Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31
John 21:20-25

Reflection:

What kind of man was Jesus that rough, rugged fishermen would drop their nets and follow him?   

He was the son of a carpenter, strong, robust, and capable of walking great distances.  He loved nature and often spoke about the lilies of the field, the birds of the air, sheep and goats, wheat and weeds, fish and trees, and the vine and branches. 

He was capable of anger, as when he drove out the merchants in the temple.  He could be gentle, as when the people brought up their children to see him.  St. Mark tells us, "He embraced them and blessed them." (Mark 10:16)

He was a teacher and a storyteller.  He must have liked parties, for his enemies accused him of being a wine-drinker and a gluttonous person. (cf. Matthew 11:19)

He experienced disappointment when he cured ten lepers and only one returned to express thanks.  He felt deep sorrow when he wept at the death of his friend Lazarus. 

He experienced frustration. "Philip, how long have I been with you and still you do not know me." (John 14:8). 

Hanging on the cross in his hour of need, he was deeply saddened that his closest friends were not there with him.  One betrayed him, another denied him.  The others scattered.  Yet, not thinking of himself, as a good son his heart was centered on his mother, entrusting her to the one loyal apostle, John.   

In today’s gospel passage, which is the ending of John’s gospel, the evangelist tells us that he left unrecorded "many other things that Jesus did."  The four gospels record a lot of  Jesus’ words and actions. We have to fill in the picture on how he felt, what emotions he experienced.  So that, when we turn to him in prayer, we will know that our God is an understanding God.  He knows what we are going through.  He has been here before us. 

 

Fr. Alan Phillip, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Acts 25:13b-21
John 21:15-19

Reflection:

This conversation between Jesus and Peter is reminiscent of some that I had with my parents as a child. They would ask "Do you love me?" and as an angsty teen who felt like they asked this question way too often I would reply "Of course! You know that!" When people we love ask this question over and over again, we tend to get frustrated. We begin to tell ourselves: "Why are they asking that question?" ‘I show them every day, they should know this by now.’ Peter at the end of this Gospel is no stranger to this sentiment. While in our humanness may ask this question for reassurance, this is not Jesus’ intent.

The Gospel today comes during the third appearance of Jesus to his disciples after his resurrection. Looking at this story through the eyes of Peter, I would worry that I would be reprimanded for my denial of Him. However,  Jesus doesn’t approach Peter in a resentful or condescending way, but as a friend. Jesus asks Simon Peter three times "Do you love me?" which seems to absolve Peter of his denial before Jesus was put to death.  Not only does he come at Peter in this loving way, but he gives him the task of ministering to his flock.  Peter is given this important and awesome role by Jesus even with his full knowledge that Peter is not perfect. This is reassuring and refreshing in two ways: 1) I do not have to be perfect to serve the Kingdom of God and 2) Jesus loves me, no matter how often I fail. This does not mean that I do not strive to be a better person or do better things with my life; on the contrary it means I get back up and do better.

Like most that are called by Jesus, we may have said that we can’t or we’re not worthy. We know from the Letters of Peter that he went on to teach and preach to others on how to live their lives for God. "Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing" (1 Peter 3:8-9). It can be surprising and baffling when we look back on our life and see the growth that God has allowed to take place within us. Reflecting on the gifts that have been bestowed upon us no matter our resistance shows God’s great love for us. A growth that has prepared us for the leadership that we are called to within the Church. The only appropriate response for us to give is "Yes Lord, I love you."

 

Kim Valdez in a Pastoral Associate at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas

 

Feast of St. Gemma Galgani

Scripture:
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
John 17:20-26

 

 

Reflection:

Pray for Unity, a Gift of Love

As I hear the Johannine Jesus praying for the unity of his disciples, "as you, Father, are in me and I in you" in the unifying love of the Holy Spirit, it seems to me as if I were hearing the famous motto of Alexandre Dumas’ novel The Three Musketeers, that is, "all for one and one for all, united we stand, divided we fall."  I indeed wonder if Dumas drew his inspiration to write his novel from Jesus’ prayer of unity.  For the hope and expectation of Jesus’ words are that all "may be brought to perfection as one," so that "the world may know that you sent me" as your promised Messiah.  

It is obvious that the unity Jesus prays for comes to be only in and through the mutual understanding and loving of his followers, to whom he has revealed his Father’s identity, so "that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."  What is more, the community of faith that Jesus envisions must remain open "for those who will believe in me through their word."  It must be an inclusive, loving community of disciples who remain faithful to the gospel and "take courage" in bearing witness to the cause of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, just as we see Paul in today’s first reading bearing witness to the gospel in Jerusalem and Rome. 

If faith in Jesus is required to become his disciples, then mutual understanding and love are required to perfect us in the unity of God’s Trinity, for that is the only way the community of faith makes known to world that Jesus is the Christ.  No wonder Paul tells the Christian community of Galatia that, "in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love" (Gal 5:6).  This is the truth the Jews from Jerusalem do not understand in Paul’s teaching and preaching of the New Way and therefore conspire against him.  For, to begin with, they are unable to believe in Jesus, the One the Father sent them as the Messiah.  Thus, they are unable to understand and accept one another beyond the differences of their religious beliefs, which engage them in a serious dispute. 

Today, May 16^th, the Passionists celebrate the feast of St. Gemma Galgani, and it is fitting to remember that, like Paul the Apostle, she also took courage in bearing witness to the cause of Jesus’ sacrificial love on the cross.  For she consecrated herself to a life of sacrifice and suffering for the salvation of sinners, and her witness to the Passion of Jesus Christ made her life and prayer grow in union with God, just as Jesus prays to his Father for his disciples in today’s gospel.  Therefore, today’s readings call us, to the example of Paul and Gemma, to remain faithful to Jesus’ teachings and instructions by finding unity in God’s Trinity as we carry out the works of our ministries with unreserved love and understanding.

Join us for Mass celebrating the Feast of St. Gemma Galgani.  

 

 Fr. Alfredo Ocampo, C.P. gives retreats and parish missions.  He is stationed at Holy Name Passionist Community in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

Acts 20:28-38
John 17:11b-19

Reflection:

In a few days we will be celebrating the feast of Pentecost. As he finishes his final missionary journey to Greece and Asia Minor Paul himself was on his way to Jerusalem eager to get there by the feast of Pentecost if at all possible (Acts 20:16). Of course he was very much aware of the power of the Spirit in his own life and ministry (Acts 20: 22-23). On his way to Jerusalem Paul decides to avoid Ephesus, a place where he had spent three years teaching, setting in rather to the port of Miletus, about thirty miles from Ephesus. He summons the presbyters of Ephesus to Miletus for a farewell discourse and instruction.  Luke summarizes it by first emphasizing how selflessly Paul lived among them and preached the kingdom to them. Then we have the words we read today.

Paul begins by reminding them of their responsibility to "watch over themselves and the whole flock".  You have the Holy Spirit to help you he says. What you always have to remember that the Church of God is the Spirit’s work! This is something we have to remember today. Paul speaks of savage wolves that will come from your own group to pervert the truth. Be vigilant, Paul says. We ourselves have experienced the devastating effects of the clergy abuse scandal. What has made it so difficult for the ordinary Catholic is the failure for many years of our leaders to deal effectively with this scourge. As Paul finishes he has tears in his eyes and commends presbyters of Ephesus to God. His final wish is that they would "help the weak".   He quotes a saying of Jesus that is not in the gospels: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Doesn’t that say it all? Isn’t this the simple Way of Jesus? Isn’t this the path that St. Francis of Assisi found? 

In our gospel Jesus prays to his Father for his disciples: "Consecrate them in truth. Your word is truth". May we take the simple words of Jesus into our hearts and ask the Holy Spirit to set our hearts on fire to live as Jesus lived.

 

Fr. Michael Hoolahan, C.P. is on the staff of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center,  Sierra Madre, California. 

Scripture:

Acts 19:1-8
John 16:29-33

Reflection:

I am not alone; the Father is with me, Jesus tells us. In the intimacy between Jesus and his Mother-Father God, God becomes a witness. In the midst of trial and tribulation, God is the first witness and, at times, the only witness, of one´s suffering. This especially dignifies those whose plea for justice has been ignored or silenced. It is in God´s heart that all victims find a place for justice. This is both a comfort  and challenge. The comfort comes from the revelation that God´s just-love seeks to restore everything anew, both victims and victimizers. Our challenge is to do the same within the brokenness of our world in order to participate in the Raining of God.

The recent bombings in Boston create this opportunity for the American People. Will those brought to justice become the scapegoats of American fear, racism and xenophobia, or the U.S. Government´s extraordinary rendition  program depriving them of due process? Or will the American People decide to go forward in the radical proposition of God´s just-love that wants to transform even our hearts!

 

Fr. Hugo Esparza-Pérez, C.P. is a Passionist of Holy Cross Province now working in Mexico with the Province of Cristo Rey.

Scripture:

Acts 18:23-28
John 16:23b-28

Reflection:

Priscilla and Aquila offer us perhaps the most beautiful example in the Bible of a wife and husband working together for the advancement of the Gospel.

The Apostle Paul was a scholarly and spiritual giant, yet he saw something special in this humble couple who made their living as tentmakers.  In tender terms, he called them "my fellow co-workers in the Gospel.  Together with Paul, they made a powerful missionary team.  No doubt they learned from each other.

Even the brilliant scripture scholar Apollos could not help but be impressed with Priscilla and Aquila.  Apollos came from Alexandria, the second largest city in the Roman Empire, the city with the greatest library in civilization — 700,000 volumes.  This was a place brimming with intellectual ferment.  Apollos drank of this knowledge.

On day, the couple heard Apollos preaching eloquently, in the synagogue.  He was brilliant and he was bold.  But, he also was seriously deficient in his understanding of Christ and faith.  This was not surprising.  His learning apparently ended with the teaching of John the Baptist.  He lacked a fuller understanding of Christ.

Interestingly, Acts tells us that Apollos "knew only the baptism of John."  The Greek word used here for "knew" is "epistamenos."  It means he had intellectual knowledge, he knew the facts and information.  But the word implies that he lacked the deeper dimension of understanding, in this case, of Christ.

Priscilla and Aquila noticed this deficiency immediately.  True, the couple may not have been well educated or learned in scholarly ways like Paul.  They held no major ministry position, like those of Titus or Timothy.  They never even held an official leadership position in the synagague.  As far as we know, they never even wrote a book of scripture or preached a sermon.  They were content to work behind the scenes in a supportive role.  What made them effective was their love of Christ, their deep faith, and their willingness to make their gift available in the service of the early Church.  Their gift?  They were spiritual mentors.

They took this young man home and with patience and love, they shared with him the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.  How long this took, we don’t know.  Apollos must have been a humble man, because no doubt he knew that intellectually and academically he was far advanced from this couple.  Yet, he was willing to listen and to be taught by them.  As a result of this encounter with Priscilla and Aquila, Apollos became a powerful servant of God, whom some in the Corinthian community would even place on a level with Peter and Paul.

In these people, the early Church gives us powerful examples of spiritual mentors and brilliant, but humble preachers.  The patient and loving couple, Priscilla and Aquila took a sincere man with a love of knowledge, and led him to a love of God.  Apollos, a towering intellect, who like Paul, saw something special in a humble tent-making couple, sat humbly at their feet to learn the love of God by witnessing their love for one another and for him.

Like them, we are called to make our gifts available — however modest they may seem to us — to share them with the Body of Christ.  We are reminded in unmistakable terms, that however knowledgeable and scholarly we may be, we will grow more deeply in the love of God when we have loving spiritual mentors.

Paul understood this best.  At the close of his letter to the Romans, he greets 26 people by name.  At the top of this list is the ministry team of Priscilla and Aquila, the first great spiritual mentors of the Church — and his.

 

Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

 

The Ascension of the Lord

Scripture:

Acts 1:1-11
Ephesians 1:17-23 or Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23
Luke 24:46-53

 

 

Reflection:

                                       The Ascension Days, Days of Absence, Spirit and Joy

Jesus appears to the disciples after those who met him on the road to Emmaus recount their experience. He eats, shows them his body so they know he is not a ghost; he is really with them. He tells them that he has fulfilled the law, the prophets and the psalms. And ‘he opens their minds to the Scriptures’. Our gospel continues and along with Acts tells the disciples that the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, will come upon them and they will be witnesses of his dying and rising.

The palate of the Ascension and days that follow, the colors that we will work with are Jesus absence, the waiting for the Spirit, and joy. Our directions are the words of two men dressed in white, who appear standing beside the disciples, ‘Don’t stand there looking up into the sky. The one taken from you into heaven will return’.

On this feast we can look to the dome of some great churches and see the Jesus Pantocrator, Lord of All or more commonly Jesus, at the right hand of the Father. There are many artists’ renderings that show us Jesus rising from the midst of the disciples who surround him, listening to his final words, and of course the famous Ascension where we see the disciples looking up and Jesus’ two feet dangling from the top of the painting! Better than literal renderings, we do well to stick with our palate – absence, Spirit and joy. The readings take us away from Bethany to when we enter a time waiting.

The disciples are a wounded group. Judas has been lost to them. They are nursing their failures, their fear and their fleeing. They had been through the awful experience of human torture, injustice, loss and grieving of a dear, unique friend. True they now experienced him as risen and not a ghost but very much alive in their midst once again. In these days when Jesus has left them they must discuss how something so cruel as the Passion could be redeeming. This experience is indelible for them. 

They also at the same time know true joy. Joy must wash over them with a peace, a healing and sense of freedom. They acknowledge as heroes the women of Galilee – faithful in little things, they were heroines faithful to the end with Jesus! Luke loves them. And as they gather praising God ‘continually’ in the temple, they must ask over and over the story of what happened from the disciples who had met Jesus on the road and broke bread with him. What did he say? Tell us again in detail what he did.

Their minds were open to the Scriptures, but these men and women do not become Scripture scholars as we might imagine ourselves today. God’s Word is the love story of God for all of us; God’s working through a Chosen People entrusted with the mystery of God’s love in a unique way. The disciples ponder a new chapter in the love story where God’s love is told anew in the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus. Do they realize they will feature prominent in this story?

Today we can look up and see God’s grandeur in the clouds; we can look up and see art and beauty that speak to us of the story of God’s love for us. The great symbol of God’s love, the Church, are those who make it up, the Body of Christ, all of God’s people made in the image of our God. ‘Don’t look up’ said the men in white. Indeed as we are invited these days to consider absence, Spirit and joy, let us look around us where the One who left us in such a surprising fashion is just as surprisingly to be found. With them we continue our conversation, there we witness.

 

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

Scripture:

Acts 16:11-15
John 15:26-16:4a

Reflection:

In two weeks we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost. The Gospel reading today helps prepare us for this celebration. In John’s Gospel Jesus prepares the apostles for his departure. He refers to his arrest, conviction and execution. He gives the apostles words of encouragement as they will face many difficulties and tells them about the Holy Spirit, who will be with them.

The Holy Spirit is described in many ways: Comforter, Advocate, Counselor and Helper. Yes, the Spirit comforts us in our failures, frustrations, loss and grief. The Spirit doesn’t come in and scoop away our sadness. The Spirit will help us carry a heavy You cannot manipulate the Spirit to give you pleasant emotions. You cannot always trust joy and peace. It is easy to mistake false joy for true spirituality, and false peace for genuine peace.  The Spirit will help us work through difficult emotions to bring us closer to Jesus, giving us confidence even though our emotions might be confused and upsetting.

The Spirit is our Advocate, someone who is willing to stand up publicly to speak out on your behalf, like a defense attorney. The Spirit knows all about us, yet the Spirit declares us innocent because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Spirit makes the motion to dismiss all charges against us because of our faith in Jesus Christ. The Spirit always sees you as you can be, not as we or others condemn us for failures. Remember, the Spirit does not plead your good works or your fine intentions, but the Spirit pleads Christ for you.

We also know the Spirit as Counselor. The Spirit can untangle the greatest personal dilemmas we get ourselves into. By ourselves the way through these impasses seem impossible. The Spirit is the wisest of counselors. The Spirit doesn’t give us pithy clichés or quick-fix solutions. The Spirit gives us wisdom and understanding beyond what we can imagination.

Finally, the Spirit is the Helper. The Spirit gives you the aid that you most need at the right time. That help might not be to get you out of a difficult situation; it might be the help to get us through the difficulty. The help is not just a casual assistance, as if you could do most of the work and the Spirit adds a little bit more. When we experience our spiritual helplessness, we come to understand the enormous help that the Spirit offers.

Jesus said that he talked about the Spirit so that we would not fall away. "When [the] hour comes you may remember [what] I told you" about the comfort, advocacy, counsel and help the Spirit will give you.

 

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