Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1
Luke 11:29-32

Reflection:

On my mom’s first visit to Immaculate Conception rectory, Fr. Eric said to her: "How does it feel to have a son who is a slave of the church?"  The question startled her, and she really didn’t reply.  It has caused me to reflect over the years on the nature of our life in Christ, on ministry and the reality of our freedom in Christ.

St. Paul knew how terrible human slavery could be in his time.  As a Roman citizen, he knew how widespread it was….a slave was property, pure and simple.  Many slaveowners worked their slaves to death.  Others treated them more humanely and even allowed them to buy their freedom.  As terrible as slavery was, Paul knew that slavery to sin was even worse.  So he says in our reading today: "For freedom, Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery."  These words are echoed in his advice to Philemon, the owner of the slave Onesimus, who had run away.  Paul wrote:" I know you ahve been deprived of Onesimus for a time, but it was only so that you could have him back for ever, not as a slave any more, but something much better than a slave, a dear brother (Philemon 1:15-16).

Slavery still exists in our day….people trapped in subhuman working and living situations.  The slavery of sin still exists for many, through addiction to drugs or alcohol, the sins of social injustice and racism.  The church’s mission continues the work of Jesus is breaking the bonds of slavery of all kinds.  The church’s ministers in a special way share in the exhileration of people set free.  As all Christians, they model themselves on Jesus, who though divine, "emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave."

An old folk song has the refrain: "It’s a long, long way to freedom."  In Christ, we have the gift of freedom.  Let us rejoice in it and share this gift with others!

 

Fr. Bob Bovenzi lives in Chicago. 

Scripture:

2 Kings 5:14-17
2 Timothy 2:8-13
Luke 17:11-19

Reflection:

In the first reading today, Namaan is so grateful for his healing that he takes mule-loads of dirt back to his home so he can worship God on holy ground.  This contrasts to the Gospel, in which 9 out of 10 lepers take their healing so for granted that they fail to even say "Thank you".  I suspect most of us read these stories and believe that if something wonderful happened in our lives, we would surely be among the grateful ones.  Would we?  In fact, are we?

How many wonderful things have happened in my life today that I failed to even notice, much less be thankful for?  Have I stopped noticing blue sky, trees, or the remarkable creation that frames my day?  Do I "deserve" my talents or all the good things in my life?  When I think of the people I love, how often in the course of a week do I speak words of appreciation or praise vs. criticism or frustration?  Perhaps I need a load full of Namaan’s dirt sitting in my living room to remind me to return to the giver of all good gifts overwhelmed with gratitude and singing "Thank you".

I think particularly of my experience working with grieving people for well over 20 years.  Inevitably they say things like:

"If I had known it would be the last time I’d see her, I would have given her a hug."
"We argued so much that I started to think I’d be relieved if he weren’t there.  How could I be so blind?"
"If I had to do it over again, I would have listened to her more, and been less stubborn in holding onto my own positions." 
"He was such a good man.  Why did I criticize him instead of thanking him every morning and night?" 

The truth is, in over 20 years, I have never heard anyone say "I told her I loved her too often," or "I appreciated him too much."   For whom are you thankful?  How big a wake-up call will it take before you tell them so? 

The night my husband died in a car accident, he called me from the road and we talked for a few minutes.  The last thing he said to me was "I love you" and the last thing I said to him was "I love you, too."  I try now to ensure that the last words people hear from me before we part are kind and loving, just in case they are the last words they ever hear from me.  (I’ve even said to my son, "I am so angry with you right now I could spit, but even when I am this angry with you, I still love you!")  I want to live my life thankful, aware that nothing I own, nothing I count on, and no one I love is truly mine.  I am not in control, and any or all of it could disappear tomorrow, so I want to appreciate what I have while I have it. 

May I, like Namaan, fall to my knees on holy ground every day, thanking God and those I love for the many gifts they bring to my life. 

 

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:

Galatians 3:7-14
Luke 11:15-26

Reflection:

For some days now we’ve been hearing Paul teach about faith. In the strongest of terms (you stupid Galatians!) he wanted the Galatians to know that they received the Spirit and salvation itself through faith. Today he emphasized that faith is the way we must live our everyday life. "The just shall live by faith." (Hab. 2:4)

The virtue of faith is both a gift from God as well as our responsibility to choose it and exercise it daily. Faith is a positive energizing force within each of us. Abraham, whom Paul alluded to, was a wandering Aramean, our ancestor in faith. So too, we must "walk by faith, and not by sight." There is a difference between a journey and a pilgrimage. One is movement through life. A pilgrimage is travelling by faith.

As you read this today, I am off on another mission, another pilgrimage of faith in my life’s journey. I’m flying to Pittsburgh and a parish mission in Glenshaw, PA. I will encounter people whom I’ve never met, new situations and various challenging circumstances. I am required to meet all of these in faith. Whether I write books, create talks, TV or radio programs, I must initiate and establish them by faith. The just shall live by their faith. God doesn’t require that we be perfect humans, but that we live by faith.

Faith is adherence to and confidence in God. It is written that without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Faith is not so much believing that God exists, or course God does, but having confidence that he is with us and at work in our daily life.) Whenever I start any project or depart on any mission, I have confidence that God goes before me and will see me through victoriously. Faith opens doors for God’s wonder-working power to manifest itself. (Read the testimonies of Hebrews chapter 11.)

Once Paul the apostle was in a mighty storm and all hope was lost. His response? "I have faith in God." (Acts 27:25) Radical dependence in God is a must for our daily ordinary journey, but especially when we encounter misfortunes, sufferings and storms. Whatever opportunity, difficulty or trial you are facing right now, have faith in God. God will open a door. God will take you through. God will make a way. Our lives are in the gracious hands of our heavenly Father who always has our best interest in mind. Our responsibility is to exercise the gift of faith given us by thanking God beforehand and speaking positive realities out of our mouth. Praying, speaking positives and thanking God is how we exercise and "release" our faith.

The just shall live by their faith. This is the New Testament notion of discipleship. Give God something to work with! In your pilgrimage, exercise your faith, no matter what you are facing 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/

 

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

 

Scripture:

Galatians 3:1-5
Luke 11:5-13

 

Reflection:

In 1571, all Europe trembled as the Sultan prepared a mighty  naval armada for a strong assault on the West.  Pope St. Pius V asked Christians to pray the rosary and on October 7th the Pope was given sight of  the victory of Don John of Austria and the Christian fleet at the Battle of Lepanto.

In our day Pope John Paul II renewed the plea for Catholics across the world to pray the Rosary.  We know that prayer is not simply a repetition of Our Fathers and Hail Marys.  It is meant to allow us to view the wonderful works of Christ through the eyes and heart of Mary, his Mother.

Pope John Paul gave us the Mysteries of Light – Five incidents in the life of Christ that have an uplifting meaning for us today.

We reflect on these grace-filled actions of Jesus and find their impact on our life today.  The mysteries we are invited to contemplate are: (1) The Miracle at the Wedding Feat at Cana.   The Jesus who supplied the best wine for the newly-weds is interested in all our needs and desires we can ask him through Mary.  (2.) Jesus is baptized in the Jordan.  He is sinless but embraces us with our sins.  Our baptism has power from his. (3) Jesus teaches and  preaches, he has words of eternal life  only if we listen.  (4) Jesus is Transfigured.  Yes, he is our brother, but he is also Son of God in our flesh, there is no limit to his power and he uses that power to give us a share in his  glory. That is our call, our meaning.  (5) The Eucharist,  "Jesus having loved his own who were in the world, loved them to he end."  In flesh and blood, divinity and humanity he pours out his love and life for us.  As we reflect on this mystery we can renew our thanks for our every Communion.

Mary’s chain of prayer brings us deeply into the love and life of Jesus.

 

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:

Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14
Luke 11:1-4

Reflection:

This reading from Galatians reminds me of a long-standing practice in the Roman Catholic Church. Every bishop must render to the pope an account of the state of his diocese once every five years. This is called an ad limina visit, or a time for the bishops to visit the tombs of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, and to meet the Pope with a report on the state of their dioceses.

The apostle Paul is meeting again with Peter. It had been some time since their last meeting. In the previous meeting, both decreed that Peter, James and John would be the apostles to the Jews and Paul with Barnabas would be the apostles to the Gentiles. They all agreed that the Gentile converts did not have to be circumcised or follow all the ritual laws of the Jewish religion.

In Antioch we hear about a confrontation between Peter and Paul. Peter freely mixed with Gentiles and ate with them. But when some Jewish Christian came to Antioch, Peter refused to mingle with the Gentile Christians and refrained from eating their food. Paul became very angry at this compromising of an essential principle which had been worked out. Paul opposed Peter "to his face" and in the presence of everyone. Peter’s behavior was giving mixed signals and could result in dividing the Church into two communities which could not then celebrate the "breaking of the bread" together.

This incident reminds us that there is always tension in any organization, family or relationship. We need to adapt to changing needs, changing situations and a constantly changing world. No change means stagnation and ultimately death; too much change means loss of identity and purpose. It is difficult to keep a balance. At times we need a Paul opposing a Peter to their face. This is not to say that the "conservative" Peter is wrong and the "liberal" Paul is right (or vice versa). Truth usually lies somewhere in the middle.

Careful discernment is needed. A healthy sign to look for is that a compromise will promote unity. No individual person and no special group totally possess absolute truth.  Let us pray that as disciples of Christ we be fully involved in the task of making God’s Kingdom of unity a reality for all.

_________________
The Passionists celebrate today the feast of Blessed Isidore De Loor. Born in 1881 in eastern Flanders, he joined the Passionist Community at the age of twenty-six. Cancer was diagnosed and his right eye was removed. The cancer had spread throughout his body however and Isidore was given only a few years to live. He was then assigned to answer the front door. As World War I took its toll on Belgium more and more visitors prevailed upon the monastery for help, which Brother Isidore was only too willing to offer. He died of cancer and pleurisy on October 6, 1916. Among the religious and the laity, Blessed Isidore was admired for his charity and simplicity, his dedication to work and his spirit of prayer.

 

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

Scripture:

Galatians 1:13-24
Luke 10:38-42

Reflection:

The Two readings the church gives us today have strong themes of attentiveness.  In the familiar Mary and Martha story from Luke’s gospel Mary gets rewarded by Jesus for sitting attentively at Jesus’ feet.  Martha is attentive to the needs of hospitality, which also is important.  And it is Paul who is attentive to the voice of the Lord in the first reading.  

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians we hear Paul’s own account of his behavior, attitude and conversion. He acknowledges that his reputation had spread far and wide as a destroyer of the faith.  He affirms his call and conversion by the Lord, Jesus Christ, and it doesn’t stop there.  He goes so far as to start a lifelong journey to start telling people about his experience.  Yes Paul is clear about all three stages: persecution, conversion, and proclamation.  However, if you go a little deeper into Paul’s thoughts, you will see that it isn’t exactly this clear cut.  The lines between these fold over onto themselves.  For example, just because Paul is out proclaiming doesn’t mean his conversion is finished. Moreover, in the early days of his strong headed convictions, we see his conversion has already started.  How else could he be so passionate and zealous about persecuting Christians if he didn’t recognize a certain truth in a group of people who professed to be held together by the love of God.  Conversion started early in Paul’s life and he really wrestled with it.  

That is why I speak of attentiveness.  We can live with things for months or even years before we become attentive to them.  Mary is very attentive to the Word of God, while Martha is attentive to the needs of hospitality. Neither are wrong nor bad.  I would propose that Paul lived with his attentiveness his entire life.  In his early days he was a Jewish boy studying the law.  As he grew older he became a Rabi and teacher of the law.  In his struggle to understand this early community of believers, he was in internal conflict with the scripture and content he was taught. Even in this internal conflict he was attentive to something outside of his comfort zone.  In his famous conversion story, it is apparent that he was attentive to the light and the voice.  And in his proclamations, we can see how his conversion kept calling him into the mystery of the Resurrected One.  Indeed there was an attentiveness in Paul.

Prayer for the day:  take some time to tell the Lord how you are attentive to the Holy Spirit’s invitations.

 

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is on the staff at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, California.

Scripture:

Hebrews 1:2-3;22:2-4
2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14
Luke 17:5-10

Reflection:

It is Sunday, the day of celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the core hope of our mission journey through time. The integral "DNA" of the Catholic Christian, the paradigm or pattern out of which we live, and move, and have our being is the "PDR" – the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Living, dying, hoping.

The Sunday celebration brings to consciousness this pattern out of which we live.

At Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School there are two reminders the administration and faculty hold up to one another. First, that nothing which happens negatively, as in facing major obstacles, necessarily effects the carrying out of the mission that the "Spirit of God has given us." And, second, in the very weakness, limitation, frustration and fear that I endure, I make a conscious choice through the feelings, that these  indicators  tell me that "the Spirit God has given us is no cowardly spirit,  but rather one that makes us strong, loving, and wise."

Is it the ordinariness of our life that gets to us? Jesus recognizes that, and encourages us to recognize the same. The one, who would see that faithfully carrying out daily tasks is valuable, is that servant who is just carrying out his or her tasks dutifully. That is enough.

Convinced? Is my prayer request like that of the apostles? "Increase our faith."What is Jesus’ response? Take the smallest, tiniest (as in mustard seed) action in my life, and accept that this is "my job in God’s sight," and do with it what I can, not counting the consequences.

Is not this the meaning of stirring into flame the gift God gave you?

Let’s guard the rich deposit of faith, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

 

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

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels 

Scripture:

Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17
Matthew 18:1-5, 10

Reflection:

The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"  He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.  And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father."

On September 29, we celebrated the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.  On that day we remembered how the role of the angels in the Scriptures is always linked to the "messenger"-function explicitated in the word "angelos-messenger" in the Greek language.

The message is always the same, "prepare to receive the Holy One sent from God, your Lord and Savior."  Such a message is now fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ, and in the proclamation of the Good News, the Gospel of our salvation.

Since the reality of our faith has reach fulfillment in Christ Jesus, it is anachronistic to try to append to the roles of the angels the anticipation and the expectation of what was yet to come.

Since that first night of the angel’s song announcing the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem, the message and the role of the angels is now conjoined with the mystery of the incarnation and the redemption.

As Guardian Angels, the angels protect and oversee the gift of God’s indwelling in us that derives from Baptism.

In Guardian Angels, the presence of God is especially felt in those who are the most powerless and innocent of God’s creatures, the children.

By the Guardian Angels, our consciences are prompted to alert us to the entry of evil into our thoughts and actions; our Guardian Angels remind us that we belong to God and have been made members of the Body of Christ.

Today is a liturgical memorial of the reality of our spiritual selves.  What a loss if we should so forget that we are spiritual beings, that the role of the Angels in our lives should be nullified by our indifference.

Yet, what a blessing, if today we could ask God to bless us with a desire to acknowledge, to listen to, and to respect the guidance that is ours because we have the Angels to speak to us of God and of God’s love for us.

 

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