Innocent II over Anacletus II), and overcame several heresies that were rampant during his time.   In short, Bernard became one of the most significant religious figures of 12th century.

As you remember St. Bernard today, I hope you have a chance to read more about his life.  He is a true example of a faithful disciple of Jesus who uses all his considerable gifts to build up the Kingdom of God.  We thank God for this remarkable man and ask for the grace to live our lives in a way that builds the Kingdom of God.

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

Scripture:

Ezekiel 28:1-10
Matthew 19:23-30

Reflection:

Material things have a way of capturing the human heart and soul and calling them to live on the fringe of what is really of value.  Material things can be like fly-paper.  It is easy to get stuck in that dimension.  In our reading today from the prophet Ezekiel, we find the prince of Tyre gloating over his wisdom applied to schemes for getting rich.  He was so arrogant that he thought he was as intelligent as God.  Ezekiel says that God will pick up the fly-paper with the prince attached and toss it away.  Like so many people today, the prince was brain dead spiritually.  We have a new atheism emerging as these one dimensional and spiritually blind people cry out to be heard.

Our gospel from St. Matthew is right in line with the teaching of Ezekiel.  “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

I have known some rich people, usually “old money rich”, who are very spiritual Christians.  Their riches do not stick to them.  Their hearts are quite detached from material things.  They try to be good and generous stewards of what the Lord has brought their way.  I am sure the Lord has the “hundred fold” prepared for them and they will inherit eternal life.

If you have been blessed with an abundance of material things, then go to church often.  Every time you walk through the front door to enter the church building, leave your riches on a shelf and as you enter, reverently acknowledge your emptiness and need for Jesus.  When you get up to go and receive our Lord in Holy Communion, let this be your telling everyone there that this is who you really are; not a rich person but one who draws your life from Jesus Christ.  If you do this, when you are leaving the church and you pick up your goodies at the front door, you will find they are quite slippery.  You will not get stuck to them.

 

Fr. Blaise Czaja, C.P. gives parish missions and retreats.  He is a member of the Passionist Community in Detroit, Michigan.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Scripture:

Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab
1 Corinthians 15:20-27
Luke 1:39-56

Reflection:

This feast in honor of Mary’s Assumption into heaven has been celebrated in the eastern and western churches since the fifth century. There is no direct scriptural reference to Mary’s assumption. The Church presents us with images and allusions from the Book of Revelations. As the Ark of the Covenant carried the stone tablets of the Law, so Mary carried in her womb the Messiah and Son of God. As Israel was the glory of God and the Messiah was a descendant of David, so Mary, the women clothed with the sun, brought forth Jesus. As Israel was overrun and occupied by the Romans, so Mary’s child would face the huge dragon, the personification of evil. God would protect the child and bring him to his throne and the reign of God would triumph.

In the letter to the Corinthians Paul celebrates the resurrection of the Christ. He is the first fruit to be followed at his coming by all who belong to him. Implied is that Mary, his mother and closest follower, doesn’t have to wait. The glory of the Son is the glory of the Mother.

Luke recounts the visit of Mary to Elizabeth. Her heart is revealed in her prayer of praise and thanksgiving, the Magnificat. When we are asked, what is Mary’s prayer? we sometimes say it is the Hail Mary. Yet really that is our prayer to Mary. Her prayer is here in Luke’s gospel. It is her sense in the overwhelming greatness of God, her Savior, who has looked on his lowly handmaid. It is her recognition that God in his mercy has done great things for her. So Mary teaches us the prayer of praise and thanksgiving. Do we recognize that God has done great things for us?  Do we thank him each day from the bottom of our hearts?

 

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

 

 

Scripture:

Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
Hebrews 12:1-4
Luke 12:49-53

Reflection:

In our readings for this 20^th Sunday, during what I love to call these “dog days of August”, we hear a message that is surely bound to catch our attention!

In our first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, we witness a terrifying moment in the life of the great prophet, Jeremiah.  Remembering that he was the “reluctant” prophet at the time of his calling, perhaps the events we read about today give us some insight into why Jeremiah was not exactly eager to step up and follow the Lord’s invitation to challenge King Zedekiah and the princes of his kingdom!  Because of these greedy and fearful men Jeremiah is thrown into a deep and barren cistern, left to die.  Were it not for the intervention of a trusted court official this may well have been the end of our beloved prophet!  For us, we see how those who try to be good and faithful to what God calls them to, can, nevertheless, be mistreated by those who follow the ways of evil.  That is to say, just because you are trying to be virtuous and holy doesn’t mean anyone else is going to be very impressed, that’s for sure!

But the words that caught my attention most are from Paul, the Apostle, who writes in his letter to the Hebrews:  “Brothers and sisters, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.”  I find these words of Paul to be very intriguing because they are so true.  On the one hand in this very day and age we ourselves see the darkness and evil that surrounds us, yet we choose to run the race; we choose to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus himself.  At the same time, all of us who try to do what is right and who have the example of great witnesses ever before us, we are still only too aware of those who hate, those who cheat and lie and deceive. And how do we respond to the evil around us?  We keep choosing day by day, sometimes hour by hour, to run the good race and keep Jesus always before us as our true model and example.  And as we run the race and follow the Lord, we continually “rid ourselves of every burden and sin” that can hold us back.

These days of inspiring Olympic athletes who are amazing for their fortitude, perseverance, and dedication, as well as the baffling and even discouraging events of our current Presidential campaign, let’s not lose heart.  There are evil ones around us, to be sure.  They may even get more news time than all the virtuous souls who love others and serve others heroically.  But we dare not give up or lose heart.  Instead, as Paul urges us to do, we hold our heads high; we rejoice in the good that we do see even if we cross the finish line in fourth place and miss the gold, the silver, and the bronze.  And most of all, we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Lord, the only true “leader” and “perfecter.”

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

Scripture:

Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32
Matthew 19:13-15

Reflection:

I love these Gospel verses! Nestled between Jesus’ discussion on divorce, where he shares God’s design for marriage, and the parable of the rich young man. Some biblical commentaries suggest that Jesus is highlighting two things: the most vulnerable in society; and an invitation to us as adults to re-capture the essence of what it means to be a child to whom the Kingdom of heaven belongs. To strive to be “such as these” is our daily call and challenge.

In his letter to the Corinthians Paul writes, “…when I became a man, I put aside childish things” (1 Cor 13:11b) which seem at odds with Jesus’ words, yet, I believe both messages have relevance here. As we grow up we must hold on to our joy, trust, and optimism (humility) but put aside our childish pettiness (ego)….so simple J.

I was born into a large Irish family being the first of 8 children. My parents have 25 grandchildren and are expecting their 10^th great-grandchild next month. In my family children are always showered with love and affection—what a true gift my parents, Joe and Ailish, have modeled for us. As I reflected on the visual of Jesus “laying hands on them”, I see the human element of touch is what brings children—and all of us—to Jesus.

In the reading, we are told that “Children were brought to Jesus” no mention specifically of parents—so perhaps we as community bring the children. We together are the body of Christ called to reach out and share the human touch of Christ.  This was not a one-time event; this is our ongoing responsibility—bringing “our” children to Jesus, “….and do not prevent them.”

We would do well to consider if there are times when we might unknowingly put obstacles in their way. If they encounter unconditional love they are more likely to accept themselves as loved when they grow into adulthood. Sadly, the opposite is true, if not modelled for us we struggle to come to understand we are loved by God—unconditionally. It will be easier for our children to come to know a loving and merciful God—the one Ezekiel speaks about in the first reading—when I exhibit those traits.

This past year, children have been in the news in all manner of vulnerable situations. I am often moved to tears when I see the suffering brought to rest on those young shoulders and feel so helpless to do anything. I am struck by the enormity of life as it should NOT be for them. In light of their hardships I wonder how they will ever come to understand they are loved totally and completely by God.

The message of the cross is here too –pain and suffering exist—for now; and it exists even as we strive to help bring about the kingdom. Lord, we hope and trust in your merciful love, lay your hands on us all, give us a new heart and a new spirit, transform our mourning into joyful dancing. 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:

Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60 or 16:59-63
Matthew 19:3-12

Reflection:

At wedding liturgies, I often include the following true story: “Dame Sybil Thorndike and Sir Lew Casson gave 2 person plays throughout England in the first half of the 20th century.  They had a long and happy marriage.  Sir Lew died first.  Dame Sybil was being interviewed afterwards by one of the popular newsweeklies there.  after many questions, the final one was: “Dame Sybil, did you ever think of divorce?”  She took about a half-minute, then answered,: “Divorce never, murder often!” People in the congregation usually enjoy a hearty laugh!

In today’s gospel, some pharisees and Jesus are dead serious as they converse about the reality of marriage and the painful reality of divorce.  After their question, Jesus gives the great reality of marriage: “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”  Jesus acknowledges that some couples are not able to keep this commitment: “because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce….”   By God’s grace, some are called to marriage, some to priesthood and religious life and some to being dedicated single people, all for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.  These are all due to God’s initiative.  Our response, out of love, is to answer in the form of a covenant.  These covenants mirror the covenant God made with the chosen people (first reading from Ezekiel).  With grace, deep communication and hard work, these covenants are possible and can thrive.  Let us pray especially for all of our married friends, that their covenant of love may be deepened and strengthened!

Scripture:

Ezekiel 12:1-12
Matthew 18:2 –19:1

Reflection:

What does forgiveness look like?  Peter thought he knew.  Wishing to appear especially forgiving, asked Jesus if he should forgive up to seven times. Rabbinic teaching at the time taught that forgiving someone more than three times was unnecessary, citing Amos 1:3-13 where God forgave Israel’s enemies three times, then punished them. By offering forgiveness more than double that, Peter perhaps expected the Lord’s praise.  He must have been stunned when Jesus responded he must forgive 77 times, that is without limit.

In the parable, the king forgave the servant for a debt that would have taken him more than two hundred thousand years to earn; impossible to repay in a hundred lifetimes.  But when a fellow servant who owed that servant a much smaller debt begged for time to repay, that same servant offered no forgiveness.  Instead, he had him thrown in prison until the debt was paid.  No wonder the enraged king had that ungrateful servant tossed into prison and tortured until his own staggering debt was paid.  The parable concludes on a stark note of warning.

What does God’s forgiveness look like?  It looks like what happened to a friend, Bill, who had been away from the sacraments for more than 50 years.  Friends eventually persuaded him to return to the Church.  But Bill was nervous about making a good confession.  He purchased a large legal pad and began listing in page after page the many sins.

He took those pages into the confessional with him.  But he had forgotten that the confessional box is dark, except for a small light below the kneeler, which made it difficult to read his notes.  After telling the priest it had been more than 50 years since his last confession, Bill began.  Or so he tried.  He had to stoop down awkwardly to read a few sins, then get up to confess them to the priest.  He repeatedly stooped down, got up, stooped down and got up to confess.

Finally, the priest said “stop! That’s enough!”  Bill became terrified, believing he had made a wretched confession.  Then came the words from the priest, “welcome home!”  Bill wept tears of gratitude.

God’s forgiveness always far outstrips our own.  And yet, we are to forgive others because God has forgiven us immensely more—77 times more.

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

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 9:6-10
John 12:24-26

Reflection:

Jesus says, “Whoever loves their life will lose it.” I don’t think he thus intends that we should refuse to love the gifts of this marvelously created world, the people we are privileged to have in our circle, or the grand adventure contained in our brief span on this earth. We are here to savor and fully live the life we have been given, appreciating and using the gifts and graces God so abundantly pours out for us.

Perhaps Jesus’ saying reflects more on our human tendency to grasp and control this life, essentially “loving” it in the wrong way. We want to be the masters of our own destinies. We assert that we can do anything we set our minds to, and that if we just believe strongly enough and work hard, we will be healthy, wealthy, wise, and die with our full mental capacities intact, surrounded by our large, grateful, and loving family. We want to be in charge of what we love and have life unfold as we choose.

But what happens when it falls apart, either partially or completely? What happens when I get laid off, or a too-young family member dies, or my home is destroyed, or the business fails, or my child is born with disabilities, or I am confronted with a serious diagnosis? At some point, I will be smacked in the face with the reality that I am not in control at all. Everyone I love and everything I have could quite literally disappear in an instant. In addition, if I try too hard to control the people I love, forcing them into my vision for who they should be instead of discovering their vision and supporting that, they will ultimately turn away and I will lose them anyway. No matter what I do, I am not in control despite my best efforts to be.

And so everything is a gift. Some of what I have can be traced to hard work, determination, and talent. Yet much of what I have, achieve, and earn is more profoundly influenced by the circumstances of my birth and the opportunities I am given as a result. It is simply not true for a large portion of the population that they can do or be anything they want. Through no fault of their own, they lack the resources, opportunities, wealth, or mentoring to get there.

Situated as it is in a Gospel pericope focused on serving others, the context of the phrase describes how to reconcile these realities. According to Jesus, I have no right to grab what I have for myself, “loving” it too much to let go of it. Instead I need to be a cheerful giver, willing to share my time, talent, and treasure for the good of all. I need to keep ever before me that it is not “my” money, “my” success, or even “my” life. I need to be tremendously grateful, but I need to hold it close with my arms wide open, freely and generously sharing my many blessings.

This is an immense challenge. I gain a tremendous feeling of security from knowing I have a home, a bank account, good clothes, a loving husband, and a job. My life is good, and I want to keep it that way. In other words, I love my life, and I cling to that. The fact that I am only one phone call away from finding out that something or someone I love is gone only increases my fear and desire to cling.

So pray I must. I pray that God loosen my tight-fisted grasp, so I gain the grace and generosity of heart to give unconditionally and with abandon. I pray that I learn to place my security in divine love and grace rather than in my possessions and abilities. I pray that I consider the welfare of others with at least as much concern as I consider my own and act accordingly. I pray that I may die to all that is holding me back from discipleship and service.

It’s a tall order, and the words still get stuck in my throat as the fear and desire to cling rises up within. I want to be better, God. I want to let go. Help me get started.

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/.