Daily Scripture

 

 

Scripture:

Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12
Matthew 10:1-7

 

 

Reflection:                 

Called by Name We Too Are Sent Forth

Yesterday’s gospel told us that Jesus’ heart was moved with pity as he looked upon the crowds. They ‘were lying prostrate from exhaustion’, like sheep without a shepherd. Another translation clearly expresses that the people are not worn out from walking. It says, ‘they were harassed and torn apart’. Now calling his twelve disciples, Jesus gives them authority and sends them out like shepherds to lost sheep.

At the time of Jesus the twelve tribes no longer were a political factor, more a matter of ones ancestry. The twelve apostles who are named today will be a new ‘twelve tribes’ of Israel. They will be a foundation upon which the community of the followers of Jesus will be built. We see in The Acts of the Apostles the urgency to replace Judas. Twelve apostles are needed! But after the foundation is fixed the gradual death of each of the twelve needs no replacement. The foundation once established is in place.

In Luke’s gospel when Jesus began his ministry we see him fulfilling the words of the Prophet Isaiah. There is something similar here for Matthew. Proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom speaks of a restored Israel. To the ‘harassed and torn apart’ the apostles  will announce Good News, ‘the reign of God is at hand’, and with the authority given them by Jesus, they will show the power of the Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God is established but until its coming in the fullness of God’s plan we, like Jesus, behold the exhausted, harassed and torn apart. We take our place among them too. And we are also privileged laborers in the harvest, continuing the work of the apostles giving as a gift the power of the Kingdom, given to us by Jesus. Being both the exhausted and the bearers of the gifts of the Kingdom, we turn to the Lord in whom our needs are made sweet with hope and the gifts we bear support us with joy, confidence, strength and gratitude.

These may have been the feelings of the twelve as they left Jesus to find the lost sheep of the house of Israel? They would learn later that being torn apart, harassed and exhausted would conform them to the one who suffered and died revealing God’s love. In that sharing they would have another gift to be shared with the sheep of the Good Shepherd.

If today you hear his voice know that you who were named at Baptism are called you by name, and the Lord sends you forth to care for his sheep.

 

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

Scripture:

Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13
Matthew 9:32-38

Reflection:

Reflections on today’s gospel from Matthew frequently remind us of the need for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  However, in this Gospel we also hear Jesus showing us, as he often does, that discipleship, which we are all called to, is always made up of two components.  Jesus rids the mute man of demons, thus healing his soul, but he also heals his affliction.  Matthew tells us of Jesus compassion and how deeply he cares for the people.

This message is heard throughout the New Testament.  Jesus teaches us how to pray to His Father.  He shows us the value of going away for time to be just with God.  By his very life, he exemplifies obedience and devotion to God. But Jesus also repeatedly tells us to care for our neighbor, to change the systems that create poverty, to look for ways to love one another.  It is best summed up in the great commandment:  Love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart and your whole soul, and love your neighbor as yourself. 

Beginning with this Gospel , we will hear Jesus calling over an over again for us to become his disciples – to do as He has done:  to care for His lambs, to feed his sheep, So whether the call we hear from God is to the priesthood, to religious life, or to service as laity, if we listen, what we hear is a call to care for the physical needs as well as the spiritual needs of all the people of God. 

In light of the New Evangelization, we, as a Church, open the doors of our places of worship and of our hearts welcoming all and reaching out to those who need to be introduced to or renewed in the faith,  But we also must feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the homeless.  This is what Jesus has told us to do.  This is the true role of a Christian. 

 

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

Scripture:

Zechariah 9:9-10
Romans 8:9,11-13
Matthew 11:25-30

Reflection:

I can’t imagine the awful experience of being the victim of identity theft. Criminals find resourceful ways to steal our Social Security number and other personal information and then use that data to take on our identity. It is a crime increasing in American and around the world. Often it goes unnoticed until it is too late. A person receives the credit card bill and notices with alarm charges he or she never made. It can be frustrating not only because privacy has been invaded, but also because it takes many phone calls and lots of paper work to get my identity back.

There are also people who have stolen the identity of God. These ‘criminals’ want a God who is a warrior god seeking destruction upon the enemy, a vindictive god who gets even, an anger god whose fury cannot be halted, a god who remembers our sins and eagerly punishes us for those failures, or a god who just doesn’t care about what is happening on this planet Earth. The readings today counter this identity theft.

For the Prophet Zechariah, our God is a God of peace. Therefore, the people should rejoice and shout for joy. God is a saving God, just, meek and humble. What God desires is to banish battle tanks and warring helicopters, armed drones and sniper rifles, rocket launchers and AK-47s. More importantly our God wants to banish retaliation, rage, and revenge that destroy civilization.

For Jesus, God is the one who invites us to find rest in the midst of turmoil, peace in the midst of disquiet, and firm ground in the midst of confusion. "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." The Son of God, far above us in his divine nature, comes to us to share our burdens. For Jesus that meant death on a Cross. We neither have a God who abandons us nor a God out to punish us. This is the identity of God that Jesus offers us. "No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him." God reclaims his identity through the compassionate and gracious acts of Jesus, by the love and faithfulness of Jesus that took him to his death on the cross, and through acts of forgiveness. We know how God acts in Jesus Christ. Let’s protect that identify by acting on it.

 

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

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

"The Lord speaks of peace to his people" (Refrain, Responsorial Psalm)

Today, the Fourth of July, we celebrate Independence Day in the United States. Almost every country has a similar national holiday. It seems that governments become overbearing and suddenly a desire to live a better life, a life free from oppression and tyranny, swells within the hearts and minds of peoples. They clamor for freedom and liberty and justice for all.

The United States has special readings for today’s Mass. The first reading is from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, 57:15 – 19. It is a reading of hope and promise for a people who have betrayed God by their infidelity to the sacred covenant established between God and the People of Israel. It is a reading of forgiveness and tenderness: "I will heal them and lead them; I will give them full comfort," God says through the words of the Prophet in this reading.

The Responsorial Psalm repeats a mantra that comes from the heart: "The Lord speaks of peace to his people." For true peace comes from God. It is a peace that enables kindness and truth to meet and justice and peace to kiss. What inspirations those images give us!

Then Paul says in his letter to the Philippians (Phil. 4:6 – 9), "the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Finally, the Gospel, Jesus is preparing his disciples for the time when He will not be with them. In this gospel (John 14:23 -29), Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." These are words of encouragement so that we, his disciples, can hold on to these truths despite moments of difficulties and troubles.

On this day, we are thankful to God for giving us this country which needs to witness to a more perfect way, a way of peace and justice, of respect for life and the sharing of our resources, a country where no man, woman or child needs to go to bed hungry, or be frightened because of hatreds and prejudices that people have in their hearts, a country that can respect the other, just because they have inalienable rights. These rights do not come from a Constitution, but from God’s personal love for each and every one of us!

May this holiday open our hearts and minds to everyone who comes here, just because they are children of God and brothers and sisters to our Lord Jesus Christ!

 

Fr. Clemente Barrón, C.P. is a member of Immaculate Conception Community in Chicago, Illinois. 

Scripture:

Hosea 2:16, 17b-18, 21-22
Matthew 9:18-26

Reflection:

Did you ever notice how we don’t all see events in our lives the same way? My family loves to reminisce at gatherings. What occurs to me when we do, is that despite the fact we grew up in the same household, had the same parents, and shared many of the same events we all seem to recall them differently, so much so, I sometimes think we must have grown up in different households.

Today’s Gospel selection tells of how Jesus saw things differently from those around him and was able to bring new life to his world:

"When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, "Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping."^* And they ridiculed him.  When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. (Mt 9: 23-25)

I pray that I may have the eyes of Faith and see life as Jesus did and as Rogers and Hammerstein suggest in the song A Hundred Million Miracles from  The Flower Drum Song 1958.

"…A swallow in Tasmania
Is sitting on her eggs

And suddenly
Those eggs have wings

And eyes and beaks and legs


A hundred million miracles


A little girl in Chungking
Just thirty inches tall

Decides that she
Will try to walk

And nearly doesn’t fall


A hundred million miracles

Miracle of making music 
When an idle poet

Puts words on a page

Writes on a page

With his brush

A musical friend

Writes the notes to blend

Suggested
 By an idle thrush



Then a young soprano
 Reads what they wrote

Learns every note

Every word 
Puts all they wrote

In her lovely throat

And suddenly

A song is heard 
Very pretty.

 

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:

For many of us here in the United States, the Fourth of July is filled with picnics and parades, family and fireworks.  These are festive times we set aside outside of the regular work schedule.

Yesterday, we as a nation celebrated our 238th birthday. The festival time still continues throughout this weekend.

The readings given to us this day certainly have a festive flavor.  Amos, in the first reading, was a simple shepherd.  His strong voice denounced the hollow prosperity of the northern kingdom.

Amos is diligent in delivering the message of doom upon northern Israel.  Yet the first reading is the conclusion of the book of Amos.

Rather than messages of destruction, Amos concludes with God’s promise of fulfillment. It speaks of planting vineyards and drinking wine. He reintroduces us to a God who pours out in abundance. "The juice of the grapes shall drip down the mountains and all of the hills shall run with it."

Today’s gospel links with this abundance.  Not only do we find this story in Matthew’s gospel but it exists also in the Gospels of Mark and Luke. In all three instances it is always connected with the image of the wedding banquet. Jesus purposefully told parables of wedding banquets to convey the truths of his father. Today, he speaks convincingly about old cloaks and old wineskins. They are no longer useful items. The old garment is not worth patching with new cloth the old wineskins cannot hold new wine. Implicitly, the old world’s age has run out; it is compared to the old garment or old wineskins.

Symbolically, the wine is the symbol of the new age; in the pouring out of the abundance of the wine Jesus reveals himself as the one who brings the time of salvation.  Similarly, the wedding is a symbol of the day of salvation, as the language of the apocalypse bears witness, "the marriage of the Lamb is come." The day is come, the wedding songs resound. Here is no place for morning. This is the time for the bridal festivals, why then should my disciples fast? For the people in first century Christianity, the old age has vanished and a new age has arrived!

In church terminology we refer to the end times as the eschaton.

About 100 years ago a term "realized eschatology" was introduced into theological circles. To realize that these are the end times is to see that the kingdom is now. It’s not about something that might happen to us after we die. Now is the kingdom, now is the day! And when we take this seriously we change the focus and direction of our lives. Praying about Jesus words today helps convict us that Jesus himself wants us to realize that with his presence there is a new world.  See, I make all things new (Rev 21:5).

While we continue our festivities on this Fourth of July weekend, perhaps there is a similarity between the religious time and the national holiday.  Much like the Fourth of July reminds us we no longer live under British rule, so too, realized eschatology reminds us that the kingdom of God is here in our midst today.  What difference does that make for you?

 

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is the pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Louisville, Kentucky.

Readings:    
Amos 5:14-15, 21-24
Matthew 8:28-34

Reflection:

Being a biblical prophet was not for the faint of heart…one was often subject to ridicule, misunderstanding and even rejection by family and friends. Perhaps that was because prophets saw the world, not in a short sighted way as others did, but rather they saw the "bigger picture" through the eyes of God!

We have a great example of this truth in today’s readings. Amos, the fiery prophet who lived during the peaceful and prosperous reign of Jeroboam II (c. 786-746 B.C.E.), speaks directly to Israel telling them not to misinterpret their current good future. While enjoying the fruits of their labor they should always keep in mind "the less, the least and the lost." Justice should be their ultimate goal not pretty offerings and expensive pageants. It is only through the justice they demonstrate in their care of others that the offerings they so conspicuously make have any meaning to God.

In the same way, our ultimate "priest, prophet and king" Jesus encounters resistance to doing works of justice for others. In this passage from Matthew Jesus encounters and heals two demoniacs, bringing them back into the community whole and holy to "hate evil and love good." However as a result of this exorcism, the expelled demons, loving only what is evil and destructive, in entering the swine toss themselves off a cliff to drown. Given the marvelous event that has happened to their community you would think the town folks would be grateful. Rather due to short sighted self-interest and misplaced fear (what if Jesus did this to all the farm animals?), they begged Jesus to leave their district!

Where does the Lord Jesus call me to be "prophet" in my own life? Where am I often "short-sighted" and reluctant to see the "bigger" God picture due to self-interest and unreasonable fear?

Jesus help me this day to "seek good and not evil" so that I may have your life and show others "the saving power of God."

 Scripture:

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

Reflection:

The Fourth of July is coming up.  Think for a moment about The Declaration of Independence.  What if our Nation’s Founders said, "I think independence is a great idea.  I’m all for it…as long as it doesn’t take too much time…as long as I don’t lose any money…as long as I don’t get hurt…as long as it doesn’t involve my weekends."

In reality, they didn’t place any conditions or reservations on what they were about to do.  They were totally committed.  They proclaimed, "We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."  They signed their names boldly in ink, not pencil.  There were no wimps among them.

There is amazing power in making a commitment.  Our whole being gets involved.  The doors of our imagination and creativity open up.  Our inner resources are tapped.  We discover a quality of energy unknown to the wishy-washy.  Commitment rallies our courage, stiffens our backbone and toughens us for all challenges.  Commitment opens our senses and our intuition, alerting us to new opportunities of service. Commitment defines us.

Jesus knew this.  Such is the kind of commitment Jesus is looking for in today’s gospel. He is not against burying our deceased parents.  He just wants to make sure nothing, absolutely nothing gets in the way of our commitment to him.  We are to love him with all our hearts, with all our souls and with all our minds.  And we can be assured by Calvary that nothing will ever get in the way of his love, his commitment to us.

 

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