Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Genesis 49:2, 8-10
Matthew 1:1-17

Reflection:

Many people today enjoy studying their family tree.  I, on a regular basis, get an ad on my computer, offering, for pay, information and documentation on individuals who make up my family’s history.  This has been an interest that may go back from the early beginnings of the human family on earth.  At times, families are surprised to discover some of the characters who are included in their storyline.  "My great, great, great uncle is said to have been a pirate".

In our first reading from the book of Genesis, we are told of the blessings or curses that Jacob placed on each of his 12 sons.  Today’s reading centers on the blessings Jacob gave to his son Judah.  Of his twelve sons, it would be Judah and his descendents that would have great prominence.  David would be of the tribe of Judah and from this tribe and the house of David, the Messiah would come.

In our Gospel today, in a more patterned fashion, St. Matthew names, in three groups of fourteen, the ancestors of Jesus.  The number fourteen is a doubling of the perfect number seven.  St. Matthew is telling us that the time is ripe for the coming of the Messiah.

Embedded in this genealogy is the teaching that God is in control of history.  It is not by happenstance that certain people come upon the scene.  There is a planned pattern of salvation unfolding at each point along the line.  Certain people in the story teach us a specific lesson.  There are three foreign women included – Tamar, Ruth and Bathsheba.  Each of them had a blight on their character.  Their inclusion teaches us that the family of God is formed by including the stranger and foreigner, even people with a "bad reputation".  Jesus would teach us the same lesson by associating with sinners and tax collectors, calling them to repentance and giving them a place in his kingdom.

In a male dominated world, these three women also prepare the way for another woman, Mary, and her very special role in God’s plan of salvation.

Today’s readings show us the special preparation that God did for the coming of his son, our Savior, Jesus.  The flow of history and its story continue, as Jesus calls millions of others into his kingdom, that he will one day present, perfectly transformed, to his Father as a gift.  How wonderful it will be for each of us to be part of that gift. 

 

Fr. Blaise Czaja, C.P. gives parish missions and retreats.  He is a member of the Passionist Community in Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

Isaiah 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25
Luke 7:18b-23

Reflection:

I don’t have children myself, so I can’t speak of this from personal experience. But I can imagine what a parent must feel when their beloved child–for whom they have given all love, all care, all worry, all devotion-looks upon and treats them as a stranger.  To be disregarded or unknown by the one you created out of the breath of your own existence must be a pain that is very intense. 

In a historical sense, of course, the first reading is a record of the journey of the Israelites in committing to being a one-God centered people. But the reading is also an impassioned testament from God who reveals in the fullest of ways all that He has done and created for His people: I form the light, and create the darkness…Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up! I, the LORD, have created this. God’s creation and His gifts are rich beyond our wildest reckoning!

And then, what additional gift can God possibly give us as a testimony to His immeasurable, passionate, crazy, enveloping love for us, His children? We, who fall away, get distracted, feel neglected, tend towards doubt, rail pitifully and settle into apathy? He gives us His Son, His only Son.

It’s as if God is saying: Can you hear me now?

The good news-and there is good news-is that the message is getting through. In the Gospel we see the Prophet John alerting his disciples to the reality that something dramatic is happening, that the one they have been waiting for has perhaps arrived.  God is no longer "out there" pulling the cosmic strings but He is among us, He is one of us. And He loves us dearly, even unto death.

As we move toward Christmas, what else can our hearts do but open up and receive the love that God has given us so generously, so abundantly, in the birth of the baby Jesus? We know the pain that is to come for Him, but for this moment, let’s simply rejoice in the beauty of this wondrous child, this tender being, who will change the course of the world with the flick of His tiny finger.

 

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

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Scripture:

Zechariah 2:14-17
Luke 1:26-38

Reflection:

Appearances by the Virgin Mary have been regularly reported throughout the centuries. Some enthusiastic believers go into great detail describing the experience. Yet the church has always been highly selective in affirming that an apparition is "worthy of pious belief." Ecclesial endorsements are rare. Vatican scrutiny is severe. In modern times, only ten apparitions have been officially deemed to exhibit characteristics "worthy of pious belief," and the earliest of these is the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Tepeyac (Jaroslav Pelikan in Mary Through the Centuries).

The significance of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego in 1531 does not hinge on the historicity of the apparition. The miracle is manifested in the remarkable transformation which it evoked within the people of Mexico and the Chicano culture. Guadalupe has become a powerful cultural energizer. Her appearance was crucial in restoring dignity, humanity and hope to a conquered people. Truly, it lifted up the lowly.

An interpretation of the Gospel text (Luke 1:26-38) for this feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe can be understood in the same way. The miracle of the annunciation is not merely an historical event. It is a message addressed to every woman who searches for her own dignity and to every man on a quest for the meaning of his humanity. Our completeness comes in discovering the birth of the inner Christ in the womb of our hearts.

At various times, whispering angels suggest that we are blessed beyond expectation. They encourage us to look within to see in our hearts a seed, an embryo, a fetus, or maybe even a small baby – but, to recognize God within. As did Mary, the task of our spiritual life is to feed, cloth and nurture the child so that we may mature into the fullness of Christ. That is the miracle of transformation.

Fr. Joe Mitchell, CP is the director of the Passionist Earth & Spirit Center in Louisville, KY.

See his website: www.earthandspiritcenter.org

 

Scripture:

Isaiah 48:17-19
Matthew 11:16-19

 

 

Reflection:

"Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life."  Ps. 1

Today we honor St. Pope Damasus I, (born in 304; died Dec. 11, 384)

He was, to say the least, a man of contradictions.

He defended papal supremacy.  Yet, for a time he served the antipope Felix II, in defiance of the oath taken by Roman clergy not to recognize anyone else as Bishop of Rome while Pope Liberius, who was in exile, was still alive.

He had compassion for the poor.  Yet he lived lavishly, keeping company with the aristocracy.

As Pope, he was the vicar of the "Prince of Peace."  Yet, he and those who elected him to the papacy hired thugs to rout his papal challenger, Ursinus, and his supporters.  The violence turned so bloody that Emperor Valentinius was forced to intervene.

Some saint.  Yet, we are called to honor Damasus on this day.  Why, because despite those weaknesses "…he followed the Lord."

He defended the young Church against heresies.

He honored the martyrs and called on the faithful to do the same

He loved Scripture and wanted all to love the Bible.  In 382, he set down the canon of Scripture with the "Decree of Damasus."  The Council of Trent upheld that decree.  He commissioned St. Jerome to translate the Bible into Latin, the common language of the day, so that an accurate translation of Scripture would accessible to the faithful.

Damasus was a man of contradictions.  And for all that, we honor him on this day.  And why not?  Of him, we can say: "Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life."

Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Isaiah 41:13-20
Matthew 11:11-15

Reflection:

Today’s readings emphasize a point that continually blows me away:  The God of all the universe, the infinite everlasting God, the One who put the stars in the place, loves me.  God promises to open rivers and plant trees, to turn my wastelands into oases and satisfy my thirst.  Though I may be the least in the Kingdom, yet in God’s eyes I am greater than John the Baptist. 

Yet I have lived long enough to know that even God’s overwhelming and totally undeserved love does not guarantee an easy life.  Jesus reminds us that this world is far too violent, and he himself faced injustice, betrayal, torture, and death.  It is not the case that God’s love means I will avoid suffering; instead, God’s love gives me all that I need to endure and to bring resurrection out of it.  It is my job to not just accept that love but to cooperate with it, to share it, and to return it as a gift to God. 

And so today, as I celebrate my 54th birthday, I pray:

When I notice ways in which I can no longer physically function as I’d like, may I have the courage to bear my hardships well, and continue to reach out in compassion rather than insulate myself in pity.

May I have the wisdom and grace to imitate God’s love with my sons, letting go of them so they can find their own way in the world, yet always providing safe harbor when they need it.

May I remember to nurture those relationships that are important, not allowing the busyness of my life to distract me from the people I love.

May I hold my possessions loosely, knowing they are given to me to share and use for others.      

May I never lose gratitude for the privilege of being well-loved by another human being, and may I remain steadfast in offering unconditional love to others.

May I have the courage to work with tireless compassion for more even distribution of the world’s resources, for justice and inclusivity, and for peace.

May I be a visible instrument of God and use my talents well, especially in ways that help others heal and that deepen their relationship to the Source of all life.

Finally, as a precious child, I thank God for loving me, for staying constantly by my side even in my darkest hours, and for promising me through the example of the passion of Jesus that death will never have the final word.  May I always trust in this God of life, handing myself over into those loving hands and desiring nothing more than to do God’s will.  Amen.

 

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:

Isaiah 40:25-31
Matthew 11:28-30

Reflection:

Chronic unemployment, downsizing and job insecurity; lack of, or insufficient medical insurance;  growing children who make questionable life choices;  cancer and other life altering and threatening diseases in ourselves  or those we love;  the debilitating effects of ageing and the consequent loss of independence.  Today who is not burdened by life in some way?

The burdens of life have been part of the human condition since the beginning.  Scripture recognizes this reality, yet Isaiah and Jesus in today’s readings, offer a message of hope in the midst of that suffering.  Isaiah proclaims that the Lord will renew the strength of the young who stagger and fall so that they will "run and not grow weary"; Jesus promises to  refresh and give rest to those who find life burdensome. 

The "yoke" of Jesus is easy and his "burden" light.  Yet we have a choice.  We can lash out against any burden as unfair and undeserved or we can respond in faith, knowing that God is with us even is the midst of confusion and uncertainty.  As we continue to strive to live our lives open to, and in union with, the Lord we find that the "yokes" and "burdens" that come with just the normal progression of living can be more easily accepted.  We will be given a new vision filled with the hope that there is meaning in whatever burdens we carry  and indeed our souls will find rest.

 

Cathy Anthony is on the staff of St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Scripture:

Genesis 3:9-15, 20
Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
Luke 1:26-38

Reflection:

Because I was weak in Marian theology, when I was a student at C.T.U. I decided to do a research paper in Scripture about the Immaculate Conception. I won’t give you all my findings and history, but I want to proclaim the central idea that ran as a thread throughout the paper: God’s original grace is stronger than original sin. God’s grace in us supercedes and helps us overcome the effects of the fall with which we are all so familiar.

I want to describe grace as "God’s initiative." We heard in the second reading that God "chose us before the world began." Notice, it was not when we were baptized or ordained or surrendered to Jesus, no it was before all of that. God had us in mind and chose us before we were born. The emphasis is on his election not our actions or any deeds we have done.

We are celebrating today that God chose a humble handmaiden from all eternity. Her song is ours. The opening prayer asked us to trace her love in our lives. She is the first disciple and shows us how to follow Jesus.

I’ve led pilgrimages to Rome and studied there while on sabbatical. In Rome, I saw many works of art as well as churches.  Many churches have mosaics in their apses. For example, there are four major basilicas in Rome: one dedicated to Peter, one to Paul, one to John, and one to Mary. The one dedicated to Mary is the Church of St. Mary Major.

When I visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the glittering mosaic in the apse of the church struck me. It shows Christ the King and on his right hand sits Mary, his mother. He is putting a crown on her head. It is the coronation of Mary. Another famous artist, Michelangelo, painted The Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel. He shows Christ as judge, raising his right hand in stern judgment. Just to his right is the virgin with her face turned away from the damned since not even she can intercede for them now. My point is that many churches include Mary in a predominant place.

This brings to mind the story of James and John, the sons of thunder, as Jesus named them. They were seeking to sit at Jesus’ right and left when he came into his glory. Jesus replied that it is not his to give but is for those "whom the father has prepared it for beforehand." My personal opinion, like many artists, is that Mary will sit at Jesus’ right for all eternity, and Moses will occupy the place on his left.

In the first reading we heard about the fall of humanity: disobedience, a no, and the curse. Mary has reversed the curse by her obedience and her yes. She was chosen from all eternity. That’s grace. What’s more, she was preserved from sin so she could be a vessel of salvation. God’s grace was once again lavished upon her. She is truly "full of grace." By her yes, she reversed the curse and paved the way for a new humanity.

She was chosen. Ephesians tells us that we too were chosen. One version  says that we were "picked" by God. Think of it. You did not just "happen" upon your vocation…you were specially selected for it. God had a design for your life right from the beginning. That’s grace. Whenever we say "Yes" to God’s will and plan for our life, we further the Gospel and salvation in the world. The key is to be faithful where God has placed us, in our day and age, and keep surrendering our fiat to God.

Eucharist is all about celebration and surrender. We gather, like Mary, and celebrate the wonderful love of God at this table. We rejoice that original grace is more powerful than original sin. Because God has chosen and handpicked us from all those in the world, like Mary in the Magnificat, "our souls magnify the Lord and our spirits rejoice in God our savior!" With Mary, we offer ourselves to God, as we also do in the Kyrie. We surrender ourselves again, now, united with the forever fixed self-surrender of Jesus on the cross.

 

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:

Isaiah 35:1-10
Luke 5:17-26

Reflection:

The reading for the 2^nd Monday of Advent is highly dramatic.  Jesus is preaching, teaching and healing in the synagogue in Capernaum.  Luke tells us that the fame of Jesus has spread and "teachers of the Law" were coming from every village of Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem and were sitting around as Jesus continued his healing ministry.

There is a sudden interruption — noises came from the ceiling, followed by straw directly falling down around Jesus.  Soon, a large hole was opened and four men began lowering a stretcher to the feet of Jesus.

One glance revealed there was a young man on the stretcher, and his contorted arms made his paralysis evident to all.  What a stage for a miracle!  But much more was to happen.  Jesus will assert himself as much more than a preacher and healer.  He does that with his few opening words "My friend, your sins are forgiven you."

Consternation for the assembled rabbis!  "Who but God can forgive sins?"  Certainly a question to be asked.  And Jesus lets them know the answer.  "That you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins, pick up your stretcher and go home."  The unlearned went away saying "We have seen incredible things today."  They surely did!  They saw and heard Jesus reveal Himself as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

No matter what addiction may have paralyzed us, Jesus through his ministers can free us from our sins and restore our spiritual health.  That is certainly the lesson we are to draw from this Advent reading.  There has been born to us a Savior.  We need not break roofs and ceilings to find him.  He encounters us in every confessional.

 

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