Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Ezekiel 2:2-5
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Mark 6:1-6a

Reflection:

My grace is sufficient for you,
for power is made perfect in weakness.
I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,
in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.
Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and constraints,
for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. -2 Coriinthians 12:8-10)

There are winners and losers in this world, and you, you are…

OATS (Openness, Awareness, Togetherness and Separateness) a prayer group I was part of, had been planning a CLAM digging (digging for CHRISTIAN LIVING AMONG MEN) camping weekend for months and we had finally made it up to the entrance of the campgrounds. We arrived late in the evening. The ranger at the park met us at the entrance of the grounds and asked us to be quiet in setting up our site. He explained there were groups already bedded down for the night and our site was on top of a hill which would broadcast any noise we made throughout the whole camp.

We drove up to our site, quietly set up our tents, built a fire and sat down for a bite to eat starting our time together with sharing a prayer of gratitude for our safe arrival and the many gifts we have been given. Finally, we had completed the first day of our time together. I was tired, so I didn’t stay up much longer, but chose to go to my tent and get some sleep. I fell asleep immediately upon hitting the ground. I woke up to a bunch of loud singing of folk songs I knew too well. That was our group. I came out of my tent, walked over to the campfire and at the top of my voice delivered a speech that would live on in infamy, or at least that this group of clamdiggers would never let me forget: “There are winners and there are losers in this world.” and with one sweep of my arm finished with: “And you are all losers.” Then I went back into my tent.

Today, fifty plus years later, I and several of the members on that weekend can still laugh about that disaster. Today, I realize, life is not about placing blame, a weakness I still grapple with fifty years later. If is as St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians, about learning or digging to hear what God is telling me in dealing with the many gifts, or fellow clamdiggers in my life. God, help me accept my weaknesses, my limitations, and realize that You are in charge and that all will be ok. Help me further realize The Good News that I (we) are loved and we can love one another, one day at a time.

Dan O’Donnell is a Passionist Partner and a longtime friend of the Passionists.  He lives in Chicago. 

Scripture:

Amos 9:11-15
Matthew 9:14-17

Reflection:

Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on war than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”

Dr. King was a prophet for our times, as Amos was a prophet for the people of the mid- to late 700s BCE. Both saw all of God’s people as equal. Both recognized that when we exploit the poor and most vulnerable among us in favor of the comfort and security of the wealthy, when we arm ourselves with weapons of death, the survival of humankind is threatened.

Today’s reading from the last chapter of the Book of Amos essentially states what happens when we listen and act on God’s plan to create a brand new way to live: “I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel; they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink wine, set out gardens and eat fruit . . .”

My friend Jane Sammon, long-time editor of the Catholic Worker and friend of Dorothy Day, once gave a retreat for the Catholic Workers in Louisville. Sitting under a big maple tree on an early June afternoon, she began her reflections by reading the entire Psalm 85, today’s psalm, which builds on the words of Amos. Psalm 85, a recipe for human interaction, has been lost in the trash bin of out-of-fashion wisdom.

It is high time we did a dumpster dive, found it, and applied it to our troubled planet.

The saber-rattling among nations, in our streets, and in our homes has reached frightening decibel levels. The Cold War is re-heating with threats of more nuclear arms testing, larger nuclear stockpiles, and direct threats of nuclear war. Guns saturate America, from small towns to wealthy suburbs to inner city pockets of deep poverty, resulting in a steady stream of killings day after day. More children now die from guns in our nation than from any other cause.

Thinking that arms…whether weapons of mass destruction, bombers, fighter jets, tanks, cannons, and battleships…or personal guns… will bring peace is a lie. They will not secure what we own. They will not keep us safe.

The “old wineskins” of vengeance, “national security,” “protecting the American way of life,” will not hold the new wine of Christ’s emphatic calls for justice, mercy, and love.

If we choose to follow Christ, we must surrender the mindless illusion that we will finally achieve peace when the “enemy” is contained or destroyed. The enemy is us. The conversion Christ demands requires we fully trust in the power of love to conquer evil.

This is the message of Martin Luther King, Jr. It is the message he learned by praying over the Book of Amos, Psalm 85, and the Gospels of Jesus Christ.

There is no other way to peace.

Jim Wayne is a board member of the Passionist Solidarity Network (PSN), and author of The Unfinished Man. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Amos 8:4-6, 9-12
Matthew 9:9-13

Reflection:

Yes, days are coming, says the Lord GOD,
when I will send famine upon the land:
Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water,
but for hearing the word of the LORD. -Amos 8:9

Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.  -Matthew 9:13

Today’s readings have some pointed words for those merchants who seek excessive profits. And in a very prophetic statement, Amos speaks of those sellers who “will diminish the containers for measuring.” Who of us has not gone into the store only to find our favorite box of cereal or laundry detergent packaged in a “new, space-saving container,” supposedly for our convenience, that offers us less product for the same (or greater!) price? The news seems filled with stories of profit being prioritized over people’s well-being. Amos goes on with some dire predictions of what the consequences will be. The greatest of these is the famine for “hearing the word of the Lord.” It’s as if when we forget to care for each other, we slowly slip away from our connection to God.

In the gospel, Jesus reminds us of the line from Hosea: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” This was directed at the Pharisees who were well known for being fastidious regarding their prayers, sacrifices, and performance of prescribed rituals. And yet, this is not God’s desire. While our prayer life is very important to our growth as Christians, it is there to support us in doing what God wants us to do: love one another, show mercy, welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked.

Finally, we have these hopeful words from Jesus. After the Pharisees call Him to task for including sinners in His ministry, He assures them that that’s why He is here. We are all included in God’s plan, both sinners and saints. All that is desired of us is that we turn away from that which keeps us from God, as Matthew did, and follow Jesus on the Way.

My prayer today is that I learn to recognize those things in myself that keep me from fully entering into communion with God, and that I make a concerted effort to put them behind me.

Talib Huff is a retired teacher and a member of the retreat team at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, California. You can contact him at [email protected].

Scripture:

Amos 7:10-17
Matthew 9:1-8

Reflection:

The Ongoing Call to Renewal and Healing

The ongoing human need for renewal, a change of heart, healing, freedom, and life… Today’s two Scripture readings challenge us to quality discipleship in the 21st Century—to follow the example of the ancient prophet Amos and our Lord and Savior Jesus, who want us all to be free from our “slavery,” our prejudices, and our illnesses of both mind and body.

The Old Testament prophet Amos was considered obnoxious by the people of his time because he preached the need of repentance, a change of heart.  His words angered many leaders of his day, and his background as a shepherd and a “dresser of sycamores” gave him little credibility for the words he bravely spoke openly.  Amos was living out his vocation, being called by God to speak the truth to his world gone awry.  And he did!

The portrait of Jesus in the Gospel is that of a healer of a paralyzed man who had friends who brought him to Jesus, carrying him on a mat.  Jesus cured the man because of their faith and went on to challenge those who questioned his authority and his background – they even accused him of blasphemy.  Beyond Jesus’ human appearance lays His divinity…Jesus IS God in the flesh!

Amos and certainly Jesus reveal the all-embracing love of God for humanity.  That love calls us to renewal and healing, to a faith-filled following of Jesus in all of life – both the “ups” and the “downs”.  Today’s celebration of July 4^th, America’s independence, encourages us to deeply reflect on our God-given gifts, to give thanks as we celebrate the blessings of life today and our hope for the future.  And, both Amos and Jesus challenge us to look deep into our hearts, to embrace the challenge of actively addressing the injustice and violence and poverty that is evident today, to respond as faithful citizens to our sisters and brothers who share our “common home” both down the street and across the globe. 

Let’s work together for renewal and healing, for a change of heart, for freedom and life!  God is at work in our midst!  God bless us all!

Fr. John Schork, C.P. serves as the Province Vocation Director and also as Local Superior of the Passionist Community of Holy Name in Houston, Texas.  

Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:19-22
John 20:24-29

Reflection:

Of late, I have become very interested in astrology, inspired by the wonderful images now provided to us by the Hubble space telescope and the James Webb space telescope. Both orbiting at different points from the Earth, and both viewing the universe along different wavelengths of the light spectrum.

The images are stunning and while they are expanding our knowledge they are also adding to our questions, and informing our theories.  Inevitably the field of astronomy opens itself up to the question of origins – e.g. Was there a time before the ‘big bang’ ? Or indeed were there earlier universes prior to the one we can see (given our range of knowledge lets us go back only 13.8 billion years).  Often the questions lead us back to The Question about our origin in God.

For some the size and dimensions of the universe and its laws of behaviour, do not overly discourage one from faith – regardless of discoveries, God can remain at the core of existence no matter who we shape it; and we remain at the focus of God’s love. For others the endless possibilities being discovered only lead to new theories and God does not feature among them (unless God’s existence can be proved!).

Scientific method which has underpinned western thought for some centuries is always in operation in our western world – observations lead to hypothesises, which lead to predictions, which require experimentation in order to be validated.

Thomas might well have felt at home in such a world! He may have even anticipated ‘scientific methodology’! He wants proof to underpin belief.

We can learn from him, rather than follow his example. We find ourselves called to faithfulness and discipleship in a time that cries out for proof before commitment. Often, we have no theory to support our beliefs, save for the fact that we are surrounded by soul friends who have had the same fundamental experiences and who find the same source of meaning, belonging and authenticity in life – Jesus.

Like Thomas – at the second appearance moment – when we are within and surrounded by the community of the faithful, we discover we do not need proofs to ‘see’ Jesus – we know at a deeper level. We become those who “have not seen and yet have believed.”

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is the Provincial Superior of Holy Spirit Province, Australia.

Scripture:

Amos 3:1-8, 4:11-12
Matthew 8:23-27

Reflection:

Lord, save us, for we are perishing. -Matthew 8:25

In today’s Gospel, we find Jesus and his disciples in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, after a long day with people. Jesus is tired, and he sleeps. Then a terrible storm threatens to overturn the boat. Having fished on this lake for years, the disciples were accustomed to storms. But this storm was different. The word used in the gospel is “seismic”, translated “earthquake” or cosmic disturbance.

In this unusually violent storm, swamped by waves, they feared for their lives. So, they cried out to Jesus for help: “Lord, save us, for we are perishing”. And Jesus responded and calmed the storm.

This passage from Matthew’s gospel recounts something that happened over 2,000 years ago. But it is still happening today.

People all over the world in very perilous circumstances are crying out: “Lord, save us, for we are perishing!”

–Some have had their lives overturned by a war that has destroyed their homes and communities.
–Others are being swamped by waves of hurricanes and floods brought on by climate change.
–Others are swamped by waves of grief over a sudden death of a loved one, or a child lost to addiction.

How does Jesus answer these desperate prayers?

Jesus heals and rebuilds in and through His people, the Body of Christ:

People who have lost their homes in Ukraine are helped by Catholic Relief Services and Caritas Spes Ukraine, who are collaborating with local contractors to repair their bombed-out communities.

People dislocated because of climate change are helped by Catholic Climate Covenant’s mobilizing people to lower their carbon footprints and advocacy for renewable energy, so that extreme weather events will lessen, and those most affected by climate change can stay in their homes.

And those who are grieving a loved one meet Mater Dolorosa, the Sorrowful Mother when they encounter the Passionist family. Mary our Mother understands the pain of loss and leads us into healing, drawing us into the Paschal Mystery of life, death, and new life.

When Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples knew better who He was, and their faith grew stronger. They went on to became part of Jesus’ mission of re-building and healing in the Body of Christ. We 21^st century disciples can do no less.

Patty Gillis is a retired Pastoral Minister. She serves on the Board of Directors at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan. Patty is currently a member of the Laudato Si’ Vision Fulfillment Team and the Passionist Solidarity Network.

Scripture:

Amos 2:6-10,13-16
Matthew 8:18-22

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel, we hear brief exchanges between Jesus and two potential disciples. The first person is a teacher of the law, who is probably accustomed to a comfortable lifestyle. He tells Jesus that he will follow him wherever he may go. Jesus responds clearly that He does not have a life of luxury and does not even know where He will be resting at the end of the day. The second person wants to follow Jesus but only after burying his father. Jesus’ response sounds harsh: let the dead bury their dead. Some scripture scholars explain that the father probably was not dead or dying, just that the son wanted to be home to claim his inheritance and then he would be a disciple. In other words, the son wanted to be a disciple on his terms.

These two stories remind us that discipleship is a commitment to model our lives after Jesus. Earlier in the Gospels, Peter and Andrew did not hesitate to drop their fishing nets and follow Jesus when they were called to be disciples. Jesus does not say we should count the costs of discipleship or tie up our loose ends. He simply says, “Follow me!” and challenges us to have faith in His call.

Becoming a follower is the first step to discipleship. We listen and watch Jesus, hearing his teachings and observing his actions. We are interested but not yet committed, which possibly describes the two men in today’s Gospel. When we commit to modeling ourselves after Jesus, practicing His teachings in our daily lives, striving to love God and our neighbor, and are willing to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus, we have become disciples.

Mike Owens is coordinator of the Passionist Alumni Association and a member of the Migration Commission of Holy Cross Province.  He lives in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Scripture:

Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24
2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15
Mark 5:21-43

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading for Sunday (Mark 5:21-43), we have two examples of great faith. The first person we encounter is Jairus, a synagogue official. Jairus comes to Jesus, pleading Him to lay hands on his daughter, who is “at the point of death.” As a synagogue official, I wonder if Jairus was instructed by many Pharisees and scribes to denounce, or at least discourage others from listening to Jesus. But here he is, desperate about his daughter, willing to trust that Jesus has the power to heal her.

Then, when Jesus takes the time to attend to the woman suffering from hemorrhages, Jairus still has faith, even though he might well have given into impatience and anger about the interruption, and given up. And when they arrive at Jairus’ home, and find out that his daughter has died, he might have given up then. But he still has faith that Jesus can do something for her.

Then there is the aforementioned woman. She has been suffering from hemorrhages for a long time. She has tried everything she can think of, but nothing has worked. She decides to go to Jesus. But unlike Jairus, she does not go directly to plead with Jesus. But she believes that he has the power to heal her, and she believes that even if she just touches His clothes, she will be healed.

We have two different people, with two different situations, with two different approaches. But their answer to their situations is the same: to go to Jesus.

Is Jesus the answer for us? Do we trust that Jesus has the power to heal? I think that some people may have the faith that Jesus can heal, but have a hard time believing that Jesus is willing to heal them. So, it’s not only having the faith in Jesus’ power, but having the faith in Jesus’ love, that is the issue. And when it seems that God is moving too slowly to answer our prayers, we may be tempted to think God has stopped loving us. But look at the Cross, and know God’s love in Jesus Christ for you and for me and for the whole world!

In our divided world, the greatest challenge may be to believe not only in God’s love for us, but in God’s love for “them.” When I was looking at the Scripture readings for Sunday, I could not let go of one of the verses in our first reading from Wisdom (1:13-15, 2:23-24): “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.” If God does not rejoice in the destruction of life, why do we find ourselves at times rejoicing in the destruction or downfall of those we consider “other;” those we consider “enemies? Maybe the more challenging question is to ask why it can be so easy for us to be complacent in the midst of destruction of life caused by poverty or oppression or the damage done to our environment? The ills afflicting our world can be overwhelming, but by the grace of God and empowered by God’s love, we can do what we can, where we are, to help heal a suffering world.

In our second reading from 2 Corinthians (8:7, 9, 13-15), St. Paul is asking the Christians in Corinth to help the Christians in Jerusalem: “As you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also. For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” Paul is not talking about material wealth, but that the Son of God became incarnate in Jesus Christ in order to save us. But in response to Jesus’ love, we are to respond in love to the needs of others.

May we not give in to despair, but like Jairus and the woman, give in to hope. May we not give in to rejoicing about the downfall of others, but give in to love. And may we continue to do “gracious acts” to help our hurting world.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.