Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Colossians 1:24-2:3
Luke 6:6-11

Reflection:

"I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?"

 

Is the power of good really greater than the power of evil?  Or is the power of evil greater than the power of good?  As I think back over the past few weeks, looking at numerous situations and events, I can certainly see how the good is more prevalent than evil.  I’ve heard about communities rallying together in evacuation of towns and cities in anticipation of hurricane Irene.  Similar charity was prevalent here in Louisville, where a storm took down trees, blocked roads and power was out for many people over five days.  Moreover, numerous teens who have gone out of their way to hold a door open, and simply wish others a good day has amazed me.  Indeed, I’ve witnessed some truly good people expressing their goodness.  The flip side is certainly true as well.  I’ve seen people in need and I have watched others responding to these needs in selfish and cruel ways.  Both of these dynamics are active in the gospel today.  Again, Jesus asks, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?"

Of course, Luke also tells us who Jesus is talking to.  He is talking to scribes and Pharisees who were watching him closely.  Their agenda was clear.  They were looking for a reason to accuse him.  I suspect we run into conflicting motivations and people with different agendas every day.  And these different motivations frequently lead to conflicting behaviors and differences of opinions.

For the scribes and Pharisees, if Jesus really is the messiah, then he must follow the prescribed Jewish law.  Yet Jesus implies how ignoring someone in need, or not making something right is an evil unto itself.  This is a very difficult teaching. Most of the time it is so much easier not to get involved, or even to choose ignorance.  Frequently we may find ourselves using phrases such as, "I don’t have time, it’s not in my job description, or I don’t know how", thereby justifying our own agendas.  

I suspect the first step here to get us beyond our personal excuses is to begin trying to accurately listen to the needs of others.  If we are capable of doing this then perhaps we are capable of stretching our understanding of the sacred.  When the Pharisees limited their ability to do work because it was the Sabbath, perhaps we could stretch our ability because it is what is sacred.  It is the right thing to do, just as Jesus realized when he saw this man’s hand.  The Sabbath expands from being a day of the week to being a realization of the sacred in our midst.

I’m left wondering today what would happen if Jesus wrote a specific job description for each of us.  It certainly would force us to modify our daily agendas.  And it may even change our perceptions of what is right and what is sacred.

 

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

Scripture:

Colossians 1:15-20
Luke 5:33-39

Reflection:

Today’s Gospel reading brings Luke’s 5^th chapter to a close. It is a passage with some perplexing parables, but can be better understood if we remember that Chapter 5 begins with the call of the first disciples (1-11). The call of Simon Peter, and of Zebedee’s sons, James and John, is achieved through the convincing great catch of fish, in spite of the fact that these professional fishermen had already called their efforts a failure.

As we worked our way through Chapter 5, we saw more signs of Jesus’ divine influence manifested in favor of a "leper" whose cure required an official confirmation (12-16); in favor of a paralyzed man who is first forgiven his sins, and then cured of his paralysis (17-26); and, finally, in the conversion of Levi, from Publican/Tax Collector, to disciple.

In each of these episodes, Jesus is the initiator, the one who takes hold of a situation in order to affirm some of the essential qualities of his mission.

Having invited Simon Peter to lend him his boat for his teaching the crowds, he moves on to the convincing catch of fish, and then to the solemn declaration, "I will make you fishers of people." Jesus commissioned his disciples for leadership.

The man with leprosy approaches Jesus with the conditional statement, "If you are willing you can make me clean."  The reply of Jesus is a simple affirmation of his purpose and mission, "I am willing." The healing of the leper required that he seek the certification of his healing by the priests, and a thanksgiving offering to be made. Jesus did not dispense the man from the requirement of the law, rather, Jesus told him not to publicize the healing, but to perform the requirement of the law.

Jesus uses the episode of the paralyzed man who is lowered through the roof to be placed at his feet as another affirmation of his mission; he offers the man forgiveness of sin.  It is only in response to the criticism he feels from the Pharisees and teachers of the law that he then removes the man’s paralysis in order to prove his ability to forgive sin.

When Jesus calls Levi to follow him, Levi responds immediately, and then has a supper party for Jesus to which he invites his Publican associates.  Once again, the Pharisees and teachers of the law criticize Jesus.  His response is a foundational statement for the Church, "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

What has emerged from our reading of Luke’s Chapter 5?  We see that the underpinnings of the Church, its foundational tenets are being revealed by Jesus.  His leadership will be shared with a group of his disciples; the "will" of Jesus is that we be freed of the social discrimination exemplified by the way that leprosy isolated individuals; Jesus has come for the forgiveness of our sins and to restore our personal autonomy and responsibility; his followers will mesh and interact with the persons whom society denigrates.

In summarizing these events, Luke focuses on the question that has been dogging the Pharisees and the teachers of the law: why do your disciples engage in partying ("eating and drinking"), while our disciples and the disciples of John practice prayer and fasting?  Luke answers the question with his first cited "parables": The old and the new cloth; the old and the new wineskins; the old and the new wine.

We are used to thinking of parables as narrative "stories," used to teach by examples.  In later development they are.  When we find these first parables of Luke’s gospel, we are seeing the root expression of a parable, a "comparison" that teaches.  But these three parables are rather "un-instructive" if we don’t see them in connection with their context.

"No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak."  The followers of Jesus will be experiencing something entirely new under the power of God’s Holy Spirit.  They must respect the integrity of their new life in Christ and his Church.

"Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins."  The religious traditions and priorities of the former "wineskins" are unable to serve the demands of a new fermentation which is to produce a new wine.  The mission of Jesus will bring new forms of leadership, and new standards of inclusive membership, both of which will shape the body of believers into the new Body of Christ.

"And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’"  The old wine has aged in its old wineskins, and those who have grown accustomed to its age and flavor will find the new wine overwhelmingly new.  But the old wine will be consumed and an empty wineskin be left behind.  The Church of Jesus Christ is always being renewed by the Sacramental vitality given it by the Holy Spirit; we need to entrust our newer generations with plenty of new wineskins into which they may pour their new wine.

 

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

 

 

 

Scripture:

Colossians 1:9-14
Luke 5:1-11

Reflection:

Today’s gospel presents us with Luke’s tale of the miraculous draught of fishes.  Luke takes material from Mark and John and redacts it to give us a lively, human scene.  He opens with the crowd at the lakeside enrapt in Jesus’s talk: Jesus is speaking to them "the word of God."  Feeling the people pressing upon him at the water’s edge, Jesus looks around and sees two empty fishing boats, one of them Simon’s.  He asks Simon to take him out a short distance from the shore.  From the boat he continues to speak to the crowd – and clearly over the water they hear his voice.  Jesus lures them with the word of God. 

Finished speaking, Jesus then tells Simon to put out into the deep and lower the nets for a catch.  Simon, weary and feeling perhaps a frustrated failure, honestly tells Jesus that they have worked hard all night and caught nothing, "but at your command I will lower the nets."  Then the hustle begins – the rush of straining and pulling, of calling to the second boat for help, of emptying the nets into both boats, of bailing and balancing to keep the boats from sinking with so much fish.  In all humility, wonder, and awe, Peter falls to his knees, saying, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."

Luke is doing a number of things for us here – one of them is setting Peter up as the leader whom Jesus will choose for his intimate group.  Then, after a night of catching nothing without Jesus, Simon(Peter) and the group experience the immediate and overwhelming catch of fish.   Luke thereby enables Jesus to establish his credentials for what he is about to ask of them.  Astounded at the miracle, Peter responds with deep and humble faith in his Lord.  Jesus in turn then tells them all – "from now on (an expression always indicating a life’s turning point in Luke) you will be catching men."  And at that they leave everything and follow him.

Two days ago was the feast day of St. Jeanne Jugan, the Foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor.  In reading about her, I was taken by her advice on what to do when, metaphorically, the fishing seems hopeless and the nets are frustratingly empty, when we seem to be unable to lure anyone with the word of God:  "When your patience and strength give out and you feel alone and helpless, go and find Jesus.  He is waiting for you in the chapel.  Say to him, ‘Jesus, you know exactly what is going on.  You are all I have, and you know all.  Come to my help.’  Then go and don’t worry about how you are going to manage.  That you have told God about it is enough.  He has a good memory."

 

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

 

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11
Luke 4:31-37

 

 

 

Reflection:

A mother brings her young adult son to a Psychiatrist.  "Please help my son.  He thinks he is Julius Caesar."  So the doctor sees the young man for an hour session every week for a year.  Finally, the doctor says.  "Okay, young man, you are cured.  You don’t need to meet with me any more."

Two weeks later the mother brings her son back.  "Please help my son.  He is very depressed."  The psychiatrist looks at the young man and asks him, "Why are you depressed."  He answers, "Doctor, a year ago I was Julius Caesar.  Today, I’m nobody."

There is an inner need we all have to be "somebody," to feel important.  We want others to respect us and think well of us.  We want to feel that we are successful, valuable and worthwhile.  When we don’t possess a positive sell-image we get depressed. Depression holds us back from giving our best.  Not giving our best leads to failure.  And then we get more depressed.

Wisely St. Paul tells us today to "encourage one another and build up one another." He was always concerned about community.  He knew that negative criticism, complaining and fault-finding tear down.  Words of encouragement, praise and gratitude build up.

Using positive words is not just good manners or good psychology.  Positive words flow from being "children of the light."  With the light of faith we see the inner beauty of every person we meet.  With the light of hope we see the possibilities in every person we meet.  And with the light of love, we see what God’s sees, the inner goodness of every person we meet.  "God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good."(Genesis 1:31)

"Keep trying."  "You can do it."  "You’ve got what it takes."  "I believe in you."  "Nice going."   You’re so talented." "You’re wonderful."  "It’s so nice to have you around."  Positive words like these that we say to one another are as important as the prayers we say for one another. As food and water give life to the body, the right words give life and energy to the human spirit. 

We have been blessed with a great talent, the gift of speech.  I think we could easily add a line to the Lord’s parable of the talents in Matthew 25:21: "Well said, good and faithful servant."  And in Matthew 25:40: "As long as you said it to one of the least of my people, you said it to me."  When we hear those encouraging words addressed to us, then we know that we are truly "somebody" in the eyes of the only one who matters.

 

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:

Jeremiah 20:7-9
Romans 12:1-2
Matthew 16:21-27

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel, once again Peter’s not "getting it."  And this time, it’s hard to blame him.  Here is his leader, his hero, the Messiah – the one he has followed all this time telling them that okay sure we’ve done all these miracles, we’ve cured the sick, fed the hungry but now the path ahead is for Jesus to be captured, tortured and crucified.  Every human fiber of Peter’s being must have cried out in protest.  "Oh, no, Lord.  No such thing can happen to you!"  And then comes the rest of the bad news.    "Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself and take up his cross…"   No royal palaces, no being recognized as the liberators, no winning, no success in human terms – just self-denial and crosses.  Peter must have wondered, is this what I signed up for?

I think we all sometimes echo Peter’s sentiments-at least when the going gets tough.  It’s easy enough to be a follower of Jesus when things are going well.  We can be pretty good about keeping the commandments, caring for our brothers and sisters, giving to the poor and so forth.  But what happens when the going gets tough.  When illness, rejection, economic disaster or some other crisis enters our life, what happens to our belief then?  Isn’t our reaction "surely a loving God couldn’t mean for me to embrace this Cross?"  Our prayer often becomes "dear God, where are you?  Why don’t you make this go away?" 

Jesus understands our reaction. That’s why he says to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan…you are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."  And when on the Cross, Jesus, fully embracing his humanity, cries out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 

Jesus never promised us that he’d take away our crosses.  In fact, he said we’d have to carry them.  But he did promise to be with us and to understand our suffering..  When my husband died after a battle with lung cancer, a friend gave me a small holy card which really helped me through my grieving.   It was a picture of the Crucifixion and under it was written the simple words, "I am with you."

May you always know even in the hardest of life’s battles, Jesus is with you! 

 

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

 

Scripture:

1 Timothy 1:15-17
Luke 6:43-49

Reflection:

I was with several members of my very large family this summer when one person criticized individuals who dress in a certain way.  A chorus of groans rose up as one after another proclaimed the indecency or idiocy of "those people". I was tempted to jump right in, knowing the fun of participating and finding myself already entertained as examples flowed (sometimes with a tinge of exaggeration for effect). Besides, I had lively stories of my own to tell. But before I spoke, I sat back and listened. How judgmental we sounded!

Jesus says, "From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks." Were the things coming out of our mouths reflections of the good stored in our hearts? Were people who dressed in a style we didn’t understand really bad people? Was it right to find entertainment value in denigrating them? I shuddered, took a deep breath, and said something positive about a person I knew who dressed that way. Several people snapped their heads around to look at me, someone made another comment, and then the topic moved on to other things. I don’t know that I changed the minds or attitudes of any of my family members, but at least I stopped the stream of nastiness in its tracks.

Not long afterwards, I read a book whose author suggested a practice of saying things ONLY if they meet three criteria – true, kind, and helpful. At times, of course, a bit of information may be unkind, yet absolutely necessary to convey – for instance to aid the police, report child abuse, correct injustice, etc. But those instances make up an infinitesimal portion of daily conversation. The author’s point is to be mindful of my everyday speech and habit patterns, especially when I am tempted to indulge in conversations that are not quite true, or that are unkind or unhelpful in the present context. With the taste of the family conversation in my mouth and Jesus’ words in my mind, I decided to adopt that practice immediately. I was not prepared for how hard it is!

Some things I want to say cannot be verified as true. If there is any doubt, I try not to say them.  Some things are indeed true and I know it, but if they are not kind (or at least neutral), I try not to say them.  Still others are true but they are not helpful – saying them would serve no purpose beyond feeding my desire to possess a "juicy" bit of news or to make a point at someone else’s expense – so I try not to say them. This practice is particularly difficult when discussing politics, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, parish leadership, pop music, business colleagues…oh heck…it is particularly difficult in most of the contexts of my life.

Even in my struggle to implement this principle, I’ve noticed the benefit of its reciprocal effect. The more I pause to tap into the goodness of God in my heart before speaking, the more true, kind, and helpful my speech.  The more true, kind, and helpful my speech, the more the goodness of God can grow in my heart. And when I stop judging and criticizing people, I am open to the goodness of God reflected in them.

Yet at the same time I relate all too well to St. Paul when he says he is the foremost of sinners and Christ has to practice tremendous mercy with him.  And I fit too easily into the parable Jesus tells about the person who hears his words but does not do them. I have been so deeply socialized into un-Christ-like habit patterns of speech. 

So relying on divine mercy and forgiveness, I keep trying. I pray I may be a tree that bears good fruit and a disciple whose actions and words shine as examples of God’s goodness.

 

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/.

Scripture:

Colossians 1:1-8
Luke 4:38-44

Reflection:

They tried to prevent Him from leaving them.  But He said to them, "To the other towns also I must proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God because for this purpose I have been sent."

The Gospel today talks about four different events;  the cure of Peter’s mother-in-law, the cure of many sick people,  the prayer of Jesus in a deserted place, and His insistence on the focus of His mission.

Scripture has a way of helping us to learn about how to live life.  In the first reading, Paul models for us how to be grateful for all of the people who come into and go out of our lives, many of whom leave footprints on our hearts. (Developing an attitude of gratitude!)

The Gospel reading begins with the story of Jesus curing Peter’s mother-in-law.  After her cure, "She got up immediately and waited on them." (Developing an attitude of service!)

After the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, the people brought to Him all who were sick with various diseases and He healed them also. (Developing an attitude of preferential treatment for the poor and marginalized !)

It is interesting to note that Jesus spent time in prayer before and after. "He left the synagogue and went to a deserted place, "bringing healing and wholeness into peoples’ lives. (Developing an attitude of prayerfulness!)

The crowds wanted Jesus to remain, but He reminded them that He must continue to move on and stay focused on the mission given to Him by His Father. (Developing an attitude of discernment!)

Reflecting on Scripture helps us to develop attitudes and skills that help us each day to live out Jesus’ two great commands: LOVE GOD AND LOVE GOD’S PEOPLE.

 

Deacon Brian Clements was formerly on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California

Feast of Blessed Dominic Barberi, CP

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Matthew 25:1-13

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the feast of Passionist Blessed Dominic Barberi.  Orphaned as a small child, Dominic was raised by a maternal uncle and aunt and learned to tend sheep.  As a young man, Dominic experienced his true calling: join the Passionist Congregation and someday set up a Passionist Mission in England. 

Dominic Barberi truly felt the word of God at work in his heart.  After years of ministries in Italy and then Belgium, Blessed Dominic was finally able to fulfill his vocation; in 1842 he was sent to establish the first Passionist residence in England.  During his time in England, Dominic Barberi preached missions and received many converts to Catholicism including Anglican John Henry Newman.  Dominic lived his life as a son of the Gospel, proclaiming the word of God to all.  He was a true believer and lived his life as God’s will; when people saw and heard him preach, it was evident he spoke from a spirituality deep within. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the "foolish virgins."  The five wise virgins brought extra oil and were prepared as they waited for the bridegroom, ready to enter the feast.  The five others were foolish and were not prepared with extra oil, they had to go off and get more and were late in returning.  Because of their foolishness, they were not allowed to enter the feast.   They proved themselves unworthy of entering the eternal feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.

How are we preparing ourselves for the day when we will enter God’s Kingdom?  Will we be ready to greet him, or will we be foolish?  How can we, as spiritual and moral followers of Christ, learn to glorify God with the gifts he has given us and share those gifts?  It does not have to be in the form of a call to religious life as Dominic Barberi received. Maybe these readings can help us to remember to let our trust in God be the center of our lives and to put our labors to good and loving use.

Read more about the life and Mission of Blessed Dominic Barberi, CP.

 

Claire Smith ([email protected]) is on staff at the Holy Cross Province Development Office in Chicago, Illinois.