Daily Scripture

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

Scripture:
Jeremiah 7:23-28
Luke 11:14-23

Reflection:
A fine, contemporary theologian recently said that many of us in church leadership today – preachers, teachers, and hierarchy – are comfortable giving eloquent answers to questions people aren’t asking!

Today’s readings again challenge us to grapple with another of the difficult sayings of Jesus. Rather than working up a lather of self-righteous indignation over issues that are not relevant for people, perhaps we are asked to listen to real concerns. The Gospels are replete with many hard sayings of Jesus… and while Jesus doesn’t’ intend for us to pluck out our eyes or sever our hands when facing temptation, we are called to struggle with our propensity towards sinfulness, just as Jacob had to wrestle with the angel (Genesis 32).

Where do I find myself in this "cauldron of transformation" each day? The mature believer must steer between 1) Catholic fundamentalism (the pope or the Bible or the Catholic Catechism said it, and so it’s true… according to my interpretation), and 2) a facile dismissal of anything problematic, whereby I structure my own narcissistic response to the Gospel challenge. Even though the "battle imagery" in today’s readings may offend the non-violent disposition of some, all of us are called to a dynamic tension – between good and evil, God and mammon.

Although I prefer the kind and gentle form of Jesus’ saying in Mark’s Gospel (if we aren’t against Jesus, we’re for him), here in Luke’s version, it is the other way around. If we are not actively pursuing the Kingdom of God, we’re working against it. And maybe that’s the point. The Bible is not an answer book, it’s a question book. Sacred Scripture is not scientific or historical narrative per se, it’s a chronicle around right relationship, an invitation into greater intimacy with God and creation. The Bible is not some barometer we impose on others to determine loyalty, even less is it a tool to weed out the "less desirables"… hopefully allowing me to better respond to questions others are asking!

 

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.

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Scripture:

Genesis 17:3-9
John 8:51-59

Reflection:

In this time of Lent, we accompany those in our midst who journey toward Easter Vigil, when they will be washed in the waters of baptism. Part of that journey involves engaging in three Scrutinies – prayerful rites aimed at helping the Elect break down the obstacles that block them from God.

It is very easy to sit back and observe this process as if it doesn’t affect me. If I do so, I join the religious elite of Jesus’ day, sure of their own righteousness and their role in leading others to deeper faith, yet unable to see the logs in their own eyes. The Scrutinies are not just for those approaching baptism, but for every one of us.

I may, for instance, try to follow the "Lenten rules" precisely and scrupulously – making sure I fast on Fridays, giving more of my money and material possessions, and never missing my parish’s evening prayer services. Perhaps I go even farther – reducing my food consumption throughout the season, giving away enough that it hurts, and committing to increased daily prayer. All of these things are good, they yield great fruit, and we should absolutely do them. But following the rules, however sincerely, is not enough. In fact, Jesus dares to tell the religious leaders that despite their faithful devotion to the law, they do not know God. The covenant requires more.

Like the Elect approaching baptism, I need to invite God into the deepest recesses of my heart. I need to probe the hurts that lurk there unhealed, particularly those that cause me to act out, hurt others or hurt myself. I need to critique my sense of self-righteousness, especially with people I refuse to fully forgive, those I dismiss without taking the time to truly see them, or those I too easily pass judgment on. I need to see where prejudice or discrimination has subtly woven its way into my actions and attitudes. In all my relationships, including with people I love most, I need to determine how I can be less controlling, more lavish with praise, and more honest in my words.

Above all, I need to see more clearly what stands in the way of deeper intimacy with God. Often these obstacles, too, arise from my hurts, lack of trust, fear of losing control, and lack of time for silence and prayer. I need to strip away the masks and excuses, and once again humbly place my sinful yet beloved self at the feet of the merciful Lord to surrender my life and will. There is no law, rule, or precept that will profoundly affect my relationship with God like this kind of self-examination.

It is scary to undertake. It requires courage, integrity, and commitment. But that is what God seeks. We were created for the covenant, not just for the rules. This Lent, can we unlock our hearts and discover the Source of life in newer and deeper ways? If so, then as the waters of baptism splash down and envelop the Elect, those same waters will course anew through us, flowing freely where the Spirit wills, as together we joyfully proclaim the salvation of our God.

 

Amy Florian is a teacher and consultant working in Chicago.  For many years she has partnered with the Passionists.  Visit Amy’s website: http://www.amyflorian.com/.    

Friday of the Third Week of Lent

Scripture:

Hosea 14:2-10
Mark 12:28-34

Reflection:

How do we hear the voice of God?  The psalm response of today, ‘I am the Lord your God: hear my voice’ serves to remind us that God is always calling, always near to us, always present.  Each year during the Lenten season we are encouraged to take time to hear God’s call, to listen to that still small voice within nudging, challenging and prodding us to be still and know that God is with us.

How do we hear the voice of God?  For some it is on a 30-day Ignatian retreat, for others it is on a sandy beach at shores edge, for others it is at the bedside of a dying loved one.  Everyone hears the voice of God differently to be sure.  God meets us in the most unexplainable and unpredictable times.  For me growing up on the shores of Lake Michigan, God and I have had many encounters walking the beach, sitting at the lighthouse, catching the sunset.  In my role as pastoral associate, I am privileged to hear God’s voice in our RCIA candidates, in couples preparing for marriage, in visiting the sick or even during  a strategic planning meeting.

Oftentimes we do not hear God or feel that presence at the exact time we want to hear or see.  This doesn’t mean that God has not been present, rather, more often it is us to have not been present to hearing or seeing God.  It is always easy to see God in the good times and the exciting moments of our lives.  It is not as easy to recognize the God moments in times of stress, anxiety, trauma and disappointment.  I had a spiritual director who told me one time that he no longer prayed to see God in only the high times, but the low ones as well.

During this Lenten season let us ponder and reflect on the myriad of ways that God is speaking to us.  Let us quiet our bodies and spirits, come away from the chaos and crisis that often crowd our days and nights.  Come away to that inner room wherein God speaks to us without any distractions or interruptions.  Take time to be refreshed and regroup which will lead us to experience more clearly the ‘voice of God’.  Happy Lent!

 

Theresa Secord is a Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9
Matthew 5:17-19

Reflection:

His shoes said it all.  Either he’d come in wearing his ordinary, workday wingtips or his well-worn, grass stained sneakers.  Which ones he wore said it all.

Every Saturday morning my father would make his way to the boys’ bedroom.  We’d all feign deep sleep as we heard him approach.  Sometimes we could discern just by the sound of his footsteps whether he was wearing the wingtips or sneakers.  Sometimes, uncertain what the day held for us, we’d crack an eye to look down toward the floor to get a glimpse of his shoes.  His shoes said it all.

Some of us might remember the time when the work week for many included a half-day on Saturday.  On those Saturdays when my father would head to the office, he’d put on his wingtips.  On those Saturdays he stayed at home, on went those broken in and well worked sneakers.  And what shoes he wore really did make a difference.  Wingtips meant he left a list of chores for us to accomplish by day’s end without much supervision.  Sneakers meant he’d be right by our sides as we worked down that list of chores.

It was never a question of "if."  It was only a matter of "when" my father would appear to rouse us from sleep.  There were always chores to be done: a garage to clean out, a lawn to mow, or a fence to paint. But for my father, it was not really about the garage, the lawn or the fence.  It was about contributing to our family life.  He tried to help us learn how to be a member of this community, this family.  He tried to instill in us a spirit of generosity.

This story comes back to me as I think about Lent.  We can easily experience Lent as a time when we can do all the chores we know need doing in our lives.  There’s always something that needs cleaning out, trimming, or painting inside us.  We’d all like to spruce up our lives and make ourselves more presentable to God.  But all those really admirable-and I mean it-Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving should not be viewed as spiritual chores.  They are opportunities for us to grow in being a more generous and kind people.  Lent gives us the opportunity to really become more a part of this family called the Christian community, together helping build the Kingdom of God.

 

Robert Hotz is a consultant with American City Bureau, Inc. and is the Director of The Passion of Christ: The Love That Compels Campaign for Holy Cross Province.

 

The Annunciation of the Lord

Scripture:

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10
Hebrews 10:4-10
Luke 1:26-38

 

 

Reflection:

Here I am Lord; I come to do your will!

Two weeks ago, on March 14, I did funeral of 17 year old Sandra, who died of cancer. She was bright, full of life and wanted to be a surgeon. It was indeed a devastating time for the family. I went to meet the family on Wednesday to talk about their daughter and also about the funeral service on Friday. The extended family had gathered at their grandparents’ house for dinner. After dinner a birthday cake was brought to the table and the whole family sang Happy Birthday to little Raymond who was celebrating his birthday!

As we journey through the Lent, with prayer, fasting, abstinence and almsgiving, the church today stops to celebrate! When we started out on Ash Wednesday we were, perhaps, reminded of the goal of the Lenten journey: the foot of the Cross. On this solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the church reminds us that this journey to the foot of the cross began when Mary said "Yes" to the Angel. That she is our companion on the journey.

As young as she was, the words of the Angel took her by surprise! What? Really? You must be kidding! How can this be possible? The whole world around this young girl suddenly seemed to stop. She was very much aware of the social and religious repercussions. And even as Mary threw questions at the Angel, we see Gabriel being very patient with her. She doesn’t accept what is said in blind faith. She reasons with the Angel. There was much fear. And yet at the end she makes an ‘act of faith’ – "May it done to me according to your word!" Jesus would eventually make a similar act of faith in the garden of Gethsemane: Not my will, but yours be done. Luke tells us that he sweated blood just thinking of what was to come. (Cf. Lk 22:44)

Life often catches us by surprises! When everything seems to be going on just fine, there is this ‘news’. We are rattled…unsettled in our comfort zones. Ordinarily, we do not have such clear, face-to-face dialogues with an angel, of course. God’s message to us more often comes through the circumstances and events of everyday life. All the same, we have questions. We wonder what’s going on. We would like some answers, and like young Mary we should not hesitate to ask our questions before we make her words our own: "May it done to me according to your word!"

The family of Sandra had questions. I am sure in all faith and trust they may have put those questions to God; and yet when they made that ‘act of faith’ they could celebrate the life of Raymond, even as they grieved the death of another child in the family! I read a post on Face Book some time ago: God’s will is our will, minus our selfishness. How true is that!

 

Fr. Bruno D’Souza, CP, is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Monday of the Third Week of Lent

Scripture:

2 Kings 5:1-15ab
Luke 4:24-30

Reflection:

For many of us Jesus is not welcome any more today than He was in his hometown so many years ago.  The New Testament word for welcome is dĕktŏs which means receive or accept.  There is an amazing array of variations on this word for welcome in the original Greek Bible.  For example:  "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."Lk 15:2  Here the word is pros-dechomai  i.e. to welcome with an attitude of accepting favorably or receive to oneself, looking forward to accepting  someone.  "Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, welcoming  the consolation of Israel" Lk 2:25

Another variation on welcome is upo- dechomai which means you are welcome under my roof  i.e. in my home.  So Zacchaeus hurried and came down and welcomed Jesus joyfully Lk 19:6   Still another use is word ap-ek-dechomai  which is assiduously and patiently waiting to welcome:  "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we are waiting to welcome  a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ", Phi 3:20

Another variation of the Greek word for welcome is apo dechomai.  This consists of apo, "from," intensive, and expresses dechomai more strongly, signifying "to receive heartily, to welcome,"  "When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and Jesus welcomed them" Lk 9:11

Our life is a study of how to welcome Jesus.  Our hearts should always be open to His presence.   We should passionately desire His stunning company.  With joy we welcome Christ to our very selves.  "I possess at all times and I hold in all places, the God of my heart and the Heart of my God." St Margaret Mary  

And St Paul of the Cross tells us: "Remember that it is a truth of the holy faith that God is nearer to us than we are to ourselves: He is much nearer to us than the skin is on our flesh" Letter 111 367   Let us keep the welcome sign for Christ before our hearts!

 

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

Third Sunday of Lent

Scripture:

Exodus 17:3-7
Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
John 4:5-42

Reflection:

In Sunday’s Gospel reading (John 4:5-42), we hear the account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. As I was reflecting on the exchange between Jesus and the woman, I began wondering why she stuck around to hear what Jesus had to say. There were so many obstacles to them having an extended conversation! First, there was the animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans. As we can infer from the conversation, the Jews and the Samaritans disagreed strongly about where one should worship God, and so Jews and Samaritans had nothing to do with each other. Then there were the conventions around Jewish men speaking to Samaritan women. The woman is shocked that Jesus would ask her for a drink of water because Jews believed that anything touched by a Samaritan woman was unclean.

And then there is the conversation itself. After Jesus speaks to her about living water, the woman says, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water." Jesus replies, "Go call your husband and come back." Then she says, "I do not have a husband." Then Jesus says, "You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true." I could imagine many people in a similar situation leaving angry or ashamed, but the woman doesn’t leave! In fact, she learns that Jesus is the Messiah, and what’s more, she tells the news to the people in the village!

Why does she stay? Could it be that she is thirsty for more than water from the well? Could it be that she has been searching for just the kind of thing that Jesus offers her? Yes, Jesus confronts her with the details of her life, but also offers her the "living water," the Good News of the kingdom of God in Himself!

I don’t think we can overestimate how much people are thirsting just as the Samaritan woman was thirsting. There are so many people searching for meaning, for something to believe in, and yet, at the same time, they are searching in all the wrong places. We can help others find the answer to their thirst. But we must be careful. There is a strong temptation to judge or condemn or dismiss the thirst that others have. But we can’t do that. Instead, we need to be compassionate and listen to their stories. We need to show them the love and mercy of God in Jesus Christ. We need to share with them the hope we have in Jesus; to reassure them that they can find what they are thirsting for in a relationship with Christ.

The Samaritan woman was willing to tell the whole village what she discovered about Jesus. We must be willing, too. Lent is a time when we might be confronted with our past, but at the same time we know the love Jesus has for us. May we have the same courage as the woman at the well, and may more and more people quench their thirst with the living water that comes from Christ.

 

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P. is on staff at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan. 

Scripture:

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Reflection:

The first reading from Micah is a prayer spoken when the people had recently returned from exile, were few in number and possessed only a fragment of their former land. It is a plea to God to take care of them and protect them from the hostile nations that surround them. Notice the tone of confidence. The prophet remembers "the days of old" and knows that his God is not like any other god. The people sinned and deserved the exile, but Micah knows God is merciful and God’s anger does not last long because God loves the people too much.

We, too, can be sure of God’s faithful love. God’s compassion for the sinner and God’s great desire to take the sinner back is graphically told in the extraordinary story of the Prodigal Son, the story of today’s gospel. It is a clear reply to the criticisms of the Scribes and Pharisees that Jesus was associating too much with sinners. In the story we read about the younger son who went far from his father and followed his own way. There was the other son who saw himself as totally obedient but did not have a forgiving heart. We hear about their Father whose love never changed . . . no matter what his children did . . . and was ready to accept them back without exception.

The Scribes and Pharisees simply did not understand the nature of God revealing Himself through Jesus. Or maybe they refused to accept this story that demanded change in their own hearts. It is never God who creates the distance. We are the unfaithful ones. When we perceive our sins this Lent, we need to remember "the days of old." Our faith history reminds us that our God is a loving God who desires to forgive. We only need to make the journey back to God, who is ready to celebrate our return.

 

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