Daily Scripture

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Scripture:

Zechariah 2:14-17
Luke 1:26-38

Reflection:

Why only be a Christian when you can be another Christ?

To be another Christ we have to give birth to Christ as Mary did. The spirituality of the Advent season serves as a Lamaze class for believers.

The Gospel (Luke 1:26-38) for this feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a central lesson in the birthing class. The miracle of the annunciation is not merely an historical event. It is a message addressed to every woman who searches for her own dignity and to every man on a quest for the meaning of his humanity. Our completeness comes in discovering the birth of the inner Christ in the womb of our hearts.

At various times, whispering angels suggest that we are blessed beyond expectation. They encourage us to look within to see in our hearts a seed, an embryo, a fetus, or maybe even a small baby – but, to recognize God within. As with Mary, the task of our spiritual life is to feed, cloth and nurture the child so that we may mature into the fullness of Christ.

 

Fr. Joe Mitchell, CP is the director of the Passionist Earth & Spirit Center in Louisville, Kentucky. See his website: http://www.earthandspiritcenter.org/

 

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary                                         

Scripture:

Genesis 3:9-15, 20
Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
Luke 1:526-38

 

Reflection:

The Gift of Mary’s Immaculate Conception

Our opening prayer on this feast of the Immaculate Conception says that Mary is the graced one, blessed among women, because of her role in salvation. This gift to Mary enables her to serve God.

Passionist artist, Bro. Michael Moran, did a pen and ink drawing of the temptation in the garden, our first reading. Adam and Eve stand together beneath an overhanging branch, not far from the head of a large snake. Eve holds a fine apple in her hand. But through the branches we can just catch Adam’s elbow pushing her arm and moving that apple closer to her lips! An artist’s interpretation of the most familiar of stories saying that Adam cannot place the blame entirely on Eve!

In our Old Testament reading today there is another unusual interpretation that may be pertinent. The first verse that we hear is Gods’ words to Adam and Eve when God enters the garden. "Where are you?" Someone has suggested that God is not thinking geography, but rather asks the pair, ‘how do you feel now? Are you where you should be in our relationship? Are you where we should be together?’

The work of Jesus is to lead us back to the garden, to walk together there again. Our intimacy with Jesus is the way to intimacy with the Father. Mary shares the work of salvation, she is the new Eve. The mystery of sin that has tainted the sons and daughters of Eve make it impossible for us to choose well. But God’s gift to Mary, conceived immaculately, places her in the position that when she will be called to make a great decision, she will be able do that more like Eve than any other of Eve’s daughters before her.

It is not a given that the request carried on the lips of Gabriel will be a ‘yes’. St. Bernard reflects on this as he describes the Annunciation. Gabriel tells Mary not to be afraid after his initial greeting, and he tells her the Holy Spirit will overshadow her and her son will be child of God, a savior. Then Bernard stops time! He reads for us Gabriel’s thoughts. The angel is frightened that Mary will say no, and God will have to start the long process of preparing for a savior over again. With Gabriel all the angels of heaven, Adam, Eve and all creation hold their breath awaiting the word of Mary. They pray, ‘Please say yes and save us!’ And Mary said, ‘Let it be done to me according to you will’.

Mary’s Immaculate Conception leads her to share the work of Jesus uniquely. But what she shares is not so unique: an unplanned pregnancy, Jesus’ birth in poverty, homelessness and fleeing her native land, a son ridiculed and rejected, and then his violent death in her presence. So many people know these sufferings. Mary as our mother given to us from the Cross by Jesus, shares our suffering as did her son. And she shares   with us also the victory of her son.

Let us be one with Mary in her love and praise of God today for the gift that God gave her to share in the work of Redemption and to undo the bond of sin from all of her children.

 

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

Saturday of the First Week of Advent

Scripture:

Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26
Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8

Reflection:

Christmas as a child in the 50’s was the most exciting time of the year for me. New catalogues filled with colorful pictures of bikes, games, and clothes-everything you could possible dream of-started coming in the mail daily after Thanksgiving. I would studiously look through each new arrival, wondering if I would be so lucky as to get a new Erector Set or maybe a new Lionel train set like Dwight, my neighbor had?

For me life hasn’t changed much here in my seventh decade of life. Oh, I stopped watching TV because I find myself more interested in the advertisements than the actual shows. What they call "reality" really doesn’t fit my sense of that at all.  I’ve stopped all the catalogues in hopes of saving a few trees, but I still dream of winning the lottery, finding that perfect home and solving all the great mysteries of life.

In my more sober moments however, I’ve learned the truth of today’s responsorial taken from psalm 147: "Blessed are all who wait for the Lord." I’ve learned that

waiting to win the lottery, hoping in any kind of Santa Claus is nowhere as exciting as waiting for the Lord, "the Lord who is good and gracious. The Lord who rebuilds my life. He gathers the dispersed, heals the brokenhearted and binds up our wounds. He sustains the lowly and casts the wicked to the ground."  What more could I want? I can’t wait!

 

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

Friday of the First Week of Advent

Scripture:

Isaiah 29: 17-24
Matthew 9: 27-31

Reflection:

Eye care professionals most commonly correct bad eyesight, like myopia or hyperopia, through the use of corrective lenses, such as glasses or contact lenses. Sometimes surgery is suggested. Metaphorically, the first condition, called shortsightedness, describes a person who makes shortsighted decisions by focusing on the immediate. The second condition is called farsightedness and refers to decisions that may be visionary but sacrifices short term consequences.

Both readings today speak about seeing. In the first reading from the Book of Isaiah, the prophet attempts to give sight to his people. The Israelites are surrounded by experiences of exile, loss, disrespect, rootlessness. They are homeless and hopeless. They began to concentrate so completely on the darkness that they failed to see any blessings; they gazed on the dirt of life and failed to see the divine in life; they were so limited to that which was immediately seen, they forgot that unseen opportunities exist. Isaiah paints a picture of possibilities so that his fellow citizens can move beyond their nearsightedness. "And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see." If they have the faith of Abraham, their eyes will be opened and they will perceive new possibilities.

In the Gospel reading Jesus heals two blind men who asked Jesus to have pity on them. He touched their eyes and their eyes were opened. This miracle is not just the restoration of their physical sight. They have gained in-sight. They can really see! They can see who Jesus really is, God’s presence among us. Their experience with Jesus is not something that they can keep to themselves; they have to share that experience with everyone else, even though Jesus asked them not to talk about it with others.

As disciples of Christ we need to be able to see possibilities beyond the immediate frustrations and disappointments. We need to see Emmanuel, God with us, even in the midst of the darkness and the messiness of life. If we are to celebrate Christmas properly, we need to learn to see deeply into life and discern how Jesus is present (born) in new ways today.

 

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

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

Scripture:

Isaiah 25:6-10
Matthew 15:29-37

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus walks by the Sea of Galilee and encounters "great crowds" of needy folks:  the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute…and He cured them!  And He lovingly fed them with the seven loaves of bread and the few fish that his disciples had brought along.  There were leftovers…and the Message of God’s Love continues to be spread by you and me.

I can’t help but think of the crowds of recent days…crowds of shoppers, some even turning to violence in pursuit of their "treasures".  Definitely some needy folks, like those of long ago.  Dealing with loneliness, frustration, various physical and psychological illnesses, selfishness and greed, a consumer spirit, etc.  Jesus wants to come and meet their needs, cure their aches and pains, and feed their spirits…with a great feast like that mentioned in our first reading from Isaiah.

Among ancient peoples bread was the fundamental source of nourishment, and therefore a symbol of all the good things needed to sustain life.  Even now we speak of a person who earns a living for their family as the "bread-winner".  Who of us can resist the inviting aroma of fresh-baked bread and the warm feelings that bread inspires? 

This Advent we journey as people of hope – needy, hungry people seeking Jesus who is "Bread for the Life of the world"…Life that is wholesome and lasts!  Advent becomes a celebration of the transformation of all creation – in Jesus!  These special days we look to the great event of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem (House of Bread), to Jesus’ presence in our midst in the Eucharist and the Scriptures and one another, as well as the great coming of Jesus at the end of all time.  These days let’s open our hearts to God who saves us, nourishes us, and loves us even to the last drop of His Life’s Blood. 

As Church we pray:  Come, Lord Jesus!

 

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

Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent

Scripture:

Isaiah 40:1-11
Matthew 18:12-14

Reflection:

At Christmas we celebrate birth and rejoice that God became incarnate in human flesh. It is not a celebration meant only for the birth that happened 2000 years ago, but for all the ways God is being birthed in us and in our world right now.

Unfortunately, we are highly imperfect midwives. As Isaiah cries out, all flesh is grass-life is a perishable, fragile, and temporary gift-and we are not born with manuals on how to live it. Sometimes, rather than effectively embodying Christ in the world, we go astray like sheep wandering from the fold. Other times, we not only remain in the fold but participate in casting out the "black sheep", clustering together, fortifying the walls and becoming "safe" and exclusive.

Luckily, we have a God who goes out and does whatever it takes to find and embrace the lost, frightened, marginalized, and confused. In fact, if I lock others out, I may find that Jesus is no longer with me in the safety of my fold. He left to go out searching for that lost sheep, and would really appreciate my help. I think that is part of what Pope Francis is teaching us recently. We need to be less judgmental and exclusive, more pastoral and inclusive. We need to worry less about those who belong and more about those who wonder whether their voice can be heard inside the gates.

I have found that, like most of Christian life, this is harder than it sounds. In some ways, I’ve made progress. I no longer believe I need to avoid people who do not share my deeply held beliefs or views. Instead, as I truly listen and engage in respectful debates, I have often been amazed at what I’ve learned. Sometimes I grow in my own conviction. Other times their arguments show me how I need to change. Often the debate ends with the agreement to disagree, yet I grow in understanding and appreciation for the other person and their thoughts and beliefs.

Lest I congratulate myself too heartily, though, I must admit I still have a long way to go toward the ideal of listening, embracing, and including. It is especially difficult to achieve in situations where the other person refuses to be respectful, or where I am the one being cast out, or when someone has hurt me. And it is never easy when our disagreements run deep. At these times I am challenged to the core.

Yet, as the prophet says, we are called to give comfort to God’s people and join Jesus in reaching out to everyone. This Advent season, I pray for the wisdom to know how to do that more effectively. I pray for the grace to see with God’s eyes, love without so many conditions and expectations, eat with sinners, go beyond my comfort zone, and give rather than receive. If I can do that, it may even open hearts (mine and theirs) so that God can make the path straight, fill in the valleys, and bring new life.  Perhaps, even with this highly imperfect midwife, God can still be born again in our world.

 

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/.

Tuesday of the First Week of Advent

Scripture:

Isaiah 11:1-10
Luke 10:21-24

Reflection:

I am clear about what matters during Advent. I believe in the sacred seasons of the Church year as God’s redemption at work. Yes, such times, like Advent, are effective in my life if I believe (assume) that God is working, if only I be attentive, (be awake) to what is going on inside of me and what is happening around me to indicate what God asks of me, and I follow through. The follow through is most important, otherwise, what God is doing (at least, through me) may be stunted, because I didn’t follow though. My faith is at work when I let go of what I want for results of my follow through, and I allow God to work with what I have done. The blessing is in "seeing through" with what I have intended. Is this what Jesus means when he tells his disciples (who have just returned from following through with that which he asked them to do), "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it." (Luke 10:24)

Even if my life’s perspective, future possibilities of real change, appear to be dead as a stump! (cf. Isaiah 11.1)

I am inspired by the lives of the saints. Three qualities, among many, stand out among the saints. They are the characteristics of being centered (focused), zealous (apostolic), and, committed (determined). And I pray to the saints for such characteristics to build up the kingdom of God on the planet. 400 years ago Francis Xavier met Ignatius Loyola at University of Paris. He became one of the first members of this new community of Jesuits. He spent many years in Goa, Southeast Asia and Japan. He had excellent organizational skills proven by the fact that the communities he establish continued to flourish long after his departure.  He died at 51 years of age while on his way from Goa to China in 1552. The Advent season calls for self-examination and reflection. The language of Advent stresses the discipline of attentiveness, vigilance, and a willingness to be alert and on guard. "It is a call," as Catherine Mulroney, editor of Living With Christ puts it, "that prompts me to examine how I have been preparing the way of the Lord and whether I have, in any way, contributed to making straight his paths." Let us, today, recommit to the discipline of Advent, and like the seventy returning disciples tell Jesus about what you have done. It is all about follow through.

 

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

Scripture:
Isaiah 4:2-6
Matthew 8:5-11

Reflection:
At yesterday’s Eucharist, we prayed that our hearts desire the warmth of God’s love and our minds search for the light of God’s Word. It is good to know that the first Sunday of Advent sets the tone for the rest of the week to come.

This Monday in Advent clarifies even further, "what" we desire and for "whom" we search!

In an incredible passage from Isaiah , God’s word makes clear that we wait for a kingdom that is not yet here, but one which we can catch glimpses of even now. It is kingdom where all of us will be called "holy" – that is "set apart for the Lord." We will all gather on the site of Mount Zion – God’s holy place- led by a smoking cloud by day and a flaming light by night, just like the ancient Israelites of old. The Lord’s glory will cover us so that we will not know heat or storm, but only God’s protection and shelter. It is truly a magnificent image of what we are hoping for and one that wonderfully encompasses all of us, not just some of us!

In this incredible new existence, all will see this Kingdom – this power of God as personified in Jesus. It was not by chance that in the Gospel today Jesus encounters a centurion. He is an unabashedly a non-Jew, a non-believer, an officer of the Roman army of oppression, someone typically and traditionally despised. Yet even he can glimpse something of this kingdom in the man Jesus. He detects in Jesus the power of this kingdom where wrong will be made right, where darkness will be made light, where sickness will be healed.  It is a faith that astounds even Jesus! A faith that makes Jesus reiterate one of the pivotal truths of the kingdom for which we wait…that "many" will come from east and west and will recline with the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the heavenly banquet. Yes, even this centurion, this instrument of Roman oppression, will be welcomed at the holy table!

The older I become, the more I realize that the labels we use to divide us one from the other – whether religious, political, psychological, economic… you name them – have no place in God’s kingdom. Moreover, amazingly, like Jesus in today’s gospel, we can often catch glimpses of the kingdom in the people and places we least expect it.

As we begin this workweek, may we have the grace to look…

 

Patrick Quinn is the former director of Planned Giving at the Passionist Development Office in Chicago.