Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Tobit 2:9-14
Mark 12:13-17

Reflection:

Today is a Passionist feast day. Every Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is the commemoration of the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

 

When I was professed as a Passionist in 1985, all eight in my class chose a title. I chose "Cedric of Jesus in Gethsemane." I was and continue to be moved by the sacrificial surrender of Jesus in that garden knowing he was facing such tremendous suffering. This scene has captivated my heart. Jesus’ prayer was one of surrender. He said, "Yes" to God and God’s will even though it would cost  his life. The anxiety and duress during his prayer was so intense that Jesus’ sweat was like blood.

As we journey into Lent tomorrow, many are anxious. We wonder if this Lent will really make a difference in us. As a missionary, I worry whether my missions and messages will be well received. Many are struggling with finances, health, or relationships. Are you worried and anxious about something right now? Being nervous and stressed are epidemic and cause our pulse and blood pressure to rise.

Jesus’ surrender was on our behalf! His blood brings us healing. In this case, the blood he shed came as he faced severe anxiety and the certainty of a torturous death. I’ve discovered that when I meditate on Jesus in the garden surrendering himself in the midst of such extreme pressure, I am able to find a new serenity. I simply give my situations and cares to him because I know he paid the price for me to be free. A new strength and courage ensue.

Lent begins tomorrow. Every year we Passionists have this commemoration so we will surrender ourselves along with Jesus to God. We don’t have to be overwhelmed by our circumstances. As we begin Lent, we can find a place of serenity and freedom from fret because of Jesus’ sacrificial sufferings. My prayer is that your Lenten journey will be life changing beginning right now.

 

Fr. Cedric Pisegna, C.P. is a missionary preacher, author of 14 books and creator of television and radio programs airing in many cities. You can learn more about his ministry at: http://www.frcedric.org/

Solemn Commemoration of the Passion

 

Scripture:

Isaiah 53:1-12
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
John 19:17-30

 

Reflection:

May the Passion of Christ be always in our hearts!

Today we celebrate the title-feast of our Passionist Congregation – an annual celebration on the Friday before Ash Wednesday and the renewal season of Lent.  Today we join Passionists around the world in glorifying God through the vivid story of Love Personified in the Passion of Jesus.

The readings chosen for this Solemn Feast encourage us to delve deeply into the life-giving suffering and death of Jesus — as prefaced in the Suffering Servant Song of the prophet Isaiah, as lovingly presented in the Passion narrative of St. John’s Gospel, and as proclaimed in the life and ministry of Paul the Apostle as he interacted with the Corinthians.  As we pray these scriptures, our 21^st century prayer joins the prayer of our saintly Holy Founder, St. Paul of the Cross; together we glory in the Cross of Christ!

These words from Scripture bear the deep reality of God’s love for each of us, encouraging us to open our hearts and "feel" the embrace of Jesus Crucified as he reaches out to each of us from the Cross.  Drawn in to the divine reality and nourished by Jesus’ Life in the Eucharist, we are sent with other members of the Passionist family to "preach Christ Crucified" by both word and deed…the power of God and the wisdom of God.

We Passionists follow in the footsteps of Jesus Crucified and share in the contemporary Passion so evident in our world.  We are called to share in the suffering of our sisters and brothers worldwide as they struggle with violence and war, as they strive for justice and a share of the basic goods of the earth, as they deal with natural disasters of earthquakes and floods and fires, as they bear the cross of sickness and loneliness, etc.  Along with our sisters and brothers, we find meaning and a new perspective in Jesus’ ‘’greatest love", and pray along with St. Paul of the Cross:  "…when you feel yourself on the cross, stripped of everything, gently stir up your faith in God’s presence, and abandon yourself in the immense sea of God’s love."

In union with Jesus Crucified, and encouraged by St. Paul the Apostle, today we boldly proclaim God’s Love in the Passion of Jesus.  St. Paul of the Cross speaks to our hearts:  "…the world lives unmindful of the sufferings of Jesus.  We must arouse the world from its slumber.  His Holy Spirit will teach us how."

Amen!

 

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is the local leader of the Passionist community in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 11: 18, 26-28, 32
Romans 3:21-25
Matthew 7:21-27

Reflection:

The Italian architect Bonnano Pisano began work on what would become his most famous project: a separately standing eight-story bell tower for the Cathedral of Pisa. This bell tower might not have attracted so much attention if it had been built on a solid foundation. Even with recent restorations, the top of the tower is displaced horizontally about twelve feet from where it would be if the structure were perfectly vertical.

In the Gospel reading today, Jesus was bringing to a close his Sermon on the Mount and wanted the people to go and do what he had just taught them. As usual, Jesus tells a story to back up what he was saying. The story is based on a house, a rock, and some sand.

Jesus is not teaching a parable about how to build our houses in protected areas. There are no storm-free zones in life. This is a parable about foundations, not avoiding the weather. When the pressure intensifies from all sides, the outcome is determined by the foundation we’re sitting on. Jesus helped the people to understand that God was not always going to be there to stop the rains, the floods, and the tornadoes from invading our lives. Nevertheless, Jesus expected the people to be careful about the priorities on which they built their lives. A bad decision in the foundation could prove disastrous when the pressures of life begin to mount.

A person who hears Jesus’ words and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who builds with the right materials in the right location. Those who choose other ways are sand builders. There is the shifting sand of the false preachers and teachers. Don’t build on that. There is the shallow sand of TV. Learning about life from commercials or Jerry Springer is sand! Don’t build on that. There is the quicksand of self-righteousness. Endeavoring to live a sinless life, as your ticket to heaven, is sand. Don’t build on that.

Build your life on what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. Instead of revenge, build your life on reconciliation. Instead of being consumed by pornography and lust, build your life on respect and faithfulness. Instead of being evasive, tell the truth. Instead of hating your enemies, pray for them. Instead of just being outwardly religious, build your life on acts of kindness and true worship. Instead of dedicating your life to the accumulation of wealth, build on eternal values. Instead of worrying your way through life, build your life on a firm trust in the caring hand of God. Instead of always judging others, build your relationships on a loving acceptance. Instead of leveraging things in your favor and manipulating people to get what you want, build your life on seeking the Father’s Will.

You are building today. Hearing and reading Jesus’ words are not enough. We must do them. Divine truth is given not to satisfy idle curiosity, but to change lives and equip us for today and prepare us for eternity. Let us not be a Tower of Pisa.

 

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

 

Scripture:

Tobit 1:3; 2:1a-8
Mark 12:1-12

Reflection:

Mark’s gospel has Jesus arriving in Jerusalem and strongly asserting his mission.  Jesus does so in many ways.  Perhaps his boldest confrontation is the parable he tells of the evil tenants.  His learned opponents and determined murderers were in his audience.  They knew the parable well since it was also used by Isaiah.

With great precision Jesus repeats the story of the owner of the Vineyard, the care taken to make the vineyard a great success.  He rents out the vineyard to tenants and awaits his harvest.  His first messengers are beaten and rejected, a second servant was seriously hurt, the third was killed. 

Finally, the owner sends his son, thinking "they will respect my son." They did not, but conspired  to kill the son so they might gain total possession.  And that is what they did. 

What will the owner do?  He will put the tenants to death and give the vineyard to others..

Jesus breaks away from the story and talks about the reality.  "Have you not read this scripture Passage?" "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, by the Lord has this been done. In this religion you have grown fat and you have had more than enough. I am the Son and Successor of the prophets whom your predecessors maltreated,  and now you have hatched a plot to have the Romans crucify me.  Eventually, you will pay the penalty."

Mark wrote before the Romans leveled Jerusalem, burned the temple, crucified or scattered the people.  Small groups of Christians were taking over.  That, you know, is the history.

Christians know the warning. And the failure of the Jewish leaders could, and on occasion has happened to us.  Our leaders have been deaf and blind at times and led the flock astray.  In our personal lives we are carefully planned vineyards, but have we yielded fruit?  Have we betrayed the Son of God and made his pains a mockery?  

Lent is here. A time of repentance. A time of renewal.  The Crucifix tells us all that the Son of God has done for us.  The Jews and many others have heard but hardened their hearts. Let us pray for ourselves and for all God’s People that we prove to be faithful and not unworthy tenants.

 

Fr. Fred Sucher, C.P. is retired and lives in the Passionist community in Chicago.  For many years he taught philosophy to Passionist seminarians.  

Scripture:

Sirach 51:12c-20
Mark 11:27-33

Reflection:

As I awake from sleep and take in my first thoughtful breath, I ponder quietly ‘Is Wisdom here today?  Did she get lonely and wonder off to someone more interesting during the long night?’

In today’s Gospel, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders are not seeking Wisdom.  They only want to hear what they already believe is true.  They are closed minded and wisdom is not currently within their reach.  The men gather and struggle to form their response to Jesus’ question all knowing that Wisdom is not within the grasp.  Wisdom is not shy and she will not hide from those who have made the effort to find peace by her side.

Sure they believe that Wisdom already lives within them, but they do not dare to question that reality for the cost would be their own identities.

If they were truly open in their hearts and minds and asked Jesus with the spirit of a child, they might begin to open the door to wisdom.  They must breathe in Wisdom and release the angst they feel from deep within their souls or they will never enjoy the peace and freedom that comes from knowing wisdom.  Wisdom is very powerful and knows the peace that can be shared with her acceptance, but only those who languish on her words as gospel or pure truth can be free. 

Knowing Wisdom is not like an Ah-Ha moment in life. She comes to us through continual, thoughtful, everyday prayer.  My story is not new or unfamiliar to most people.  When my brother was 33, he took his own precious life.  I begged Jesus to give him back.  I thought I was pleading my case to the highest authority; however, I only heard what I thought was the truth that Jesus did not love my brother and that is why He allowed this to happen to me.   So I turned my back and left Him.  Fortunately, He did not do the same to me.  I yelled at Him for years actually, but He never left me.  Maybe I only yelled because I knew He did not leave me.  Gradually I began speaking to Him and more importantly I noticed Jesus was following me around again.  Don’t get me wrong, I always knew He was with me I was just to closed-off to hear what He had to say.  Wisdom slowly and patiently began to trust me and inch by inch came into my life.  I have long forgiven Jesus and was filled with the Wisdom that my brother is loved and that he is safe at home.  

‘Drink Wisdom in until you feel it softly reach your toes and rises back up through your spine bringing the sweetest smile to your lips as she is pure, sweet poetry. Your questions will no longer be left unheard by Wisdom, your peace has been granted.’

 

Darlene McClure is a retreatant at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, CA.

Scripture:
Sirach 42:15-25
Mark 10:46-52

Reflection:
Read Sirach’s commentary aloud a couple of times. Then describe to yourself your "place" in life…"where am I at?" Then answer the question that Jesus poses to the blind beggar.  "What do you want me to do for you?"

I am a Passionist religious. Have you ever wanted to listen in on a "down-to-earth" discussion between two contemporary religious? They probably would not be talking about the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. Rather, they would speak of being involved in building God’s kingdom on earth. Listen.

"Don’t ask us about our vows," they say. "Watch what we do until you, too, make a commitment that takes on the characteristics of God’s dream for us. We must keep on living in the hope…the power of faith that allows us to accomplish what our hearts hope for. We must embrace the future, rather than dwell on the immediate results of our actions.

We must embrace the future, daring simply to be present to those who are poor or rejected, voiceless or silenced. We must embrace the future so we can call for the equality, justice and happiness that are promised to all. Yes, brothers and sisters, fellow religious, let us embrace our future.  Let us stop wondering about whether our religious families will survive.  Instead let us proclaim the power of a future, a gift from God that begins with our commitment. Even though we are vulnerable, let us get up and return to the margins of society and church where so many isolated and wounded are waiting for us. Let us dare to address our leaders with our words, as well as, our actions -with words that inspire and surpass us, with words of the people we meet on the paths of our mission. This is to be truly prophetic." This meditation was inspired by a Canadian religious, Alain Ambeault, CSV. Yes, in the words of Sirach, "all of us differ, one from another, yet none of us has He made in vain."

 

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

Scripture: 

Sirach 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17
Mark 10:32-45

Reflection:

It is hard to blame someone, anyone, for yearning for vindication, or longing for an ample reward for having made good choices in one’s life.  To have been faithful to one’s duties and responsibilities, even when it may have brought reproach or jealousy from among one’s family or acquaintances, seems a good basis for looking forward to "living happily ever after".

Put into the context of God’s Word and the Mission of Jesus Christ, it is not surprising that the reading from Sirach addresses God in this way: Reward those who have hoped in you, and let your prophets be proved true.

Even more explicit is the dialogue between Jesus and the Apostles: Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.

There is a longing of the human heart to be satisfied in its desire to both do good and be rewarded for the good that we have done.  We all dream of living "happily ever after". But first, Jesus invites his followers to follow his example (to be "baptized" in his baptism, which means to be "immersed in his mission"), to give their life in service to others, to fulfill what he will declare to be the great commandment, to love one another.

Lent will be upon us next week (March 9, 2011); let us prepare our hearts for the season of Lent by naming the persons who most need our serving them, and putting these words of Jesus into practice on a daily basis during Lent: Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant…For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve….

 

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

Scripture:

Isaiah 49:14-15
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Matthew 6:24-34

Reflection:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life."

 

Is it me, or does it seem as if I always seem to get the readings about anxiety?  In any event, I don’t think this assignment is a coincidence since I have made worrying almost an art form.

When we are young, our worries start out similarly small.  I have some recollection of worrying about the 3^rd grade spelling bee and why my terrible parents wouldn’t let me sleep over at my friend’s house-that was of course, ruining my life.  As we get older, perhaps it’s grades or boyfriends, getting to drive the car on weekends or attending a good college.  When we enter the world of marriage and mortgages, kids and careers, that’s when some of the heavy-duty worrying can take on a life of its own.

"No one can serve two masters."  This line is often quoted in popular culture without fully capturing its import.  When worry and fear over earthly things consumes our thoughts, we have very little room left for God.  And when we exclude God, I am not talking just about missing church and forgetting to pray.  I am talking about living a life lacking in love, gratitude and service to others.   Do you notice how you treat others when your mind is preoccupied with anxiety?  Can we fully love our neighbor when we are constantly wishing we had a house or car as nice as theirs?  Can we be fully grateful for the food on our table when we are wondering why we can’t afford to eat at a fancy restaurant?  Christ asks, "Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?"  Put another, slightly less eloquent way, worrying don’t get you nowhere.

It’s not the passing worry or concern that is the problem.  It’s not the nagging fear that you pray about when you wonder if your child will pass a test or if you will get the much-deserved raise at work.  It’s unrealistic to think we can move through life carefree.  But, it is when worry becomes our master, when we begin to serve it with our time and thoughts, that we offend God.   When we "seek first the kingdom," all else will follow.

It may seem absurd that Jesus tells us not to worry about food and clothing.  Aren’t these basic necessities of life?  It’s seem like a fairly legitimate worry if you don’t have enough food for yourself and your family.  But Jesus asks: "Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?"  I don’t think what we are to take from this is that we should sit idly by and wait for God to intervene.  We don’t throw our arms up and hope God will show up with the rent check.   Our heavenly Father knows our needs.  Just give over your fears to God.

What He does ask us to do is to not to worry about tomorrow because. as we learn from the first reading from Isaiah, God will never forget us.  We can trust in God.  He may not show up with the rent, but He may lead us to call an old friend who just so happens to know about a great job opportunity.  By trusting fully in God, we are promised care on earth.  And by abandoning our focus on this life, we can set our sights on the promise of eternity.       

 

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