Daily Scripture

First Sunday of Lent

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Romans 10:8-13
Luke 4:1-13

Reflection:

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Lent, and our Gospel reading is Luke’s account of the temptation of Jesus in the desert (Luke 4:1-13). Luke tells us that the devil offers three temptations to Jesus. For me, these temptations all have something in common. They are temptations to control. The first temptation has to do with control of creation. The devil says to Jesus: "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." Jesus, hungry from fasting, is tempted to make the stone something it’s not in order to satisfy His desires. Very often, we look at creation as something to satisfy our desires. We may not think in those terms, but it sure is easy to act in those terms. It can be easy to not think of how our everyday choices affect the environment. After all, we want what we want, when we want it.

The second temptation has to do with control of others. The devil shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and says,"I shall give to you all this power and glory…if you worship me." I always wonder how tempting this might have been to Jesus. To think He could make everyone do the right thing without suffering and death could have been very seductive. At least it would have been for me. Do we not find ourselves frustrated at how others, at home or at work or at school or in office (or at the parish) do not do things the way we think they should (which really means our way)? Too many times in human history have there been attempts of one group to dominate another. The desire to control others is where relationships, either between individuals or communities or nations, break down.

The third temptation has to do with control of God. Here the devil takes Jesus to the parapet of the temple, and says, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and ‘With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’" The devil is tempting Jesus to force His Father’s hand. This, too, is a great temptation for us, and the tragic thing is that it shouldn’t be. But we can have so much trouble trusting that God knows what we need that we feel that we have to try to manipulate God somehow into taking care of us, or answering our prayers. But that is the least thing we need to do! In our first reading from Deuteronomy (26:4-10) Moses tells the people to offer their first fruits to God. They are to acknowledge what God has done for them, saying among other things: "He brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders; and bringing us into this country, he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey." God has freed us from slavery to sin in Jesus Christ! True, we may not feel that we have arrived at the Promised Land, but that is not an indication that God has stopped loving us, or that we need to make sure God knows what we need. God knows what we need more than we do! He doesn’t always give us what we want, because what we want can be the worst thing for us.

We need not try so hard to control things. We are called to do what we can, with the gifts God has given us. But at the same time, trying to control abuses our relationships, with creation, with others, and with God. Instead, we can put our trust in God, and follow Jesus. Jesus did not tell us to "control one another," but to "love one another." I think the thing I admire most about Pope Benedict’s stepping down is that he showed humility and trust in God and let go of control. 

When the temptations to control come upon us, we need to come to God and surrender to His will. As the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, but then out of it again to begin His ministry, so will the Holy Spirit guide us. May we not try to build the kingdom according to our plans, but to seek the kingdom according to God’s.

 

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P. is the director of St. Paul of the Cross Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:
Isaiah 55:10-11
Matthew 6:7-15

Reflection:
"This is how you are to pray:" Matthew 6:9a

We are beginning the first full week of Lent. The Gospel for Ash Wednesday (Matthew 6:1-18) gave us three practices that will deepen our relationship with God: giving alms, praying and fasting.

Almsgiving is based upon the tradition of sharing your goods with the poor, found in different texts within the Old Testament. However, it was Jesus who insisted in making the giving of alms as one of the cornerstones of his Gospel.

Fasting also has a rich history in our Scriptures. Fasting prepares the person to receive God’s loving mercy. Fasting is a personal expression of contrition for infidelity to God’s Covenant.

Jesus adds prayer to this list of penitential practices. These Scripture readings for today’s Mass challenge us to ask the question: how do you pray?

Like so many of us, I learned to pray at my mother’s knees. We were a praying family. We always began our prayers by making the Sign of the Cross. We prayed when we got up in the morning, sometimes going to daily Mass; we prayed before and after meals; we prayed a family rosary and we prayed as a family at holy hour. More often than not, we prayed the Our Father and the Hail Mary the vast majority of the time. So, when I began reflecting on this passage as a seminarian and as a preacher, I was personally challenged by this Gospel. Much of my prayer was repetitious prayer. Much of my prayer was for some intention, for example, asking for healing, for helping someone who was in trouble and for a benefit for me or my family.

Then I began to reflect upon the "Our Father" as the model for all prayer. Jesus begins the Our Father with a stream of praise to God as Loving Father. Then we get to the heart of the prayer: "Thy will be done" on earth as it is in heaven! This prayer is all about God’s will and not my will. This is the prayer we find on Jesus’ lips the night before he died, pleading for his life before his Loving Father. Ultimately, his prayer was: "Not my will but Thine be done!"

The next phrase is a petition for daily bread. We ask for what will keep us alive day in and day out. That is the only petition that we find in this prayer. Then, we make a plea for the forgiveness of our sins but only on the condition that we forgive others. This is part of the prayer that is the most difficult to say with conviction and meaning. Yes, I want my sins forgiven. I am not so sure I am willing to forgive that other miserable scoundrel that hurt me and my family, that lied about me, that defrauded me, that laughed in my face when I was trying to be honest and sincere. Finally, we pray to keep us far from walking that path which leads us to sin and a destructive way of life. We need the grace to walk away from the near occasions of sin, the parties that lead to drunkenness and sexual misconduct, the companions that teach us how to lie and how to be dishonest, the websites which draw us into worlds of gambling and promiscuity.

So whether we pray the Our Father in silence or we pray it aloud, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we pray it with fervor and conviction of a follower of Christ. Every other way we pray it would be babble!

 

Fr. Clemente Barrón, C.P. is stationed in San Antonio, Texas. 

Ash Wednesday

Scripture:

Joel 2:12-18
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Reflection:

As we begin our journey into Lent, we should not be thinking, "What are my personal goals for this Lent?  How do I want to change my life?  What problems do I want to deal with?"  Now, I am not saying that we cannot have some personal goals, but Lent is about the Church, the whole human family, and not just me.  It is possible that someone might say, "I have done quite well this past year.  I have my life in order.  My faith life is humming along.  I will not enter into Lent too much this year.  Maybe next year I will need it more." 

We are told that Jesus became sin for our sake.  He could have said, "I am without sin.  I will stay away from that mess."  Rather, he wrapped himself in our flesh and blood, taking upon himself our humanity.  Though born without sin, he covered himself with our sin, or as St. Paul would say, "The Father put our sins upon his son".

Lent is a season when we declare our oneness with the entire Church, even the whole human family.  We seek to cover ourselves with the fears, struggles, anxieties, even sins of all our brothers and sisters.  Many are starving to death.  Others are near despair because of the mess of the world economy.  How many there are caught in an addiction to drugs, to pornography, alcohol, etc.    We believe that our God is "gracious and merciful… and relenting in punishment."   Covering ourselves with the ashes, a reminder of our frailty and finality, we bow before God in prayer and penance, begging him to relent, and bestow great compassion on this suffering, struggling group of people.

Lent takes on a depth of meaning and a much greater emotional experience if I see it as the whole world, myself included, crying out for a great outpouring of God healing, love and compassion.

Scripture scholars speak of Jesus as a "corporate personality", one who represents all of us, taking us through death and resurrection.  During Lent, we should develop a sense of being a "corporate personality", a person who represents the whole human family.  We put that great grouping of people, in all its hurts and needs, before the flow of God’s blessings, streaming from the pierced side of his son, Jesus Christ.  You might be surprised how special this Lent will be if you approach it with this focus.

 

Fr. Blaise Czaja, C.P. gives parish missions and retreats.  He is a member of the Passionist Community in Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

Isaiah 58:1-9a
Matthew 9:14-15

Reflection:

The word of Isaiah today is challenging. The people have returned from exile in Babylon. The destroyed temple has been rebuilt. But it is like nothing has changed. These are the children and grandchildren of those who had lived through the surrender and destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. It was a terrible punishment the Jewish nation endured for their sins of idolatry, for abandoning reliance on God alone, and for the lack of justice in society. But even after so much had happened God has to order his prophet again to "Cry out…Tell my people their wickedness, and the house of Jacob their sins". What is their sin? They are acting as if there was no sin among them. As if the nation was doing what is just. As if they had not abandoned their God once again. Oh they fast and publically do penance. Each bows "his head like a reed" and lies "in sackcloth and ashes".  But where are their hearts? The prophet tells them that the penance that is really acceptable to God is "releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own." Only by doing the corporate works of mercy will "your light break forth like the dawn and your wound…quickly be healed." (read Matthew 25)

Two days ago I did a public act of penance as the ashes were placed on my forehead in the sign of cross. I wonder if God was pleased. How do I stand with the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the oppressed? Am I just a comfortable Christian going through the motions? The words of scripture today should make me uncomfortable. 

 

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

 

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Luke 9:22-25

Reflection:

So what to do with that box of candy?  A seemingly trivial question given the depth and seriousness of the choices laid out in today’s readings but relevant for some as we rise this morning with hints of ashes still marking our foreheads taking in the gifts exchanged today in the name of friendship and love.  Per the National Confectioners Association 36 million heart shaped boxes filled with chocolate will be gifted for Valentine’s Day.  How ironic that this shower of love tops the list for our sacrificial offerings for Lent.  

One socially conscious website claims chocolate and sweets are second of ten in the items most given up for Lent along with alcohol, cursing, gossiping, social media, television, junk food, smoking and soda.  This list is only a small reflection of things that in excess can separate us from intimacy, presence and deeper connection to God, family, community and the outer world.

Lent can be a time to sacrifice something we "love" or peel away things we deem a hindrance in the greater scheme of things to create a space to open to and restore our intimate relationship with God.  A time where willpower alone does not keep us from succumbing to temptation but rather the realization of our renewed dependence on God’s grace working through us.  It is a time of disciplined practice, mini surrenders and acts of self-surrendering service which lead us towards the greater challenge and call to pick up our cross and follow Christ.

The other morning while walking I looked down at the sidewalk just as I was reframing a relationship struggle with a more positive, heart opening, life affirming response.  I realized when viewed with the eyes of grace that I wanted to and could respond from a place of greater love and intimacy.  Less affirming choices must be shed to make room for God to work in me.  In that moment I looked at the ground and smiled.  There lying at my feet were dried pine needles forming the letter "Y".   It seemed to me a whisper of grace rising to confirm my brewing "Yes," to the fullness of life and love as if to say "That’s it.   Move towards that which gives you the capacity of a greater, deeper love"   I picked up the pine needles and looking with fresh eyes at the lines of the "Y" spread upward and outward I thought,  "Those are resurrection arms."

We have grown up with the image of Christ’s arms stretched across the hard form of a cross.  Stripped. Nailed. Surrendered, with love.  Christ’s victory pose is one of arms reaching up and outward, breaking free of all the shackles that have held the human race in bondage throughout the ages.  Arms raised, breaking free of death and curse, leaving nothing untouched by grace.

As my brother-in-law Charley wisely shared, "The Lord can only open the door; the rest is up to us."  On this day of celebrating love, we remember love is a moment to moment choice.  It requires a leap of faith "Yes" into the Mystery with a heart of faith and Christ as our guide.

 

M. Walsh is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa in Sierra Madre and friend of the Passionist Community.

Scripture:

Genesis 1:20-2:4a
Mark 7:1-13

Reflection:

Humans have a habit of imposing order and maintaining control with long lists of rules and unnecessarily restrictive taboos.  In the process, we mature, obedient, compliant people can miss out on the wildly extravagant God of creation who longs to break every chain and open us to the unmitigated joy of life. 

For instance, I recently read an article about how a man should hug another man.  It was accompanied by pictures of President Obama giving a "proper man-hug" and a "too-close-for-comfort man-hug".  I was utterly dismayed.  Even in expressing genuine affection, we are supposed to abide by someone’s invented rules for appropriate hugging techniques?  Jesus would have a field day on that one!

I am usually very conscious of abiding by the rules.  I am aware that most rules have an invaluable function and were not simply "made to be broken."  Yet what if I decided to loosen up on "proper behavior" in my everyday life in order to partake more fully in the love and joy of God’s created world? 

Maybe once in a while I should:

… sing as I walk down the street.

…spend 20 whole minutes "wasting time", perhaps watching the ants, or silently observing the entire sun sink behind the horizon.

…refuse to say a critical word about any other person for at least one day.

…jump up and down when I pray, wave my hands, and praise God at the top of my voice.

… eat my dessert first, and consciously enjoy every bite.

…get some finger paints and large pieces of paper, put on some old clothes, and play with the colors, smearing them around any way I want without critiquing whether it is "good art".

…buy a bag of chocolates and just give them out to whomever I happen to encounter.

…go outside without an umbrella when it rains and raise my face to the sky, feeling the water wash over me.  If it rains hard enough to create puddles, stomp in them with abandon and giggle as the water flies everywhere.

…reach out to the kid with his pants hanging off his rear and try to learn something from him.

…allow myself to sob loudly when I am sad, to wail and moan and throw temper tantrums for as long as I can sustain the energy to do so.

…take a good look at my naked body and thank God for how each part functions and serves me.

…play with a frog.

…laugh long and loud, and smile so wide my cheeks hurt.

…notice cashiers’ name tags, call them by name, and thank them for serving me today.

…put on some music and dance, without judging whether or not I "can" dance.

…never go a day, even in the most miserable weather, without going outside for at least a moment, smelling the air, noticing the sky and trees, and shouting out my gratitude to God.

I’m sure you could add other things to this list.   Let go of at least a few reservations and fears and find ways to experience the sheer joy of living, even in the midst of trials and pain.  See the crazy, wondrous, wild abandon God instilled in creation and allow it to fill and inspire your spirit.  Lavishly spread compassion, love, and delight.  I suspect if we can do that well, God will look down and see that it is good. 

 

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:

Genesis 1:1-19
Mark 6:53-56

Reflection:

Often homes with young children have a space or a room which is disordered, cluttered, difficult to safely walk through and strewn with objects of various shapes, sizes and materials.  It is called the Toy Room, or in the case of my grandchildren, the Black Hole.  What goes in may never be seen again.  Periodically, the mother will feel compelled to bring order out of this chaos, to sort out the pieces, organize the games, reclothe the dolls, and establish some sense of purpose and potential wholeness to the randomly scattered components.  When finished, the mom will look about, smile in satisfaction, give and contented sigh and say to herself, "This is very good".

In the beginning, according to Genesis, God took the formless wasteland and dark abyss and brought life giving order and potential to all that was. The disparate parts became whole and bursting full of the living breath of God.  All forms of life were an inter-related completeness of divine creation and became plentiful and fruitful and reflected God’s loving glory.  And God saw that this was good.

Jesus was thrust into the chaos of his time.  People from all regions would rush to meet him bringing the sick and infirmed to be in his presence and to hopefully touch the tassel of his cloak.  Jesus was known to have the power to bring wholeness to broken bodies and spirits and healing to the diseased and ailing.  The creative Spirit of God worked through Jesus to bring order to those living in the chaos of all manner of broken lives.  And Jesus knew that this was good.

Each of us through Baptism has been called to continue the creative life giving process of God.  In family life, in ministry, in everyday interactions with others we have the opportunity to be experienced as one through whom the creative Spirit works to bring the love and acceptance and joy that the world needs so much today.  And God knows that this will be very good.

 

Cathy Anthony is on the staff of St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center, Detroit, Michigan. 

Scripture:

Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11

Reflection:

From the scripture stories of Isaiah, Paul, and Peter, they appear to be saintly and effective instruments of God. Yet each one first protested his unworthiness, and could easily have missed what God was calling him to do. Thousands of years later, that obstacle – the feeling of not being capable or worthy or perfect enough for the job – is still actively operating.

Try asking someone to serve on the pastoral council, as a catechist or lector, or any of the myriad roles of service in our parishes, schools, and communities. How many excuses do you hear? "I’m not good enough. I’m too busy with my work. Other people are better suited than I am. I don’t have sufficient experience." And on it goes. Those of us on the "asking" end get continually frustrated. We wouldn’t approach people unless we felt they had the necessary gifts, but too often they turn away.

What about me? Sometimes I honestly feel I am not worthy, gifted, or capable. Yet even honest doubts are complicated by the fact that I, too, would rather stick with what I know and avoid additional responsibilities.  I am afraid of failure, and prefer to let someone else take the risk and the job. Excuses are readily available, and I can rationalize my way into an abundance of them.

I suspect that my reluctance and self-protection too often frustrate God’s desires. What request is God placing in my lap that I am capable of fulfilling and yet I turn away? Perhaps more importantly, how is God calling me to stretch beyond what I believe I can do so greater work can be done? In what ways am I stuck (or even content) in the quagmire of unworthiness instead of praying that God purify my lips, give me all I need to accomplish the task, and grant me the courage to follow?

True discipleship is incredibly challenging. When I get too comfortable, or find myself making convenient excuses, I have to wonder whether God is calling. My task then is not to protest my unworthiness, but to prayerfully respond, "Here I am. Send me."

 

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/.