Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Luke 1:57-66

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading, as we near the holy day of Christmas, we hear about the birth of John the Baptist. Just as it is with the birth of Jesus, the birth of John the Baptist was associated with remarkable events: The appearance of the angel Gabriel to Zechariah, who was made mute after having doubts that he and Elizabeth could have a child; the fact that Elizabeth had conceived in her old age, even though she was considered barren; the fact that when John was to be named, when Zechariah affirmed Elizabeth’s statement that he was to be named John, at that moment he was able to speak and gave praises to God. All these things told the people who knew Zechariah and Elizabeth that something special was planned for this baby: “What, then, will this child be?”

What spoke to me was the commotion around naming the baby John. The other people who were at the circumcision were ready to name him Zechariah after his father, but Elizabeth told them that he would be named John. They pointed out to her that there was no relative with that name. That’s when they asked Zechariah about it, and since he couldn’t speak, he wrote on a tablet, “John is his name.”

The name “John” was a break from the past, and this might have been an indication of what John would be called to do. John was a continuation of all the prophets who foretold that the Messiah would come. But at the same time, he was the one who was preparing the people for the Messiah’s actual coming.

Like John, we have been called by name. Like John, we are called to point people towards Jesus. There might not have been extraordinary events surrounding our birth, but what Luke wrote about John is true for us: “For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.” Surely the hand of the Lord is with us. May we accept our call and herald the reality of God’s love in Jesus Christ, on the holy day of Christmas and throughout our lives.

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

Scripture:

1 Samuel 1:24-28
Luke 1:46-56

Reflection:

Mary, my mother; Your beautiful song of praise, “The Magnificat,” brings so many memories rushing in…   

As kindergarteners at St. Boniface in the mid-1950s, we were taught 1) that we were made to know, love and serve God, 2) how to fold our hands in prayer, and 3) what Sister Jean called, “the Mary songs”. We learned the words and sang along with the rest of the school at mass, “Ave, Ave, Ave Ma-RI-a….”   As the weather turned colder and December approached, Sister would gather us around the creche and there you always were, kneeling in front of St Joseph, staring at the empty manger, waiting for Jesus to arrive.

The first of May marked “Mary’s Month” and we would file out to the parish grotto to crown your statue with a woven ring of roses. “Tis the month of our mother:  Then, “Bring flowers of the fairest. Bring flowers of the rarest….”    

Freshman year at the Prep, the first song we learned in our Seminary Harmony Choir was, “Lo How a Rose ‘ere blooming, the Rose I have in mind.  With Mary, we behold it, the virgin Mother kind…  She bore to men a Savior when half-spent was the night.” 

I am an old man now, but I still turn to you, Blessed Mary, when I am troubled or weary of the world. I pray for your love and motherly care, and you always comfort me. Father Randal was fond of reminding us that as you stood at the foot of the Cross, you became the world’s first Passionist. Mother Mary, thank you for teaching me to know, love and serve your son. Jesus and Mary be praised, forever and ever.

Ray Alonzo is the father of three children, grandfather of two, and husband to Jan for over 45 years. He is a USN Vietnam Veteran, and a 1969 graduate of Mother of Good Counsel Passionist Prep Seminary. Ray currently serves on the Passionist Alumni Council.

Scripture:

Song of Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18a,
Luke 1:39-45

Reflection:

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country of Judah where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. -Luke 1:39

Having learned from the angel that she will give birth to the Son of God, Mary set out to visit her pregnant relative, Elizabeth. Elizabeth greets Mary with honor even though Mary is an unmarried pregnant woman and could be socially ostracized, socially judged and shamed. Ellizabeth has experienced her own shame and exclusion. In the Hebrew culture of those times, a woman’s purpose in life was to bear children. Elizabeth was an elderly infertile wife that endured a lifetime of shame and exclusion. Elizabeth, being miraculously pregnant rejoices. “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.” (Luke 1:25) (Adapted from the Working preacher,  Judith Jones, Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C, December 20, 2015, p.2)

Both Mary and Elizabeth bestowed honor and blessings upon each other. They shower each other with inclusive love and acceptance. They both acknowledge God’s love at work even though they are shamed by their society. This Gospel reading should cause us to stop and ponder during this Advent season. Daily news broadcasts show people hating Jews, Palestinians and others causing harm and death. Look around, is God working through people that society exclude and treat as shameful? What is God doing through the vulnerable and forsaken in our society? How will we respond to poor people on the street corner begging for money to buy food?

May we, like Elizabeth and Mary, honor and bless each other and all those that have been excluded from society and shamed. May we, like Elizabeth and Mary welcome the needy who show up on our doorstep. May we, like them become a community that cares, and loves and supports each other as we wait and hope for Jesus. (Adapted from the Working Preacher, Judith Jones, Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C, December 20, 2015, p.2)

Carl Middleton is a theologian/ethicist and a member of the Passionist Family.

Scripture:

Isaiah 7:10-14
Luke 1: 26-38

Reflection:

In five days, we will celebrate the feast of Christmas.  Hovering over the Scripture readings for today is the question, “How prepared are you?”  This question is not raised in some kind of judgmental way, implying that you’re not prepared.  Rather, it is raised as an invitation to open your heart even more to the saving coming of the Son of God.

In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear again the prophecy that God will save his people.  The sign that the fulfillment of this prophecy is at hand will be a virgin who conceives and bears a son and names him Emmanuel.

In the Gospel we recall that astounding moment.  The Angel Gabriel invites Mary, a virgin, to be the Mother of the Son of God, and she accepts.  The promise and the fulfillment.  God is faithful.  Are we ready?

The story of the Annunciation illustrates for us the attitude of heart we need to be fully prepared.  Mary is puzzled by the words of the Angel for she can’t imagine how these things could come about.  Though puzzled and questioning, she nonetheless accepts whatever God is asking of her.  In her heart she so totally trusts in God that she is able to say an unequivocal “yes” to whatever God wants.  And, at the moment of her “yes” the Son of God is conceived within her!

So emerges the question for us, “How prepared are we?”  Are we ready to open our hearts to accept whatever God is asking of us?  Can we move beyond our fears and insecurities to unequivocally trust in God’s will for us?  The prayer that emerges from these readings and the feast of Christmas could well be, “Come, Lord Jesus into my heart.  Help me to trust in you and your loving presence in my life.”

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

Scripture:

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a
Luke 1:5-25

Reflection:

In God’s Time

We all have hopes and dreams of what our life should be like or how we would like things in life to turn out. Much like the parents of Samson and John the Baptist, many of us have this desire to bring new life. We have this desire to be blessed with the gift of at least one child.

As parents one finds themselves wanting more for their children. From a secular standpoint “the more” to some is to seek to fulfill the desire of fake riches of success and freedom to do whatever one desires or feels like. From a godly perspective “the more” is to seek to fulfill the desire of God the Father, as His son or daughter and true freedom to do His will. For some that have been made aware of such a gift to our children, we too consecrate them to the Lord, to be set apart for the service of God.

From the beginning, Samson and John the Baptist’s parents weren’t even sure if they would even have children yet in God’s time they did. As with their story we hear of the normal everyday events and yet as their life journey unfolds, we see how it was all directed to God and His timing in answering their prayers.

So do we want this for ourselves? For our loved ones? After all, aren’t we all a gift from God created for His service.

Lori Kananen, LMC, is a lay Pastoral Associate at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 23:5-8
Matthew 1:18-25

Reflection:

“…Behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream…”

A familiar story…an angel…and a dream…the story is so familiar (especially at this time of year!) that sometimes we don’t listen, or hear, or engage.  Like all of Scripture, the story always has something to say – in particular, something to say to us – to me!  what does an angel and a dream have to say to me?  Mary and Joseph, both ‘essential’ characters in God’s unfolding plan, encountered an angel and trusted a dream.  And God worked a miracle.

As children, we all learned about ‘guardian angels’ – we each had one, sent from  God to protect us – remember the images you had as a child trying to figure that out, understand it, embrace it even – some of us named them, maybe even talked with them.  Over time that image/concept was tucked away or slipped away and was forgotten.

Mary’s greeting surprised her and scared her a bit Hail favored one, the Lord is with you,  and she questioned, she pondered and she stepped into it.  Joseph did not want to hurt Mary, he loved her, he was hurt and afraid, in his dream he heard Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid, take Mary into your home – the greeting caught his attention because is deeply touched his experience – he too stepped into it…

Maybe the message for me (us) is to remember we all have an angel and a dream.  We all are told Hail favored one, the Lord is with you…do not be afraid…trust the message of your heart – you always have what you need, God always has your back!  Maybe the invitation for us is to ponder the ‘angels’ in our lives – those who catch us off guard with a powerful truth that can turn our world upside down!  And trust those dreams, where deep in our center, we know whose we are and what we need to do, but, or even if everyone else says otherwise.

We hear this story now, in the home stretch of Advent – each of us, essential characters in God’s unfolding plan – will we notice the angel and trust the dream – and be surprised by the wondrous miracle about to be worked by God.

Faith Offman is the Associate Director of Ministry at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

Reflection:

With Christmas only eight days away, it is not surprising that each of today’s readings turns our attention to the birth that brought unconquerable hope to the world. In the gospel we hear the stirring proclamation of John the Baptist: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord.’” Those words instruct us to turn our attention to the “one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” Indeed, the gospel says that the whole purpose of John the Baptist’s ministry was “to testify to the light,” Christ, God’s anointed one who is about to enter the world.

The second reading from 1 Thessalonians could be viewed as a succinct and very practical guide for how to prepare for the coming of Christ. We are to “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances, give thanks” and, perhaps most importantly, “Refrain from every kind of evil.” If we do these things, we will be fully ready to receive the gift of abundant life and unsurpassable love with which God wants to bless us at Christmas.

Finally, the first reading from Isaiah, the powerful Messianic prophecy, tells us exactly what Jesus’ mission in the world will be. He comes not to bring glory to himself or to exalt himself over others; rather, in Jesus, God enters our world “to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners.” Jesus comes to bring a harvest of justice and peace, particularly for those who are most often denied them. If this is so, perhaps the best way we can ready ourselves for the coming of Christ is to do now for others the very things that Jesus comes to do—and continues to do—for us.

Paul J. Wadell is Professor Emeritus of Theology and Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the Passionist Family of Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11
Matthew 17:9a, 10-13

Reflection:

The feats of the prophet Elijah are well-documented and well-known. He called down the fire of God and to mock the Baal priests and their sacrifice. Elijah was taken up to the heavens by chariots of fire. The reins were passed to Elisha, a rather fiery transition of power.

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, the angel Gabriel tells Zechariah about who his son will be. “John will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

John is foreseen to come with the spirit and the power of Elijah. But he is not Elijah. He is the last of the prophets, tasked to “prepare the way of the Lord and make straight his paths.” Indeed, he will point to the Messiah.

The people in Jesus’ time were perplexed with the figures of John the Baptist and Jesus. How often we are too! What is Jesus waiting for?

We approach Gaudete Sunday and the lighting of the rose candle. The Church transitions from hopeful anticipation of the second coming to the joy of Christ’s first coming. Together, we wait to welcome the new Christ child once again in our lives.

Fr. Phillip Donlan, CP, is the Associate Director of Ministry at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, California.