Daily Scripture

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Scripture:

Jeremiah 11:18-20
John 7:40-53

Reflection:

Today’s gospel is unusual in that Jesus never appears, except as the subject of someone else’s discussion. And yet something he says a few verses earlier sums up this entire reading: "Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly."

It has been said that there are three ways of knowledge. The first is through our heads. These days we are taught that this is the highest form of knowledge. Rational thought is well disposed to comparing, contrasting, weighing, and judging. All of our science is performed through this method of knowledge. If you can’t make a rational, head-centered argument for your case, it is often dismissed as irrelevant.

The second way of knowledge is through the heart. This center leads you forward emotionally towards something you feel empathy for. This is the source of much of what passes for dialogue these days. You only need to turn the television on to any of the news "discussion" shows to see people shouting at each other, trying to make their arguments prevail through force of will.

The third way of knowledge comes from the "gut." This is called intuition. It is from here that we often can find information that is not readily available to our rational heads or charged with the fiery feelings of the heart. This is the source of impulses and half-formed thoughts that can come to us in dreams or while "wool gathering."

And yet, to properly "judge justly," we need to use all three forms of knowledge. In the Gospel reading we see each one of these used separately as if it contained all knowledge.

The crowd is lead by it’s heart, one side for Jesus, the other side against. They stand in the marketplace shouting at each other they make trying to convince the other side that they are right. The Pharisees call them accursed, spurning their way of coming to judgement. The Pharisees use their heads. They go back to their law books, to their scriptures, and search in vain for the correct rule to apply to this situation. Obviously, Jesus has no value because he comes from Galilee and they can find no scripture that says anything good comes from Galilee. The guards are in confusion because they intuit that there is something here that is good, but they’re confused by the orders they’ve been given and the shouting of the crowd.

Only Nicodemus, who previously visited Jesus, proposes the correct approach. ‘Let us bring him in and question him.’ Earlier, Nicodemus’ heart led him to Jesus to find out what He was about. But his rational mind became stuck on the notion of being born again. His intuition, however, tells him that there is something of value here, something to be examined.

In my own life, I’m often tempted to use only one of these three ways of knowledge. I want to rush quickly after what my heart desires or find the right rule or previous response so that I don’t have to think about what a situation calls for, or I often stumble about, not sure what action to take because I feel underneath it all there’s information that I’m missing.

This Gospel shows us that when we are confronted with decisions we may be in a period of discernment. There may not be a quick answer readily available to us. But as Jesus advise, if we take the time to "judge justly quote," we can listen to our heart, our head, and our ‘gut’, we may then be able to prayerfully dicer God speaking to us.

I pray today that I am able to listen to God in whatever way He is speaking to me and to correctly judge and perform His will.

 

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

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Scripture:

Exodus 32:7-14
John 5:31-47

Reflection:

"Then he spoke of exterminating them, but Moses, his chosen one, withstood him in the breach to turn back his destructive wrath." Psalms 106:23

Our prayers matter! Sometimes we think God doesn’t hear our prayers, because He doesn’t answer the way we would like. But that shouldn’t stop us from praying – especially for others. Intercessory prayer is such a privilege and so important! Sometimes we are the only one who sees a person in need, and if we don’t pray for them, who will? Don’t ever feel bad that "all you can do is pray." Praying is probably the best thing you can do!

I love this story in Exodus, because we see Moses reasoning with God, standing in the gap for his disobedient people and God actually changing his mind! . "So the Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people." Exodus 32: 14

We may grow weary of praying for a brother-in-law who can’t seem to quit drinking, or for a child who has wandered from the faith. But don’t give up! Our persistent, faithful prayers will make a difference. We have the good example of St. Monica to encourage us and countless others who have stood in the gap, interceding when there seemed to be no hope.

I want to encourage you today to keep on praying for all those who need your prayers. Especially for those who seem to have lost their way. We may be the one who helps them get to heaven!

 

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].

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Scripture:

Isaiah 49:8-15

Gospel: John 5:17-30

Reflection:

Today’s readings ask us to remember that our relationship with God has been revealed as a bond as close as that of a mother and her children (Isaiah), or a parent and child (John). 

Since we are past the midway point in this season of Lent, our consideration of this close relationship with our God and creator could help us to prepare for the final weeks of Lent and the Liturgical celebration of the saving Sacrifice of Jesus prior to his Resurrection.

Because we chose to belong to the Body of Christ, affirming our Baptism, and nourishing our Christian life through the Sacraments, we are members of a relationship that not only includes the Trinity of God, but also the Body of Christ.  Baptism, and the Sacraments that follow it, are the work of the Holy Spirit of God acting through the Church.  By these Sacraments we renew and nourish our life in the hands of God.

Lent is traditionally a time of penance and sacrifice, fasting and almsgiving, but for those who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil this is a season of anticipation, thanksgiving and commitment.  Those of us who have lived many years, if not a lifetime, of the Sacramental life of the Church, should join with our brothers and sisters by renewing our decision to live in the body of Christ, in the Church.

The words in Isaiah, then, can be our words:

"Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth,
break forth into song, you mountains.
For the LORD comforts his people
and shows mercy to his afflicted."

Even though our lives may have passed through periods of sadness, loss, or failure, and we have cried out even as Zion did:

"The LORD has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me."

Nevertheless, in the rhetorical question and its concluding affirmation…

"Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you"

…we hear God’s reassurance to each of us that no matter the course our lives take, no matter how much circumstances in life may make us feel abandoned by the loving providence of our God, God will never forget any one of us.

The New Testament, in today’s passage from John’s 5^th Chapter, puts the stamp of the Christian Community’s faith in the affirmation Jesus makes that not only will the committed believer be delivered from ultimate condemnation, but has already passed from death to life.

"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word
and believes in the one who sent me
has eternal life and will not come to condemnation,
but has passed from death to life."

Let us add this reflection to our Lenten devotions and prayers.  Let us give thanks to God for the unbounded love and fidelity of God to each one of us who continue on our Lenten journey toward the Easter passage from death to life.

 

Fr. Arthur Carrillo, C.P.,  is the director of the Missions for Holy Cross Province.  He lives in Chicago, Illinois. 

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Scripture:

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12
John 5:1-16

Reflection:

Water floods through the readings for today.   The first reading from Ezekiel 47 is the famous vision that Ezekiel has about water flowing from the Jerusalem Temple and transforming the desert into abundant life.  Anyone familiar with the terrain of Jerusalem and the nearby Judean desert can follow exactly this dream sequence which an angel shows to the prophet.  Water starts to flow from underneath the great temple and as it surges forward begins to course down the Kidron valley to the east and then down the Wadi Qelt, the deep canyon that runs down to the floor of the rift valley and the Dead Sea-the lowest point on earth-and beyond that through the long stretch of dry land between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, a section of land still called the Arava, or "dry land."  Wherever this new river flows, life bursts into bloom-trees and fruit and fish and great abundance!   The point of the dream could not be clearer: God is the source of life and can transform the most arid and abject terrain into a landscape of lush new life.

Water plays a role in the gospel for today, too-John’s intriguing account in chapter 5 of his Gospel about the sick man who has tried to get down to wash in the healing pools of Bethesda for thirty-eight years but always misses out at the last minute when someone gets to the waters ahead of him!  You can still visit these pools at St. Anne’s shrine in Jerusalem.  They were apparently part of a healing shrine dedicated to the healer God Asclepius, a popular cult at the time of Jesus (what is amazing is that this pagan shrine was only a stone’s throw from the site of the Jerusalem temple!).  I have visited here many times with groups of people with disabilities and they always laugh when they hear this story and they understand Jesus’ question to the sick man: "Do you want to be cured?"  They recognize what John’s story seems to imply-that this man was passive about his need to be healed and made only a half-hearted attempt to change his way of life.  Later this same man reports Jesus to the authorities who begin to hound Jesus for healing on the Sabbath.

What can these two Scripture readings suggest to us in this Lenten season?  God’s grace and healing waters are lavish and available to us-more than we can imagine.  And God’s redeeming love can transform what seems like a dry and lifeless desert into a river of new life-this is the fundamental Easter message.  But it is also important that we open our hearts to receive this abundant mercy and trust that we can be transformed.

 

Fr. Donald Senior, C.P., is President Emeritus and Professor of New Testament at Catholic Theological Union.  He lives at the Passionist residence in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Scripture:

1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41

 

 

Reflection:

Our gospel today is about the cure of the blind man.  We might think, "Well, that doesn’t apply to me.  I can see."  But can we?  Blindness can be more than a physical affliction.

We may be blinded by prejudice, and fail to see the beauty of each human person.  We may be blinded by a sense of self-importance, and fail to appreciate the uniqueness of others.  We may be blinded by unforgiveness, and fail to see the way to peace.

We may be blinded by our desires for comfort and security, and fail to see the needs of others.  We may be blinded by fear, and fail to see the possibilities life holds out for us.  We may be blinded by self-pity, and fail to see our own inner beauty.

We beg, "Lord, remove our blindness. We want to see."  

Give us eyes of wonder to see the beauty of creation.  Give us eyes of courage to see our way through trials and difficulties.  Give us eyes of compassion to see new ways of helping.  Give us eyes of hope to see our potential.  And give us eyes of wisdom to see how short life is, and how great is the importance of each person in each day.     

God the Father is shouting out his love through the beauty of creation, but often we don’t see it.  Jesus is living in the poor, but often we don’t recognize Him.  God the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, but often we aren’t aware of Him.

The Little Prince said to the Fox. "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly."  May the Lord grant eyes to our hearts, so that me may live as children of love and be a radiant image of the Lord.

 

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

Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Scripture:      
Isaiah 65: 17-21
 John 4: 43-54

Reflection:

"…there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create: For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight…"    Isaiah 65: 18

There was a period in my life, many years ago, when I spent a great deal of time and energy feeling sorry for myself because I was focused mostly on all of the material things that I didn’t have… things that I believed would bring happiness and joy to my life (a better job, a bigger house, more money…you know the drill !!).  One day I saw a poster that changed my way of thinking.  It was a cartoon character of a man wearing only a barrel, held up by shoulder straps, and the words underneath said…."Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have." 

This poster helped me to begin my journey of developing an attitude of gratitude that has brought much happiness and joy to my life. The words on the poster suggested that I begin to look at what I’ve been given…the many blessings that God had placed in my life (a loving wife, a beautiful family, good health, a growing relationship with God…you know the drill!!).  Trying to live in the gift of the present moment today helps me to continually see new blessings…new gifts that God places in my life.

In the Gospel story today, John tells us that Jesus had come back to Cana in Galilee. Cana is the place where Jesus performed His first miracle when He turned water into wine at the wedding feast (He certainly brought joy to that couple !!). Now, back in Cana again, He is approached by a Roman official who begs Jesus to come to his home and cure his son who is very ill.  Jesus states "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe." Then Jesus says to the official, "You may go; your son will live."  This man of great faith believes the words of Jesus and heads for home.  He is met on the way by his servant who tells him that the fever left his son about the time Jesus spoke his words of healing.  Joy and happiness certainly followed since "…he and his whole household came to believe."

Still today, I often need a "check up from the neck up" to remind me where to keep my focus and to be reminded that God, indeed, wants each of us to be happy, joyous and free.

 

Deacon Brian Clements is a retired member of the retreat team at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California  

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent

Scripture:

Hosea 6:1-6
Luke 18:9-14

Reflection:

"What can I do with you, Ephraim?  What can I do with you, Judah?  Your piety is like a morning cloud, like the dew that early passes away.  For this reason I smote them through the prophets, I slew them by the words of my mouth; For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."

In this season of Lent and "March Madness", these words from Hosea represent a "game-changer" of major proportions!

God wants love!

God does not want empty sacrifice.  God does not want rituals.  God does not want burnt offerings.  God does not want dualistic, judgmental thinking grounded in a culture which requires winners and losers.  God does not want money or a comfortable life based on careful investments and savings.  God does not want an approach to life characterized by hearts hardened by greed and supported by an economic system which needs the poor to exist.

God wants love!

God does not want streams of empty words disguised as prayers.  God does not want clericalism which promotes the ego and avoids the poor.  God does not want violence in any form.  God does not want disputes and wars over stubbornly held doctrines and nationalism.  God does not want divisive arguments over liberal or conservative ideas.  God does not want hearts hardened by sin.

God wants love!

And so I pray for compassion this day, realizing the hardness of my own heart, in the words of Psalm 51:

"Have mercy on me O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.  Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.  My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn."

 

Terry McDevitt, Ph.D. is a member of our Passionist Family who volunteers at the Passionist Assisted Living Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

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.