Daily Scripture

 

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 2:10-16
Psalm 145
Luke 4:31-37

 

 

Reflection:

God’s Spirit at Work

As I’ve grown older, I know firsthand how I depend on my eyeglasses to help me see.  I’ve worn glasses for most of my life; they are "first-on" and "last-off" each day.  I regularly have my eyes professionally examined, and often there are tweaks in the prescription lenses.  My eyeglasses are important in helping me see clearly the beauty of God in both people and nature…and then engage in life.

Building upon today’s first reading from St. Paul, we need to "see clearly" with the aid of the spiritual vision that comes from faith in Jesus Christ.  We have received a share in God’s Spirit which helps us to recognize and then actively appreciate the many gifts God shares with us.  Looking through in the Scriptures, the gift of faith helped the Israelites to see that it was God who parted the waters of the Red Sea for their Exodus crossing, and the gift of faith that helps us see Jesus’ death on the Cross as Jesus’ supremacy over sin and death…not simply a political execution.  As we regularly share in the Eucharist, it’s faith that helps us see not ordinary bread and wine at Mass but truly Jesus’ own Body and Blood given to us.

In the Gospel, Jesus is teaching with authority at Capernaum.  He encounters a possessed man in the synagogue, and powerfully and lovingly cures the man.  Again, it’s God’s Spirit at work in Him, meeting the challenges of a man possessed and people of little or no faith – inviting all of them to a deeper faith — and changed lives!

It’s God’s Spirit at work in our lives, helping us recognize God’s gifts all around us – in both joys and sorrows, successes and failures, the forces of nature, the passage of time.  Nothing in life escapes God’s presence and love.  In faith, we are called to see everything in light of God’s love…"God is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works" (Psalm 145).

Blessings on this day, and the Spirit at work in our lives!  May we "see" clearly and respond lovingly!

 

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

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Luke 4:16-30

Reflection:

In the Gospel we hear and ponder in our hearts the stirring mission statement of Jesus Christ our Savior. Relief, hope, and great news confront the bad news faced by the oppressed, the stubborn, the dictatorial, the blind, the freedom-deprived and the poor. I am mindful today, that in fact, 20% of our country do not celebrate Labor Day because they are unemployed. And, as we allow Jesus’ "mission for the world" to renew its penetration in us we realize again that "This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen." 

We cannot underestimate the movement of the Spirit to address issues of injustice. It is constitutive to the gospels. And in our pondering, not letting pass by the words of Paul today, when he assures us that he lives and writes "so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God."

That assurance is critical if we are to embrace the same mission as Christ — addressing in our own environment systemic injustice in all of its forms. This activity will lead to the Cross in some form of rejection at a personal cost. While initially Jesus "won the approval of all" who heard Him speak, when they realized that the blessings of Yahweh were primarily for the sake of those who were foreign, at-risk, and unattractive, "they were enraged" and tried to "throw Him down the cliff." The cross of the Catholic Christian is what is endured when one speaks out and acts for the sake of Justice For All.

Although this is a "small sting of rejection," when we at Holy Family Cristo Rey H.S. in Birmingham seek employment for all of our students (the 9th graders being the most difficult to employ) we feel the sting of incredulity and rejection from potential employers who turn us down without an explanation. We do not give up, because this Passionist Mission is embedded in the Cross of Christ, the greatest and the most overwhelming work of God’s love.

 

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

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8
Psalm: 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5
James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Reflection:

Strong words come forth from today’s readings!  Moses, the prophet of the Passover and Exodus, clearly asks the people to reconcile themselves to the power of the commandments of the Lord over them.  Their public behavior will be the "evidence" that will move other nations and peoples to recognize the covenant relationship that exists between the Israelites and God.

The meaning of the commandments and the underlying covenant is made explicit in the Responsorial Psalm, which names the practical expression of a just life.

Our second reading from James emphasizes the importance of a coherence between what we believe and what we do.  "Be doers of the word and not hearers only…."  In harmony with what the Psalmist had made explicit, James names the practical exercise of the commandments that reflect this first generation of the Christian community: "to care for orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

Finally, in the gospel selection from Mark, Jesus is presented in dialogue with the Pharisees and scribes, the usual framing of a discussion that would exact from later hearers the clearer understanding of how Jesus was setting his followers apart from "traditional" Judaism.

Some scripture scholars attribute this concern over the rituals of the Jewish purification practices to be a response to the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple by the Romans in 70 A.D.  Having been denied the supreme physical place of worship, the Jewish community began to magnify the importance of the domestic rituals and practices of the Law, as a sign of the fidelity of the community in spite of the loss of the Temple.

The response of Jesus to the implicit accusation that his followers are less devout and less observant because they do not perform the purification rites, is that these rites are merely external rituals which cannot redeem the individual from the truly "impure" motives and behaviors that flow from within the individual, from his or her heart.  Just as what enters from without cannot defile, so the washing from without does not wash the guilty heart within.  "From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile."

One cannot reflect on the Scriptures these days that lie amid the two national political conventions, and not ask whether our Scriptures should enlighten the discourse taking place.  Upon listening to the hours and hours of speech-making, one might be inclined to believe that certain basic Christian tenets have been dispensed for the campaigning: "thou shalt not bear false witness" comes to mind.

However, what is even more contrary to the Gospel of Jesus is the sentiment that "economy" trumps "human dignity", or that "wealth" is a sign of "goodness".  Both points of view are markedly contrary to the teachings of Jesus.  When economic principles (whether proven or unproven) are actively debasing human dignity, can we support them in good conscience?  It seems to be a principle that giving money to wealthy people (tax cuts) is good, but giving money to poor people (health care/medicare) is bad.  Underlying this polarity is probably the bias we have about success equals goodness and indigence or need equals badness.

Let us pray that the pivotal decisions that will be made about the future leadership of our country will be, as the first reading points out to us, a witness to the presence of God in our lives and in our consciences.  Let us show the other nations that in our country the value of human being and human goodness is not measured by the dollars in the bank account, whether onshore or offshore.

 

Fr. Arthur Carrillo, C.P., is the director of the Office of Mission Effectiveness for Holy Cross Province.  He lives in Chicago, Illinois. 

 

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 1:26-31  
Matthew 25:14-30

Reflection:

In the opening reading the first line captures me: "Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters." 

When I reflect seriously upon my own calling, I recognize immediately that Paul’s description of the origins of the Corinthians fits me. Born a year just before the Crash of ‘29, raised a child of working class immigrants during the Great Depression, I was certainly one of "the weak of this world."  Living in a city parish of 20,000 families, I was one of a vast majority of the lower middle-class who packed the churches on Sundays (upper church, lower church, and the auditorium – six Masses in each church and three in the auditorium).  What was my calling?  I was called to be a good Catholic – a child of God, a follower of Jesus, a good boy at home and at school, and an active member of the parish to the degree that my age would allow.  And as I grew and developed, so my calling developed.  It deepened and I came to understand more and more what Paul goes on to say – that I am called to be one in and with Jesus Christ, who wants me to let him manifest himself through me and in me.

"Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters."  The Gospel parable of Matthew carries this directive of Paul into my practical daily life.  It is the parable of the talents.  The master on returning found that the first servant had doubled his five talents into ten; the second had done likewise, doubling his two into four, while the third in his fear had buried his one and made nothing.  God has gifted me not with silver or gold but with himself, Jesus His only Son.  And He renews that gift each day; in fact in every moment of each day.  My calling is to take my human personality and put it to work for Christ – to let him fulfill himself through me.  Do I give myself over to him in prayer every day so that this may become possible?  Do I look for him in all those I meet?  Am I kind and gentle, giving of myself to them so that they see him in me?  When eventually I go to meet him in death, will he find himself in me? Will he see himself in me – a humble, kind, and gentle old man, pouring himself out in love, as he does for me?  I pray in hope that that may be so – and I hear another question, "How well are you working on it?"

Give me the desire To know Thee more intimately, love Thee more deeply, follow Thee more closely, and serve Thee more faithfully. (Ignatius Loyola)  Live Jesus in our hearts forever. (John Baptist De la Salle)  May the Passion of Christ be ever in our hearts. (Paul of the Cross)  Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way.  What you are in love with seizes your imagination, will affect everything.  It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends . . .  Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything. (Pedro Arrupe) 

 

Br. Peter A. Fitzpatrick, CFX , a Xaverian Brother, is a Passionist Associate at Ryken House, across the creek from the Passionist Monastery, in Louisville,  Kentucky.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 1:17-25
Matthew 25:1-13

Reflection:

"Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

Today’s Gospel story of the ten virgins, five wise and five foolish (who ran out of oil), comes in the middle of Jesus’ teaching about the end of the age and the signs of His coming.  He will come as a thief in the night, when least expected, like the bridegroom at midnight.  No one can say when He will come.  It may be this afternoon, but it might be another thousand years from now.  Be prepared, like the Boy Scout motto reminds us.

This parable of the wise and foolish virgins could be seen as the first recorded oil crisis in the East!  This story is really about "Wisdom"–one of the great themes in Scripture.

One of the blessings I receive from prison ministry is encountering individuals who have gleaned wisdom along the path of life.  These are people who made poor choices and while experiencing the consequences of those choices, utilized God’s "second chance" opportunity to acquire wisdom, and made profound changes in their lives.

Through wisdom, God communicates to us the meaning of life and the nature of our destiny, which is to be with God, a greater good than life itself.  Wisdom is a gift from God and is found by those who desire and seek it.

In today’s Gospel, we are not talking about a momentary lapse of memory on the part of the foolish virgins – forgetting to bring along extra oil for their lamps.  We are dealing with two contrasting attitudes towards the wedding feast.  For the wise virgins, it was "the chance of a lifetime" to meet the Bridegroom.  For the foolish ones, the event didn’t seem to be all that important.  Hopefully, we are like the wise virgins who realize that the journey of our life is about preparing ourselves to enter the Kingdom of heaven, utilizing any "second chance" opportunities we get along the way.

In my experience, wisdom teaches us that the best way to prepare for the future is to grow from our past and live in the grace of the present moment.  The Holy Spirit helps us to see what needs to be done today and what preparation is necessary for tomorrow. 

Alcoholics Anonymous sums it up best by reminding us to take life "one day at a time," which is another way of saying what Matthew’s community came to see, "Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

 

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

Scripture:

Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b
Ephesians 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32
John 6:60-69

Reflection:

"So, what are you going to do?"

This basic question about what is fundamentally important in our lives links today’s first reading from the Book of Joshua and the selection from John’s Gospel.  In the first, Joshua asks the People of Israel to "decide today whom you will serve."  In the gospel, Jesus asks the disciples, "Do you want to leave?"  In each case, it’s a moment of decision.  Yes or no?  Leave or stay?  Serve God or not?

Perhaps the stark yes/no question strikes us as silly.  We all think we will say, "Yes, of course, we’re in; we’re staying with the Lord until the end."  But the question usually gets asked at moments when we understand that there is a junction that will define us well into the future.  In the gospel, there were those who just couldn’t understand Jesus or what he was teaching.  "Many returned to their former way of life," the gospel reports.  There is no calling down fire or brimstone on them.  They simply went home.  They made a decision.  Peter decides to stay…at least for now.

Today, my youngest brother would have turned 46 had he lived.  But he was killed 23 years ago.  That was a moment in my life where I struggled with the question, "So, what are you going to do now?"  He didn’t have to die.  In a senseless moment, two young men caused his death.  I had to ask myself some fundamentally important questions about how I was going to choose to live my life from that moment on.  Not quite as simple as a yes/no question.

Moments of considering a proposal of marriage, welcoming a new child, moving to a new city, or discerning life in a religious community are opportunities to sharpen our commitment to living lives of service by following Christ.  Moments of dealing with loss and death and disappointment – just like the People of Israel and the disciples – force us to ask, "What now?"

The question leads us to the very core of our identity, as it should.  There we encounter God-within-us, the Holy Spirit dwelling in each of us.  And in that encounter we listen to God’s question that Jesus asked the first disciples:  "What are you looking for?" (John 1:38).  These moments, scary or intimidating as they might be, require an answer.  But the answer already is deep within us.  We know the kind of person we want to be and become.  And we know that our joy is in being faithful to the people God created us to be.  When we are honest with ourselves and admit our deepest desires, we’ll know what we need to do.

 

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:

Revelation: 21:9b-14
John 1:45-51

Reflection:

A small fortune is spent each year on fishing baits.   A bait is a lie.   We cleverly trick the fish into thinking there is a nice, fat tasty worm for him to eat, but he ends up getting eaten instead.  The New Testament word for bait is dolos.  It is used to entice an animal or human to benefit my own personal needs without any real care for the one deluded. 

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit (dolos)!"   Jesus liked Nathanael because he was open and sincere even to the point of expressing that nothing of any merit could come from an insignificant town like Nazareth.  Jesus dismissed Nathanael’s insult and loved his open honesty.   Thus it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

It is always good to see what pleases Jesus.   Candor and straightforwardness in our dealings reveal us as far from being perfect, but our sincerity will always be refreshing to Jesus. Unfortunately it is so terribly easy to be deceptive.    I think there are two significant reasons for our failure to be truthful.  

The least obnoxious of these reasons is that we are afraid of being exposed as morally flawed.  We love to fix ourselves up in the mirror before we appear in public.  Many of us have very unsettling thoughts about our value.   Maybe we have to learn what St Paul says "when I am weak then am I strong".  I suspect if we do not have inferiority feelings we might fall into a far worse condition of arrogance.

A far more serious reason for not being candid is a desire to use others, even God for our own advantage.    We do not want our real motives to be seen.    We make sure the hook is totally covered by the fat, juicy worm.  Many of us can go thru our whole life using people.   We never really understand those beautiful words of Jesus: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."   

 

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

Scripture:

Ezekiel 34:1-11
Matthew 20:1-16

Reflection:

"The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want." Psalm 23:1

I have been struggling to write this reflection… the reason being: I do want something… even though the scripture says "there is nothing I shall want." I want to live closer to our daughter, Sr. Cecilia Rose. She was just home for a visit after professing her first vows as a Sister of Life in New York. She hadn’t been home for over two years and it was so great having her with us again!

Julie is one of my most favorite people in the world. She is joyful, thoughtful, full of life, and she is our only daughter! She inspires me to be a better person, she teaches me about prayer and sacrifice and obedience. She lights up the room with her smile and she makes me proud to be Catholic.

And yet, as I ponder my deep longings to have more time with her, I realize that I am being selfish. God has called her to be a witness in the world and to minister to many, many people as a sister. She is too busy doing God’s work to hang out with me (even if I lived in New York!) She just gave herself totally to the Lord and she belongs to Him now, and part of her sacrifice and ours is that she only gets to come home once a year.

As I give her back to God (again), and realize that I too want His will more than mine, I find great comfort. I am thankful for her vocation and can draw close to Him whenever I am missing her. I can offer up my sadness for someone who needs my prayers, and I can rejoice that we will have forever in heaven to be together. I can also focus on what I do have: a lively faith and a beautiful family – my best friend and husband Jim, three amazing sons, two wonderful daughters-in-law, and six delightful grandchildren.

If we keep our eyes on Jesus and let Him shepherd us, there is truly nothing we will want.

 

Janice Carleton and her husband Jim live in Portland, OR and partner with Passionist Fr. Cedric Pisegna in Fr. Cedric Ministries. Janice also leads women’s retreats. She is the mother of 4 grown children and grandmother of 6. Visit Janice’s website at http://www.jcarleton.com/ or email her at [email protected]