Daily Scripture

 

Scripture:

Wisdom 18:14-16,9:6-9
Luke 18:1-8

 

 

 

Reflection:

I remember reading a story back in 2002,  in one of the daily newspapers in India regarding an elderly man pleading for justice for his only son. His son was innocent, but had been imprisoned for several years before he was finally proven innocent. After the judgment, his father was interviewed by a reporter and said, "God does not deny justice but delays justice."

Today’s gospel invites us to pray continually and never lose heart. We must be like the elderly man who prayed consistently and fought for justice for his son and was finally rewarded, or like the widow in the parable who kept coming to the judge until she was given justice. If we pray with perseverance, we will gradually discover that things are not as absurd as they seem.  We will come to recognize the face of the God who loves us. 

Let us ask God in our prayer for what we need. Let’s not ask in prayer for wealth or things or position, rather let us ask the Lord to come into our hearts and into our lives. When God comes into our lives, we are blessed in abundance. During our Eucharist, let us pray for Jesus to fill our hearts rather than asking him for material wealth.

 

Fr. A. Justin Nelson, C.P. is a member of our Indian Vicariate and temporarily stationed at St. Mary’s Parish, Fairfield, Alabama.

Scripture:
Wisdom 13:1-9
Luke 17:26-37

Reflection:
"As in the days of Noah…"

As we approach the end of our liturgical year, the Church calls on us to take a moment from our busyness to reflect on the end times.  This Gospel of Luke is one of those end time proclamations.

The message is simple.  Be ready.  Before Christ returns, there will be no clear-cut warning that signals the end.  Rather it will be "as in the days of Noah" when people were busy and pre-occupied with their ordinary activities.  Then the flood struck and the doors to the boat were closed tight.  They missed the boat.

It will be "as in the days of Lot" when it was business as usual, the status quo.  People were busy building and farming and cooking and too distracted to be concerned about eternal matters.  Then, suddenly, fire and sulfur rained down on Sodom.  Lot and his family escaped, all except Lot’s wife, who died looking back on the attachments she thought would give her security.  Be ready.

In last Sunday’s gospel parable, the five wise virgins could no more loan out their readiness and faith, than they could their lamp oil.  Similarly, in this gospel, those who live and eat and sleep side-by-side with others cannot deliver their brother or sister.  Some will be left behind.

We live in the meantime, the in-between time, called to be ready for the end time.  Today’s gospel can seem unsettling.  It gives us stern warning that there can be no discharging our responsibilities by proxy; no clutching of false security.  But this gospel also offers good news:  We have hope in the boat built with readiness.  Be ready.  Don’t miss the boat.

 

Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Wisdom 7:22b-8:1
Luke 17:20-25

Reflection:

As part of a recent faculty meeting at the university where I teach, we had a large group discussion on ways to improve the program. Various faculty members added their input, with some comments eliciting little response while others generated a sea of head nods and a chorus of "Ah, good point!"  In the midst of it, I realized how desperately I wanted to be in the latter category, saying something that caused my colleagues and superiors to nod and affirm my wisdom. 

Actually, I have sought to be wise ever since I can remember.  But as I realized anew in that faculty meeting, my motives have not always been commendable. I genuinely hoped my wisdom would help others, and many times that has been the case.  Yet too often my desire for wisdom was a means to a self-centered end – prestige and recognition.  I sought to be wise in order to gain a reputation for being wise, in order to impress others and appease my own insecurities.

I am not proud of my ulterior motives. Yet awareness prompts me to pray and work for something better. For instance, I notice that people who are truly wise are also truly humble. Like attentive gardeners, they deepen the roots of their wisdom through prayer, fertilize it with patience and compassion, and prune the unruly branches of pride. They listen with full attention, seeming to grasp not only words but the emotions and motivations behind them.  They speak carefully, slowly, and only when they have something worth saying. They derive great joy from bringing peace and clarity to a person or situation, and their reward is to serve others by using the gift God has given them.

With scripture ringing in my ears and their example challenging my heart I pray to constantly do better, that I may be an ever more transparent instrument of God’s wisdom for the sake of God’s people rather that for my own edification.

So what did I do when those old demons arose at the faculty meeting? Instead of listening half-heartedly while formulating a "wise" comment to make, I consciously sat back, shut my mouth, and prayerfully listened. I used the intellect God gave me to process and reflect.  When someone else’s comment seemed particularly on point, I added to the head nods and affirmations.

Ultimately, although I did not speak in the large group, I more fully participated than I would have if I’d been formulating something to say.  My written reflections submitted to the facilitators at the end of the meeting, though not affording an opportunity for the public adulation of attendees, were more thoughtful and likely made a deeper contribution to improving the program. And after the meeting ended, I felt more satisfied than I have after other meetings in which I spent half the time deciding what to say and the other half trying to figure out if I’d impressed everyone with my words.

It is a lifelong process to set my ego aside, and God knows I am terribly imperfect.  But I am learning. I am trying.  And with the grace of God, perhaps I am actually becoming a little more wise.

 

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/.

Feast of the Dedication of
the Church of Saint John Lateran 

Scripture:

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17
John 2:13-22

Reflection:

The Dedication of the Church of St. John Lateran, is a feast of the living stones; the church building giving way to the primacy of the assembly. The two prefaces for the dedication of a church, and the prayers for the mass, set before us many rich images: The Church is a house of prayer to which we come on pilgrimage, a place of blessing because of the presence of God. We see in sacramental signs, and we become one in unseen bond of grace. Love is at work, grace upon grace, helping us to our glory as the Bride of Christ, the joyful mother of a great company of saints; living stones coming to full stature.

It may take a bit of work to translate the beautiful images into the people, the living stones, who we know and who regularly attend the same mass that we do each week. Faithful attendance does not guarantee that each of us at every mass will be wide awake and ready to sing. At any mass a baby can become cranky, minds wander, things go wrong.

The images set before us do carry a practical message. The Lateran basilica is the cathedral of Rome. Here the Pope celebrates on Holy Thursday as bishop of Rome together with his priests and deacons. It reminds us of our local churches, gathered around our bishop. At the same time it shows the origin of all of our Churches in the Mother Church of Rome, historically situated in the Lateran Basilica.

A little over a week ago on the Feast of All Saints, ten Episcopalian religious women who live near the Passionist community in Baltimore, MD, and who had become Roman Catholic two years ago, were added as a new religious order in the Church of Rome. Archbishop O’Brien who officially received the community into the archdiocese said it was a great gift for the church in Baltimore. Captured in this event we see both the local Church and the larger. There is also a beautiful postscript. Three of the sisters from the original community chose not to enter the Roman Church. They continue to live with their sisters of many years. Rome and the Episcopal Church are together in an unspoken ecumenical embrace in this community of religious women.

Practical also is the way we see the ‘living stones’. We are the architects and builders of this Church of living stones. What medium shall we choose – bricks or wood? Can we imagine they are stones shaped and chiseled by fidelity, forgiveness, and patience; their color determined by suffering, humility or generosity?

Practical also is this Bride who becomes joyful mother to the great company of saints. The venerable baptistry of St. John Lateran bears the inscription, "Here is born a people of noble race, destined for Heaven…Mother Church conceives her offspring by the Breath of God, and bears them virginally in this water."

A Church one with other Churches, fashioned in our uniqueness by the grace of God, and at the font of baptism, made one in Spirit and one in faith with no barrier between us. This is what we celebrate as we remember the Dedication of the Church of St. John Lateran.

 

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

Scripture:

Wisdom 2:23:3:9
Luke 17:7-10

Reflection:

The book of Wisdom was revolutionary for me. I found and explored this book as an 18 year old and began to pray for wisdom. I discovered that more than an attribute or virtue, wisdom is a living Spirit. Chapter 7 attests to this us as we read, "In her is a Spirit that is holy, intelligent…" as well as many other qualities. As we journey through life, it is the spirit of wisdom who guides us and prepares us for what is to come.

One might define the virtue of wisdom as the learning that comes from experience. Another definition that I love is "doing today what you will be happy with tomorrow." Wisdom prepares us for what is to come in the short and long term.

In the month of November, the days shorten, the clocks fall back and darkness is prevalent. We celebrate saints and remember souls. We reflect and meditate on our own inevitable death. We pray to be worthy.

Wisdom teaches us to live "ready" as we heard in Sunday’s reading. Our oil must not run out. We must be ready for tomorrow. We become ready when the circumstances and trials in our life try our character and purify us "like gold in the furnace." We follow wisdom when we deepen our walk with God. We fulfill our destiny when we push the boundaries, reach for our potential and make a difference in peoples’ lives.

This time of year points to our end and invites us to live "ready."

 

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/

 

Scripture:

Wisdom 1:1-7
Luke 17:1-6

Reflection:

In today’s gospel, the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith and he essentially says no. Instead, he says that the faith they have, even if it’s small as a mustard seed, can do great things.  Isn’t that a little shocking? Wouldn’t you expect Jesus to be delighted and enthusiastically reward their desire for greater faith?  What was he trying to do? 

It reminds me of high school when I had my first speaking role in a play.  I loved plays and auditioned every year, but usually got cast as a member of the "chorus", those background players that walk across the stage behind the stars or sing in large groups.  I was scared of being so visible, and afraid of making a mistake.  I practiced constantly, yet I knew I wasn’t as experienced as the lead players and I felt inadequate. 

I told the director my fears.  He said, "Amy, God has given you the talent you need.  You don’t have lots of experience, but you have everything you need to do this part.  Don’t worry – experience and knowledge will come.  Just go out there and do what you can do, and believe me, it will be more than enough."  I have never forgotten his words.  He believed I could do this with what I already had, and that I’d only get better.

Is that what Jesus was trying to do with his disciples?  Perhaps they were waiting to do the work they were called to do because they felt inadequate.  They wanted to imitate Jesus, but they knew they didn’t have that level of faith. Perhaps, then, he was telling them not to wait to achieve some perceived competency.  Perhaps he was even a bit impatient, telling them to quit making excuses why they couldn’t do the work that needed so desperately to be done.  The little faith they already had was sufficient and, like any seed, once planted and watered it would grow over time.

My lesson, then, is that I don’t have to be perfect in order to do God’s work.  I don’t have to be a saint to help bring the Reign of God into being.  I am called to act right now, with the gifts and talents God has already given me.  Instead of waiting to have more faith, what I really need to do is to start changing the world one mulberry bush as a time. 

 

Amy Florian is a teacher and consultant working in Chicago.  For many years she has  partnered with the Passionists.  See Amy’s  website: http://www.amyflorian.com/.

Scripture:

Wisdom 6:12-16
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Reflection:

Matthew 25:1-13   As we near the end of the liturgical year, we hear the usual warnings about being prepared. The early Christians believed that Christ’s Second Coming, the end of the world, would come very soon, even in their lifetime. As one decade passed into another, this began to seem less likely. Therefore, the warnings against complacency and the motivation to stay alert. All the readings today ask us: Am I ready?  

Jesus presents us with the parable of the wise and foolish virgins so that we will not be left out in the dark. Be wise by staying alert and prepared. I know a woman who was not left out in the dark. She died a two months ago; I had her funeral. She wasn’t a virgin; she raised nine children and had 37 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren. She was wise, prepared and had plenty of oil for her lamp. She was one of my favorite aunts.  

I was with Aunt Shirley when the doctors told her she had inoperable cancer. A month later I was at her funeral. Aunt Shirley was a lovely woman in life, caring and compassionate, a hard worker with a great sense of humor, and always believed that something good could come out of any situation, no matter how unpleasant. She was wise, faithful and prepared for death because she lived close to the Lord all her life. She taught us how to live and showed us how to die.  

When she received the bad news, I asked her how she was feeling. After 88 years of life, she said, she was happy, had a loving family and ready to return to God. When she was in a hospice residence, she told her daughters to wake her up if anyone came to visit. She wanted to thank them for coming. She encouraged the grandchildren and great grandchildren to visit. She spent time talking with them, asking them what they did that day, and answered any questions, even awkward ones. A week before her death she was able to hold and kiss her 51st great-grandchild. Knowing death was quickly coming, she didn’t focus on herself. The love she felt coming from God was shared with all.  

There are some things we can borrow from others at short notice. But to be ready to meet Jesus, to walk hand in hand with him is not something we can suddenly wake up to and say, "Give it to me now!" By then, it is too late. Let us pray for the wisdom which knows where the real secrets of life and success are. Shirley taught us that being prepared means hearing the final call, "Get up! the Master is coming!" and being happy and more than ready to meet an old friend face to face.  

 

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

Scripture:

Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27
Luke 16:9-15

Reflection:

The role of advertising frequently is about allowing shiny things to shine forth.  In doing so these shiny things will begin to distract us from what we know to be important.  If then we begin to pursue shiny things in life, we take our eyes off of the goal.  Shiny things can frequently be material possessions, the latest trends or fads, the newest hit on the radio, the newest movie, or an upcoming sporting event.  The goal of advertising is to make shiny things so attractive we begin to want and covet them.  We have all been caught up in this phenomenon.  The shiny things give us a certain amount of pleasure for a short period of time. But pursuing and acquiring shiny things doesn’t last.

 Is this merely a result of our highly commercial oriented society?  I don’t think so.  There certainly were shiny things way before the industrial revolution.  We have been warned about this even as far back as the New Testament.  Today, as we conclude Paul’s letter to the Romans in the liturgical cycle, we hear Paul listing all of the people who are important to him. He sends greetings to them.  It was customary in those days to include greeting toward the end of the letter, whereas we usually put it closer to the beginning.  When naming names in letters, we tend to include those people to whom we are closest, not necessarily every single person we know.  We see here Paul names those people he is closest to.  Why are friends important? Quite simply, good quality friends are a lasting treasure.  Quality relationships outlast material possessions and consumer items.  Moreover, we find greater meaning and fulfillment in our lives through such lasting treasures.

 Jesus reminds us in Luke’s gospel to continue to make friends for yourselves so we may become more trustworthy with eternal treasures.  Of course not all people believe this is true, or at least believe it enough to live their life according to such teaching. Jesus himself received opposition immediately from the Pharisees who sneered at him. 

 As I ponder some of this eternal treasure, I’m asking myself what else besides friendship is eternal?  And while I’m not really sure what those things are that we take with us into the next world, I do know of several things which no one else can take away.  I think about how education can shape a person for their entire life.  Some people have a particular trade or skill or talent which is inherent to who they are.  This skill can never be taken away.  The love we have for family and our children and grandchildren can never be taken away either.  And for Paul, even while he is in prison, he has a certain peace in his heart.  He is very clear that no one can take this away from him.   I need to add to this list, Christ’s command to be people of service to one another out of love. That command can never be taken away. I’m sure you can add to this list.

 As we have moved through these days of praying with saints and honoring souls, may our investments be enriched by choosing truths that are eternal.

 

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is the pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Louisville, Kentucky.