Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Tobit 2:9-17
Mark 12:13-17

Reflection:

Beneath the contentiousness that plays a large role in today’s readings – a marital spat between Tobit and his wife Anna, and Jesus’ verbal jousting with leading religious figures of his day over a simmering controversy – we may discover a call to integrity.  Tobit is reminded, by Anna’s sharp retort, that ‘charity begins at home’!  This genuinely good man who has earned a deserved reputation for charity and good deeds in the exiled Jewish community, is called to "walk the talk", to practice what he preaches, to include those he shares life with as objects of his kindness and charity.  He is called to integrity, to wholeness.  And, in Mark’s gospel reading we see Jesus ensnared in the "culture wars" of his own day.  It was dangerous to be honest!  Yet that is the course he chose, taking the risk of offending powerful people, incurring their wrath, getting on their ‘wrong’ side.  We could never imagine him doing anything less, so deeply committed to truthfulness was He!  The Jesus we know from the Gospel’s is one in whom the human trait of integrity has become a guiding force for his words and deeds.  One with the Father, he wants his human behavior to be one with, to be expressive of, the great inclinations of His heart.

Today’s readings are a challenging word for us religious people!  The true proof of a loving heart is our treatment of those God has given us, those familiar folks in our lives it is so easy to forget about.   The true test of religious conviction is public truthfulness, even when inconvenient, unpopular or controversial.  May we pray that His Word will find a true, welcome home in our hearts and shape us to be people of wholeness and integrity.

 

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Scripture:

Zephaniah 3: 14-18
Luke 1: 39-56

Reflection:

"…And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me…"

So many events in Scripture would never have occurred if humans had not believed enough to act in spite of their doubts and fears. In story after story we read that people are essential to carrying out God’s plan for humankind. From Abraham and Sarah to Mary and Elizabeth, and continuing right down through the centuries to the present day, God inspires us to speak those courageous words, to offer that consoling message, to say "Here I am" to what we are asked to do.           

Today’s Feast is the joining of the stories of two women, Mary, a teenager and Elizabeth, an elderly woman. The angel informs Mary that Elizabeth, her cousin, is pregnant, and immediately Mary begins her journey to see how she can help.  It was not easy or convenient for Mary to travel that long, lonely, dangerous road to the hills of Judea, but Mary knew that Elizabeth needed a helping hand to prepare for the birth of her son, John the Baptist.

Mary arrives at the door bearing Jesus in her womb.  That’s how simple it is sometimes to spread the Good News…show up with Christ formed deep within you…and you are indeed preaching,  without saying anything more than "Here I am."   

Mary, filled with grace, proclaims "…my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant…and has done great things for me…" 

When we come to Mass, we lay before Him all that we are, all that we need, and all that we can become.  We approach the Eucharistic table with a desire to become the best version of the person that God created us to be…to be FULL OF GRACE.  At the moment of Communion with the Lord, we become filled with the Divine Spirit…FULL OF GRACE, and in that experience of joining our lives to His, a spiritual connection between the Redeemer and the redeemed occurs, and God’s unconditional love abounds…AND CHARITY MUST FOLLOW…

Today’s Gospel is a celebration that seems to demonstrate that one of the blessings of a grace-filled life is a spirit of gratitude that results in generosity.  The MAGNIFICAT is an example of gratitude and the VISITATION teaches us generosity.

Salvation history ends up in the hands of a teenager and an elderly woman, both preparing to give birth, both miraculous in their conception, and both who responded, " Here I am."

 

Deacon Brian Clements is a retired member of the staff at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Sirach 42:15-25
Mark 10:46-52

Reflection:

 Our gospel today relates the cure of the blind man.  At first we may think, "This doesn’t apply to me.  I can see."  You and I may not be physically blind.  But oftentimes are suffer from spiritual blindness and fail to see the reality God is showing us. What are the things that may be blinding us?       

We may be blinded by self-pity and fail to see our own inner beauty.  We may be blinded by prejudice and fail to see the beauty of each human person.  We may be blinded by unforgiveness and fail to see our 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 too ask, "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 the way through life’s trials.  Give us eyes of compassion to see how we can comfort others.       

Give us eyes of faith to see you dwelling within us.  Give us eyes of wisdom to see how short life is and the importance of each moment of each day.       

Our gospel says, "Immediately he (the blind man) received his sight and started to follow Jesus up the road."  He saw a new purpose, a new meaning, a new direction to his life, — to go with Jesus.  May nothing blind us from taking that path.

 

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

Scripture:

Sirach 17:20-24
Mark 10:17-27

Reflection:     

Recently I attended a meeting for ministers of retreat centers; at one session we were asked to surface those issues which afflict contemporary people. I was stirred by the participants’ pastoral insight and sensitivity. Responses included joblessness, violence, forced migration of populations. But one retort really intrigued me: "the demonization of capitalism."

We’ve all heard the political arguments. Some say it takes the genius of a free market economy to conquer poverty, not wealth redistribution schemes. Others highlight the growing disparity between rich and poor. Last week Pope Francis said, "Unbridled capitalism has taught the logic of profit at any cost, of giving in order to receive, of exploitation without looking at the person…,", before adding that the results of such attitudes can be seen "in the crisis we are now living through." Later he added, "Modern men and women need to recover their understanding of what a gift is, what it means to offer something without expecting anything in return and what it means to be in solidarity with the suffering."

Today’s Gospel is another of the "hard sayings" of Jesus. But have you ever heard something like this? The preacher of the "prosperity Gospel" lessens the impact of Jesus’ powerful metaphor by saying that the "eye of the needle" was a small gate in first century Palestine, used after nightfall, when the main gates of the village were closed. Only by removing the load from the animal’s back, and with lots of pulling and pushing, could the camel get through. Jesus was simply exaggerating, they say, when teaching about the near impossibility of the rich person entering the Kingdom of God.

Could it be that both positions are correct?  Could it be that an "attitude adjustment" is necessary in many of our lives? Not the Conference of American Bishops, not the Nuns on the Bus. You and I. In other words, Jesus said if you have two coats give one to the poor. Jesus does not say to be poor, he says to give your surplus to the poor, to not keep two coats. Jesus’ response to the young man in today’s narrative is radical, it’s subversive. And no matter how we interpret the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, he tells us  it’s okay to be wealthy; it’s not okay to be selfish.

 

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.

 

Scripture:

1 Kings 17:17-24
Galatians 1:11-19
Luke 7:11-17

 

 

Reflection:

Being Compassionate Prophets

As we return to Luke’s gospel today we find ourselves like the disciples whom Jesus met on the road to Emmaus. We hear a story that may move us as it first moved Jesus himself. It is kindling to keep our hearts burning within us!

The gospel is a companion to the story that is read on the preceding Sunday. There Jesus meets a delegation who come interceding for a centurion, a God fearing gentile, whose servant is near death. Like Elisha who healed the general Naaman, and like Elijah who healed the son of a widow from Sarepta, Jesus’ heals an army officer and raises to life the son of a widow. Today’s gospel, which is a story unique to Luke, and his placing both stories together underline the goal of Luke to have us see Jesus as a prophet. 

In the verses following today’s miracle, disciples from John are given an answer to John the Baptist’s question, ‘are you the one who is coming or must we wait for another?’ ‘Tell John what you have seen and heard… dead people are being raised’ (7:22).

It is the compassion of Jesus, though, that jumps off the page of Scripture. Jesus ‘felt compassion toward her’. This is what can set our hearts aflame. Luke tells us that a father had this same feeling for his returning son who had taken his inheritance and squandered his money. This is the feeling of a Good Samaritan when he comes upon an injured and helpless robbery victim. Luke uses the same word to describe the feeling of compassion that Jesus experiences, something we have been instructed on earlier in the gospel, ‘become compassionate as your Father is compassionate’ (9:36).

At Baptism we are named priests and prophets. How do these titles take on meaning in our lives? Pope Francis spoke of Jesus the priest. (‘True Prayer Takes Us Out of Ourselves’ May 15, 2013). Trust in his passion, his victory, and his wounds. In the glorified body of Jesus the disfigurement of the Passion is no more, but the wounds remain. Jesus the priest offers the sacrifice of his wounds. "But….Look" they say to the Father. See the love I have shown, the love that you have for your adopted sons and daughters. This gives us confidence and courage to pray.

Today we can see how to be prophets. In Scripture prophets speak on behalf of the poor and they defend the defenseless. They advocate for justice. But Jesus shows the side of the prophet that is full of compassion. Hearts set on fire with compassion are hearts that will find a way to reach out to the poor and defenseless.

Let us become compassionate as our Father is compassionate; as Jesus is compassionate. As people of compassion we can fulfill our role as prophets by working in our daily lives to bring about what will give hope to the defenseless and poor.

 

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

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Scripture:

Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20
Luke 2:41-51

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  It is certainly the companion to yesterday’s feast of the Sacred Heart.  Clearly, the connection is the human hearts of Jesus and Mary.  Today’s feast is not about theology or the church.  It is, rather, about the human heart that symbolizes the power of life, the center of passion, the source of love and commitment.  And, the hearts of Jesus and Mary above all others reveal to us the very heart of God who is love.

We often tend to idealize Mary’s experience as a Mother.  After all, Jesus must have been the "perfect" son!  Yet, in the Gospel for today, we are reminded that being someone’s Mother is always filled with mystery, misunderstanding, hurt and sorrow.  Mary and Joseph are clearly frightened when they can’t find Jesus.  When they finally find him after a three-day search, the response Jesus gives them was not particularly satisfying.  The Gospel only comments, "his mother kept all these things in her heart."  That was the first of many occasions when Mary was confused and frightened by the actions of Jesus.

Yet, as Mary lives out her life, we witness the pure love of a Mother for her Son, but even more importantly, the love of the perfect follower of Jesus.  It is her total love of God that opens her to the request that she be the Mother of God’s Son.  It is her total love of Jesus that supports her through the heart-wrenching experience of watching her son rejected, brutalized, condemned and killed.  It is her undying love of those Jesus loved that makes her the central support of the early Christian community and all those who desire to follow Jesus.

An immaculate heart is an unwavering heart, a generous heart, a courageous heart, a totally faithful heart.  May Mary’s love of Jesus and the followers of Jesus, support us as we struggle with our faltering hearts!

 

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director of the Development Office for Holy Cross Province and is stationed at Immaculate Conception Community in Chicago.

 

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Scripture:

Ezekiel 34:11-16
Romans 5:5b-11
Luke 15:3-37

 

Reflection:

 "They’re rioting in Africa, they’re starving in Spain.
There’s hurricanes in Florida, and Texas needs rain.
The whole world is festering with unhappy souls.
The French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the Poles.
Italians hate Yugoslavs, South Africans hate the Dutch.
And I don’t like anybody very much!"
(Sheldon Harnick 1953)

The above lyrics were sung by the Kingston Trio back in the good old ‘60’s. I remember them well and I often feel their appropriateness-especially after listening to the 5:00 o’clock news. The places and names have changed, but that’s about it. It’s then I muse:  Where’s that "Good" Shepherd when you need him? He must be asleep on the job. Why if I ruled the world, things would be different.

Sometimes, in a moment of clarity I recall the mess I’ve made of things. Yes, I’ve tried hard to do the right thing, but only to find out that I messed up again. I thought I knew the right answer, but was proven wrong again. Then I think of some other lyrics:

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference."
(Reinhold Niebuhr)

Finally, once again I realize I need to get out of the way and let the Good Shepherd be the Good Shepherd. I’m one of the flock and oh so lucky to be in His care. The following line of the 23^rd Psalm helps me. It goes:

"Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come." (Today’s Responsorial Psalm, USCCB)

 

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

Scripture:

Tobit 6-7
Mark 12:28-34

Reflection:

Deciding between good and evil is frequently not much of a challenge. But what happens when we have to decide between good and good? Jesus had to ask himself if he should heal someone on the Sabbath or refrain from doing work on that special day. Should I attend Mass on Sunday or take the day to visit an elderly mother in another town? This is the puzzlement addressed in the gospel today.

If there are too many laws, people get confused about what is truly important and what is secondary. The Jews had over 600 laws. One law might conflict with another law. Jewish moralists tired to figure out what laws are more essential, so people could know what laws enjoy a priority. The prophet Micah summarized the Law by writing, "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?" A famous rabbi summarized the Law by saying, "What you hate for yourself, do not to your neighbor. This is the whole law, the rest is commentary."

Perhaps the Scribe who engaged Jesus was experiencing conflict between the need to love the people in his life and the need to fulfill all the demands of Temple worship. Jesus resolved his problem by assuring him that practical love for God and neighbor comes before the need for ritual observances and worship. The Pharisees reversed the order. They absolved people from taking care of their old parents so long as they willed all their wealth to the Temple (Mark 7:11-12). In this way they became skilled in manipulating religious laws but deficient in what Jesus calls "the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith" (Matthew 23:23).

Jesus is not looking at achievement but at attitude. He is not looking at the deeds themselves but the motivation behind them.  Jesus is not interested in a barren religion – in only keeping the rules – but rather in relationships. He wants us to have a dynamic relationship with God and one another. Paul the Apostle recognized the responsibility to love when he said: "Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 8:10b).

 

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