Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Isaiah 26:1-6
Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Reflection:

"You, O Lord, are close, and all your ways are truth." Today’s opening antiphon of our liturgical celebration tells us clearly that we have begun the season of Advent.  God is close – the Lord is coming.  We are preparing for his entrance into our world once again on the great feast of his Nativity, Christmas.

The kingdom of God is at hand, and in our first reading Isaiah describes poetically what that kingdom will be like: a strong city whose ramparts protect us and keep us in peace.  It is a city where justice reigns, and the peace that flows from justice pervades all those who dwell there.

The psalmist then calls us to give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his mercy endures forever.

As we advance towards this city, let us call upon the Lord and bless his name.

But in the opening of the gospel Jesus brings us up short.  "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven." – We halt in our procession with the psalmist.

"Not so fast," Jesus seems to say.  "Knowing me, and calling me Lord, is not going to open these gates for you."  What will open them?  Who will go through?  "Not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord’…, "but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven."

Doing the will of the Father, Jesus’s Father and our Father, Father of all – that is the key that opens the gates.

Jesus then poses to his disciples the parable of the two "contractors," the one who built his house on rock and the one who built on sand.  In recent years we have witnessed, through TV and technology, the terrible devastation, destruction, and ravages of floods, tornadoes, tsunamis, and earthquakes all over the world.  This parable speaks to us today through these powerful images.  For building our spiritual life, for true spiritual growth, the foundation, Jesus is saying, is not words but deeds, not speaking but doing – doing the will of God. 

And what is the will of God for us?  At the end of his gospel Matthew sums it up clearly in his final picture of the last judgment: those who will enter the kingdom are those who love God in others – who feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked – who give of themselves and of all that they have to the poor and the needy.  These, even the ones who may never have known Jesus during their lifetime, will be welcomed by him and his Father because when they did these things to their fellow human beings, they did them to Jesus.

How can we best prepare for Christmas?  The gospel makes that clear.  Thanks be to God!

 

Br. Peter A. Fitzpatrick, CFX, a Xaverian Brother, is a Passionist Associate at Ryken House, St. Xavier High School, across the creek from Sacred Heart Passionist Monastery in Louisville,KY

 

 

 

Feast of St. Andrew, apostle

Scripture:

Romans 10:9-18
Matthew 4:18-22

 

 

Reflection:

The rain said to the wind,
"You push and I’ll pelt."
They so smote the garden bed
That the flowers actually knelt,
And lay lodged – though not dead.
I know how the flowers felt.   – Robert Frost

How often in the gospels we read these words: "Jesus had compassion on the multitude." (Matthew 9:36)  "When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her…" (Luke 7: 13)  And in today’s gospel, "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd." (Mathew 15:32)   Before he acted, Jesus first felt sorry for the people because of what they were going through.  He knew "how the flowers felt."

The theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer." The philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer noted, "Compassion is the basis for all morality."  

A practical way for us to prepare for worship on Sunday is to read or watch the news. It is here that we see our human family suffering and in pain.  We read about the victims of war and terrorism, and the victims of fires and floods.  We hear about those suffering from hunger and homelessness, and about the sick and the unemployed.  On and on goes the list of human problems.

From either our personal experience or through our imagination we can say, as Jesus would, "I understand what they are going through."  Compassion is a great motivator.  It can move us to pray earnestly for others.  It can move us to take action.  It can also move us to tears.  We may not be able to feed all the hungry stomachs we encounter.  But if we share our tears with them, they will know that someone understands and cares.  They will know they are not suffering alone.  There is nourishment and strength in mingled tears.

 

Fr. Alan Phillip, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.   http://www.alanphillipcp.com

Scripture:

Isaiah 11:1-10
Luke 10:21-24

Reflection:

Today’s first reading from Isaiah is one of my favorites!  I immediately am reminded of the scene from the "Wizard of Oz", where the trembling trio of heroes meanders down the path in the enchanted forest.  Borrowing from Isaiah’s collection of animals, the verse in the scene becomes "Lions and lambs and bears, oh my"!   Isaiah paints an amazingly comforting description of the peace among natural enemies found in the coming Kingdom of God.  Cobras, little children, bears, lions, lambs, wolves all peacefully come together.  It’s a "Super Committee" that actually gets along! This wondrous kingdom of peace all emerges from a simple sprout from a stump; the root of Jesse.  The reading from Isaiah reminds me that Advent is a time for nurturing the Kingdom of God.

As members of the Passionist family we have a unique role in nurturing the growth of God’s Kingdom.  We Passionists experience the love, peace and comforting contradictions (lions and lambs together) of the Kingdom by embracing those who suffer at the foot of the Cross.  A few weeks ago I was deployed to a mine disaster by the American Red Cross.  Arriving on the scene we were told of two young miners who were crushed to death under a pile of rock and coal.  A local pastor welcomed us and then gathered everyone, including the first responders who had fought for hours in vain to rescue the two young men.  The pastor’s gentle prayer gathered us together at the foot of the Cross in a way that conveyed God’s love to us in the midst of great suffering.  It truly was a Passionist moment of prayer.

As people who embrace the Passionist approach to the Kingdom of God, perhaps we can "enlighten" our eyes and the eyes of others by sharing our experiences at the foot of the Cross on a more frequent basis.  If we can do this even for a few minutes at the beginning of every meeting, call or gathering we have in our Passionist family and beyond, we will most certainly be nurturing the growth of the Kingdom for each other and the people we serve!

May the Passion of Jesus be always in our hearts and may our eyes be open to the wonders of the Kingdom of God.

 

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

First Sunday of Advent

Scripture:

Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:33-37

Reflection:

"Watch therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming."

"It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . ."  These aren’t just catchy song lyrics.  At this time of year, when we still have Thanksgiving leftovers in our fridge, the world has definitely gone Christmas crazy.  The lights are up, trees are trimmed, presents were undoubtedly purchased over the weekend.  I’m not pointing fingers.  I like my Christmas preparations as well as the next guy.  But this year, I am hoping to do it in the deeper spirit of recognizing what it is I am truly preparing for.  (Here’s a hint, it’s not for the Christmas ham and the gifts under the tree).

The Latin root of the word "Advent" means "coming" or "arrival."  And so, beginning today, we are preparing for the coming of the baby Jesus-Christ’s first coming.  The birth of Christ is joyous, a time for great celebration.  But in preparing for His birth, we must also prepare for His Passion, death and coming again.  It’s kind of a package deal.

So it makes sense that today’s gospel is about preparedness.  Several times in this short parable, Jesus warns "Be watchful!  Be alert . . . May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping."  There are many parables with similar themes throughout the gospels that caution believers to be ever ready for Christ’s return.  I think I have always read this gospel with a bit of fear-be on guard!  Be ready!  Stop screwing around, He is coming when you least expect it!  But, when I read it today, it strikes me that the whole point of the warning is so that we are not afraid.

If we are living our lives with the peace and grace of God, with dignity and integrity, we don’t need to be always looking over our shoulder and worrying about when we may be called to answer for our actions.  Doesn’t this sound preferable to frantically trying to get out lives in order at the last possible second before we are to be held accountable? 

And what should we do while we are waiting?  Should we stand in judgment of our neighbors, point fingers, announce to the world why we are so great because we are keeping watch for our Lord?  No.  Christ has left us "each with his own work."  That "work" may be raising a family, working for a wage, or mending relationships-most likely it is some complicated combination or variation of all such things.  And of course, it will change with each new phase of our lives.   

The good news is that we don’t have to do this alone.  Jesus knows we will fail again and again.  We won’t achieve perfection.  We won’t be without sin.  Our faith is actually our greatest asset in our readiness.  With Christ on our side, we can find that peace and compassion to guide us. 

 

Marlo Serritella is on staff at the Holy Cross Province Development Office in Chicago, Illinois.

 

Scripture:

Daniel 7:15-27
Luke 21:34-36

Reflection:

Today’s prophesy of Daniel brings us to the doorstep of Advent.  All is tumultuous.  There is confusion and uncertainty.  Kingdoms rise and fall.  If you read the newspapers or on-line blogs, or listen to the 24/7 cable commentaries, you might have the impression he was an observer of current affairs.  In the Gospel of Luke today, Jesus tells us bluntly that we are not excused from the tribulations of our times.

 The image of Daniel that hung in my childhood home shows him peaceful in the lion’s den unharmed after King Darius was manipulated into punishing him for worshipping his God and not the gods of Babylon.  Daniel was favored in the royal courts for his gift of interpreting dreams, and became a source of great envy and resentment.

 Both the image of Daniel in the Lions’ Den and today’s selection from the Book of Daniel are intended to reassure us in our dark times.  Ultimately oppression and persecution will be give way to the peace and unity of the Kingdom of God:  "Then the kingship and dominion and majesty of all the kingdoms under the heavens shall be given to the holy people of the Most High, whose Kingdom shall be everlasting."

 It is easy to believe that the turmoil we see in the uprisings in the Middle East, in the economies of Europe, and in the political paralysis in America will win out.  Our ancestors in faith all felt this way, too.  Yet, as we will begin to hear yet again starting tomorrow, the First Sunday of Advent, the Lord dwells among us and in Him is our confidence and peace.

 There is something in us all that would prefer to wish away all the pain, hunger, death, war, and the constant images of humans not able to get along.  But that is not the faith we share together as members of the Passionist family.  Christ comes not to take away the tribulations. Christ comes to meet us in our uncertainty and confusion, in our suffering and sadness.  He comes to surround us with His love so that we, like Daniel, can be at peace even while in our own lion’s den.

 

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:

Daniel 7:2-14
Luke 21:29-33

Reflection:

Every night before I go to sleep I watch ABC’s Nightline.  At the end of the program there is a segment called Sign of the Times.  These short, upbeat pieces close the broadcast, sending viewers off to bed with something light and unthreatening.  Recent subjects have ranged from dog pampering to eco-friendly houses made of garbage.  A specialty of "Sign" is the pop culture trend.  As I read today’s Gospel I couldn’t help but think that Jesus used the image of a fig tree to teach his disciples about reading the "signs of the times."

It struck me how the meaning of that simple phrase has changed, for some, from Apocalyptic Discourse to triviality.  It is easy, to let ourselves get caught up in the inconsequential instead of opening our hearts and reading and interpreting what is happening in the world.  We need to be ever ready to recognize the signs so that when we see them we’ll know that the kingdom of God is near. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus says:  "But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, no one but the Father: (Mk13, 32).  As we wait, we must walk with God every day, by embracing his presence in our lives.

Advent begins this Sunday; it is a time of watching, waiting, longing and peaceful expectation. It is also a time of purification and renewal as we seek to make our hearts ready for the coming of Christ.   As we go forward, may we find joy and hope in His word and peace in knowing that we are working toward the ultimate goal to "Stand before the Son of Man" on that Great Day of the Lord.

 

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

 

Thanksgiving

Scripture:

Daniel 6:12-28
Luke 21:29-33

Reflection:

It is a bit surprising that in the Hebrew Scriptures there is no exact translation for thanksgiving.  Part of the problem is what we mean in English by the word.  We primarily intend to express gratitude.  We have grateful feelings or thoughts.  In the Hebrew Scriptures we see words like praise or acknowledgement for something that God has done for us rather than just thanks.  

The word saw-far’ in Hebrew means to ascribe, count, or declare.  So rather than just say thanks to God, we declare how wonderful He is in His deeds to us.  "Tell of all thy wondrous works." Ps 26:7 

It seems that praise rather than gratitude dominates the notion of thanksgiving in the Bible. So we thank God primarily by praising Him.  "He is your praise (tĕhillahka); he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes." Dt 10:21 

"It is clear that the O.T. does not have our independent concept of thanksgiving."  (Westermann, Claus)
This is especially interesting when applied to the Eucharist.  The word implies joy (xara) rather than thanks.  For me it speaks of the joy of the giving of the Body of Christ and the pouring out of His Blood in a sacrifice of praise to the Father.  It is the ultimate act of Thanksgiving in praise!  

Today thousands of people will go to church thanking the Father for the awesome Death and Resurrection of Christ! We human beings are made to praise God.  It is our highest honor and greatest
responsibility.  Implanted deeply in praise is the joy of gratitude.  Gratitude is the cheerful child of praise.  It has no real existence apart from praise.  Gratitude is born from the realization of the wonders of God’s care for us!  It sings out in a mighty shout of Alleluia, Praise God!

 

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

Scripture:

Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28
Luke 21:12-19

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus warns His disciples that they will be persecuted, and put in prison, and "led before kings and governors" because of His name: "It will lead to your giving testimony." In the U.S., we will not be led before kings and governors because of our faith. But we are confronted by a culture of death. Yesterday marked the anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy. We are face-to-face with greed and injustice and violence.

This, too, will lead us to "giving testimony." In the Gospel, Jesus says, "Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute." Perhaps the "wisdom in speaking" to which Jesus refers is the testimony of our lives. If we live our lives in such a way that the Gospel is proclaimed through us, no one can refute our testimony because we are striving to "walk the walk," as well as "talk the talk." We will be seeking to share the love and grace we have in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.

In the midst of turmoil and upheaval, we are called to remain faithful in our testimony; living in hope, knowing that Christ is King; that He has won the victory for us, and that He promises us that we will be given what we need to proclaim the Good News in our lives. If we remain faithful, it will not matter whether these are the end times or not. We will be ready. As Jesus says, "By your perseverance you will secure your lives." May we persevere in the grace and love of God!

 

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