Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Genesis 19:15-29
Matthew 8:23-27

Reflection:

In Chapter 8, Matthew recounts the stories of Jesus miracles.  We hear of the cleansing of the leper, how the centurion’s servant was cured, and that by just laying his hand on her forehead, Jesus cured the fever of Peter’s mother-in-law.  Jesus has performed many miracles.  The apostles saw all this and they witnessed Jesus driving out the demons.  They have seen his power and have acclaimed their belief in him. 

But in today’s reading, they themselves are now in imminent danger, the sudden storm is violent and unexpected, their boat is near capsizing.  They must have been terrorized; they must have been overcome with fear that they wouldn’t survive the night; that they would perish at sea.  With faith in Jesus’ power, they wake him and ask him to save them.  For they knew that Jesus could save them.  And while Jesus does save them and calms the seas, he also chastises them.   

Listen carefully to Jesus’ lesson in this gospel.    He isn’t saying, if you have faith, you’ll ask God for help.  Rather, he tells them that their very fear demonstrates that they have only a little faith. The picture painted offers us a stark contrast in ways of dealing with the storms of our lives.  We see the Apostles in turmoil – fear and terror literally paralyzing them.   Here they are fishermen, men of the sea, but they are so anxious that they don’t seem to know what to do.    And what is Jesus doing during this tremulous time?  With waves swamping the boat and the noises of the storm surrounding them, he is calmly sleeping. 

When we face storms in our lives, how do we react?  Are we paralyzed by fear, by worry and anxiety?  Or do we truly trust in God’s promise that we will not perish; and that God’s hand will be with us?

Let us pray for a deeper faith that we can stay calm through the storms of our lives.

 

Mary Lou Butler is a former staff member and a long-time partner of the Passionists at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Genesis 18:16-33
Matthew 8:18-22

Reflection:

Two years ago, I got a horrible phone call.  I’m sorry to say that many of you have gotten this same call.  Perhaps yours came on a warm, sunny day or in the middle of the night.  Mine came unexpectedly on an otherwise uneventful Saturday evening in February, when I was gathered with some friends.  It ended with me racing down the expressway to my father’s bedside.

He never did open his eyes or even squeeze my hand.  But I stayed close by.  As the doctors’ prognosis got more and more bleak, I kept almost constant vigil.  I slept on awful, creaky chairs and didn’t shower.  I’d worry even if I ran to the cafeteria.  I talked to him a lot.  I read to him.  I combed his hair.  I washed his face.  I answered a million of the same questions over and over again as the doctors streamed in and out.  I asked my own millions of questions to doctors and nurses and God.  I made phone calls furiously, as if this would somehow help.  I wept and prayed.  And in the week that followed, I buried my dad. 

What I was doing at the time felt like absolute necessity.  I don’t know that I thought about it in these terms, but I certainly felt like I was doing the right thing in forsaking other responsibilities for my dad.  And yet, we read in today’s gospel what might sound like an oddly callous response to one disciples request.

Two disciples are pledging themselves as devoted followers of Christ.  But one has some important tasks to first attend to:  "Lord, let me go first and bury my father."  Upon hearing this, Jesus answered, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead."  Are you thinking what I’m thinking?  Yikes!  Christ in all His love and compassion is telling this man to just leave his father?

I am far from a Theologian.  But, I certainly don’t think that Christ is somehow saying that tending to our parents-that caring for them especially in times of great need-is not a good and honorable undertaking.  But He is not one to mince words.  If there was an example that would get our attention, this is sure it. 

Following Christ is a real commitment, and one not to be taken lightly.  If there are other obligations you have that precede that commitment, then perhaps, what our Lord is saying,  maybe you need to realign your priorities.  I think the dilemma that Jesus poses here is-what will keep you from Christ?

As I sat with my father, I thought about all the things I didn’t get to say to him (and all the unkind things I did say to him in life).  I worried about how I would take care of my mom.  I thought about what our first Christmas would look like without him.  In other words, so much of my energy was spent on fear and anxiety about dad missing from the world and what it would mean for me.  And so, in some ways, this worldly task of "burying" my father did in fact keep me from Christ.

What I think we often forget is that following Christ isn’t another task in our daily life, it is life.

 

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

 

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
John 6:51-58

 

 

Reflection:

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." John 6:51

Bread has often been used as a source of physical nourishment throughout history. But Jesus, as the bread of life, is a constant source of nourishment for our faith and being in our journey through life.  

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him."  At Mass, we witness the Consecration that transforms the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.  Through this transformation, we believe.  Our faith, our spirit, our being, is strengthened by Jesus’ selfless act of love through his passion, death and the hope of the resurrection.

Strengthened by the Body and Blood of Jesus, we offer nourishment to others.  Perhaps it is a shoulder to lean on when someone is down, or a few dollars for someone who does not have enough for medicine, or to pay bills.  Maybe we pull over to the side of the road to help a stranger with car trouble.  All of these acts are Jesus in us.

As long as we believe and we continually strive to be nourished by the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, we will feel His love in us as we go forward on our journey to eternal life. 

 

Claire Smith is on staff at the Holy Cross Province Development Office in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Genesis 18:1-15
Matthew 8:5-17

Reflection:

"When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.’"

What great faith and courage the centurion must have had to approach Christ as he entered Capernaum.  Keep in mind, a centurion yielded great power as an officer, commanding between 80 and 100 men.  He was probably in Capernaum as an occupational force.  During this time the Jews hated the Romans because they represented everything they stood against.  The centurion certainly would have been considered a foreboding enemy. His truthful straightforwardness, especially to a Jew, would have subjected him to ridicule from his men and scorn from the citizens of Capernaum, but nonetheless he approached Jesus with self-assurance and humility.

Today, our faith in Christ appeals to a "transcendent reality," beyond the physical human experience, which for many is difficult to grasp.  The intangibles have led many to ridicule the faithful and have led others to let it slip through their hands. It is difficult for us to place complete trust or conviction in things not seen.  Our faith however, is the cornerstone of a meaningful relationship with God; it is a powerful force in the hands of the believer.  In our faith we will find hope, love and courage. Perhaps the centurion’s power lies not in his weapons or presence, but in his faith.

 

Angela Kwasinski is the Director of Planned Giving for Holy Cross Province Development Office.

 

 

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul 

Scripture:

Acts 12: 1-11
2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 17-18
Matthew 16: 13-19

 

 

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the feast day of two pillars of the Church, Sts. Peter and Paul.  The lives of Peter and Paul were dominated by the answers to two simple but profound questions taken from our Scripture readings for today.

The first question was directed to Peter by Jesus.  "Who do you say that I am?"  Peter answered "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."  The second question also was directed to Peter.  "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"  Peter answered "Lord, you know everything, you know well that I love you."  Jesus then responded, "Feed my sheep."

Both Peter and Paul recognized and accepted Jesus as the center of their lives.  They confessed their faith in and love for Jesus.  Jesus then sent them forth to preach this faith and love, to the ends of the earth and at the cost of both their lives, bearing witness to Him who sent them.

A simple way for us to reflect on today’s feast and the lives of Sts. Peter and Paul is to respond to the two questions Jesus posed. 

Who do you say that I am?  Do you love me?  

A strong response to these two questions with both our faith and our hearts will lead us to follow the command of Jesus.  We will be sent as disciples, like Sts. Peter and Paul, to "Feed my sheep."

 

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

Feast of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist 

Scripture:

Isaiah 49:1-6
Acts 13:22-26
Luke 1:57-66, 80

 

 

Reflection:

Today is the feast day of the birth of John the Baptist.  The memory of John the Baptist has been important in Christianity starting with Jesus. "Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet."  "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist. Mt 11:11

John the Baptist is mentioned some 92 times in New Testament. In today’s gospel there is importance given to his name: "His name is John." We know that in ancient times how a child was named was his description.  For example, Nathanael (‘God has given [this child]’), and Shemaiah (‘Yahweh has heard [the parents’ prayer]’ Ichabod (‘where is the glory?’ 1 Sam. 4:19-22.  The Ark was captured when he was born.)  Menachem (‘comforter’). 

The name John means God (Yahweh) plus gracious (chanan).  "Yahweh is gracious."  John was a gifted man. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."   Our lives begin with the programmed gifts of God.    When we fail to recognize that our talents are gifts of God we fall into that ancient sin of pride.

We do this in basically two ways.  First of all everything positively we have is a gift from God’s graciousness.  We can and do enjoy the gift, but it is a gift given for God’s purposes and glory and not our own.  In the second place when we get discouraged we forget that we are dealing with God’s gifts and equipment which are utterly reliable.  This too is a sin of pride.   We rely too much on ourselves and separate ego from the gift.  One of our priests after hearing someone running himself down said: come on now, God did not do that bad of a job on you!

What a beautiful name is John!   God is gracious.  When my mother called me as a child I always could tell in what mood she was.  If she called me my brother’s name, I knew I was in no immediate danger of correction.  Mom was distracted.  When she called me by my full first name, Robert John, I knew I was in for a correction.   Mother in her own way was reminding me I was not aware of God’s gifts and better shape up!

 

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

 

Scripture: 

Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16 or 16:6b-12, 15-16
Matthew 7:21-29

Reflection:

When I was a seminarian, I had the opportunity to attend an evening of a Black Catholic Revival being held at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. When I got to the cathedral, up in front of the altar was an African-American woman giving a portrayal of Hagar, about whom we hear in our first reading from Genesis. The portrayal was sympathetic to Hagar’s point of view. In fact, when one reads this passage, it is easy to be sympathetic to Hagar and her son Ishmael, and Genesis tells us that God does indeed hear Hagar’s lament, and promises her that her son will be the ancestor of countless descendants. I think the woman portrayed Hagar in the first place because African-Americans could identify with the way Hagar was treated by Sarah.

It can be revelatory to hear Scripture being and interpreted by people of different cultures and backgrounds from one’s own. And it is in the context of being open to others, even when they are different, that can give us a perspective to our Gospel reading from Matthew. In the beginning of our reading, Jesus says something that probably would have startled His listeners: "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." Jesus then talks about many people who will try to remind Jesus that they prophesied and did great things in His name, and He will say, "I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers." Unfortunately in the history of Christianity, there have been people who have done things in the name of Jesus that had nothing to do with what Jesus said or did. For instance, it is my understanding that some people have justified prejudice and discrimination against others by categorizing them as descendants of Ishmael, who is described as a "wild ass of a man, his hand against everyone."

We need to be careful when we say or do things in the name of Jesus. We need to make sure that we are listening to Jesus‘ words and acting on them, not letting any of our biases or prejudices drive our behavior. The more we put our faith into practice, the stronger our foundation will be, just as Jesus says. May we listen to Jesus’ words and act on them.

 

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

 

Scripture:

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Matthew 7:15-20

Reflection:

My most favorite place to be (after the ocean) is under the night sky enjoying all of the stars. "All of the stars" is a relative term considering that I now live in a big city where it rains a lot. But I’m speaking of the night sky where you can see a zillion stars and on many occasions you can see a shooting star.

When we lived out in the country we had a swimming pool in our backyard and sometimes late at night I would get up and go float in the pool on my back so that I could revel in that sight. It’s one of the easiest places for me to see and talk to God. We also had a hot tub on our deck just outside of our bedroom, which is where you could find me every night talking to the Lord. Night prayer in a hot tub – what could be better? Plus it’s warmer than a swimming pool!

The night sky is brilliant and breathtaking. But count the stars? Ha! I read somewhere that there are 100 billion stars in our galaxy and 100 billion galaxies in the universe!!! I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around that number, but I know that one day I will get to explore them first hand. Wahoo!!!

One year we held our yearly dealer meeting way up in the mountains during the Perseid meteor shower. If you got up in the middle of the night, you could see shooting stars at the rate of about one per minute (sometimes more). That is a lot of shooting stars! So I got all of the kids and my reluctant husband up at about 3 AM and said, "Let’s go outside and watch the show!" We laid on the concrete parking lot and it was great! As one of the stars zoomed by I said, "I wish I could take a ride on one of those!" (And my husband said, "Can I go back to bed now?") Then it hit me, we were at that very moment hurtling through space on our own shooting star – the earth! Not only were we traveling through space, but we were also rotating at the same time.

At this very moment we are on an incredibly wild ride and we don’t even notice because of the speed! Isn’t life like that much of the time? We are going so fast, we miss the miracles that are happening all around us every day. SLOW DOWN!!! Open your eyes and the eyes of your heart and see the Lord weaving beauty into life at every turn. The miracles are too numerous to count, just like the stars in the sky.

 

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 4. Visit Janice’s website at http://www.jcarleton.com/ or email her at janice@frcedric/org