Daily Scripture

Scripture:

2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27
Mark 3:20-21

Reflection:

When I was living in Carbondale, IL, a group called "Fools for Christ" came to perform at the Newman Center at Southern Illinois University. They sang songs, and acted out skits, all to encourage the college students there to follow Jesus. I bring this up because in our Gospel reading for today, there are relatives of Jesus who have determined that "He is out of his mind;" and have decided to go get Him and bring Him home (We will see what happens in our Gospel reading for next Tuesday).

To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ can make us seem to be out of our minds, or fools, or hopeless innocents, in the eyes of the world. As I write this, our country is about to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. For many today, practicing nonviolence would indicate that one has got out of his mind. Nonviolence seems so impractical in today’s world. But, to me, Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross indicates that He did not return violence with more violence. Instead, he chose to forgive, even from the Cross.

Jesus also told us to look to give, rather than to take, and still we are tempted to rationalize that greed is good. Our world is still struggling with coming together to alleviate poverty in so many places. The aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti is an indication of that.

Perhaps it is time to be "out of our minds," or "fools," for the Gospel. Violence and greed may have led to some results, but they won’t lead us to where we need to go. What is needed is to share the love and grace we have in Jesus Christ, no matter how crazy and foolish it makes us appear.

 

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P. is pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, Fairfield, Alabama.

Scripture:

1 Samuel 24:3-21
Mark 3:13-19

Reflection:

"He appointed twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons." Mark 3: 14-15

How many people today actually believe that demons can affect them? One of Satan’s greatest tricks is making people believe there aren’t any demons or that they are just cute little guys in red suits with pitchforks. But demons are far from little and far from cute. 1 Peter 5: 8-9 tells us: "your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour". And in our prayer to St. Michael we ask Jesus to "cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls." Their job is to keep us from heaven, so that’s something we should be concerned about – or at least aware of. "Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness and the evil spirits in regions above" (Eph 6:12). We need to know that we have an enemy, but that in Jesus we have the power to defeat him!

I first began to learn about spiritual warfare years ago after I saw a demon one night. I had no idea what I had seen, I just knew I was paralyzed with fear in his presence and felt helpless to do anything. God led me to tell my bible study leader what happened and she began to teach me how to fight back by using God’s Word. The verse that laid the foundation for my confidence to stand against evil was 1 John 4:4: "He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world." Another was James 4:7: "Therefore submit to God; resist the devil and he will flee from you".

I’ve learned a lot about demons, and we don’t need to be afraid of them. The main thing we need to know is that God is stronger than any evil that can come against us. The greatest weapon against evil is praise. Praise God in all things and you will never be defeated. We know that God will triumph at the end of time and we, his followers, will triumph with Him.

 

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 2, soon to be 3. Visit Janice’s website at http://www.jcarleton.com/ or email her at janice@frcedric/org

Scripture:

1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51
Mark 3:1-6

Reflection:

The first reading for today’s Eucharist presents us with one of the most savored of all the stories in the Old Testament.  How many times and in how many different contexts have you heard the story of David and Goliath?  The confrontation between the grizzled, fearsome, Philistine warrior, Goliath, and the unscarred, inexperienced and perhaps even naïve, yet confident young David, stands as one of the most cherished of all stories in our tradition.

The context is the war between the army of the Philistines and the army of Israel led by King Saul.  Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, calls out any warrior of Saul’s army that is brave enough to face him.  The stakes are winner takes all.  Saul, the King of Israel despairs at the challenge because he has no one of Goliath’s caliber.  He faces losing the war by default.

Up steps David, inexperienced in war, untried in arms, but filled with faith in God’s protection.  Saul is grateful to David for stepping up to the challenge but tries to dissuade him from going out to meet Goliath.  Saul is sure David will be killed.  But Saul finally agrees to let David represent Israel because there is no one else and David is unafraid and filled with trust in God.

The result of the encounter is familiar to us all.  A smooth stone picked up from the riverbed, David’s sling, and a well-placed hit on the forehead of Goliath.  Stunned, Goliath falls.  David walks up to him, takes Goliath’s sword and decapitates him.  A bloody ending it’s true, but a triumph for Israel.

It is a story that gives us hope in the face of our own trials and struggles.  So often we are faced with situations in our lives that are far beyond our capabilities.  We don’t know how to respond and sometimes doubt our ability even to survive.  Young David’s complete trust in God gives us heart.  His unimagined victory gives us courage.  So, this morning we pray for trust in God who again and again has helped us to prevail in the darkest times in our lives.

 

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director of lay formation for Holy Cross Province and is stationed at Immaculate Conception Retreat in Chicago.

Scripture:
1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19, 10:1a
Mark 2:18-22

Reflection:
Sometimes when one sees the person that a friend or family member has chosen to fall rapturously in love with, it can be a real head-scratching moment.  "What in heaven’s name is she thinking? Why did she choose him?"

If one could be a cosmic observer, we might feel similarly perplexed about God’s devotion to us.  Half the time we humans are fickle and self-absorbed, and that’s not even counting the times when our wrongs are of a more serious and damaging nature. But love us God does, loyally and abundantly and in the full light of our shortcomings.

We see this reality lived out in today’s Gospel when Jesus, God’s love made flesh, forgoes the educated and elite of his day-those seemingly most entitled-and chooses instead to invite the emotionally tattered, the psychically flawed, the physically scarred to dine at his table and be known by him. What unlikely and imperfect lovers we are for a God! And yet beloved we are.

Are we not witnessing an upending of the old order and the birth of new one in the Kingdom of God? It’s as if we, like poor Saul in the first reading, woke up one morning to do yet another of life’s mundane but necessary tasks, and in the midst of wandering about simply trying to get the job done, found we were to lifted to the height of human experience. Where’s the logic in that?

There is no explaining human or divine love; it is surely a mystery of the most mysterious proportions. If there is anything to be said with some certainty, it is that God’s love is not reserved for the most fitting or even the righteous. It is given to we who are in need of it; we who show up at the door to His kingdom penniless, rootless, confused, misguided, erring, a mess. It is we who God welcomes like a radiant lover, driving the head-scratchers crazy trying to understand why.

 

Nancy Nickel is director of communications at the Passionist Development Office in Chicago.

 

Scripture:

1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20
Mark 1:29-39

Reflection:

The prophet Isaiah wrote: "In quiet and in trust your strength lies." (Isaiah 30:15). As people of prayer and reflection and then action, we know the truth of his words.  Young Samuel, sleeping in God’s temple in Shiloh, was perhaps just getting used to his surroundings, to helping the elderly Eli, when he heard God’s voice.  How often when we settle ourselves down, after a busy day, as we reflect on the day’s (or week’s or year’s) events, we too hear God’s voice.  I can’t help but smile whenever I read this selection from the first book of Samuel.  Eli perhaps thought that Samuel was simply having trouble getting to sleep, before he realized God was calling the lad.

All of us can point to quiet nights when we heard God’s voice.  I recall when I heard God’s voice at the St. John’s Catholic Newman Center in my college years….a moment I’ll always treasure.

How much more we need those quiet moments after (or even during) much busy-ness…in raising a family, in work situations, in ministry.  Jesus himself sought and needed those quiet moments and hours with God: "Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed."  After steeling himself with the sweet intimacy of enjoying his Father’s presence without interruption, Jesus goes out to heal and drive out demons.  

Our community here in Houston has been reading and reflecting on John Allen’s 

book THE FUTURE CHURCH.  In the first chapter, he quotes Fr. James Okoye: "….the implicit Christology of many Africans is that of "Christus Victor", whose resurrection invested him with definitive power to vanquish the dark forces in the spiritual world…."  Dark forces, as we know too well (racism, corporate and personal greed among many others) still exist in our world.

The power of God that worked through Samuel and Jesus is still working through us today.  May we know the sweet intimacy with God that Jesus experienced, and like him, announce God’s kingdom far and wide.

 

Fr. Bob Bovenzi, C.P. is stationed in Houston, Texas.

 

 

Scripture:

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 or 40:1-5, 9-11
Acts 10:34-38 or Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Reflection:

When I was much younger, I remember being told that I have a compassionate way of being with people in pain.  Yet it took a long time before I realized there is something deep within me that is named "healer", that I cannot be who I am without helping people heal.  Then it took even longer before I figured out how to concretely make that happen, how to live out the identity God bestowed upon me. 

I’ve often noticed similarities when vowed and ordained religious tell me their life stories.  Almost inevitably, others pointed out their gifts or raised the possibility of a religious vocation long before they appropriated that calling as their own, and then they discerned the specifics of how to enflesh it. 

This growth process is encapsulated in the Christmas season.  We begin with the birth of the infant whose distinctive nature is proclaimed by heaven and earth through stars, angels, shepherds, and astronomers from afar.  This extended epiphany comes to an end when, 30 years later, Jesus takes the first tentative steps toward the fulfillment of that calling, publicly claiming the identity that was announced so long ago.

I imagine it was an emotional moment.  What courage did it take for him to leave Mary and his home in Nazareth to set out on public ministry?  What doubts and fears co-existed with his excitement and ever- growing passion to shine a light on the world?  How sure was he of the path, or even of the next step?  Was that voice from heaven meant primarily for those around Jesus, or was it equally intended as a necessary "push", offering him the reassurance he needed to embark on this journey?  When Jesus encountered the depths of pain, betrayal, and suffering that living out his "Beloved Son-ness" entailed, how often did he return to the memory of that day, to the dove from heaven and the voice of one so familiar, in order to sustain him?

These are questions I ponder, for it is much easier to have a sense of my calling than it is to publicly proclaim that calling and discern the specific actions required.  It is easier to know I want to write a book than it is to determine the particular focus and actually write one.  It is easier to know my kids need to be free to make their own way than it is to wholeheartedly send my son off to New Zealand.  It is easier to recognize I am at a transition point in my life than it is to determine where I am heading, to know what I want to be doing a year or five years from now, and it is always difficult to know whether I am on the right track.

Sometimes, especially in the midst of pain, when I don’t understand and my world seems covered in darkness, it is hard to rest on God’s promises.  Can I trust?  Do I want to claim and live out a baptism that leads inevitably to the cross?  Can I continue to cling to my belief that God has grasped me by the hand and claimed me as a beloved daughter when I am clinging to it with my fingernails as I hang over the precipice?

 Baptism is not easy.  Discipleship and authentic Christian living test me to the core and at times exhaust me.  Can I keep returning to that reassuring voice?  Perhaps just for today I can stand with Jesus in the waters of the Jordan, unsure of where I’m going and what my ministry will entail and yet open to hearing and gratefully accepting the everlasting love and faithfulness of the God who formed me, loves me, and will never leave me to face my trials alone.  Perhaps I can once again claim my identity as a beloved child guided by the Spirit.  Perhaps if I can do that, just for today, it will give me the courage I need to take the next step.

 

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:

1 John 5:5-13
Luke 5:12-16

Reflection:

During the Christmas season, we focus on the mystery of God becoming human. One of the great truths is that Jesus completely identified with us by sharing our humanity. On Sunday the Scriptures will touch on this theme again as we see Jesus baptized standing shoulder to shoulder with common ordinary sinners. In today’s Gospel regarding the leper, Jesus associates and identifies himself with the man fully by touching him and thus becoming unclean.

I remember when I was in Jr. High there was a young man who had a red birth mark that covered the entire left side of his face. Kids can be cruel and some called him "Jupiter." Jupiter, you will remember, has a bright red spot on its surface. This student lived a lonely life. No one wanted to sit with him at lunch or be identified as his friend. To do so would mean that you could face being ostracized.

By touching this leper, Jesus identified and associated himself with someone who was outcast and unclean. This is one of the meanings of Christmas: God became flesh in order to identify with us. Not only that, but in the incarnation, we are able to touch God and associate with him. Emmanuel means "God with us." No longer are we lonely outcasts or unclean. Christmas proclaims that God immerses himself in our situation and becomes one with us. God became fully human to touch our experience and ennoble our humanity.

 

Fr. Cedric Pisegna, C.P. is a missionary preacher, author of 13 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 John 4:19-5:4
Luke 4:14-22a

 

 

 

Reflection:
Luke introduces the Lord Jesus Christ in his role as God’s Anointed, our Teacher and Redeemer at Nazareth, and take up his work at Caparnaum later. What was said and done at Nazareth is for St. Luke a cameo account of what will ensue in the entire life of Jesus.

St. Luke puts a composite quotation from Isaiah in the mouth of Jesus:"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives… to let the oppressed go free…" Jesus then flatly proclaims: "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

His hearers were amazed. "Is this the son of Joseph, who grew up among us? Where did get all this? How dare he claim to be the Anolinted One predicted by the prophets?"

Then the atmosphere became threatening when Jesus declared: "You are saying: "Prove yourself, do here what we hear was done in Caparnaum!" Jesus then informs them. "You can no more lay claim on my powers to cure than did the Jews who saw Elijah and Eliseus work miracles for pagans."

And that was too much! "We’ll show this upstart his rightful place.  He thinks he can insult us. Why, in claiming to fulfill the scripture he insulting God! Stone him, throw him off the cliff."  They rushed him out of town to the brow of the hill and would have cast him down, but he calmly turned on them and walked through their midst.

What did St. Luke have in mind by opening Jesus’ mission with this incident? St. Luke clearly sees this introductory incident as a comment on the entire career of Jesus. It was his way of illustrating St. John’s insight; "He came unto his own, but his own people did not accept him."

Is there a message for us in this incident? Jesus apparently thought so! After his first sharing with Apostles what his fate would be as the Messiah of God, he warns the Apostles and all, including us: "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Nazareth will be fulfilled on Calvary.

Jesus warns us to be ready every day for whatever trial or hardship may come our way. Bishop Oscar Romero was well aware that he was under the gun and his Calvary came while he was reoffering the Sacrifice of Christ. The Jesuits and their servants were shot to death as they lay sleeping in their courtyard!

The vast majority of Catholics will not be challenged to die for their faith. But we are all challenged to live it. To turn against God when failure, hardship, loss of job, loss of health, death of loved relatives or friends happens is to reject our faith, our commitment. It is joining the mob at Nazareth, the scorners on Calvary.

 

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