Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19
Matthew 8:5-17

Reflection:

The sixth century B.C. was a time of much sorrow.  Our first reading from Lamentations gives us a taste of the people’s pain.

 

We can identity with the people of old, for we too have much to lament.  Our world, our church and our country are struggling with many trials.  However, someone more important than us is also lamenting.  It is the Lord Jesus.  We know he once shed tears over Jerusalem.  What does he see now?

He sees countries ravaged by wars, people killed by terrorists and millions living in political oppression.  He sees starving children, homeless families and battered spouses.  He sees innocent babies aborted, teens hooked into drugs and the elderly neglected.

He sees those struggling to survive with little food, unclean water, no sanitation and no schools.  He sees the unemployed, the physically sick and the emotionally distraught.  He sees those who are insulted, betrayed and unloved.  He sees the fearful, the broken-hearted and those who feel no hope. 

He sees all this and tears stream down his face.  His arms reach out, stretching all around the globe and embracing every hurting man, woman, and child.  His mouth opens wide and a mighty sound comes forth. 

It is a mournful shout, piercing through the night.  It ascends the mountains, echoes through the valleys and rumbles down the streets of every city and village.  It bounces across the oceans, thrusts out into outer space and resounds throughout the universe.

The voice of Christ cries out:

"These people — this is my body!
And their suffering — this is my blood!"

The words of Isaiah come to mind.  "It was our infirmities he bore, our sufferings he endured."  (Isaiah 53:4)

At Mass Jesus invites us to come to the altar and eat his body, and drink his blood.  To receive the Holy Eucharist is to enter into union with the Lord.  And with the Lord comes all his people.  We are one with Jesus and one with the human family, lamenting its pain and sorrow.  Compassion is the way of holiness.

 

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

Scripture:
2 Kings 24:8-17
Matthew 7:21-29

Reflection:
What does it mean to be a Christian?  Today’s words from Matthew and the preceding verses and chapters, give a clear definition of our role as Christians- followers of Christ and heirs of the Kingdom.

Today Jesus tells us that you can’t just proclaim the name of the Lord, you can’t even perform miracles in God’s name and expect to get into the Kingdom.  You must do the will of the Father.  And in the preceding verses and chapters, we hear what is the will of the Father.  Starting with the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us clearly that being a Christian means it is not enough to just love God; being Christian always has to include the dimension of loving and caring for our neighbor (and our enemy).

Throughout the New Testament, we are told over and over again that Jesus is most disturbed by the sin of hypocrisy.   As we read today’s words, what comes to mind is someone who proclaims God’s name loudly and tries to impress with miracles performed in God’s name but who doesn’t live out the message of the Gospel.  This was the way Jesus often depicted the Pharisees.  And, of course, today’s world is also peopled with modern "Pharisees."   Those who make a show of their devotions and loudly proclaim their belief but fail to care for others– these are not living the life of a Christian. 

It’s pretty easy to fall into this way of life. It is nice weather and it is delightful to sit out on the patio to read my Bible.  Then I may pray a bit and talk to God about my life and some of the things I need.  But if I do this and avoid helping at our parish’s food drive or ignore the neighbor who is ill or don’t reach out in the ways we are called, I am not being a follower of Christ.  

Today is the feast day of St. Irenaeus.  While we don’t know too much about him, we do know that he was a pastor, a Bishop and a martyr who was born in the first half of the second century.  Undoubtedly, he understood his role as a Christian, caring for the church and the people of God, even to the point of sacrificing his life.

May we too be Christians – especially when it takes us out of our comfort zones.

 

Mary Lou Butler is a long-time friend and partner in ministry to the Passionists in California. 

Scripture:

2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3
Matthew 7:15-20

Reflection:

Each generation and each culture of religion has been plagued by "false prophets" – people who mistakenly claim to have a special relationship with God, or a special message from God. Early Christian documents also show that the first followers of Jesus struggled with the problem of authenticity, or how to evaluate the genuineness of their proclamation.

Today’s readings and today’s feast (St. Cyril of Alexandria) remind us that the path to holiness and wholeness is often zigzagged! King Josiah was in his twenties when called to reform ancient Judah, and get the people back on track. And Cyril served as the pope’s representative at the Council of Ephesus (43l), defending the cause of orthodoxy. Some historians and theologians insist that, had he been more patient and diplomatic, softening his opposition to those who sided with Nestorius, the painful split would not have been so severe. But even saints must grow out of immaturity, self-absorption, narrow-mindedness.

None of us can claim the final judgment, for we can all be artists of self-deception. Entering into a dialogue with other members of the wider faith community, and being attentive to the rich and full voice of Tradition are essential. That is why we Catholics believe that the gift of Revelation, the Truth of God’s love, comes to us through the Spirit, in relationship: 1) the Magisterium (a hierarchy, a collegiality of pope and bishops), 2) theologians (prophets and visionaries who help us dream), and 3) the sensus fidei (the rich and profound experience of the People of God). Remove one leg from this "tripod" of authority, and the structure collapses.

How am I being called to participate in the necessary reform or conversion required of the Church, the Body of Christ, today? St. Paul of the Cross, St. Francis of Assisi, and many others were called to "repair my house" – Shall we follow?

 

Fr. Jack Conley, C.P. ministers as a preacher of parish missions and retreats.  He is a member of the Passionist formation community at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Scripture:

Isaiah 49:1-6
Acts 13:22-26
Luke 1:57-66, 80

Reflection:

Today is the feast day of the birth of John the Baptist.  The memory of John the Baptist has been important in Christianity starting with Jesus. "Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet."  "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; Mt 11:11 He is mentioned some 92 times in New Testament.

In today’s gospel there is importance given to his name: "His name is John."  We know in ancient times how a child was named was his description.  For example, Nathanael (‘God has given [this child]’), and Shemaiah (‘Yahweh has heard [the parents’ prayer]’ Ichabod (‘where is the glory?’ 1 Samuel 4:19-22  Ark captured when born) Menachem (‘comforter’).

The name John means God (Yahweh) plus gracious (chanan).  Yahweh is gracious. John was a gifted man. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."  The early word for prophet in Hebrew was seer or roeh.   We must all act as prophets at times in our lives.   We must have a deep insight into God and communicate it to those around us. Prophesying is among the hardest things we will ever be asked to do.

 

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

Scripture:

2 Chronicles 24:17-25
Matthew 6:24-34

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading from Matthew, we hear Jesus make two statements, almost at the outset: "You cannot serve God and mammon;" and "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear." The second statement flows from the first. When we get caught up with what is not of God, it is easier to worry.

When we rely on things or our own devices to give us happiness or security, we realize that they cannot give us what we really need. Only God can do that. It can be hard to trust in God, when we are having difficulty making ends meet. It can be hard when God seems to be far away. But God is there with us and for us, and as Jesus says, God knows that we need things like food and clothing and shelter. But we are to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness," so that we know what is really important.

The more we trust in God, the less worries we have. We get less concerned about what others have that we don’t. We get less concerned about putting on airs or having people think a certain way about us. Instead, we will be more concerned about serving God and God’s people in such a way that no one needs to worry about where their next meal will come from or where they will sleep the night. May God who knows all our needs fill us with His grace, and take our worries away.

 

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

Scripture:

1 Kings 21:17-29
Matthew 5:43-48

Reflection:

So be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

One evening, the Community of Passionist Partners of San Antonio gathered to celebrate a Mass at Casa Pasionista Guadalupe, our residence here in San Antonio. Our theme for that Mass was forgiveness. Our custom is to share our experiences in light of our faith during the homily time. I don’t remember the Gospel we used for that Mass, but I do remember one of the reflections given at that Mass. In a hushed voice, someone in our group told us about the day his father was murdered a long time ago in another country. He comes from a large family. They lived on a ranch. After the shock wore off, the mother called the family together and made them promise on their father’s blood that they would not seek revenge. It was then, he said, that he began to understand the challenge of the commandment so clearly stated by Jesus in today’s Gospel, "You have heard that it was said: You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father." A few lines later, Jesus continues: "So be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that the perfection that Jesus is talking about is doing things perfectly. But Jesus says: "Be perfect" and not "Do things perfectly". Being perfect is about loving our neighbors and our enemies, forgiving those who wrong us, accepting the gestures of reconciliation when offered to us, among other things. As we know, this passage comes at the end of the "Sermon on the Mount" which begins with the Beatitudes. This sermon is about changing our way of life. It is about conversion. It is about becoming a new person in the image of our Loving God. So, Jesus was not talking about perfection as doing things perfectly. Rather Jesus was saying that being perfect is being like God, a God who is loving, compassionate, just, merciful, forgiving.

Our behavior needs to flow from a new understanding of who God is, from a heart that is filled with love for God and for the other no matter how rude and mean they are and from a commitment to doing whatever it takes to be faithful, in good times and in bad, whether we are alone or with others.

We become perfect when we acknowledge that it is impossible to be perfect on our own. But with God, everything is possible. This is the moment that we realize God is asking us to live a mystery: Being perfect is really about being dependent upon God.

The vast majority of us have not had to face a violent past. But we all have had to face times in our lives when we had to choose between anger and composure, vengeance and forgiveness, retribution or reconciliation. It is faith in a God who loves, a God who forgives, a God who is compassionate, a God of mercy that allows us to become perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect.

 

Fr. Clemente Barron, C.P. is a member of the General Council of the Passionist Congregation and is stationed in Rome. 

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Scripture:

Acts 12: 1-11,
2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 17-18
Matthew 16: 13-19

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles.  Peter and Paul truly are two of the great leaders in the history of our faith community.  Peter and Paul obviously were gifted by God and then were called to share their gifts through their healing and preaching.  Yet even though they were leaders, they were humble and kept their focus on Jesus, not on themselves.  Today is an appropriate day to reflect on Christian leadership.

However my initial reflections are troubling.  Leadership in our faith community now seems to me to be too often focused on investigations, power brokering, needless attacks, politics and litmus tests for orthodoxy.  I find myself questioning the wisdom of those in leadership positions.  Yet at the same time I recognize how difficult and challenging leadership in our age can be and how different our times are from the times of Peter and Paul.  At the end of the day I find myself wondering what type of leadership I am looking for from those who are in authority.

Perhaps the words of Joan Chittister from her book "The Monastery of the Heart" can assist me in my search. 

"The leader must maintain the integrity of the community and encourage it to be what it is meant to be: a sign of the world to come, a bringer of peace, a haven for the homeless, the heart of the temple on the streets of the city, a light in the dark to those who seek peace and justice and human community…Identifying and choosing good leaders is of the essence of community building.  We will become what we choose."

I can’t always choose my leaders.  I can choose which leaders to follow.  I also can pray for and encourage the leaders I am given to keep their focus on Jesus and the poor, oppressed and powerless of this world.  As a Passionist I want to stand at the foot of the Cross with those who suffer and also ask those in leadership within the Church to stand with us there, focused on God’s message of love in Christ Crucified.

 

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

Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga 

Scripture:

Sirach 48:1-14
Matthew 6:7-15

Reflection:

Sirach recalls the memory of Elijah, a great prophet in ancient Israel.   He is one of the non-writing prophets, whose words have come down to us through others, such as, in this case, the wisdom figure, Sirach.  Elijah is the greatest of the non-writing prophets.

As we listen to Sirach’s recollection of him today, we understand why.   Elijah was a prophet whose ministry of the word went to the quick and cut to the chase.   He minced no words with those whom he addressed, usually those he was chastising.  Many of these were in positions of power.  But Elijah showed no fear.

He illustrates the role, and the advantage, of oral tradition in God’s revelation of Himself to us.  Were it not for the oral tradition that preserved the prophetic ministry of Elijah, Sirach would have had no source on which to fall back in recalling, and transmitting, Elijah’s testimony.  This strikes a chord in our contemporary society, enriched as we are by electronic media such as FaceBook and Twitter, which elevate the written word to a new level.  And yet some among us have second thoughts about this evolutionary development, realizing how vulnerable the written word in electronic format leaves us before those intent on doing us harm.   Leaving a trail of our words, whether paper or electronic, is not an unmixed blessing.   Perhaps Elijah early on realized this.

Elijah, in Sirach’s version of his legacy, kept his message short and to the point, and is much in keeping with today’s gospel from St. Matthew, as he records an instruction from the Lord Jesus on how to pray. 

We are not to babble when we pray, so as to gain a hearing before our heavenly Father.   Our prayer is to be short and sweet, first recognizing and acknowledging God, especially for His work among us, then listing our basic needs: bread, forgiveness, protection and final rescue or deliverance.

This kind of prayer seems to be in keeping with what Elijah would have advised us, if we had approached him: something lean and clean.    It counters the common wisdom that the longer we pray, the better our prayer.  It fits the pattern of the saint whose memorial we keep today, St.  Aloysius Gonzaga, the young Jesuit  scholastic  who died at any early age, prior to his  ordination, and whose life message to us is that a short life, brief and simple, is more than adequate to do what pleases God and serves our best interests.

 

Fr. Sebastian MacDonald, C.P. is a member of the Passionist formation community at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.