Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Philippians 4:10-19
Luke 16:9-15

Reflection:

My mother is getting forgetful. She insists that she is not, but the facts speak for themselves. You can have the same conversation with her four times in one day. She does not remember if she did her morning exercises. At first she was resistant to any help. Now, she welcomes some help. My brother lines up her medications for the week, marks the calendar for doctor’s appointments and calls to make sure she did not forget to have lunch. She lets my sister take care of her utility bills and access her bank accounts. She is changing gracefully; just do not tell her she is forgetful!

At times, each of us is struck by forgetfulness. Paul, in the first reading today, shows us by example how not to forget to let others help us. The Christians at Philippi sent Paul a gift, maybe some money or perhaps a blanket to keep him warm at night. Paul tells them that he has everything he needs because his life is centered on Christ. This is the source of his happiness, joy and strength. At the same time he does appreciate the compassionate gesture of the Philippians. It’s not the value of the gift that Paul most values. Rather it is the investment they are making for themselves, for Paul is confident that God will repay their generosity through the "glorious riches" that come through Jesus Christ.

It might be too easy to say, "No thanks," when someone offers to help us. Perhaps we want to be independent and not rely on others; we don’t want to feel obligated to return a favor; or we don’t really need the help. Paul didn’t need the gift offered by the Philippians. He accepted it, not for himself, but so that God could bless their kindness. Don’t forget to give others an opportunity to be blessed when they ask if we need help. Their act of charity brings a smile to God’s face and a blessing to their lives.

 

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

 

St. Martin de Porres 

Scripture:

Philippians 2:12-18
Luke 14:25-33

Reflection:

God is at work in you and me today. And like in nature, chaos, disturbance and seemingly destructive forces break into new life. I have vivid memories of some individuals who have challenged me to the wall. It wasn’t pretty, but it was the only way for the true truth to break through. It is a way to "giving up all my possessions." That is how I hear Jesus’ words to us today.

We remember Martin De Porres today. He was a Dominican laybrother in Lima, Peru. He had entered the friary when he was 15. He must have understood, in some way, shape, or form what Jesus was talking about when He said, "become my disciple, give up all your possessions." He served in all kinds of capacities including barber, infirmarian, farm-laborer. Ultimately, he put his whole self into caring for the sick the poor and animals.

What is your morning offering for the day? "Lord, of what do you ask me to let go, today, in order to better serve others?"

 

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

Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Scripture:

Wisdom 3:1-9
Romans 5:5-11 or 6:3-9
John 6:37-40

 

 

Reflection:

Once upon a time, I was in my retreat center office, listening to the retreatants who had signed in for some time to speak to the retreat team member.

When this woman came into my office, it was clear from the expression on her face that she was angry about something.

It didn’t take long before she blurted out, "Father, I’m mad at God."

I gathered my senses around me, and asked, "Why is that?"

"Because God took my husband away from me without even letting me say ‘good-bye’."

I took up the challenge, and asked her to tell me about her husband’s death.  Sure enough, she had gone to the store for some dinner supplies, and when she came home from shopping, her husband was dead in his easy chair, in the living room, without any sign of a struggle or distress.

At that point, a barrier had come down between herself and God, a barrier of resentment because she had lost the person closest to her, and it didn’t matter to her that his death had been instantaneous and free of distress; what mattered to her was how much she missed her husband and how much she blamed God for not even letting her say "Good-bye, I love you" to her husband.  The anger was written in the frown-lines on her face.

I asked her whether, in passing by his chair in the living room, did she sense his presence still in that chair?  I asked her whether she still dreamed of her life with her husband.  I also asked her whether she ever felt that she could hear his voice inside herself.  She said "yes" quite enthusiastically to each of my questions.

So I told her, "Talk to him whenever you feel his presence."  "Tell him you miss him."  Say the "good-bye" that fate kept you from saying to him.

She began to look a little less perturbed with God (and life itself).  So, I took another step….I asked her, "Do you have a favorite saint?"  …"Oh yes, St. Francis."  "Do you ever pray to St. Francis about something in your life?"  "Sure, I do."  "Do you have a special devotion to Our Blessed Mother?"  "I pray the rosary and try to go to Mass on first Saturdays." 

At that point, I looked at her in the eyes, and I said solemnly, "You know, they are dead too." 

A great burden was lifted from her spirit.  She saw the connection; we are a family of saints.  We are a family in communion with one another.  Our belonging with one another is not sundered by death; both those who have died and those who survive, are eager to remain in contact with one another.

This is not "new age" mysticism, it is not "modern atheism", it is the traditional and Catholic "Communion of Saints", which we celebrate today with a special attention paid to those who have died.

Our first reading (Wis 3:1-9) says to us:

The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.

Can you really believe that?  What keeps you from believing that?  Jesus’ life was about overcoming death.  Jesus’ resurrection was about our invitation to share in the fullness of life.  Our deceased loved ones have been called to the banquet of the Lord.  They are saving a place for us at the table.

Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might live in newness of life. (Rm 6:3-5)

For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day." (Jn 6:40)

Today, "All Souls Day", take a moment to remember your loved ones, those who have gone ahead and who happily look forward to our reunion at the Table of the Lord.  Put some flowers on their graves; put a ribbon on their pictures, light a candle of prayer in your parish church, say the things you never got to say, and ask for them to save you a place at the banquet of the Lord.

 

Father Arthur Carrillo, CP, is the director of the Office of Mission Effectiveness and Mission Director for Holy Cross Province and resides in Chicago.

Solemnity of All Saints 

Scripture:

Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew: 5:1-12a

Reflection:

Today we honor ALL SAINTS… women, men, girls and boys who come from everywhere… people whose lives are seemingly ordinary, but who daily live… now and in the past…  the faithful way of discipleship.   I suggest that describes many of us who read, reflect and pray these daily readings. 

Take a moment to reflect on and name the "Saints" in your own life. Who taught you the love of God?  Who trusted that love in the midst of their own sufferings?  Who assisted God in bringing you to life and deeper living, even through life’s crosses?

Are we not alive with faith and goodness because of them?

Our first reading today is from the Book of Revelation – like all apocalyptic literature, there is disclosure about something hidden; it was written to encourage the faithful in time of great suffering and distress.  The theme is centered on hope and trust.  The sufferings of the present lead to brighter future.  Communities under harsh conditions need encouragements both from within and outside the group.  Here is where this reading gets its importance and power.

Our Psalm Response reminds us that WE are the people who long to see the face of the Lord… and as we do, we shall receive a blessing from the lord… because we are the people that seek the face of God…."

Our Second reading from the first epistle of John  invites us to prayerfully ponder on the love that the Father has bestowed on us, so that we may be called children of God…. for we ARE God’s children…NOW… and we will be like Him for we shall see God  as God  is!

And how shall we LIVE like God’s Blessed children?  Today’s Gospel of Matthew

presents us with the spiritual platform Jesus stands upon and to which He invites us to join Him there.  These are basic invitations for real living, characteristics of those who desire a participation in the life He would live and for which He would die. 

Our blessedness is described as something of God’s holiness being shown through our human actions.  We are inside-outside people.  Being blessed is based on God’s sharing part of the essence of God with us and then our doing something from that inside gift by sharing it in small or large deeds.  We are not holy by what we do. We are holy because of the very essence of God shared with us.  And so we are blessed, holy.

How and where are you blessed today?

 

Sr. Marcella Fabing, CSJ is a former staff member of Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, CA.

Scripture:

Wisdom 11:22-12
2 Thessalonians 1:11-2a:2
Luke 19: 1-10

Reflection:

"Today salvation has come to this house."

 

Today’s gospel is one of my favorite Scripture passages.  It is the story about a tax collector named Zacchaeus and how his life is transformed during a single encounter with Jesus. 

The theme of today’s readings is summed up in the last line of the gospel, where Jesus says to Zacchaeus: "today, salvation has come to this house," and Jesus goes on to emphasize that he has come "to seek and to save what was lost".

Zacchaeus was a little man who did a little thing.  He climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus as he was about to pass by.  He was probably just curious, because there was nothing in his background that would indicate that he was a person of faith.  Quite the contrary. 

Zacchaeus was a tax collector (in Jesus’ day, they were in the same category as thieves, murderers, and prostitutes!).  He was not just a tax collector, but the CHIEF  tax collector, sort of the "Godfather" of the tax collector mafia.  Luke portrays him as a kind of lovable Danny
DeVito like character who simply wanted to see Jesus, not meet him. 

But Jesus spotted Zacchaeus, who was willing to "go out on a limb" and Jesus called him by name. "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house".  Zacchaeus came down quickly and greeted him with joy.  The crowd on the other hand was shocked.  But Jesus is more interested in the outcast than the outraged.  Jesus does not condemn Zacchaeus, nor does he exact repentance from him.  Rather, he looks beyond his sins and gives Zacchaeus the space and the grace, in an atmosphere of unconditional acceptance, to choose to redirect his life.  And he does. He is transformed from a TAKER to a GIVER.

Zacchaeus repents and makes a public amends for his wrongdoing, offering to give half of his possessions to the poor and to repay those he extorted four times what they are entitled to. 

The true attitude of prayer is when we allow ourselves to be open to God’s unconditional love for us.  And, as Zacchaeus discovered, our lives will be transformed in a most profound way.  We take one small step towards Christ and he takes one GIANT step into our lives.  Jesus comes to us just as we are but does not leave us as we were.   Allow salvation to come to your house.

 

Deacon Brian Clements is on the staff of Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California

 

Scripture:
Philippians 1:18b-26
Luke 14:1, 7-11

 

 

 

Reflection:
Did you ever wonder how St. Paul was able to accomplish so much?  He preached unceasingly, established thriving faith communities, endured extreme hardships, wrote eloquently, and died heroically.  Where did he get all this energy and all this courage?

Today he gives us the answer.  "For to me life is Christ."  After his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul’s life was turned around.  The grace of the Holy Spirit came upon him and he became totally committed to Christ.

Commitment is an amazing thing.  It unlocks the doors of imagination and creativity, taps our inner resources, and unleashes a quality of energy unknown to the wishy-washy.  Commitment rallies our courage, stiffens our backbone, and toughens us for all challenges.  Commitment makes us stickers and fighters, not escape artists.

If we are on fire with commitment we don’t have time for self-pity.  We are not procrastinators.  We don’t sweat the small stuff.  And we find an inner peace, knowing we are giving their best effort.

Besides, our commitment draws the world around us into our mission, enlisting help from others, and alerting us to opportunities that are suddenly before us.  Commitment throws us into total dependence upon God and prepares us for Divine surprises.

It has been wisely noted that "Little people have wishes; great people have a purpose."  We can learn from Paul’s words today and from the example of his life just what it means to love God "with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 11:27)

Yes, because of his unwavering commitment, Paul was able to accomplish much.  But his joy came from something deeper than success in his ministry.  His joy came from the awareness of Christ’s unwavering commitment to him.  That joy is offered to all of us.

 

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:

Philippians 1:1-11
Psalm 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Luke 14:1-6

 

 

Reflection:

Friends and family alike often ask me: "Who are the Passionists? What do they do?" Here is one of the best descriptions I have found of the Passionist Charism…the gift The Passionist Community brings to the Church, the Body of Christ, world-wide.

A Passionist Heart

A life-giving gift, our Charism
-Experiencing the Passion of Jesus-
Draws us into the Heart of God.
It enables us to be who we are,
And if the foundation of all that we do.
For it is by entering into the pain and suffering of Jesus
That we are strengthened to enter into our pain and suffering,
And so we are able to stand with others in theirs.
Although the Passion of Jesus offers no hope without the Resurrection,
This Resurrection Hope cannot be experienced unless first we are
Willing to stay with the suffering.
When God is discovered in the ordinariness of life,
The Charism and inspiration given to St. Paul of the Cross
remain alive.
The Spirituality flowing from the Charism
Enables us to enter into relationships that
May not otherwise be humanly possible.
It thus creates and is sustained by a sense of community
And expresses itself in empathy, depth of prayer,
Down-to-earthness and a willingness to be vulnerable.

P.S. I want to thank our Passionists brothers at Mount Argus Parish, Dublin Ireland for this wonderful reflection.

 

Patrick Quinn ([email protected]) is the director of Planned Giving at the Passionist Development Office in Chicago.

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

 

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:19-22
Luke 6:12-16

 

 

Reflection:

Today’s readings are wonderfully appropriate for this year of the Priest.  The Gospel emphasizes the importance of the priesthood, telling us of how Jesus chose his Apostles to be the special twelve and predecessors of the ordained. 

And the First Reading tells us that we, as laity, are all also chosen – fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the house of God. 

The documents of Vatican II state,

"The laity derive the right and duty with respect to the apostolate from their union with Christ their Head. Incorporated into Christ’s Mystical Body through baptism and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit through Confirmation, … they are consecrated into a royal priesthood and a holy people." (n.3)

Since Vatican II, theologians and church leaders have emphasized this priesthood of all the baptized.  In realizing our baptismal role as members of a royal priesthood, it is easy to focus on the rights and forget the duties part.  We are the Church, and that means that we not only have rights, but we also are responsible for what happens within the Church.  It means that we have an obligation to see that our local church community has the resources to pay the bills, but it also means that the growth of our church, the evangelization, the spiritual vitality rests with all of us.

We’ve moved past the day when it is up to the Pastor to determine whether or not "this is a good parish" – We can no longer opt for just saying, "Father will take care of it, let’s ask Father" – and then when things go wrong, it is Father’s fault – not mine.  And if we don’t like the priest, we just worship at another church.  Isn’t it time that we completely accept our role as fellow citizens with the holy ones? 

Perhaps now is the time for all of us ordained and lay to remember that we are united in Christ, all members of God’s family and as such we are all called to love and care for one another.  This may mean taking some time to access our roles in our local parishes. 

In the Gospel, Jesus took the time to pray before choosing the Apostles, may each of us follow Jesus’ example by praying about our role in today’s Church.

 

Mary Lou Butler ([email protected])is a former staff member and is now a member of the Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center Board, Sierra Madre, California.