Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

Reflection:

See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory. Isaiah 60:2

Sounds like the world today, doesn’t it? There is so much darkness in our world – wars, hunger, homelessness, sex-trafficking, divorce, suicide, child and elder abuse . . .  the list goes on and on. The news doesn’t help. Rather than show inspirational stories, they seem to dig up the worst to show us – in living color no less. I rarely watch the news anymore because it’s so depressing.

A song comes to mind that we used to sing with the high school youth group years ago: “Jesus is the answer for the world today.” It’s the profound, simple truth. Our world needs Jesus!!! We all need Jesus! As the wise men went to pay homage to the babe in Bethlehem, so we too can go to the stable and worship Him. At church we can kneel at the nativity scene and reflect with wonder how God became one of us so long ago to bring us near to Him. And when the Christmas decorations have been put away for the year, we can bow before Him in the stable of our hearts and acknowledge our great need of a Savior, of our need for truth and goodness and light. And as we bow low, He will lift us up.

He will give us the hope and courage we need to help change the darkness about us. We are His hands and feet today. We can share the good news. We can let the light shine through us to make a difference. As 2016 begins, let’s open our hearts once again to the Lord’s will for our lives. Let us say “Yes!” to spending time with Jesus each day so that He can direct our steps and we can all help usher in the Kingdom here and now.

 

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 John 2:22-28
John 1:19-28

Reflection:

I couldn’t help but notice that today’s Gospel begins with the statement: “This is the testimony of John.” It set me to thinking about the kind of testimony that John offers. The testimony is given in response to a challenge. Perhaps there is an intrinsic link that exists between a challenge, and the response to that challenge, which is a “testimony” in its most personal sense. In other words, a challenge elicits a testimony.

His first questioners challenge his identity; they run through a list of possible identities, but John denies each identity which they offer him. Finally, out of frustration, and because they have to answer to those who sent them, they say, “Who are you…what do you have to say for yourself.” His response is not a named identity, it is an action: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, Make straight the way of the Lord.”

The point is underscored, repeated, when the second group of questioners come to him and challenge him: “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, or Elijah or the Prophet?”

John responds by asserting what he does, “I baptize with water….” Then, pointing out that “there is one among you whom you do not recognize…,” he gives testimony to that other person by testifying to his own unworthiness, “…whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”

Testimony is not given in words, the testimony which is most honest, is the testimony of actions/deeds. We have come to the start of a new year, one which is laden with challenge. During this coming year the United States will give testimony of its care for human life by how it responds to natural tragedies, many of them weather-related; the citizens of this country will try to assess the testimony of candidates for political office, and the testimony of heart-broken families will challenge the policies and practices of law enforcement communities.

Since 1963, the official motto of the Los Angeles police department has been “to protect and to serve”; John the Baptist might have been comfortable answering his challengers with that phrase; are you?

Fr. Arthur Carrillo, C.P.  is the director of the Missions for Holy Cross Province.  He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

Scripture:

Numbers 6:22-27
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21

Reflection:

Today is my birthday…the first baby born in Philadelphia in 1940!  I treasure a photo of my father standing in a line with a group of other fathers of New Year’s babies that day—each of them holding a cigar and most of them (my father included) with slightly startled looks on their faces. If any of us take the time to be a bit philosophical on our birthday—especially as the numbers keep adding up! —surely one deep feeling is that of gratitude for simply being alive!

That sense of exuberant blessing rolls through all of the Scripture readings for this feast day, the octave of Christmas and a special day honoring Mary as the Mother of God.  In the first reading from Nehemiah 6:22-27 we have one of the Bible’s most popular blessings: “The Lord bless you and keep you!  The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!  The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!”  One can only say “amen” to that!  The psalm response has the same spirit and takes its cue from the beautiful Psalm 67— “May God bless us in his mercy.”  The whole psalm praises God for the blessings he has lavished on his people and prays: “May all the nations be glad and exult…may all the peoples praise you!”

In the second reading, the apostle Paul joins in the chorus, too, reminding us in a segment from his letter to the Galatians, that we are truly children of God and therefore able to cry out with the same affectionate term Jesus himself used in his prayer: “Abba, Father!”  Whenever I am in Israel and I hear little children calling to their father in Hebrew, “Abba!”—I think of this beautiful passage from Paul’s letter.  An astounding assertion of our Christian faith is that through the gift of the Spirit we are able to share in Jesus’ own intimate relationship with his Father.

The Gospel selection from Luke brings us back to the Christmas story whose octave we celebrate today.  We recall the visit of the shepherds to Bethlehem and their amazing discovery of Mary and her child.  Poor and often despised as shepherds were in those days (they crossed boundaries with their flocks and had a reputation of being thieves…), Luke’s Gospel makes them the first witnesses to Jesus’ birth (a care for the marginal that extends throughout Jesus’ ministry in this Gospel).  The dazzled shepherds return to their flocks, Luke notes, “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.”

All around us today, it seems, there are reports of violence and expressions of fear.  Yet, for people of faith, fear is definitely not the spirit of this sacred day, January 1, 2016.  This is a day to count our blessings and to give thanks: for the gift of life, for the gift of our faith, for our family and friends, for God’s unconditional and unquenchable love that comes to us through Jesus, the Son of Mary.

 

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:

1 John 2:18-21
John 1:1-18

Reflection:

And the Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us. John 1:14                         

 “Children, it is the final hour.” (1 John 2:18a)  The Church, in her wisdom, begins our scripture today with this stark reminder.  Here we are, sitting on the last moments of 2015.  Tomorrow is New Year’s Day.  Aren’t I supposed to make some resolutions?  

I suppose I’d begin by reflecting a bit on these 365 days – the good and the bad – the moments we savor, but also those moments we just don’t want to taste anymore.  The more I think, the more I’m reminded of all the insanity of these last months – murder, hate, disaster, and also the “Holiday Season” which is chock full of Black Friday fighting, and “I didn’t get what I want for Christmas,” and what seems like a sorrowful loathing and even anger at just anticipating family gatherings.

It really amazes and saddens me how cluttered our lives, as a society, have become with things like selfishness, consumerism, inconsiderate behavior, lack of understanding of other people, rejection, hate – the list goes on and on.  And no matter who we are, we’re all guilty of these things from time to time.  I try hard, but, friends, I can be forgetful of my calling and so often fail to live like the man God wants me to be.  There’s so much cluttering our hearts that we are just overflowing.  There’s no room for anything else.

Again, the Church, in her wisdom, reminds us also that Jesus wants to live with us… with-in us. In reading John’s words in today’s Gospel: And the Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us. John 1:14 To me, it’s like a slap in the face.  “Paul, do you have room?” Is there space in the inn of my heart?  Is Jesus able to make his dwelling in me?

Thinking about that, I realize I sure have a lot of cleaning to do.

OK, so, Happy almost New Year!  Here are my resolutions:

• Lose Weight: I’m going to drop the weight of hurt and hate, and live the lightness of Joy.
• Clean the House: I’m going to sweep the junk from my mind and soul and make room.
• Stop Smoking: I’m going to stop burning myself up, and allow time to rest and pray.
• Eat Healthier: I’m going to feed my spirit with the healthy words of life.
• Be A Better Person: I’m going to treat every person I meet like they are Jesus; with love and mercy.

How are you going to ready your house for God?

Dear God of new years, thank you for the gift of fresh beginnings.  Grant us the grace of a broom with which we can sweep away all that keeps us from recognizing and welcoming you into our hearts and lives.  And please, help us all never break our resolution to be closer to you.

Amen.

Paul Puccinelli is Director of Liturgy & Music at St. Rita Parish in Sierra Madre, CA, and a member of the Retreat-Team at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center.

Scripture:

1 John 2:12-17
Luke 2:36-40

Reflection:

In our gospel today we have the conclusion of the presentation of the baby Jesus in the temple.  Did you ever wonder why Jesus came among us as a baby?  Why didn’t he come upon this earth as a fifty-foot giant commanding attention or as a knight in shining armor?  Why didn’t he arrive flying in a Star Wars airship?  Why did he come as a little baby?

I think he came as a baby, first of all, to show us we have nothing to be afraid of.  When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, the angel said, “Do not be afraid.”  When the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, the angel said, “Do not be afraid.”  The angel told the shepherds, “Do not be afraid.”  So many times Jesus told his followers, “Do not be afraid.”

Jesus came to cast out fear: “Do not be afraid to talk to God.  Do not be afraid of those who can harm the body but cannot harm the soul.  Do not be afraid to speak the truth.  Do not be afraid to stand up for justice. Do not be afraid to follow me.  Do not be afraid to live.  I am Emmanuel.  I will always be with you.”

 Secondly, a baby wants to be held and loved.  Jesus came as a baby to tell us that he wants our love.

And thirdly, once you caress a little baby, it is natural to pass the baby around for others to hold.  Once we hold Jesus, he says, “Now give me away.  Give me to others so that I may bring them joy.  And when you give me away, you still have me.”

Like Anna let us give thanks to God and then speak of Jesus to all who are looking for redemption.  Do not be afraid to hold him, and then give him away.

 

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

Scripture:

John 2:3-11
Luke 2:22-35

Reflection:

Yesterday, I got a haircut.  I went to the same woman who has cut my hair for the last two years.  She is a young, Muslim, single mother of a ten year old.  She told me about a man who came into the shop last week and started screaming at her.  “No Muslim is going to give me a haircut.”  She was reduced to tears in the back of the shop while her co-workers tried to eject the man from the store.  This young woman has never uttered one unkind word in my presence.  Sad.

Two weeks ago, I attended a walk for “Everytown for Gun Safety” with my wife in honor of the children killed at Sandy Hook.  Across the narrow street from our starting point stood a man with an assault rifle and a handgun strapped to his waist.  In our crowd were women, men, children and a friendly golden retriever.  Sad.

Three weeks ago, I watched a news story about a young police officer killed in the line of duty.  He had a young family with two children and a wife who now has to raise them without him.  Sad.

Four weeks ago, I saw the trial of a police officer who had killed an unarmed black person in a major city in our country.  People were angry and hurled insults toward the police in a demonstration against the action.  The family of the man who was killed cried in their deep grief.  Sad.

Today I read the first reading from John in preparation to reflect on its message.

“Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.  Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.”

I have often heard and used the phrase, “Hate the sin, love the sinner”.  I now think “love” means more.  Love calls for an effort on my part to understand, to feel compassion and to find common ground with the “sinner”.  I must engage the other in dialogue, not put them down with clever one liners on Facebook or Twitter or use “Zingers” to attack them.  Love is active, not passive.  Love searches for the common ground which unites and does not divide.

I have a lot to think and pray about today.  Please join me.

Terry McDevitt, Ph.D. is a member of the Passionist Family in Louisville, Kentucky.

Feast of the Holy Innocents 

Scripture:

1 John 1:5-2:2
Matthew 2:13-18

Reflection:

Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents. This feast can highlight for us the difference between the Christian celebration of Christmas and the secular celebration that most of us indulge in to some extent.  Our secular Christmas is over, the paper has been torn from the gifts, most of the lovingly prepared food consumed, there is not a Christmas Carol to be heard in the stores or on the radio, the decorations have already begun to wither, in fact, where I live the day after Christmas, folks are already starting to take down their trees and the trees begin to line the streets for pick-up.

But in our churches, it is still Christmas. And as Christians, we remember that Christmas day is only one day in the Christmas season, and the Christmas story is only one chapter in the epic of salvation, and only one chapter in our liturgical year.  So at Christmas we sing Glory to God in the highest…we give praise and celebrate, our Savior has come, but we remember that the cross is also part of the Nativity.  The reason for the celebration is that we will be saved, and we remember that it is on the Cross that salvation happens.

The Church gives us a reminder with this Feast of the Holy Innocents that even in the midst of great rejoicing, there can be sorrow.  For us, it is still the Christmas season, but we mourn this day.  Most of us experience this in our lives.  We know that all that happens to us is part of our life journey and part of God’s plan.   Pain and sorrow walk with us just as do joy and hope.

These innocent baby boys that were slaughtered by Herod’s soldiers must indeed have a very special place in heaven.  They died like all martyrs for Christ, but they also died IN PLACE of Christ.  In Matthew, we read that Herod was so angry when he discovered that the Magi had deceived him that he had all the male babies killed.  And the people mourned.

The Feast of the Holy Innocents is part of the liturgical Christmas season.  It’s a good time to remember that for many today even in this season of rejoicing, there is pain and sorrow.  Let’s temper our rejoicing.  Let’s pray for our sisters and brothers who are suffering and let’s reach out where we can to alleviate that suffering.  For we are Christians and for us the message of Christmas is not just about Christmas day.

Mary Lou Butler is a long-time friend and partner in ministry to the Passionists in California.

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Scripture:

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Colossians 3:12-21
Luke 2:41-52

Reflection:

Some years ago, I remember speaking with a priest from another town. I was acknowledging my discomfort (especially, as a celibate) with preaching on this Feast of the Holy Family. Cryptically, he responded, “Ah, don’t sweat it, Jack; people don’t expect much… tell a story, sprinkle a little spiritual pixie dust around, and you’ll be fine!”  Not only is the statement remarkably condescending, it is bad theology!

Maybe that is why extended families and friends can be a challenge at Christmas. You know, the Aunt Gertrude who introduces herself as a “recovering Catholic”. “Don’t get me wrong, Father, I’m a spiritual woman, I’m just not into religion.” Or belligerent Uncle Clarence, hovering over the punch bowl and fancying himself as master of religion and science… marveling at the wonder of technology and how it has finally, definitively, disproved the existence of God.

First of all, today’s feast is not so much a day set aside to honor families… It’s more an extension of the Christmas mystery: INCARNATION, the mystery of God becoming human, and what that means for us.

It’s not so much about becoming spiritual beings nearly as much as about becoming simple human beings.

I had a homiletics professor at Notre Dame who, at one class, thundered: Don’t sanitize Scripture! His contention was that we’re so uncomfortable with the loose ends and messy humanness of Sacred Scripture, we over-spiritualize it, we try to scrub up God’s word and sanitize, and we over-pietize it.

That, to me, is the very core of today’s liturgy. Raising children is never easy, in any culture, at any time.

In today’s “Finding in the Temple “narrative, Mary and Joseph have an adolescent, and the kid is missing, the child is lost… and whether physically, emotionally, spiritually — when any good parent becomes aware of the loss of their child, it is an occasion of worry, fear, blame, guilt, & most especially: heartbreak.

The consolation is that we will find him in the Temple, that is, we find the child back in our experience of God …compassion and tenderness, mercy, forgiveness, hope. Holy Family is not about perfection, and certainly not about some scrubbed-up and dumbed-down pious event. It’s about the mystery of Incarnation, a continuation of the Christmas mystery crashing into our lives, the coming together of human and divine, material and spiritual. Emmanuel. God with us.

 

Fr. Jack Conley, C.P. is the director of the Office of Mission Effectiveness.  He is a member of the Passionist formation community at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.