Daily Scripture

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga, martyr, and his companions, martyrs

Scripture:

2 Timothy 2:8-15
Mark 12:28-34

Reflection:

Today the Church remembers St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, protomartyrs of Uganda, Africa.  Along with Charles there were twenty-two Catholic men, including seventeen young pages between the ages of 13 and 30, plus several Anglican youth, martyred by King Mwanga of Uganda.  Their heroic courage echoes the stories told of our Biblical ancestors and those of the Golden Age of Martyrdom in the Early Church.

Charles Lwanga was born in the kingdom of Buganda in the southern part of modern Uganda, and served as a page in the court of King Mwanga II. King Mwanga in his hatred for the faith began to insist Christian converts abandon their new faith, and executed many newly baptized Roman and Anglo-Catholics between 1885 and 1887.  Many of them were officials in the court of the king or otherwise very close to him, including Charles Lwanga. After a massacre of Anglicans in 1885, the court’s resident Catholic priest, Joseph Mukasa reproached the king for his acts of violence. Mwanga had Mukasa beheaded and arrested all of his followers. Charles Lwanga took up Fr. Mukasa’s duties, and secretly baptized those of his pupils who had only been catechumens on May 26, 1886. In retaliation, Carl Lwanga and 11 other Catholics were burned alive on June 3, 1886.  Charles Lwanga and his companions were canonized in 1964 by Pope Paul VI.  

"The African martyrs add another page to the Church’s roll of honor — an occasion both of mourning and of joy. These African martyrs herald the dawn of a new age. If only the human mind might be directed not toward persecutions and religious conflicts but toward a rebirth of Christianity and civilization! Africa has been washed by the blood of these latest martyrs, and first of this new age (and, God willing, let them be the last, although such a holocaust is precious indeed). Africa is reborn free and independent." 
– from the homily at the canonization of Saint Charles Lwanga and companions by Pope Paul VI

We have in today’s Liturgy the words of Paul the Apostle, a martyr himself, in his letter to Timothy.  He speaks for Charles Lwanga and his companions with a martyr’s courage and faith:

"Beloved…such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory.

This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him."

Fr. Jim Strommer, C.P., is a member of the Provincial Council and resides in Chicago, Illinois. 

Feast of St. Justin, Martyr

Scripture:

2 Peter 3: 12-18
 Mark 12: 13-17

Reflection:

Peter, in our first reading today, challenges us to "Wait…" for our true security lies in our faith and trust in God’s promises, as we "…await a new heaven and a new earth where justice dwells."   Justice in the biblical sense means the fulfillment of all God’s promises in the reality of our lives.  Therefore we are called to act justly as we "wait" …called to be honest and conscientious according to the movement of the Holy Spirit in our hearts…so as to …grow in peace in the knowledge and patience of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.  This peace through justice in our hearts and lives includes our families, neighbors, co-workers, and other members of our faith communities…our neighborhood, our cities and our world. 

Our question to ponder today: Where are we called to work to bring peace through justice?

Our Psalm response reminds us that as we work for justice. "In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge".  And so we pray with the Church today:  "Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy all our days.  Let your work be seen by your servants and your glory by their children."

In today’s gospel, we see Pharisees and Herodians attempting to trap Jesus…first by compliments…then a question: "Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Knowing their hypocrisy, Jesus asked:   "Why are you testing me?" Requesting a coin, Jesus asks whose image and inscription is on this?  They respond: "Caesar’s," Jesus responses: then "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

The Gospel ends with no specific answer, because they were not seeking an honest answer but were trying to find something that would incriminate Jesus himself

And validate their own hypocrisy.

As we ponder and enter into these readings today, especially as we are preparing to vote in some of our areas: Where in our lives now are we called to Biblical Justice, personally and in our communities?  Where are we called to distinguish who and what belongs to God, so as to respond to God’s will… and what belongs to legitimately earthly authority for the good of all.

 

Sr. Marcella Fabing, CSJ, is on the staff of Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, California.

 

 

Scripture:

Zephaniah 3: 14-18
Luke 1: 39-56

Reflection:

"…..And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me………."

In today’s Gospel we read the story of the Visitation–Mary visiting with Elizabeth.  On that special occasion, what gift did Mary bring to Elizabeth?  We are told that she brought just one thing: HERSELF.  She gave Elizabeth the gift of her very presence, the best and the hardest gift of all.  Mary gave her the gift, not out of her convenience, but out of the need that Elizabeth had.  It was not easy or convenient for Mary to travel that long, lonely, dangerous road from Galilee to the hills of Judea, but Elizabeth needed a helping hand preparing for the birth of her son, John the Baptist.

 Mary was also a true Prophet in her time; a true prophet because she followed the same pattern as those prophets who went before her.  God calls the prophet.  The prophet says, "Here I am, Lord".  God says, "Here’s what I want".

And then the prophet puts up a fight.  Jeremiah says he’s too young.  Moses protests that he is slow of speech.  Amos argues that he is only a herdsman, and Jonah doesn’t say anything, he just runs away!

In like manner, Mary is called and is given a mission, and she has just one question about how this sign from God, this birth, can happen when she has no husband.  She doesn’t run off or avoid the call: in fact, she runs towards someone to begin proclaiming what she knows to be true.

Pope Benedict reflected that the Visitation was more than just a trip into the country for a young girl from Nazareth.  Mary embarked on the world’s first Eucharisitic procession. She carried Christ into the world. She was a living tabernacle and Elizabeth became the first to experience Eucharistic adoration.

Salvation history ends up in the hands of a teenager and an elderly woman, both preparing to give birth, both miraculous in their conception, and both of whom responded, "Here I am, Lord." BLESSED ARE THESE WOMEN, AND BLESSED THE FRUIT OF THEIR WOMB.

 

Deacon Brian Clements is a member of the retreat team at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California

Feast of the Holy Trinity

 

Scripture:

Proverbs 8:22-31
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15

 

Reflection:

Artists have given us many images of God.  Michelangelo drew a powerful image of God the Father on the wall of the Sistine Chapel.  We have countless drawings of Jesus from his birth in Bethlehem to his death on Calvary.  The Holy Spirit is often pictured as a dove or a fiery tongue.  The Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have been depicted by a triangle, three interwoven circles, or a three-leaf clover. 

However, I have never seen a drawing, a picture, a sculpture or a stained glass image depicting God — either Father, Son, or Holy Spirit, or all three — singing.  Singing!  Yet, that is what we hear through the prophet Zephaniah.  "God will rejoice over you with gladness.  He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals." (Zeph 3:18) Our first reading today tells us that the Wisdom of God "found delight in the sons of men." (Prov 8:31)  In chapter 62 of Isaiah we read, "As a bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so shall your God rejoice in you." (Isaiah 62:5)

God takes delight in his creation!  God sings out of love for us.  (And my guess is that God sings in three-part harmony.)

In our second reading St. Paul tells us, "The love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit…"(Romans 5:5)  This love urges us to delight in and sing joyfully over the same people God delights and, indeed, over all of creation.  Come, let us imitate Wisdom and spend our time rejoicing and "playing on the surface of the earth."(Prov 8:31)

                                                                                                                                          

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:

Reading 1: Jude 17, 20b-25
Psalm: 63:2, 3-4, 5-6
Gospel: Mark 11:27-33

Reflection:

For over 100 years now scholars have been involved in a quest of trying to figure out just what did Jesus exactly say and do? Are the words and actions recorded in the Gospels exactly what Jesus said and did, or were they the memories of multiple generations of believers in which Jesus words and actions were added to or subtracted from depending on certain cultural times and situations. Or perhaps a mixture of both?

It is interesting that one of the curious criterions that govern scholarly historical criticism of the Gospel texts today is one of "cultural congruency" or "contextual credibility." This criterion says that an event or saying of Jesus is likelier to be true if the account makes sense in the context of what is known about the culture in which the event unfolds.

Take for example, today’s gospel passage. The Pharisees, biblical scholars tell us, were probably closer to the thought of Jesus than any other Jewish sect of that day. They ask Jesus a simple question: "By what authority are you doing these things?" Jesus could have simply answered the question. But he doesn’t. He engages them in a debate. Why?

It is important to note that inherent within the Jewish religious cultural tradition is the use of questioning to bring about a certain revelation or transmission of divine truth. Did Jesus really want to know their opinion of John’s baptism? I doubt it. But he did want the Pharisees to think out of the box, to work it out, to struggle for themselves with his question and in answering it would clearly see the answer to their own. Jesus wanted the Pharisees to take a leap of faith. And given how this passage ends…They don’t!

Now let’s turn the tables. You are reading this passage for the first time. You have questions about this Jesus: who was he? What he was about? Do you take up Jesus’ challenge and make that leap of faith? Or do you act like the Pharisees fearful of answering for what you might lose?

I believe the deeper truth this event tries to teach us is that questioning, doubt, struggle, thinking out of the box, is all a part of our faith journey. Jesus rarely gives the easy answer. Rather he makes you work for it, so that the answer itself has the potential power to radically change your life.

And so, quite to the contrary, the faithful are not those who have it all figured out. They are not those who are always comfortable in their beliefs.

Rather Jesus shows us by his words and actions that those who are called into deeper relationship with him are those who question, who doubt and who take up the struggle.  These are truly the faithful who can sing with the Psalmist: "My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God." And may that thirst never be satiated!

 

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

 

Scripture:

1 Peter 4:7-13
Mark 11:11-26

Reflection:

Today’s Gospel passage from Mark might cause us to stop and ask – who is this Jesus, cursing the fig tree and chasing people out of the temple.  This doesn’t sound like the gentle, loving Christ that we’ve come to know throughout the New Testament.   Is he really acting in a fit of temper or because he’s having a bad day?

Or is Jesus using these actions to teach us?   Because if we listen carefully there is truly quite a message here!  First, we hear that Jesus curses the fig tree because it is not bearing fruit and then we are told of Jesus’ becoming angry at the money changers.    Then the next day, the Apostles point out to Jesus that the tree has withered and Jesus replies with the wonderful lines on faith!

Scripture scholars tell us that the fig tree symbolizes Israel and Israel’s rejection of Christ, God’s great gift to them.  But we could also say that Jesus is looking at us when he curses the fig tree, chases the money changers out of the temple and admonishes us to have faith.

I think we are being told to bear fruit, to do the work of God, not be distracted by worldly cares and further that if we do not act with faith we will wither up.    As Christians, we belong to Christ.  Those who belong to Christ are called to live and walk in faith; and that faith will work through the Spirit to bear fruit in them.    All of these- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control are gifts (fruit) that we, as Christians, can bring to our world.

So let’s pray today for a deep and abiding faith and let’s ask for God’s help through Jesus to bear the fruit that is result of that faith.  And let’s not forget the last line of this Gospel – "forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions."

 

Mary Lou Butler ([email protected]) is the interim administrator at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, California. 

Scripture:
1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12
Mark 10:46-52

Reflection:

Sometimes, if I am being honest, I struggle when I have to put pen to paper and share my reflections with you each month.  But today, I saw the Gospel’s message-at least the message I got-so plainly, that I couldn’t help think it was a bit ironic.  How clearly I see the message about blindness!

Bartimaeus was a blind beggar.  I can only imagine where this put him in the social strata of his time.  He was, to say the least, invisible.  What strikes me as most interesting is that while Bartimaeus was blind in that he was unable see with his eyes, I think he actually had better sight than anyone in the crowd following Jesus. 

Bartimaeus called out for Jesus unceasingly, even as the onlookers rebuked him and tried to silence him.  Unlike all those pious souls in the crowd who probably thought they were doing Jesus a favor by keeping this loud and bothersome vagabond quiet, Bartimaeus could truly see what Jesus was.  As the crowd tries to keep him away from our Lord, this only made the blind man call out "all the more."  He could see Christ’s power and his compassion: "Son of David, have pity on me."

Unfaltering in his faith, Bartimaeus pleads, "Master, I want to see."  Jesus replies, "your faith has saved you."  In that moment, Bartimaeus regains his sight.  I think this is a beautiful lesson in the healing power within each of us-the healing power that comes from true faith.  This man so believed in Christ’s ability to save him that he tirelessly sought after him.  And why did he believe this?  Certainly he had heard about Jesus, but he had no assurance, no proof.  He may have been blind, but he saw Christ perfectly.

So, we have to ask ourselves, then, how is our own vision?  Are we blinded by fear, prejudice, temptation or pride?  I think we have to constantly ask ourselves the primary question of how we see Jesus.  We have to do this in part because the relationship that we have with our Lord greatly informs how we see ourselves and the world around us.  And we have to keep checking in on this.  You wouldn’t let your eyeglass prescription go unchecked for years and years would you?  As soon as you notice that little squint when you are reading, or driving, or watching television, you know it’s time for a visit to the eye doctor.

Well, what about when we spend an evening on the phone gossiping?  What about when we ignore someone in need because it would be too big an inconvenience to stop and help?  What about when we snap at our kids in anger and impatience?  Isn’t that a spiritual sort of "squint"?  Would we have the vision to defy social norms and call out to Jesus for mercy for all the world to hear?  Would we have the faith to see Jesus in the crowd and go to him for help?  If the answer is no, it might be time to get those eyes checked. 

 

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

 

Memorial of St. Philip Neri 

Scripture:

1 Peter 1:18-25
Mark 10:32-45

Reflection:

Today, the Church recognizes the life and contributions of Saint Philip Neri.  Not everyone is familiar with Philip Neri, but he is a special favorite of mine.  First, he is the Patron Saint of Rome-one of my very favorite cities in the world.  Secondly, he is a Patron Saint of pilgrims-at least for pilgrims to Rome.

During his lifetime, Philip Neri encouraged many individuals on their spiritual journeys and he set up "Oratories" to gather seekers and to provide them with spiritual direction, and opportunities for prayer and renewal.  My favorite Philip Neri story is how he sought to counteract the temptations of Carnivale by gathering youth to set out on a pilgrimage to visit the Seven Churches of the city by foot.  After walking many miles throughout the day, the young people were too tired by evening to indulge in the frivolity of Carnivale!  But, he was not a complete kill-joy.  Instead, he is also known to as the Patron Saint of joy and humor-qualities he exhibited in abundance.  We can all use a Saint that makes us laugh!  Appeal to St. Philip Neri if you need a smile or some lightness in your life.

Clearly, not all Catholics will have an opportunity to visit the Seven Churches of Rome in person.  While a pilgrimage to Rome under the inspiration of St. Philip Neri may not be in your summer plans, it is possible to make a "virtual pilgrimage" by watching a wonderful video produced by Passionist Father Victor Hoagland entitled "Pilgrim Churches of Rome."  (Order form @ crossplace.com/catalog-jan-2009.pdf)  In an age of "staycations", we can still be active spiritual pilgrims-through reading, prayer, contemplative walks, and interesting audio visual aids. I highly recommend Fr. Victor’s production as an informative way to experience the richness of our Church history as told by this very insightful Passionists priest. 

Finally, in the spirit of St. Philip Neri, consider organizing an "Oratory" of your own.  Perhaps you might invite some friends and/or young people to gather in your home, retreat house or parish to talk about what they are experiencing on their spiritual journey.  We have much to teach each other!

Pilgrim blessings to you and yours!!

 

Angela Howell, [email protected], is a retreatant and volunteer at Mater Dolorosa Passionists Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California.