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The Love that Compels

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Daily Scripture

Upcoming Daily Scriptures

Daily Scripture, March 11, 2012

Scripture:

Exodus 20:1-17
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
John 2:13-25

Reflection:

As we move into this third week of Lent in his letter to the Corinthians Paul presents us with the boldly proclaimed central symbol of our faith, the crucified Christ. Paul assures us that when we gaze at the crucifix we see the power (dynamis, a word that is often used for ‘miracle" and corresponding in John to ‘sign’) and the wisdom of God. For us who believe the thorn crowned, bloody, and pierced body of Jesus draws us by ties of love to a Savior God who gives himself to us completely, even to death on a cross. The power of love transforms the human situation. Nothing is ever the same again. And in a mysterious way the weakness and defeat of the cross is the hidden wisdom of God. The secret revealed in the cross is that dying is the door to new life. May we enter deeply into this reality in our meditations on the crucifix during Lent. "We adore you O Christ and we bless you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world." 

 

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

Daily Scripture, March 9, 2012

 

Scripture:

Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a
Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

 

 

 

Reflection:

Humble Love That Overcomes the Embarrassment of Sin.

Why does Lent come upon us with a certain unwelcome? Our fast invites us to feast, the work of charity is refreshing, and prayer is conversation with a best friend. True, we may not be attracted to the excitement of the three-ring circus, nor a whirlwind vacation where we meet many and landscapes changing often. Lent can be overwhelming in all that is set before us. Our first Sunday of Lent found Jesus in the desert, led there by the Spirit. An important aspect of Lent for each of us is listening to what the Spirit of God would show us, where the Spirit leads us, what the Spirit will give us or ask of us. While much is set before us and we could be overwhelmed, Our Lord listens to our needs and hopes, and sets before us the gifts that would be ours.

On the Fridays of Lent the Passion of Jesus is before us. In our readings we may ask, "where does such evil come from?" In a few moments among a group of brothers a plan to kill their youngest brother! How they doom themselves to a life of regret. Foolishness does not begin to describe their action. And as for those in the gospel who hope to have an inheritance following the murder of the owner’s son? Indeed, ‘a bad end’ is in their future. Could they be so stupid?

In Genesis we see human brokeness from the very beginning; in the Gospel we see Jesus reconciling us to the Father and to one another. We can look back as will Joseph’s brothers and shake our heads at the times when love has not been a first choice. We can look at Jesus and be humbled as he walks the journey that will lead him to be seized, dragged outside the vineyard and put to death. As heavy is the mystery of our sinfulness, heavier on the scales is the mystery of the love that embraces and reconciles us.

The responsorial psalm tells us to "remember the marvels the Lord has done." We hear of unloving choices, but that is not where the story ends, not where Lent will end. The story of Joseph is the most tender story of forgiveness. At its ending it is hard not to cry with Joseph as he realizes his brothers cannot fathom his love and forgiveness for them. And as we stand before the precious gift of the Father who gives his son to ransom a slave, we can be moved to tears.

This Lenten Friday may the Holy Spirit help us to make Matthew’s words rest upon our hearts, "it is marvelous to behold."

 

Fr. William Murphy, CP is pastor of St. Joseph’s Monastery parish in Baltimore, Maryland.

Daily Scripture, March 10, 2012

Scripture:

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Reflection:

In the story of the prodigal son, the father’s great love compels him to sit at the window, waiting and waiting for his son to come home. He knows the boy has sinned, dishonored the family, sunk to the depths of tending pigs (anathema to Jews), and wasted the inheritance his father worked so hard to accumulate. In fact, for a son to request his inheritance in those days meant that he wished his father dead. It had to be excruciatingly painful to endure, and many parents would tearfully disown and turn their backs on such a child. And yet this God-like father waited and waited for his son to see the light, to embrace love, and to come home.

We aren’t told at the end of the story what happens after the father goes out to talk to the eldest son. Perhaps he sadly returns to the house, but he can’t really take part in the party because now his other beloved son is estranged, trapped not by selfishness and greed but by resentment and self-righteousness. Perhaps the father sits again at the window, waiting and waiting for his eldest son to see the light, embrace love, and come home.

Neither the prodigal nor the eldest son got to their attitude or actions all at once. Each decision, each choice, led them down that path. The prodigal son made bad decision after bad decision as he slowly sank into depravity. The eldest son made "good" decision after "good" decision, but allowed each one to feed his sense of entitlement, superiority, and self-righteousness. The prodigal felt he deserved nothing; the eldest son felt he deserved everything.

Where am I on that continuum? Having spent most of my life trying to do the "right" things, being the "good" girl, and staying on the straight and narrow path, I fully understand the eldest son’s indignation. It isn’t fair according to human reckoning for someone so undeserving to be given the kind of treatment we believe should be reserved for those more worthy (especially when I consider myself among the "worthy" group). Yet that is every bit as much of a sin. In effect, I dare tell God not to forgive freely, not to lavish love upon us, and not to celebrate the repentance of grievous sinners. As Richard Rohr often says, "Sometimes those who do everything right get everything all wrong."

Few of us are guilty of the sins of the prodigal. I suspect that many more of us are guilty of the eldest son’s self-righteousness, judgment, exclusion, resentment, and holier-than-thou attitude. This Lent, perhaps we need to examine the sinful attitude that "good" decisions can feed in us. Perhaps we need to open our own arms to the prodigals among us, even to the point of treating them the way we feel we deserve to be treated. After all, God died to show that they deserve it, too, and God is waiting at the window for us to see the light, embrace love, and come home.

             

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/.

Daily Scripture, March 8, 2012

Scripture:

Jeremiah 17:5-10
Luke 16:19-31

Reflection:

I remember participating in a silent retreat years ago in Vina, California with the Trappists. I took a walk and was thinking about my ministry. I thanked God for the many blessings and my popular appeal as a missionary. As I considered the future I wondered and questioned. "Lord, they like me now that I am young, but what is going to happen when I grow older? Will they still come to the mission in large numbers?"

That day the Scripture reading was the Psalm 1 that we have today. I read, "He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season and whose leaves never fade." As I read these words I was suddenly struck with the fact that my best days were still ahead of me. God is faithful. As we remain in him and grow and mature, we become fruit bearing trees. I sensed that far from being less appealing because I would be older, I would be even more appealing because of my life experience and years with God.

There are times that I still fear the future and what it may bring. This Scripture continually comes to mind. As we journey with God this Lent, we may not see the growth. Yet, our roots are stretching deep and the running water is giving us growth. Psalm 1 was powerful in my life early in my ministry. I’ll never forget its message. The best is yet to come!

 

Fr. Cedric Pisegna, C.P. is a missionary preacher, author of 15 books and creator of television and radio programs airing in many cities. You can learn more about his ministry at: http://www.frcedric.org/

Daily Scripture, March 7, 2012

Scripture:

Jeremiah 18:18-20
Matthew 20:17-28

Reflection:

Did I ever tell you about aunt Lil? She was great-at least by today’s Gospel standard. She’s the one who taught me to dance. She taught me the words to "Oh Danny Boy"(my name’s sake) and she taught me to celebrate. Most importantly, she taught me to serve and not to worry about being served. She never preached a sermon (formally at church) and she never ever told me that I should serve, dance or celebrate. She taught me by her actions.

Shortly after my mother died, aunt Lil, with her three children came to live with us where she took on the responsibilities of raising seven more children along with her own. One of those children, my youngest sister Dee was profoundly mentally retarded and needed twenty-four a day care. Aunt Lil ‘s husband died when she was pregnant with her last child. I never knew my uncle Jack, but today I realize that he really knew how to choose a good life’s partner.

Aunt Lil never complained. Referring to the way her newly adopted family ate, she would say things like: "If I cook five pounds of potatoes they eat five pounds; if I cook ten pounds they eat ten pounds." But she never complained. Monday was laundry day, as were Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Her only embarrassment was when my mother’s mother would visit and find four of us boys tying papers for our paper routes in my mother’s living room.  Horror of horrors!

Aunt Lil died at 89 years of age. She buried her two boys, one at sixteen and one at forty-six. She continued to celebrate at daily Mass, like she did when she was taking care of all of us, until she was placed in hospice care, which she chose rather than continue treatment for cancer.

Thank you aunt Lil, for making today’s Gospel passage real for me and for all who knew and loved you: "Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave."

 

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

Daily Scripture, March 6, 2012

Scripture:

Isaiah 1:10, 16-20
Matthew 23:1-12

Reflection:

The readings today emphasize again the theme of Lent: repentance. We are called to turn to the Lord, seek forgiveness for our sins, and set our hearts on the will of God.

Jesus strongly objected to what the Scribes and Pharisees had done to religion. "They bind up heavy loads, hard to carry, to lay on other people’s shoulders, while they themselves will not lift a finger to budge them." Religion should be a blessing and not a burden. It should help us through the difficult times and not create difficult times. It should be a help and not a hindrance. How do we feel about our religion?

The Scribes and Pharisees complained about Jesus and his disciples for not fasting, for being at dinner parties with sinners, drinking wine, etc. Jesus responded to the critics by bringing forth the image of a wedding feast, a decidedly opposite religious image of gloom that the Scribes and Pharisees described. When Paul the Apostle listed the fruits of the Spirit, notice the list begins with love and joy. If someone professes to love music but is gloomy about it, no matter how gloriously the person talks about the value and role of music, their testimony is in doubt. If I say how much I love nature and then I don’t really enjoy it by my actions, my witness isn’t worth much. The same can be said about religion. Authentic religion should bring gladness into our hearts, not gloom! Authentic religion should be a blessing.

Second, does our religion make us bigger or smaller? Does it turn us inward or does it open our minds to greater concerns and our hearts to more people. A religion that replaces selfish concerns with the larger issues of life is indeed a blessing.

Does our religion bring us gladness, does it make us bigger? Let us examine our faith with this in mind. Maybe we need to repent for being attached to the wrong side of religion. "Come now, let us set things right," says the LORD. Let us show that our religion is a blessing by the way we live.

 

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

Daily Scripture, March 4, 2012

 

Second Sunday of Lent 

Scripture:

Genesis 22; 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
Romans 8:31b-34
Mark 9:2-10

 

Reflection:

The Experience of Transfiguration

Imagine:  walking up a high mountain with Jesus…and a few close friends…and Jesus’ appearance is radically changed…his clothes dazzling white…with the classic figures of Moses and Elijah talking with him…Wow!  A real "transfiguration"!!

Every time we pray — and Lent is prime time for renewed prayer — we go to a potential mountain of transfiguration, an experience of transformational divine encounter.  As we open our hearts in prayer, God is revealed to us, sharing love and truth, light and life.  The divine voice calls to us:  "This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him."

And, like Jesus’ disciples at the Transfiguration, we want to stay there forever and savor this special taste of Jesus’ glory.  We’re like children in the best candy store imaginable…

This Lent Jesus invites us to new moments of grace, new experiences of his transfigured glory.  We need not hurry this special prayer opportunity.  Together with the other penitential and sacrificial aspects of our Lenten renewal, we can be slowly transformed and our faith strengthened; God’s love can radiate from our deeds as well as our words.

Jesus bids us walk with him these days.  May our eyes and our hearts be open to his powerful presence.

 

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

Daily Scripture, March 2, 2012

Scripture:

Ezekiel 18:21-28
Matthew 5:20-26

Reflection:

Today’s Gospel reading is full of dire warnings of the punishment that will be meted out to those who break the peace with their siblings, and, presumably, other family members and friends.  One could easily focus entirely on this threatened punishment, and thereby lose the beginning words of the passage, words of Jesus to his disciples.  He says: "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven."

Jesus is quite explicit in calling for a righteousness that goes beyond the requirements of the law, and the law as interpreted by the teachers of the times.  Jesus uses the example in the setting of the religious worship before God’s altar of sacrifice.  Do not presume to offer your gift if your heart is turned away from your brother or sister.  First go and be reconciled.

This is precisely the context in which we find ourselves at this beginning of Lent, 2012. In the history of the practice of Lenten penances, we can trace the evolution of Lenten penances from the public penance done by repentant sinners, excommunicated from the community because of the gravity of their sin, who hoped to be readmitted to communion with the church at the Easter liturgy.

The recognition that we are all sinners, coupled with the development of the sacrament of Penance as the ordinary means of being reconciled with the church, was an invitation for us all to enter into the season of Lent with penance on our minds.

We began to cultivate penitential practices, sacrifices, mortifications, that signaled our willingness to "make up for" our sins.  Some of us would give up innocent pleasures, like sweets or television; others would abstain from not so innocent pleasures, like smoking or alcohol; others would undertake a spiritual duty that was not part of their usual practice, like a daily recitation of the rosary, or a daily Mass.  As good as all of these practices have been and still are for a salutary Lenten experience, there is something missing.

Jesus introduces today’s Gospel passage by saying that our righteousness must be beyond the formal, public, accepted standards-those that are expressed in the common tradition of the faithful.  Instead, Jesus cites the example of a truly personal recognition of one’s need to have a conversion of heart with regard to one’s neighbor.

What a wonderful invitation to each of us to leave our gift at the altar, to suspend our self-righteousness, and to pursue a true reconciliation with whomever: brothers, sister, friend, co-worker, boss, or the anonymous stranger whose eyes touch your conscience.

Leave the formality of your traditional Lenten penance at the church door, and first go and be reconciled with whomever is alienated from you.  That will make of this Lenten experience a true preparation to celebrate the rebirth to new life that every follower of Christ receives from the Risen Lord.

 

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

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