Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Haggai 1:1-8
Luke 9:7-9

Reflection:

This summer, my brothers and sisters helped our mother move.  It was our mother who initiated the move. She knew it was time for a little less stress and worry, and, at 88 years old, was ready for assisted living.  Besides this amazing attitude about moving, what equally amazed us was her utter freedom from things, beautiful as they are.  She knew what she wanted to take with her and what others were free to take, the rest to be sold or given away.

Her home was never confused for the house she lived in.  Houses served as a place to create a home.  As the need changed over time, as with the addition of children, the house changed.  She really was a "homemaker" in the very best sense of that identity. It was never about the house or the things that filled it, but about making a home, wherever that may have been.

From one of the shortest books of the Bible (two chapters), we hear today the Prophet Haggai encourage the rebuilding of the Temple after its destruction and the Babylonian exile.  The Temple represents God’s presence among the people; it is God at home among his people.  Yet the people, Haggai says, are not happy because they have pinned their meaning to things – their paneled houses, their crops, their food and drink, their clothes, their money.  But to them he says, "you have not been satisfied …exhilarated … kept warm … or secure."  The Temple is where God makes his home.  The Temple is the house; God is our home, and it was a home that the people needed to create for their God.

This reminds me of the opening chapter of the Gospel of John: "And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."  The Word of God, Jesus, made his dwelling, his home among us.  Jesus did not build a house among us.  He was at home among us – and not only among us, but in us.  Sister Lucretia’s admonition in fourth grade to be "temples of the Holy Spirit" actually makes more sense now than it did then.

I hope I never confuse my home with the house I live in.  Rather I hope my home is where I find myself in relationship with Christ who desires to dwell in me, who wants so much to be at home within me.  Where I live or work, what I have or own are only gifts that I hope help create a home where I can encounter Christ.

My mother’s move to a new house was not moving her home at all.  Her attitude reminded us that her home is where she is, wherever she is.  Perhaps in helping her with her move, I have moved to a deeper understanding that my home is when Christ makes his home within me.

 

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.

Scripture:

Ezra 9:5-9
Luke 9:1-6

Reflection:

Our Scripture readings today give testimony to what is going on in the world, and what our response might be. In our first reading Ezra prays to God, acknowledging the guilt of the people, which led up to their exile at the hands of the Babylonians. Even though our circumstances are different from those of Ezra’s time, his words can be descriptive of our situation today:

"… for our wicked deeds we have been delivered up, we and our kings and our priests, to the will of the kings of foreign lands, to the sword, to captivity, to pillage, and to disgrace, as is the case today."

We may not be under the rule of foreign leaders, but it can seem that we have been delivered up to the sword (violence), to captivity (addiction), to pillage (greed), and to disgrace (scandal).

What is our response? We find it in our Gospel reading. Jesus sends out the Twelve and gives them "power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases," and He sends them "to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick."

Our response to the ills of our world is the love of God in Jesus Christ. This is what we have received. This is what we are called to share. This is the basis for our concern for the environment, our thirst for justice, and our desire for peace. This is what gives meaning to the use of our gifts, talents, and resources. Perhaps this last is the lesson we learn from Jesus saying to the Twelve, "Take nothing for the journey." What we can bring to the building up of the Kingdom is not much without the love of God infusing everything we say and do.

Like Ezra, may we realize we have been given "new life" in Christ, and may we "raise again the house of our God" in our lives and hearts, our words and deeds.

 

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

Scripture:

Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15a
Luke 9:43b-45

Reflection:

"Pay attention to what I am telling you.
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men."

Luke’s Gospel reading today tells us that when Jesus said this to his disciples, they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask. Jesus knew, he knew of the horrific suffering and unbearable pain that lay ahead for him and yet, he does not run and hide from it.  Jesus put his life, and death, completely into the hands of His Father. Jesus knew what His death meant for us; he knew that salvation and the glory of eternal life with His Father awaited him, and us.

In October 2004, a close friend of mine was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of stomach cancer.  She was only 43 years old, married and had four young children.  By the time the cancer was diagnosed, it had overtaken almost her entire stomach.  She couldn’t eat more than a teaspoon of broth at a time.  The doctors tried chemotherapy, unsuccessfully, and surgery was not an option.  Finally on a Tuesday in early March 2005, she was put into Hospice care and passed away that Friday.

I look at the example my friend Mary Ellen set in the face of death.  She did not run and hide either.  She knew she was going to die and leave her husband, children, friends and other family members behind.  Of course, she had to get the technical aspects of dying in order: house and insurance paperwork had to be handled; the kids had to be settled and understand what lay ahead for them without mom, her husband had to be reassured he would be okay without her.  I cannot imagine what she thought as she proceeded to take care of these things.

The courage and bravery Mary exhibited as she knowingly faced her own death was a true testament to her faith.  She put everything in God’s hands because like Jesus, she knew that after the pain and suffering and damage the cancer had wreaked on her body, her salvation and the glory of eternal life with the Father in Heaven awaited her.  She is at peace.

 

Claire Smith is the director of Communications at the Province Development Office in Chicago, Illinois.

 

 

Scripture:

Malachi 3:13-20b
Luke 11:5-13

 

 

Reflection:

Ask, but Shall You Receive?

Over the centuries we have grappled with "Ask and you shall receive; knock and the door shall be opened." When we beg and plead with God and seemingly get no answer, we wonder whether we are asking in the "right" way, or perhaps our faith is deficient. We heap guilt upon ourselves, because certainly it is our fault and not God’s. It is especially difficult when someone else’s prayers seem to be answered while ours go unheeded. What are we doing wrong? How can we please this capricious God who doles out favors so sparingly?

One distinction to note: What is it that Jesus promises God will give? He says, "…how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" Ah, that changes things. We are not promised that if we ask for a new job, we will receive a new job, or if we ask for physical healing, we will receive physical healing. Instead, Jesus promises that if we ask for anything, we will receive the Holy Spirit. We will receive what we need, not necessarily what we want.

This doesn’t imply that we have to "filter" our requests to make sure they are in line with God’s will. God wants us to be honest and ask for those things we desire. That’s part of being in a deep relationship with someone. In fact, God knows what is in my heart even without my words. Verbalizing my needs is an exercise for my own sake, not for God’s. I need to be able to scream at God in anger (sometimes slamming my way through the door rather than politely knocking), cry in God’s arms, dance and rejoice, or just sit in silence. Then I trust the Source of all love to winnow out the things of the Spirit and pour out to me what I truly need underneath it all.

God’s most cherished gifts-wisdom, patience, strength, peace, hope, forgiveness, love, and more -are limited only by my ability and willingness to receive them. As C. S. Lewis says, even Divine Omnipotence cannot give to a person who refuses or is in incapable of receiving. At times, I’ve been there, too. God is still giving, but I’m so frantically knocking that I don’t see the already-opened door or feel the extended hand.

When my dad was dying, we did not receive physical healing or more years of life. Instead, we received reconciliation of deep divisions within our family that Dad was able to witness before he died. We received the blessing of having most of the family gathered with him praying and singing as he went to God. We received the witness of spirituality and faith so strongly that even non-practicing family members were touched. Dad’s death was truly sacred. God doesn’t often give physical healing, but God always heals. God doesn’t always answer in the ways we want, but God always answers prayers. Ask and knock, always and with constant faithfulness.

Jesus’ challenge, then, is to continually be in relationship with God – asking for what I need, laying bare the depths of my heart and sharing my life. And then comes the hard part – simultaneously opening myself and learning to listen to God’s answers, so I can be an ever more receptive vessel to what God knows I need to receive. My life will not be free from sadness, tragedy, and loss. But my soul will be filled with everything I need to handle it with grace, courage, and peace. What greater request could anyone make?

 

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/.

Scripture:

Amos 6:1a, 4-7
1Timothy 6:11-16
Luke16: 19-31

Reflection:

Today’s gospel is not a pleasant story if you describe yourself as "rich" or even middle class.  The picture of a rich man languishing in flames while the poor man Lazarus is sipping cool water on the other side of a great chasm no doubt makes many of us a little uncomfortable.  Yet we are told that the rich man did have his chance for a happier afterlife if only he had ministered to poor, sore-covered Lazarus while he was still alive.  When the rich man was alive, there was no chasm or gap between him and Lazarus.  Lazarus was as close as his own front door.

Yet many of us are like the rich man in that we create "gaps" between ourselves and those who are less fortunate.  We live in houses guarded by security systems; fenced-in, gated enclaves to make sure we don’t see, hear or touch those who might remind us of the reality most people in our world deal with every day.  Our gospel today clearly demonstrates that gaps are not good, especially in the long run!

In addition to our gospel, now we have Pope Francis, who is crossing "gaps" every day, living and preaching the gospel of inclusion and love among us all.  We Passionists also preach God’s inclusive love for all at the foot of the Cross.  We’d better be "crossing gaps" every day, bringing sips of water and signs of love to all those who are thirsty, covered with sores and in need of God’s healing.  Indeed, my reflection today leaves me with a clear and present challenge to myself; to be the "balm in Gilead" for all those who suffer right outside my front door!

"There is a balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul."

 

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

Scripture:

Ezra 6:7-8, 12B, 14-20
Luke 8:19-21

Reflection:

He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it." Luke 8:21

Jesus promised us the closest intimacy with him if we listen with great care to his word!  This is among the most astonishing statements in the New Testament.  How much closer can one be than a mother?   Mary was instrumental in bringing about the greatest event in human history by listening and absorbing the Word.   "let it be to me according to your word."  Luke 1:38   "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us!"  Elizabeth captured the heart of Mary’s intimacy with God.  "Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." Luke 1:45

If we ever hope to have an intense relationship with God we must have a passion for listening to God’s word.  We must imitate Jeremiah:  "Your words were found, and I ate them". Jeremiah 15:16

In the great challenge of the new evangelization the first step is to come to some familiarity and relationship with Jesus Who is the good news of God. How can this ever come about if we are not listening to God’s word?  The plaintive cry of Jeremiah still echoes in our ears: "O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD!" Jeremiah 22:29

When I was stationed in Southern California I used to love visiting the Huntington Gardens Library where there was an original copy of the Guttenberg Bible.  Some years ago a copy was sold at 4.9 million dollars at Christie’s auction.  It was the most ever paid for a book.  God’s word is worth far more than this not because it is an important piece of history.  Rather it is the living word of God revealing Christ in real time!

 

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

 

Scripture:

1 Timothy 6:2c-12
Luke 8:1-3

 

 

 

Reflection:

But you, man of God, avoid all this.
Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion,
faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life,
to which you were called when you made the noble confession
in the presence of many witnesses.

Ever have the annoying question hit you:  "What if…this or that happened to me?  How would I deal with it?"  I know that we realize that the "What if’s…" in our lives take us out of the present dealing with ""What is…"  Paul so wisely advises Timothy to pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness.  This will help him to deal with what is bothering the early Christian community. 

Smile with me, pray for me.  A while ago, I went out to California to take some needed vacation time residing at our Passionist Community in Sacramento.  On my second day out there Fr. Richard Parks, C.P. was hospitalized to undergo a five artery by-pass surgery on his heart.  Because several of his Community members were gone I gently slipped into supporting him during his recovery for a week.  It was beautiful to watch the prayerful support he received from family and friends via phone calls and cards and a personal visit from a nephew and his fiancé.   Faith, love, patience and gentleness gathered Fr. Richard in a warm embrace.

I then drove down to San Jose to visit with a dear couple.  The husband had been with me in the College Seminary and Novitiate.  He left in the Novitiate and proceeded to finish College, get married, join the Navy, get involved in nuclear physics and assist his wife in raising six kids.  Arlie’s wife, Marie, has Alzheimer’s disease.  If I have ever needed an example of faith, love, patience and gentleness in a married couple, I have experienced it in Arlie and Marie.  Of course, it comes at this time through Arlie.  But what comes through so beautifully and simply are the fond memories of a loving wife, mother and grandmother.  His love for her has not diminished.  His loving words, touches, kisses and hugs are freely given even though there may not be a response.  He is fortunate that he can provide nursing aid here at home.  He simply cannot put his wife in a nursing home.  Faith, love, patience and the gentleness of Arlie has gathered Marie in his warm embrace.

That was a most interesting vacation.  I really believe that I have experienced the gentleness and love of God in a way that I shall not forget.  It didn’t come from reading.  I saw it in action with Fr. Richard, and with Arlie and Marie.  I guess I would tell Paul and Timothy:  Paul, you were right on target then and also today.

 

Fr. Peter Berendt, C.P., is a member of St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Community in Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

Ezra 1:1-6
Luke 8:16-18

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus says, "No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light." If we can say that God has put the light of Christ in us, then we also know that God doesn’t want that light to be hidden. Instead, He wants it to shine through us, so that people can see the light of Christ when they encounter us or when they come inside the church.

We know the world has seen enough darkness. As we deal with the tragedy of yet another mass shooting, and we see people pick up the pieces of their lives in Colorado and Mexico, as well as refugees trying to survive, we know how much violence and suffering has clouded the lives of so many. So we are to bring light, and the only light that lasts is the light of Christ.

And the light is to be shared. Jesus also says in our Gospel reading, "To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away." This is not so much a picture of financial reality as it is a statement of spiritual truth. When we try to hang on and keep to ourselves what we have been given, it eventually disappears. When we share the blessings and the grace and the love, and the light, that we have been given, they grow; they do not diminish!

May the light of Christ grow in us, and the darkness be dispersed.

 

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