Daily Scripture

Friday of the Second Week of Lent

Scripture:

Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a
Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Reflection:

We like most of our stories to end: "and they lived happily ever after".  But the only way to give punch and energy to that kind of story is to start it by noting that things were going very badly.  Because, if we start the story by saying everything was going as well as could be desired, then it’s hard, either to end it by saying that things kept getting better and better, or especially to conclude by saying that everything fell apart at the end, and proved to be a disaster.  It is unlikely such a story would attract a strong readership.

God, of course, knows this, since He made us for happy endings, and the most reliable way to enjoy a happy ending is to start off badly.  So the notion of redemption figures prominently in the stories God provides us in the bible.  Redemption means restoration of or improvement upon an initially good situation, which comes on hard times, and threatens to unravel and fall apart.

So we hear two redemption sagas in today’s bible readings: one about Joseph, a son of the patriarch Jacob who (Joseph) came on hard times, and the other about the King who saw his servants upend and undo a very productive vineyard that he owned.  Both these stories start well.

Jacob has a flock of boys (12 of them) who apparently got on well together, in boys’ fashion, that is, more or less.   But as the story gets underway, it soon degenerates, with 11 of the brothers ganging up on a twelfth, Joseph, with Joseph coming out the loser, by his brothers throwing him into the bottom of an empty well, eventually to be hauled up and traded off to a band of wandering Ishmaelites in exchange for 20 pieces of silver, as these strangers proceeded on to Egypt, where Joseph was sold yet again.  This is a very low point in Joseph’s life and things can only get better, as indeed they do.  He eventually rose into a position of power in Egypt.  We see redemption at work here: a happy ending to a dismal beginning.

Then we are presented the gospel story of a king sending his emissaries off to his flourishing vineyard to gather its grapes.  We then learn of a bad situation that soon developed, when servants sent by the king to collect his produce are mistreated and killed, including his very own son sent by him to offset a rapidly deteriorating situation.   However, this story was to end happily, if not for the troublesome tenants of the vineyard lands, at least for the king and a new batch of more reliable tenants.  A redemption of sorts once again gets underway in this episode.

God’s stories usually end happily, but we can only appreciate them fully against a rather somber   background.  While we’re familiar with the commonplace observation that whatever goes up must come down, we have to be reminded that things at the bottom can rise to the top.  That’s God special way of doing things, and it goes by the name: redemption. 

In our everyday language, we call this a "repair job".  When a piece of our equipment breaks down, we go to the repair person asking him or her  to restore the broken object to working condition again.   We’re accustomed to doing this.  As a matter of fact, It is a form of redemption, illustrating that what has broken down can be restored to working order again.  This is good news that occurs in the bible readings today.  God is the repair person, the Redeemer.  While we deplore that things break down, we rejoice when someone repairs them.  This is redemption.  And it is good news.  The best way to start Lent is to acknowledge we are broken, but can look forward to Easter when we will be restored.

 

Fr. Sebastian MacDonald, C.P. is a member of the Passionist formation community at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. 

Feast of Saint Joseph, husband of Mary

Scripture:
2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22
Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Luke 2:41-51a

Reflection:
Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. Matthew 1:20

The other day, I was watching a news story about a well known athlete who came back home and visited the high school where he was a star player. His message was very simple: follow your dreams! You can be whoever you want to be, just don’t give up on your dreams. Every famous person seems to give the same advice.

It sounds so simple: just follow your dreams! Yet the dreams we had when we were young may now be long gone. Some may look back with great regret and ask ourselves, why didn’t we follow our dreams? Our lives would have been so different if we had just followed our dreams.

Dreams are all about the choices we can make for our future. St. Joseph, whose feast day we celebrate today, was a man who allowed his dreams to guide him. He dreamed about making a life with Mary as his wife. In fact, they were engaged, according to the Gospel account we have for today’s Mass. He was about to live out his dream. He was about to take Mary as his wife and to welcome her into his home.

That dream was shattered when he found out that Mary was pregnant. Then he went about doing the right and compassionate thing, divorcing her quietly. But then he had another dream, a dream that called him to go beyond appearances, beyond his understanding of the "law." It was a dream inspired by God. He was to accept Mary into her home. He did so. And this was not the last dream that Joseph would have. Dreams inspired by God led him and the Holy Family into a future that they were not expecting to live. Just because our original dreams aren’t realized does not mean we need to stop believing in them.

Our Christian Faith calls us to keep on dreaming, even when our dreams are not realized. Joseph could have become disappointed, depressed and vindictive when he was not able to live out his original dream. How do we handle a shattered dream? How open are we to God and the new directions that God leads us towards when things do not go according to our plans, to our dreams? Do we turn to God? Do we follow the example of St. Joseph? Or do we allow our human weakness get the better of us?

This feast day comes when the whole Church is celebrating Lent. Lent gives us just the right opportunity to think about the life of St. Joseph, to really invite him into our lives and allow him to guide us when things become difficult for us.

Thank you, St. Joseph, for following your dreams! Help us to follow ours!

 

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

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

Scripture:
Isaiah 1:10, 16-20
Matthew 23:1-12

Reflection:
There are many ‘saints’ that will never gain official recognition, but in fact they are often the women and men who teach us most about life and especially about the following of Jesus.

In one’s life journey it is easy enough to get seduced by the externals – recognition, status, acclamation. But in fact these are short lived realities, they like a starburst one might see during a fireworks display – they illuminate and excite, dazzle even, but after a short time the light fades and unless a more or equally spectacular burst of light is supplied, one is left in the dark again.
Real life, let alone one’s life as disciple of Jesus, must be illuminated by far more than this. It is not merely words  words, status or office and dress, but rather witness, compassion and sacrifice.  Yes, perhaps witnesses are ‘lesser lights’, but often they are more effective than all others.

The ancient Romans walking through the narrow passages of the old Forum at night could only do so if someone walked with them holding a lamp. At times our world can be like the old Forum –  a place that is dim and isolating – and so we need witnesses to show us the way to a fully human and Christian way of life.

In following Jesus we share in God’s dream in that we can be a light for others; Lent is a journey too – a ‘walk’ one that can offer us the opportunity to trim our wicks, to gather greater reserves of oil so that our lamp might be one that shines for others to follow and indeed illuminate the ways for others.

Some years ago my aunty slipped gently into severe dementia. My uncle for the next 12 years visited her every day at lunch and dinner times to ensure that she ate her meal and was looked after in the nursing home. When she slipped into a form of coma he still came, but now to sit and be present. I often reflect on his example – he never highlighted it, but I saw it. His vow "to have and to hold, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health…" never was more evident to me. He, like so many people, has shown me the way, and not a word has he ever said about his role.

People often do not need teachings, but teachers. Not words, but example…

 

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is a member of Holy Spirit Province, Australia.  He serves on the General Council for the worldwide Passionist Congregation and is stationed in Rome.

Scripture:

Daniel 9:4b-10
Luke 6:36-38

Reflection:

Reading the gospel today I had a flashback to a funeral procession I was in sometime ago.  The person in front of me had a poster-size statement plastered on the back of the vehicle.  It was a statement with rooted anger and judgment behind it.  I found myself wondering what kind of a person would put this on their vehicle.  And more specifically, what does this say about the driver of this vehicle?  The only answers I could find were anger and judgment.  And for a moment I questioned: where does one draw the line between intense anger and hatred?

I contrast this with today’s gospel.  Jesus’ message is extremely clear. Do not judge! He specifically says, "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."  

I’ve begun noticing more and more subtle forms of judgment within people. We have judgments between parishioners, judgments between parishes and judgments between faith traditions. Some can be positive and constructive.  Others are mean spirited. While still others border into self-righteousness.

I’ve noticed there are some people who simply can’t be happy with who they are.  There are some people who always have a strong need to be against another.  Some people are always against the Pope or the Vatican.  Others are against the president or a particular political party. Still others are against their boss, a coworker, their spouse.  Why do some have such a strong need to be against others? Is this not a variation on judgmentalism? Yes, we may have differences of ideas or opinions.  But what does it say about us when we can’t find anything good in those that we are against? And what does it say about those who spend all of their energy being against? Frankly, I’m completely mystified at how a person can devote themselves to be a follower of Jesus, yet inside they fill their heart with things that
feed their anger, even to the point of hatred.  

Jesus concludes, "For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."

The holiest people I know are the people who fill their hearts with love. And what do they get in return? They get more people.  They get people who can receive their love and give love in return. 

I remember a dream I had about one of these holy people.  It was the kind of dream that has no end.  It has spilled over into my wakened conscience.  And my day has been filled with pleasantness.  This joy has not even been worn down by the grumbling voices.  Indeed, today I’ve seen even a new form on the salvation of Jesus.  And my Lenten season is blessed for I’ve witnessed the salvation of Christ in a new way on this blessed day not out of judgment, but out of the goodness of love.

 

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

Scripture:

Genesis 12:1-4a
II Timothy 1:8b-10
Matthew 17:1-9

Reflection:

The imagery in today’s Gospel account of the Transfiguration of Jesus is so striking that it can be very difficult to relate that moment in Jesus life to our own.  After all, "his face shone as the sun…his clothes became as white as light."  And, Moses and Elijah appeared at his side and a voice from heaven confirmed that God was pleased with Jesus, God’s Son!  Wow, what an exciting moment that must have been!

The reaction of Peter, James and John is a bit more familiar to us, "they fell prostrate and were very much afraid."  There have been moments in all our lives when we were so overwhelmed with events that we’ve been very much afraid and fallen to the ground, figuratively if not literally.  The experience of having to face challenges in our lives that are beyond our strength or abilities is one we all have way too often in our lives. 

That must have been how Abram felt when, in our first Reading today, God told him to pack up his household and go "to a place I will show you."  It takes a lot of faith to step out of our safe, familiar world, into the unknown…even when asked to do so by God. 

Timothy, too, was asked to do a task that was beyond his experience; to become the leader of the whole Christian community in Ephesus.  St. Paul tells him in today’s second reading. "Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God."  St. Paul reminds Timothy, and us, that it isn’t his or our personal strength that is important.  God will give the strength and wisdom necessary to complete the task that God gives us. 

As we continue on our Lenten journey of deepening our faith and trust in God, sooner or later most of us come to realize that we don’t have the ability on our own to change the things in our lives that are holding us back from a deeper love for God.   But that realization need not discourage us.  The Scriptures today remind us that the strength we need "comes from God."  And, it doesn’t come from God at some nebulous future point in time, but it is bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began…."  So, contrary what we may feel, even fear, about our inability to change, we can by the power of God, a power clearly revealed in Christ’s love for us.  We pray for openness to God’s transforming love today.

 

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

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Matthew 5:43-48

Reflection:

To fulfill Jesus’ command to love my enemy, it is critical for me, in prayer, to ask myself the question, "Who or what do I take seriously?" Answering this question helps me to keep my eyes on what is beyond the day to day realities of imperfection and evil. I am part of the "people peculiarly God’s own" as the author of Deuteronomy (Dt) puts it. (Dt means "the second law" / the Ten Commandments.) The book of Dt. points out that we are to "walk in God’s ways and observe his commandments and hearken to his voice." Is God trying to get through to me, and am I doing my best to pay attention, which is another way of saying that I am taking life seriously? 

Jesus goes on to stress upon us perfection as our heavenly Father is perfect. Perfection is "a sincere desire to go forward and increase in virtue, i.e. in loving God and our ‘neighbor."

That sincere desire is grounded, rooted in heart and soul, flesh and spirit. I conclude this reflection with a brief meditation on "discovering my soul,"– the assurance that my soul exists. Ponder these human experiences: something observed as beautiful; someone who exemplifies truth; when we sense moral goodness; the gift of freedom to choose; the voice of my conscience; longings to be happy; striving for that which is not yet; and realizing that what God wants me to become is still ahead of me. Just pondering one of these experience points toward the eternal, unconditional love offered freely, to us. Our "soul life" can be so life giving, if I pay attention. Do you remember "time out" at school or at home. While it was seen as punishment, it actually is one of the best ways to stay connected as one of God’s Peculiar People. Just try a minute of "time out," in utter silence. Just try it, I am.

 

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

Scripture:

Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25
Matthew 7:7-12  

Reflection:

The readings today are all about prayer- its power, its efficacy, that it really works.  The reading from the book of Esther introduces the theme.  Living in Persia during the Babylonian captivity, Esther, secretly a Jewish exile, has been found beautiful and accomplished enough to be a member of the king’s harem, and then even to be made his queen.  Her uncle tells her that his enemy has convinced the king to approve a plot to kill all the Jews dispersed throughout the vast empire.  Esther, humbling herself before God, pleads with Him to save her people.  So touched by her prayer, God uses Esther herself to persuade the king to mercy and justice.

Matthew’s gospel then proceeds to give us a most enlightening and encouraging teaching of Jesus on prayer to God, our heavenly Father.  Ask and you’ll receive, seek and you’ll find, knock and it will be opened: Could anything be clearer?  If we pray for what we truly need, truly our heavenly Father will give it to us.

Jesus backs up his promise with a bit of human logic.  If we, who are weak and sinful, willingly give good things to our children when they ask for them, how much more will our infinitely good Father in heaven give them when we ask Him.  If we who are often tired and selfish, take care and pains to provide for our children and make them happy, how much more will our heavenly Father provide for us and make us happy.  If we love our children, how much more does God love us – truly His children.  Jesus is declaring it, simply and forcefully: God, his Father, is truly our Father.  We are God’s children; we are the real brothers and sisters of Jesus. 

In this first week of Lent, the last verses have a special potency for us.  "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.  This is the law and the prophets."  What has Jesus been doing to us?  He has just told us that we are the Father’s true daughters and sons – he has just reassured us that we are his sisters and brothers.  What does God do to us?  He gave us – and He gives us – His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, as our brother.  He makes us one with Jesus Christ.

What then does God our Father want us to do to Him, for Him?  Does He not want us to be Jesus, His son, to Him, for Him?  To meet Him in prayer as His child?  His daughter?  His son?  In this Lent can we take the time to contemplate this truth – to enter more and more into our hearts to see what it means for us?

In the depth of this truth – that I am really a child of God, that He really is my Father, and my Brother, and my Spirit – in its depths what does it say to me about every other person I know and meet?

 

Br. Peter A. Fitzpatrick, CFX, a Xaverian Brother, is a Passionist Associate at Ryken House, St. Xavier High School, across the creek from Sacred Heart Passionist Monastery in Louisville,KY.

Scripture:
Jonah 3:1-10
Luke 11:29-32

Reflection:
The prospect of a "miracle" catches the attention of most any human being.  Perhaps a physical healing, a financial turn-around, the avoidance of a "sure" accident…for ourselves or a loved one….  Sure! Thank you, Jesus!

The people in today’s Gospel were looking for some such miracle from Jesus, some spectacular proof of his claims to selfless goodness and truth.  But Jesus refused to give any extraordinary sign…his soulful preaching of God’s word was enough.  Even the pagans of Nineveh accepted Jonah’s preaching of reform — and Jonah could in no way match the personal power of Jesus’ words!

As people of faith, we once in a while wish for some extraordinary sign from God to confirm our faith and help us get ahead.  "Oh if God would only let me get that job…win that lottery…lose some weight…cure that cancer…"  Mostly we live by the "ordinary" signs of God’s activity in our lives:  his presence to us in the Holy Eucharist, the Sacred Scriptures, and in the lives of one another…"Ordinary", yet oh so special!

The Lenten season encourages us to seek a renewal of heart, an openness to God’s redemptive presence in all aspects of life.  In our fast-paced world, it may take a "miracle" to get us to stop and pay attention:  to take a "time-out" and go deeper in our lives. 

Rather than clamor for an attention-grabbing miracle, perhaps we can quietly accompany Jesus to the desert for an experience of spiritual conversation and enrichment, or we can join Him at the table of the Eucharist for a weekday celebration, or accompany Him as He reaches out to the needy person we meet during our day.  And, it’s amazing how these Lenten practices can lead us to ponder the Cross of Jesus — the "sign" of God’s miraculous love for us and our world.  Jesus’ love is greater than we could ever ask or imagine!

May Jesus’ Passion-ate love fill our hearts these days of Lent.

 

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is the local leader of the Passionist community in Louisville, Kentucky.