Daily Scripture

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. 

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

Reflection:
Our God loves us with an unconditional love.  God loves us and showers us with mercy no matter the sin, no matter the transgression.  God’s mercy is without limit and we are told that in our lives, we also must practice this same mercy.

Today’s Gospel gives the Our Father as the way to pray and then offers a reflection on the part of the Our Father dealing with forgiveness, ending with the words:   "…if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."    Those are really powerful words.  This all merciful, all loving God will not forgive our sins if we do not forgive the sins of others! 

The Gospel doesn’t say that God won’t forgive us if the sin crosses some line or is some horrendous transgression.  Likewise we aren’t told that we have to forgive unless someone has done something really bad to us – no, we are told that we have to forgive as God forgives.  We have to forgive everyone – everyone who has hurt us, who has caused us injury, who has slighted us or who has slandered us.  And don’t forget that we also have to forgive ourselves – often the most difficult forgiveness to give.

Letting go of the need to "get even" is sometimes hard to do – how often do we engage in this?  When a car cuts you off in traffic,  when your spouse or a good friend says hurting words, when a neighbor leaves trash in your yard or even when someone commits a crime against you or your family – do you, like most of us, immediately think of ways to get even? 

How would our world look if our lives were based on forgiveness and mercy instead of on retribution?  How would it be to be a world, not of punishment, but of healing and love?  I think it would call out the best in us.  I think we would then be a gentler people, a gentler nation, a gentler church.  This is what God is not just asking of us, but demanding of us, in order to receive his forgiveness.

Today would be a good day to stop and reflect slowly on the meaning of each line of the Our Father.  And stay a little longer on the words: "…forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."

 

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

 

Scripture:

Jonah 3:1-10
Luke 11:29-32

 

 

 

Reflection:

February, for me, is all about matters of the heart!  With Valentine’s Day, National Heart Awareness Month, a scheduled visit to my cardiologist and the Lenten call to heartfelt repentance all converging this month, it’s a good time for me to consider the wisdom in todays responsorial, Psalm 51.

"A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn."

God’s acceptance of my contrite and humbled heart is indeed a miracle of grace and mercy.  Getting my heart to a state of contrition and humility is not easy.  Experiencing the passion of Jesus in my life and the lives of others is for me, a path to a contrite and humbled heart.   All I have to do is remember how "vulnerable" I felt after heart surgery.  (For example, I cried while I watched a re-run of "True Grit" with John Wayne.)  To be vulnerable is not just to be weak, but to be open to new possibilities for experiencing God’s love.

"A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me."

However, it’s not enough just to feel vulnerable and humble; one also must remain open to God’s creative Spirit working within this moment of grace to create something wonderful and new!  This is not just a time for easy tears but an invitation to a new resolve in my life, a "steadfast spirit".   With Lent in the background, it’s a time to sacrifice my pride and offer my heart to the Lord.

"My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite sprit, a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn."

My prayer today is that God will create a new heart within me and all of us, one which is led by the Spirit, aligned with the poor, oppressed and powerless of our world, and forever thankful for God’s mercy in my life.

 

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

Scripture:

Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
Matthew 25:31-46

Reflection:

In a poll recently conducted by the Pew Research Forum on Religion and Public Life, folks were asked thirty-two questions about the Bible, world religions, famous religious figures, and principles governing religion in public life. On the average, people answered only half the questions correctly, and those who scored highest were atheists and agnostics! Even more astounding is what Robin Meyers (The Underground Church) calls "almost Bible."  You know, it’s what wise country folk speak of as, "…the things we think we know that just ain’t so." For example, nowhere in the bible does it say that Adam and Eve ate an apple, or that there were three kings (they were astrologers, magi… magicians), or that Saul of Tarsus fell from a horse. More importantly, nowhere in the bible does it say, "God helps those who help themselves."  That quotation happens to be from the pen of Benjamin Franklin, his Poor Richard’s Almanac!

Could this be an application of the medieval axiom, Quidquid recipitur ad modum recipientis recipitur? (Whatever is received is received according to the manner of the receiver.) Basically, your perception of something is shaped as much by who you are as it is shaped by the thing itself.  The antenna determines the signal received. We see things, not as they are, but as we are. So all this bible talk could be dismissed as bible trivia, scriptural entertainment… IF the stakes were not so high.

Today’s readings help us to focus on ESSENTIALS. Scripture is so focused on interior dispositions and significant actions, it’s hard to imagine how Lent ever got reduced to "giving up desserts." Rather, Jesus calls us to repentance (to "re-pent" literally means to "re-think"). So the Hebrew or Old Testament commentary on the Ten Commandments centers on being free from grudges, hatred, desire for revenge. And Matthew’s Gospel reminds us that we meet and serve Jesus when we minister to the sick, hungry, naked, homeless and imprisoned. Embracing these ESSENTIALS is quite different from foregoing Hershey bars or Heinekins, Baby Ruths and Budweisers!

Why else would Jesus prioritize our reconciliation with each other before we worship?  ("…if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled …" Matthew 5)? Why else would Jesus so reverence the words of Hosea, ("For it is loyalty that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings?")  Repeatedly the prophets speak of our sacrifices being loathsome to God, or fasting unsatisfactory… in light of God’s desire that we care for others.

 

Fr. Jack Conley, C.P. gives Passionist missions and retreats and lives in Chicago. 

Scripture:

Genesis 9:8-15
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:12-15

Reflection:

Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.  Psalm 25

 This psalm for the First Sunday of Lent describes so very well the journey we are each encouraged to engage during these forty days.  It’s about listening and learning.  It’s about coming to a deeper understanding of who we are called to be as baptized Christians. 

 So why do we resist?  Why are we afraid of going to the desert, as Jesus did?  Is it because it’s dry and arid?  A lonely place?  An unknown place?

 The desert is where Jesus goes immediately after his baptism in the Jordan, and it is in the desert where he listens and learns the meaning of his Father’s words "You are my beloved Son."  And when Jesus comes back from the desert he immediately begins his preaching ministry.  After he emerges from the desert there is clarity in understanding what he needs to do.

 I don’t spend a lot of time in deserts, though a recent visit to Joshua Tree National Park in California helps me appreciate the desert image in today’s reading from St. Mark. While there aren’t many deserts in Illinois, Jesus urges me to find that quiet place where I can listen and learn…and, yes, face my temptations.  Learning is about discovering who we are at our core, what gets in the way, and how to live a Gospel life of love and service.

Lent hands us the opportunity to find the time and space to understand better what Jesus means when he tells us "You are my beloved."  Where that "desert" is will vary for each of us.  We can find it in the commute to work, the walk around the block, the Beethoven symphony, or the special chair and a cup of coffee.  It is that time and space when we allow the Lord to guide us and teach us.  Learning begins with showing up and admitting that there is more to discover about God’s love.

 Now, go find that desert of yours!  You’ll be glad you did.

 

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:

Isaiah 58:9b-14
Luke 5:27-32

Reflection:

"Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.  I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."

 

I find great comfort in today’s gospel, knowing that Jesus has come for me as, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). While I strive to "follow Him" by loving him, obeying him and trusting in him, I sometimes fall short, stumbling, making mistakes, failing.  On this Saturday after Ash Wednesday, I find myself reflecting on how I can live a more sacrificial life?  Asking, what can I do to grow closer to God this Lenten season?

As Jesus answers to the scribes and Pharisees’ disapproval over His decision to call Levi (or Matthew) to follow him, He reminds them that He has not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  If we were righteous and spiritually healthy, Jesus would have no necessity to pay a house call.  And isn’t calling Levi out really like throwing stones at a glass house?  Aren’t we all in need of repentance at some level? As I go forward this Lent I will work with Him to heal my spiritual self as well as showing mercy and kindness to those considered outcasts by society.

 

Angela Kwasinski is the Director of Planned and Major Gifts for The Passionists of Holy Cross Province.

 

Ash Wednesday

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

"Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment." Joel 2: 12-13

Today we begin another 40 day journey through Lent to Easter. The Church in her wisdom invites us to slow down and look more deeply at our lives. It’s a time to strengthen our spirits in the fight of flesh vs spirit. We are encouraged to fast, to repent, to pray more and to be generous to others. Lent is a perfect opportunity for renewal and a chance to grow in our relationship with the Lord who loves us so much!

Here are some tried and true ideas to help you go deeper this Lent. Add another daily devotional to your morning prayers. Take one of your crucifixes and put it in an unusual place in your home where you will see it often. Stop and reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice each time you see it. Find a prayer partner and set up a time to pray together each day or week during Lent. You could pray on the phone if you can’t get together in person, or you could make it a prayer walk and get the added benefit of exercising together. Sign up for a small faith-sharing group or volunteer to facilitate a group. Go to confession. Find a way to go to daily Mass where grace abounds! I like to call it the two-for-one meal. You feast on God’s Word and you receive the Eucharist. What could be better?

God is inviting us to return to Him with our whole hearts —  no matter what shape they are in. He wants us to bring Him our broken hearts so that He can heal us; our sinful hearts so that He can forgive us; our closed and fearful hearts so that He can assure us of His love and His faithful companionship. He wants to make us whole again!

Don’t let bad habits or laziness or unforgiveness or some secret sin keep you away from the only One who will love you no matter what. Turn back to Him for He truly is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger, rich in kindness and relenting in punishment." One last thing we can do this Lent: Let’s all pray for each other as we journey towards the wholeness that God desires for each of us so that on Easter Sunday we may all rise to new life with the Lord. God bless you!

 

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]

 

Scripture:
Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25
2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Mark 2:1-12

Reflection:
"You burden me with your sins, and wearied me with your crimes. It is I, I who wipe out, for your own sake, your offenses; your sins I remember no more." Isaiah 43:24b-25

The readings for today’s Mass speak to us of sin, transgressions and forgiveness. St. Paul, in the second reading, remind us that God is faithful, and that we should not be "yes" one moment and "no" the next. And yet, we are very much aware of our own personal frailty, our weakness, and our sinfulness. Isaiah the Prophet, in the first reading, says that our sins weary and burden God. Yet God is greater than any of our sins, and for our own sake, God forgives us. This very awareness causes shame and gratitude both at the very same time. We are shamed by the fact that our sins have burdened God, but grateful that God forgives for our own sake, because God is God.

In the seventies, when I was just beginning my ministry, there was a very popular song by Waylon Jennings: "Looking for Love in all the wrong places." This sentiment just resonated with us, because we thought that it was our calling to look for love, only to discover that we could never find it. True Love always finds us. The same can be said about forgiveness. We look for forgiveness in all the wrong places because we think that forgiveness, like love, is a commodity, it is something that we can trade for, and even worse, we can buy. We have fallen out of the practice of seeking forgiveness because we are truly sorry for our sins and transgressions. We think that as long as the public does not know our sin or weakness, there is no need to seek forgiveness. Most of us have lost the sense of sin as a social reality and therefore we think that forgiveness does not require a social context.

It seems to me that one of Jesus’ great accomplishments is exposing sin as a social reality. In the Gospel for today’s Mass, Jesus clearly associates our human frailty with our sinful condition, and demonstrates that he, as Son of God, has the power to forgive sins and to cure infirmities. When those who come to Jesus broken and downcast and Jesus forgives and heals them, we see the public nature of sin and of forgiveness. Yes, it takes courage to seek forgiveness within a social setting. But ultimately, it takes grace. When we say "yes" to the grace of God to seek forgiveness from Jesus in the social context of the Church, then we are a step closer to truly being with the Jesus of today’s Gospel.

So many of us think that the most authentic forgiveness we can experience is when we approach God in the secret of our aloneness. We forget that the sin we are asking forgiveness for in the solitude of our personal space has already left its mark on society, either because we failed to live up to our responsibility or because of selfishness or because we have hurt and demeaned the human and cosmic relationships that make up our life. Forgiveness reaches its perfection in the social context of our sacraments, which are by nature, social events.

Then, we will be able to echo what we read in the first reading, as God says: "See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"

 

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