Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Judges 9:6-15
Matthew 20:1-16

Reflection:

Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last. Matthew 20:16

This is a passage that we hear often in the Christian faith but not in our society. From the time we enter school we are taught to get ahead, and to compete with one another. Being the first is best. Why would we want to be at the back of the line? Being in last place is disheartening. You do not become successful or popular if you put yourself last. And yet this is something that as part of our faith we are called to do. Lift others up so that they might succeed. Give what we have so that others might live. Being an active member of the body of Christ by placing ourselves behind others.

What are we doing to place ourselves last?

We may also feel disheartened when others are graced with something that we wanted or feel we worked harder for. We may feel cheated or abandoned like God has looked over us. Every time I feel this way, I look to what Jesus says to us in this passage:

"Are you jealous of my generosity?"Matthew 20:15

Even as Jesus points out this question it seems foolish that we would even think that. Why should we be jealous of someone’s good fortune? When one of us is lifted up, is not the whole Body of Christ lifted also? We should rejoice in others joys just as we rejoice in our own. God will give us what we need and are due.  He will give others the same. 

As Christians we are called to place ourselves in last place and to lift up our brothers and sisters who have fallen behind. We are to be servants of all. This mission cannot be carried out if we walk single file, not caring about the people behind. It can only be carried out if we walk beside each other, helping each other along the way. Part of putting ourselves last is asking God for help to truly open our eyes to those around us.

Open our eyes Lord. Help us to love, live and serve as you did.

 

Kim Garcia is on the staff of Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center, Houston, Texas.

 

Scripture:

Joshua 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17
Matthew 18:21-19:1

Reflection:

When I was stationed at our Christ the King Retreat in Citrus Heights, California, one friend, Mary, and I would sometimes visit her friend, Pat.  A very good person, and accomplished as a mother, quilt maker and baker, Pat could not tell any story without a lot of background information.  More than once, Mary would say to her: "Get to the point; you’re drowning us in minutiae!"  So, Pat would usually speed up her story and get to the point.  Yes, a wise person once said: "God is in the details." 

Today, we have a very detailed description of the continuing transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua. God even says to him: "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that I am with you, as I was with Moses."  Not only Joshua, but the whole people of Israel was in transition to the Promised Land, and God even dried out the riverbed of the Jordan to ease the people’s transition.  We are called to do the same for people in transition, especially the sick, those who have lost a loved one and those making significant changes in life, such as marriage vows or making vows in religious life. 

Peter, in our gospel today, seems very detailed when he asks Jesus: "Lord, if my brother (or sister) sins against me, how many times must I forgive him?  As many as seven times?"  Jesus then, in great descriptive detail, goes into the story of the wicked servant, who forgets his master’s loving forgiveness of his great debt and demands a fellow servant to pay a small debt. 

God is in the details…the details of family or community life, the details of how our country will deal with health care reform and so many other issues.  In all of these, Jesus reminds us of God’s hesed, God’s loving-kindness poured so deeply over all of us. 

May we follow the words of St. Paul, who wrote: "Owe no debt to anyone, except the bond of love."

 

Fr. Bob Bovenzi, C.P. is stationed in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 10:12-22
Matthew 17:22-27

Reflection:

The O.P.s (Order of Preachers) and the C.P.s (Congregation of the Passion) sometimes get confused. Both are communities founded to preach. St. Dominic loved to proclaim the Gospel and founded a community that centers on preaching. His community’s motto is, "To praise, to bless, and to preach."

That is exactly what happened at the St. Ann Novena from July 16-26 at our basilica in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Every year the Eastern Province celebrates this novena that was attended by some 5,000 people daily. Passionist Bishop Neil Teidemann and I were invited to be the preachers this year. Each of us preached at five different services every other day. It was a workout to be sure.

First of all, we praised. There were at least six services and sometimes more each day. Some were Masses, one was a novena service only, but all of the services were geared toward prayer and the praise of God. The music was buoyant, and the singing was vibrant. Some services were outdoors and some in the basilica. The final Mass, presided over by Joseph Bambera the Bishop of Scranton, was replete with trumpets, incense, and a packed church. God was glorified in this triumphant liturgy.

Then, we blessed. The concluding part of every service was the blessing with the St. Ann relic. After our prayers and intercessions, ten of us, each with a relic, would fan out and bless some 1-200 people each. Words such as these were used: "Through the intercession of St. Ann, may God touch and bless you where you need it most." Many requested to have us touch their stomach, knee, eyes, or other hurting part of their body with the relic. I’ve never blessed so many people in my life — five services a day, times ten days!!

Lastly, we preached. This event was a preacher’s dream. I didn’t have to worry about attracting a crowd or keeping them there as at a parish mission. The Passionists are greatly loved and have a wonderful tradition at St. Ann’s. Individuals, families, and busloads from as far away as Pittsburgh came to take part in the novena. As I said, I preached at five services a day and six services on one day! (I preached at an Orthodox Mass as well.) Each day’s early service was recorded for TV and locally broadcast later. (These programs are also airing in NY.) The people gave us permission to preach and made us feel like royalty.

St. Dominic, like St. Paul of the Cross, wanted to proclaim the message of God’s love revealed in the Passion. He knew the hunger in peoples’ hearts. As disciples, we also are invited to praise, to bless and to preach! 

 

Fr. Cedric Pisegna, C.P. is a missionary preacher, author of 15 books and creator of the TV program Live with Passion! airing in many cities. You can learn more about his ministry at: http://www.frcedric.org/

Scripture:

1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:22-33

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading for Sunday (Matthew 14:22-33), we have the account of Jesus walking on the water. This feat of Jesus, and His exchange with Peter, have a lot to tell us about our relationship with God and what it means for our lives.

The first thing this account tells us is that God has the power. Jesus does have control over the elements. He is able to walk on the water! This is not to show us that God can do tricks for us. Jesus’ walking on the water reminds us that we can put our trust in what He can do.

The second thing is that we can have power in Him. After the disciples realize that it is Jesus, and not a ghost they are seeing, Peter says, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." And Jesus says, "Come." He doesn’t say, "That power is for me alone" (something we’re often tempted to say). He simply says, "Come." With Jesus we can do great things! Without Him, we can do nothing. The gift is there. We were given the Holy Spirit when we were baptized. The gift was confirmed at Confirmation. The miracles we are able to do may not be as awe-inspiring as walking on water, but they are remarkable nonetheless.

Another thing this account tells us is that difficulties do not magically disappear. When Peter does step out of the boat, and actually begins walking on the water, the winds have not subsided. At first, the winds do not deter Peter from walking, but then, when they continue, he begins to be afraid. Having a deep, personal relationship with God does not mean that He will wave some magic wand, and all our troubles will leave. It does not mean that we will have smooth sailing all the way. What it does mean is that the difficulties and crises we face do not need to deter us from answering God’s call and living good lives.

A fourth thing this account tells us is that Jesus is always with us. When Peter gets scared, he begins to sink in the water. He cries out, "Lord, save me!" Matthew tells us that "immediately" Jesus catches him and pulls him out of the water. At those times when we do get scared, or when we forget how much God loves us, or even when we are "walking on the water," Jesus is always there for us. Again, He may demonstrate His presence not in some spectacle, but in something like the "tiny whispering sound" that Elijah heard at the entrance to the cave on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:11-13).

Our goal in life is not to do amazing tricks, or show how powerful we are. Instead, our goal is to believe and trust in God’s love for us in Jesus Christ, to let the Holy Spirit empower and guide us, even through the storms in our lives, and be faithful disciples. If we are willing to do that, we will hear Jesus say to us what he said to Peter on the water: "Come." "Come be with me forever."

 

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

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 4:32-40
Matthew 16:24-28

Reflection:

Today’s Gospel reading comes right after Jesus has announced His coming Passion to the disciples. Peter responds, "God forbid!"  and then, after telling Peter to get behind Him, Jesus says, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." What a shock this must have been to Peter, even greater than being referred to as Satan! Here he just told Jesus that the Passion should never come to pass and Jesus says, ‘Well, in fact, you have to go through it, too.’ And, indeed, the apostles and the early martyrs were asked to bear great trials for their faith. But in this modern age where our right to practice and display our faith is protected by law, what are the crosses the we are asked to carry? What is the cross that Jesus asks me to carry?

When I was in my early 20s I prayed to God to show me my cross. I asked him to show me the fire, that I might walk through it and be purified. Ah, the pride of youth. I expected that my cross would be some grandiose event. Some life changing attack on myself that I could suffer and carry and overcome through the grace of God.

But now looking back from middle-age, I wonder. Is the cross that I am to bear, the cross that Jesus tells me I must take up if I wish to follow him, actually some huge event, some life-changing tragedy? Or is it to bear patiently those daily inconveniences, those moments when I’m jarred out of whatever peace I have and find myself gritting my teeth at my fellow humans or some minor frustration? Is my cross to hold my tongue and forgive, even when I think  I am right about who lost the TV remote or left the front door unlocked? Is my cross to pray and bless other drivers when they move so slowly that I have to sit at the signal through another red light and am late to work?

I now believe that my cross, what Jesus says I must take up to follow Him, is whatever the Father sends me. I am to participate fully in my day-to-day life, blessing God for what I am given, and working with those circumstances that I find myself in to share God’s blessing’s with others. This is enough of a cross for me today. And if God does send me a great, life changing event, perhaps carrying this day-to-day cross will have better prepared me to accept that, too, as blessing.

 

Talib Huff is a volunteer at Christ the King Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, CA.

 

 

 

 

Scripture:

Numbers 13:1-2, 25-14:1, 26a-29a, 34-35
Matthew 15: 21-28 

Reflection:

Has it ever struck you that when Jesus heals people, the environment / the culture surrounding the miraculous transformation of the people does not change one bit? Persons are usually sent back to the ordinary settings as they knew them. As transformational as these healings are they are within the real world of good and evil.

The mom’s "wish" for her daughter came to pass. And the "great faith" on the part of the mom, acknowledged by Our Lord, would have to continue to face into the evil of cultural, religious and gender discrimination. Was that not what Jesus was seeking to probe with this woman, her capability (beyond human power) to face into the challenges of discrimination? Was not Jesus Himself being threatened constantly on his road to the Passion by this same evil discrimination? It would be his faith, too, in the faithfulness of the Father that would ultimately fulfill the "wish" of redemption…through His suffering love. Would not Jesus want this woman to understand the implications of healing with the ever-present consciousness of the discriminatory barriers which she would continue to face?

Jesus graces us with the wisdom necessary to choose to live a value, and take the risk to change the world. I may not imitate the actual sufferings of Christ but I can embrace the risk- taking of Jesus to change the world. Is there any area of my life where Jesus calls me to risk for the sake of those suffering discrimination? Jesus saves us not only from sin, but from our complacency, as well.

 

Fr. Alex Steinmiller, C.P. is president of Holy Family Cristo Rey High School, Birmingham, Alabama.

Scripture:

Numbers 12:1-13
Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14 (alternate reading for the day)

Reflection:

Today’s readings (using the alternate Gospel for the date) pose the very human question of how to discern God’s will in the context of our leadership.  Through the drama played out in the reading from Numbers, and the dialogue of Jesus with his disciples after confronting the Pharisees and Scribes, we see what a delicate balance may be required to affirm our obedience to God’s will in our community living.

Miriam, Aaron and Moses all shared in the leadership of the people of Israel as they came out of Egypt and sought out the promised land.  Clearly, by reason of age, Moses being the youngest, there was a natural "authority" in the ranking by age.  The people would have expected Aaron and Miriam to lead the way…but God favored Moses, "face to face I speak to him". 

I am reminded of our leadership in the religious life.  We choose our leadership after a discernment process.  Those who are entrusted with the responsibility of leadership are not only the ones with age or education to recommend them.  We believe that God brings forth the leadership we will require by asking us to consider the heart of the individual.  We look for leadership which listens to the Lord in prayer, which loves the fraternity of the membership, and which is ready to sacrifice personal prestige for the good of the mission of the Province.

Indeed, in the dialogue given us in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus criticizes the recognized teachers and spokespersons of the Jewish community.  They had questioned him about his followers and their not adhering to the ritual laws for purity.  Jesus reminds his disciples that the "teaching" –what comes out of the mouth– contaminates the purity of the believers more than the absence of ritual.  In so saying, Jesus has questioned the use of the teaching authority of the elders, but not without holding up the greater virtue, that his followers must use their authority with responsibility.

In our country, today, we meet up with the dreaded "judgment day" of fiscal responsibility.  We have been listening to the "teachings" of our leadership, daily the news coverage has shown us how divided our leadership has become regarding some of the fundamental values of human life and a just society.  Does this political rhetoric merit the judgment of Jesus?  Has our national leadership responded to the values that it so often calls the Christian foundations of our country?  Would Jesus recognize his teachings in the political debate we have just been through? 

 

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

Feast of Saint Martha 

Scripture:

Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37
Matthew 13: 54-58

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Martha, a friend of Jesus along with her family, Mary and Lazarus.  The story of Martha and the warm reception of Jesus in her home provide us with a clear contrast to the picture we see in today’s gospel.  Jesus finds himself in his home town surrounded by people who knew him well and yet did not place their full faith in Him.  "And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith."

Martha’s hospitality and the poor reception Jesus received in his own home town are reminders of how we must "create space" for each other and Jesus in our lives.  Hospitality, at its heart, is the creation of a welcoming space where we feel secure and able to express what is in our hearts.   This space creates a fertile ground for us to experience and grow in our faith.

Our Passionist Family is known for the virtue of hospitality.  Like St. Martha, we create a welcoming space for others so their faith in Jesus can grow.  We create this space through welcoming actions (like Martha) and contemplation (like Martha’s sister Mary).  We do this in a world where it would seem "hospitality" often is being driven away by technology and self-centeredness.

Hospitality is the virtue up for discussion on this Feast of St. Martha and in today’s gospel message.  As we reflect on this virtue, let us keep in mind a couple of questions.

What am I doing today to create a space where the faith of those I know the best can grow?  How am I creating a space for Jesus where he will "work mighty deeds" in my own life in response to my faith in Him?

 

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