Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Acts 9:1-20
John 6:52-59

Reflection:

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus is truly one of the most compelling stories in the New Testament. In only 20 verses, we see a man so profoundly impacted by an encounter with Jesus that he goes from seeking to kill Christians to preaching to convert Jews. However, the change was not immediate. St. Luke recounts that after his experience of Jesus, Saul was unable to see for three days. When we seek encounters with the Lord, we tend to want Him to make Himself immediately clear in His answers to our questions. Yet, as with Saul, the Lord may withhold clarity from us for a time. In so doing, He asks us to trust Him and be willing to walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7)

As Saul waits in darkness, the Lord Is at work calling Ananias to go to him. Jesus claims Saul as one who is chosen for a great mission, but He also reveals that Saul will suffer for His name. In His great mercy, Jesus does not want the man who will become St. Paul to begin his difficult journey alone. Instead, He sends a brother to lead him to the Holy Spirit.

If we are feeling blind and uncertain even after encountering the Lord in prayer, let us remember the story of Saul’s conversion. What we perceive as darkness and confusion might be what the Lord is allowing to prepare us to receive the help we need for the important journey He has planned.

Megan Silas is a Lay Passionist at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

Acts 8:26-40
John 6:44-51

Reflection:

The Necessary Passion of the Lord

As we follow the Scriptures during the fifty days of Easter we can see a great contrast between John’s Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. For John coming to believe is gradual, for the author of Acts (Luke) it can be instantaneous. But for both, John and Acts, the mystery of the Cross is indispensable in coming to believe in Jesus as Lord.

In John’s Gospel, the first believer is the beloved disciple who runs to the tomb with Peter. He looks into the tomb and believes, Peter is only amazed. John is the disciple closest to the act of Jesus’ life-giving love, with Mary he stands by the Cross. Could that be why he can believe? Could this also be why we do not hear of Mary in the resurrection stories of John’s gospel? Mary is the disciple who does not need this gradual growth in God’s love to come to believe. She is there already!

Mary Magdalene, first to the tomb to care for the body of Jesus with spices and perfume, comes back again looking for Our Lord. She asks the supposed gardener if he has taken the body to please tell her where it is so she can care for it. Mary does not yet believe, cannot see, Jesus is her Lord. The Good Shepherd who will not lose any of his beloved flock calls her by name, ‘Mary’, and like the Apostles at their first meeting with Jesus calls him “Rabbi”. Mary is like the woman at the well, Martha, the blind man of Siloam and Nicodemus. They all come to name Jesus the Lord gradually. Finally, Mary says, “My Master,” and goes to tell the others that she has seen, “the Lord”.

Mary Magdalene shared the Passion. She now can recognize the Lord.

In the Acts of the Apostles, we see immediate professions of faith and baptisms: the lame man who sat by the Beautiful Gate of the temple and the crowds who are added to the community of believers. The Passion is around them in the apostles who are being punished, in Stephen, and in those whom Saul will persecute.

Today we see another class of people represented by the Ethiopian Eunuch, who is also like the Apostles on the road to Emmaus. They meet the suffering Messiah through the Scriptures. The Emmaus disciples and the Eunuch have their hearts set on fire as they learn the Messiah must suffer and so come to glory. The disciples of Emmaus end up in Jerusalem that first Easter night united with the apostles as believers. The Eunuch enters into water of baptism, he believes, as the Spirit takes Philip off to announce the Good News elsewhere.

May the Word of the Scriptures continue to keep before us the Passion of Jesus through which we come to know the Lord. It is the unspoken word of the wounds that Jesus so often shows his disciples. It is the necessary step that reveals Jesus’ love and that he is the Messiah and Lord.

Fr. William Murphy, CP is a member of Immaculate Conception Community in Jamaica, New York.

Scripture:

Acts 8:1-8
John 6:35-40

Reflection:

Our lives can rightly be described as an ongoing search for what we think will fulfill and complete us, bringing peace to our frantically restless hearts. And our gospel today shows us how simple finding that peace really is. Jesus doesn’t leave us guessing but makes it as clear and straightforward as possible. “I myself am the bread of life,” he declares. “No one who comes to me shall ever be hungry, no one who believes in me shall thirst again.” Christ is the answer to the deepest and most poignant longings of our hearts. There is nothing else we need to know and no point in searching any further.

If we consume Christ entirely, if we open our hearts to him and allow him to remake us, we shall find life. If we make Christ the absolute center of our lives, truly abiding in him so that he lives in us and we in him, we will know eternal life; indeed, it will not be some unreachable future that is always before us, but the reality from which we live now. And when Jesus says that “no one who comes to me will I ever reject,” we learn there is no reason ever to feel anxious or worried or insecure because we are held fast by a love that will never let us go.

There are many ways to think about what it means to live from the power of Easter but knowing that we are held tight by a love that never gives up on us, a love that will never let go, and a love that promises to “raise us up” on the last day, surely gets to the heart of it.

Paul J. Wadell is Professor Emeritus of Theology & Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the Passionist Family.

Scripture:

Acts 7:51–8:1a
John 6:30-35

Reflection:

Our scripture readings point us to the powerful testimony of Stephen, a man filled with the Holy Spirit. He fearlessly confronts the religious leaders, accusing them of being “stiff-necked” and resistant to the Holy Spirit. Stephen boldly reminds them of their ancestors’ history of persecuting prophets. Despite their fury, Stephen remains steadfast, even forgiving those who stone him. His unwavering faith and commitment to truth inspire us to stand firm in our convictions, even when faced with opposition.

Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life.” The crowd seeks signs, recalling the manna their ancestors received in the desert. Jesus shifts their focus from earthly bread to the spiritual nourishment He provides. He is the true bread from heaven, offering eternal life to all who come to Him. His words resonate across time, inviting us to seek sustenance beyond physical needs. Just as bread satisfies hunger, Jesus satisfies our deepest longings, filling our souls with purpose and hope.

The passages call us to recognize divine truth and embrace it wholeheartedly. Stephen’s courage and Jesus’ promise of eternal life remind us that our spiritual hunger can only be satisfied by the Bread of Life. May we, like Stephen, remain faithful witnesses, and may our hearts continually turn to Jesus—the true sustainer of our souls. 

Fr. Phillip Donlan, CP, is the Associate Director of Ministry at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, California.

Scripture:

Acts 6:8-15
John 6:22-29

Reflection:

Eternal Life

Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you. JN 6:27

They tell the story of the couple who were driving down the freeway at 75 MPH when the wife said to her husband “I think we are lost.”  Her husband said, “That’s OK we are making great time!”  Is this not the story of so many of us today!  We are so very busy but spend little time considering where we are going and hurrying to get there.

Today’s Gospel has Jesus telling us we are heading for eternal life.  So many of our concerns have little or no relation to the unending life Jesus promises us.  “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life.”   The New Testament talks about the next life around 300 times!

When Jesus come many, even religious people, had no concept of the next life.   Many thoughts at most the next life was very foggy.  “Who praises You among the dead (In Sheol who will give You praise)? Ps 5:5  Sheol  means underworld (place to which people descend at death):—Sheol is used 66 times in OT.

Many of the Jewish People to whom Jesus preached believed in the next life like the Pharisees.  But even to this day many orthodox have serious doubts about the resurrection of the dead.   So when Jesus taught He really emphasized “Eternal Life” by parables of Old Farmer (Lk12:16) and Last Judgement etc.

Jesus reassured us so many times to live in such a way that we have endless life ahead of us!  One of the biggest mistakes we can make on this earth is to think that death is the end of our existence!  It is the door of our eternal life with Jesus!

1. “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

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

Scripture:

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
John 2:1-5a
Luke 24:35-48

Reflection:

When Wayne Dyer was alive, he fervently advocated for simple strategies to cultivate a joyful spiritual life, emphasizing that hate can always be transformed into the life-affirming force of love. Today’s passage from the Acts of the Apostles discusses the Israelites’ role in Jesus’s crucifixion, urging them to repent and seek forgiveness.

Throughout Christian history, prejudice against Jews due to Jesus’s crucifixion has been a dark reality. It’s crucial to note that not all Jews were responsible; rather, it was a small radical faction acting out of envy and self-interest. Similarly, entire ethnic groups can unjustly face hate due to the actions of a few.

God’s forgiveness, demonstrated through Jesus’s suffering, calls us to forgive others. Despite political divides, we share common values like seeking peace and safeguarding our families. By fostering understanding, dialogue, and patience, we can replace hatred with love.

Instead of falling into divisive narratives, let’s uphold values of kindness and unwavering love. Are we setting the example we wish to see in others? Are we willing to engage with those we view as adversaries? Let’s strive to open our minds, listen, and understand, working diligently to transform hate into the life-affirming grace of love.

Jack Dermody is the editor of the CrossRoads bulletin for the Passionist Alumni Association and a member of the Migration Commission for Holy Cross Province. He lives in Glendale, Arizona. 

Scripture:

Acts 6:1-7
John 6:16-21

Reflection:

“…Do not be afraid…It is I…”

Quite a scene in today’s Gospel:  Jesus’ disciples riding in a boat on the sea, heading toward Capernaum.  It’s dark, the sea was stirred with sizeable waves, a strong wind was blowing, they had been rowing for a long distance.  Then in the darkness, they see Jesus walking toward them, on the surface of the water!  Needless to say…they were afraid — this rag-tag group of everyday men, from all walks of life, trying to journey with Jesus as He taught and ministered.  In the choppy darkness, Jesus approaches them and calmly says:  “It is I.  Do not be afraid.”  No doubt, Jesus needed to calm their fears and again harness their youthful enthusiasm.

A similar situation arose a bit later in the early Church:  the Church was growing, and there were many spiritual and human needs to be met – more than the original 12 Apostles could handle themselves.  Rather than be paralyzed by inaction and fear, God’s Spirit led the Apostles to choose some reputable, talented people to meet the basic needs of the growing Church.  The deacons were “ordained”, and the Church grew – and continues to grow to this day, including ourselves and our Passionist Family.

No doubt we 21^st Century Easter People have our share of fears and needs.  A quick glance at news headlines bombards us with problems and challenges galore – health issues, leadership issues, refugees fleeing from danger in a variety of countries, hunger, injustice, abuse, politics, etc.  So easily we can suffer from “paralysis” with these important issues and want to retreat into safe little hide-aways.  But this Easter Season the Risen Jesus reassures us:  “Do not be afraid.”  Stay close to Him, be open to the workings of the Holy Spirit, join with Our Mother Mary and the holy women and men of history – and the “seas” of our life will be calmed and we’ll head in the right direction…toward heavenly life!  Placing our trust in the Lord (Psalm 33), the Risen Jesus will continue to journey with us and help God’s reassuring Message of unconditional love to spread in our needy world.

With such divine encouragement, we have reason to embrace our fears and needs these days, singing our Alleluia’s …even though perhaps off-key at times… “Don’t be afraid.”

Fr. John Schork, C.P. serves as the Province Vocation Director and also as Local Superior of the Passionist Community of Holy Name in Houston, Texas.  

Scripture:

Acts 5:34-42
John 6:1-15

Reflection:

“So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.  But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.”

How often do we hear about the “demise” of our Catholic faith in the face of an increasingly secular society?  Fewer Catholics are attending Mass.  Vocations are waning.  Many of our children or other family members are not embracing the faith.  Prayer seems to be banned in many places.  The Church continues to be persecuted in large areas of the world.  We encounter these issues over and over.  And indeed, these concerns are all supported by observable data. 

Nevertheless, do we have the faith to believe that “if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them.”  Indeed, there are rays of hope for the Church.  The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston added 2,400 more Catholics at this year’s Easter Vigil Masses.  Our own new Parish church, having three times the capacity of the old church and dedicated just two years ago, is already nearly filled to capacity at two of the three weekend Masses celebrated. 

In February 2022, the Vatican released statistics showing that in 2020, the number of Catholics in the world increased by 16 million to 1.36 billion.  That means that 17.7% of the world’s population is Catholic. There were 2 million more Catholics in the U.S. at the end of 2022 than there were 10 years previously.  Africa now has the world’s third largest Catholic population after the Americas and Europe, with more than 8 million people becoming Catholic in 2019 alone.  Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 171 million Catholics.    

Now reflect on the Apostles standing in front of the Sanhedrin being charged with spreading heresy: “You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us. When they heard Peter’s response “they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death”.  However, “After recalling the Apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.  So, they left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.

Centuries later, we are standing in place of those original twelve.  What is our response?  What hope do we have?  What can “I” do? 

“Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”  Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” “When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So, they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.”

No doubt, Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, had a premonition that “this work comes from God and you will not be able to destroy it.” 

Bill Berger has had a lifelong relationship with the Passionist Family. He and his wife, Linda, are currently leaders of the Community of Passionist Partners (CPPs) in Houston.