Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Ezekiel 2:8-3:4
Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Reflection:

The stark meditation from Jesus, for today, is: "unless you change and become like children you will never enter the kingdom of God." And so, what could this "childlike" existence look like, and in which transition do you find yourself?" Maybe it is someone else going through changes. No matter, we are all involved, for better or for worse, in change.

The Word speaks to that today. The venerable, late, Fr. Carroll Stuhmueller, C.P. had a great interpretation of Jesus’ "lost sheep" commentary as it relates to leadership through changes:

In any experience of change there are two levels of leadership that are possible, an external and internal expression.

The external form of leadership has to do with routine matters, external needs and projects. This form of leadership addresses the matters of the "99 sheep," the routine stuff that causes change. Things wear out, more efficient ways of running a household are discovered, new programs replace the old, and such. The second level of leadership has to do with an internal, Spirit-lead form of decision making which is intuitive, courageous and heroic in its expression of God’s will. It may be the realization that the signs of the time are demanding a different witness from religious communities in order to "WAKE PEOPLE UP" in the words of our Superior General, V. Rev. Joachim Rego, C.P. It may be that a marriage is in crisis because the usual, habitual, sensual supports are no longer sustainable for a happy married life. There is a radical change in one’s physical well-being. Whatever this kind of change demands, if we are alert to the inspiration, the "one percent of ourselves," (that lost sheep), or if you will, "the child" within us, this graced-intuition will come to have a bearing upon our decision making and the changes we are experiencing.

The habitual consumption of the Word feeds the child, or the lost sheep, if you will, within us. The Word of God spoken through Ezekiel the prophet tells us not to be rebellious, and to open our mouths and eat what is given to us. The food happens to be a scroll of scripture. Frequently, at marriage ceremonies, Quinceañeras, and Baptisms, a Bible is presented to the recipient of the blessing or sacrament. Usually I take the Bible and place it in my mouth and bite on it. Much to the surprise of the gathered congregation, I ask the recipients of the Word to eat it, consume it, daily. "Mortal, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it. Then I ate it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey." The "sweetness" is the actions that bring hope, relief, comfort, direction, and gratitude to those for whom the action is directed.

The saint whom we remember today exemplifies the use of that 1% of "grit, or grace" that is within us. Jane Frances (Fremiot) Chantal was born 442 years ago in France. She and her husband had 6 children, two of whom died in infancy. When she was 29, her husband died. After a period of severe depression she found that 1%, that spiritual force, amidst the suffering. With her spiritual advisor, Francis de Sales, she founded the Congregation of the Visitation for women who wished to live a religious life but could not endure the austerity of the existing orders. They were committed to working with the sick and the poor. She died at the age of 69, having founded 85 monasteries. Let us continue to consume the Word and nourish that 1% of powerful grace.

              

Fr. Alex Steinmiller, C.P. is president of Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School, Birmingham, Alabama.

Scripture:

Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-22
Matthew 18:15-20

Reflection:

In today’s reading from Ezekiel, the word, "abominations" stands out. It seems to be a word used sparingly in scripture perhaps in order to highlight the magnitude of the crime against God’s temple- where His presence dwells. The author‘s prophetic voice tells the reader that God has heard them, that His justice will rain down.

Today, many of us might wish for God’s justice to rain down. With its echoes of Passover, Ezekiel’s vision hits home a little too closely in light of the places where…."they have filled the land with violence" (Ez 8:17b). "They" might be any group or individual causing persecution. Among other tragedies, the destruction of flight 17 feels very much like an abomination when souls are treated with little dignity; we truly moan and groan for our brothers and sisters-where God’s presence dwells.

 Yet, there in the midst of this chaotic scene the glory of God rises up. The author assures the exiles that God’s presence is with them; it is not contained only in the temple but where they are-where we are. God hears our cries, He is with us. Therefore, we will not look to the future with anxiety; we will walk in trust and hope.

The Gospel calls us to ponder how life might be if we took those first steps towards right relationships. Could this be where the seeds of world peace are contained? Might this be the antidote to eradicating violence? Gathered together, we ask for God’s grace to have the humility to listen to our brother if we have sinned against them …….and let world peace begin with me.

 

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

 

Scripture:

Hebrews 1:12-2:4
Matthew 17:14-20

 

 

 

Reflection:

A Woman of Great Faith – Edith Stein

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein, died in Auschwitz concentration camp at the age of 51. She was sent there along with her sister and a number of priests and religious who were Jewish converts, as punishment for the opposition to the German war effort voiced in all the churches one Sunday by the Dutch Bishops.

Edith was a brilliant philosopher. She was chosen by Edmund Husserl to be an assistant in his philosophical work. Among her circle of friends was a Christian couple whose dealing with death had a great influence upon her. She would be baptized and know great pain in her mother’s feelings that she had lost her daughter. Edith did not cut herself off from her family, but stayed close them and her mother. As WWII approached she lost her university teaching position in part because she was a woman and in part because she was Jewish. She became a Carmelite sister in 1934 at the community in Cologne, moving to Holland for greater safety as the war continued.

Today we may be sharing the feelings that Teresa Benedicta of the Cross felt as we see war and violence engulf many peoples. Not since WWII has there been so large a number of persons displaced from their homes by war. The reading of Habakkuk asks, ‘How Long, O Lord? I cry for help and you do not listen! I cry out violence, but you do not intervene.’ Habakkuk asks why God doesn’t do something against those who are wicked. He offers us this answer, ‘The vision has its time, presses to fulfillment, will not disappoint; wait for it, it will surely come.’

So too, does the man who approaches Jesus with his sick son. He has a vision and in the few minutes that may have seemed like an eternity he waited, his faith pressed forward, and he was not disappointed.

The faith of Edith Stein was tested on two fronts. She loved her family and was especially close to her mother. She loved her Jewishness and in her prayer grew in appreciation of God’s covenant with Israel and their being a Chosen People. When she was arrested with her sister she said that they would go to suffer for her people. With a love shared with the gospel writer of Matthew and with St. Paul, the ache of wanting Israel to know what she had found in Jesus, she must also have prayed the words of Habakkuk with faith.

The final work of Edith written just before she was arrested was ‘The Science of the Cross’. In the face injustice and evil she stood as a leader of her small, suffering flock being transported by train to the East. A witness of great faith to them as the Cross of unjust suffering and death approached.

Today Jesus encourages his disciples: even a little faith, the mustard seed sized faith, will do much. Great faith and intelligence, compassion and strength, describe the mystic Edith Stein. Let us humbly make ours the request and the questions in today’s gospel.

May the intercession of St. Teresa of the Cross and her love for Jesus help us to face the mystery of the Cross with faith?

 

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

 

Scripture:

Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7
Matthew 16:2428

Reflection:

Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me…

Have you ever had something happen to you that really took the wind out of your sails?   Sometimes we find ourselves facing situations that are simply and completely devastating.  When you experience the death of a loved one, a terminal health diagnosis, rejection by someone you love or some other life changing challenge, there is a temptation to let it take over your whole being. You go to bed thinking about it and it’s your first thought when you wake up.  You either don’t eat or you overeat.  When you see other people, you wonder if they know what a hard time you are having.   If you find the will to pray, your prayer is "O God, why me?"  I am sure God accepts this – after all, he knows and loves us just as we are.  But in today’s Gospel, Jesus asks us to do something different with our problems.  Jesus says to us, "Take up your cross and follow me."  I think Jesus is saying, take up your pain, your problems, your suffering.  Don’t stop and dwell on it, put your focus back where it belongs because if your focus is too much on your cross, it can’t be on Jesus. 

Jesus wants us to follow him with ALL our problems and ALL our joys.  He wants us to follow him with all the things that our lives encompass.  We are human; we will be sad and overwhelmed by some of things that happen to us.  But we need to accept the crosses that come to us in life.  We also need to accept the joys.  It’s important to remember that all of this is part of life-sickness and death, and births and new life, good times and bad, happiness and sadness – take these all up and follow Jesus.  Think of Wedding vows; the couple promises to stay together in good times and bad, sickness and health – in other words, throughout life.  This is what Jesus wants from us – promise him you will continue on the journey no matter what life holds – that your life will be the very journey of following Him.    

 

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

 

Feast of the Transfiguration

Scripture:

Daniel 7:9-10,13-14
2 Peter: 1: 16-19
Matthew 17: 1-9

Reflection:

In the first reading we are told about Daniel’s vision of God’s glory. In the second reading Peter recalls the vision that he, James and John had of the majesty of Jesus. The Gospel reading presents to us the transfiguration, which Peter mentioned in his Second Letter

A football coach encourages the players to envision themselves as winners. A CEO will talk about a vision of the company becoming a leading international manufacturer. John the Apostle had visions which became the basis for his Book of Revelations. St. Francis had a vision of rebuilding the Church. St. Theresa of Avila had visions and spent years trying to understand their deeper meaning. St. Paul of the Cross had visions: "After these visions of the tunic and the sign, God gave me a stronger, compelling desire to gather companions and with the approval of holy Mother Church to found a Congregation…" (Letter to his spiritual director in 1720).

What can be said about religious visions? The Transfiguration gives us some guidance. The vision comes from God and not from ourselves. Jesus invited the three apostles up the mountain. God initiated the vision, not the apostles. Peter wanted to stay in this awesome experience, but he was disregarded and the apostles were steered down the hill with the instruction: "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

A true religious vision will take us beyond ourselves. We enter the bigger picture of life. I am not the center of life; I am not the most important person in the universe. A hallucination is a projection from one’s unconscious mind into the outside world, e.g., delirium tremens experienced by someone withdrawing from alcohol or as a result of a psychotic breakdown. Hallucinations keep us in our own world, a small and self-centered world.

A true religious vision will help make us better prepared to work in the "real" material world. In contrast, the schizophrenic becomes isolated from society and much controlled by hallucinations. Theresa felt no pride, no greatness because of visions. To her, her visions were not the point of her spirituality. Her visions lead her to be of service to God for others.

Notice that Jesus instructed the apostles to remain quiet about the vision, at least until after the resurrection. Visions need time to mature. It is good to be wary when someone claims to have received a vision from God. Visions must be tested, which takes time. Paul of the Cross instructed Agnes Grazi: "I am much afraid that in your frequent imaginary visions you are being tricked by the devil." In fact he said that it was better to remain quiet in prayer and not to be looking for visions. A religious vision must be tested by scripture and spiritual direction. Paul of the Cross revealed his visions to a bishop or a spiritual director. "In this I defer to the judgment of my superiors, submitting to whatever they decide under the grace of the Holy Spirit."

When you feel "the morning star rise in your hearts" don’t be afraid of it. If it is of God, it will do the work God intends. God may communicate through visions even today, but we need to check carefully any such guidance we receive with the Word of God and a qualified spiritual director.

 

Fr. Don Webber, C.P., is Provincial Superior of Holy Cross Province and resides in Chicago.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Matthew 16:13-23

Reflection:

Growing up in a large family is not easy, especially if you are one of the younger ones. Oh sure, it’s fine when you are an infant. You are the center of attention-all you have to do is cry and someone changes your diaper, feeds you or solves your problem. That worked for me for about a year or two. I’m not exactly sure when I started hearing statements like: "Stop crying, you’re not a baby anymore; or you’re old enough to do that for yourself." But eventually I heard them.

Of course that didn’t stop me from continuing to think I was the center of the universe, at least my universe. This thinking took awhile to correct, about thirty-eight years to be exact. Oh, God didn’t appear to me in a burning bush or anything like that, but I got the message just the same: "There is a god, and he’s not me." That rude awakening left me lost and finally willing to at first question and then eventually to seek a real god.

That searching which continues to this day thirty-one years later, gives me much hope especially when I read the promise God makes through Jeremiah in today’s scripture passage: "I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (31:33)  Yes, I include me in the "them" and "their" and "my people". You of course, can do the same.

 

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

 

Scripture:

Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22
Matthew 14:22-36

Reflection:

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

 

I’m sure you’ve all seen that bumper sticker that says, "Next time you think you’re perfect, try walking on water!" This has always sounded a little condescending to me, especially in light of today’s Gospel reading.

The scene is a dramatic one. There is a fierce storm upon the sea. The time is somewhere between 3 AM and 6 AM. The disciples already seem agitated, because when they saw Jesus, "they were terrified." They mistake him for a spirit or a phantom. But Jesus reassures them by saying, "It is I. Do not be afraid." Now Peter, who is known even to casual readers of the Gospels as far from perfect, says, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." And what does Jesus do? He answers with a single word: "Come." So Peter gets out of the boat and begins to walk on water.

But of course, we know the ending of the story. Peter begins to sink and calls out, "Lord, save me!" Then Jesus says, "Oh you of little faith!" Now, I’ve always heard those words spoken with a booming voice of condemnation in my head. But, if we go back to the Greek, the word used here is "oligopistos." This is a combination of two Greek words that literally means "little-faith." It’s more of a chiding nickname than a condemnation. Who exactly is Jesus saying Peter lacks faith in?

Peter has given up everything to follow Jesus. He’s seen Jesus raise people from the dead, cure a variety of illnesses, and preach with great authority. He has shown great faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Surely, Peter’s lack of faith is not in Jesus, but in himself.

The sea in scripture often represents chaos or disruptive forces. That, with the addition of the storm that is raging, gives a picture of what Peter is being asked to calmly walk across. It is as if Jesus is saying to us, "Come. You can calmly walk across the chaos of your life without sinking. I am here to help you. You only need to have faith."

My prayer for today is that when I am confronted with the chaos (or even minor disruptions) of my life, I remember to have faith that Jesus is there to help me walk calmly.

 

Talib Huff is a volunteer and presenter at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, California.

 

Scripture:

Isaiah 55:1-3
Romans 8:35, 37-39
Matthew 14:13-21

Reflection:

All of the readings today are about God taking care of us or feeding us. In the first reading we hear: "Heed me and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare." The response to the psalm is: "The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs." In the second reading we learn that "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" and in the gospel Jesus multiplies five loaves and two fish to feed thousands of people.

We could look at God feeding us in several ways: one way is that He feeds us in the Eucharist, which is free and available to everyone who believes. The second is that He feeds us with His Word "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God." Mt 4:4 And the third is to look at this as actual food for our physical bodies as in the feeding of the 5,000.

In the case of the third, what’s going on today that so many people in the world go to bed hungry every night? Online I read that one in eight (870 million people), were suffering from chronic undernourishment in 2010-2012, and that nearly 1 billion people across the globe went to bed hungry each night in 2013, 200 million of them children.

We know that God doesn’t change – He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So, knowing how He cares for us and provides for all of our needs, why are so many of His children hungry?

The only conclusion I can come to is that we have dropped the ball. God works through us to help others. Maybe what is different today is that we aren’t listening to the Spirit prompting us to eat a little less and to share a little more. Maybe it’s just easier to go on as we always have, not wanting to feel deeply the pain of the mother who can’t feed her children and has to watch them die.

The numbers on hunger are staggering to me. I have more than enough food to eat every day. And while I donate to ministries that help the poor, maybe there is more that I could be doing. Please join me today in praying that we will all look again to see what each of us can do to alleviate the hunger in the world today. "For I was hungry and you gave me food." Mt 25:35

 

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 wrote her first book: God Speaks to Ordinary People – Like You and Me. Visit Janice’s website at http://www.janicecarleton.com/ or email her at [email protected].