Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Numbers 11:25-29
James 5:1-6
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Reflection:
"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire."  Mark 9: 43-44

This past week, as I mulled over today’s readings, it was the passage from James that had me tossing and turning.  There is no subtlety about this message, "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you."  It’s a fitting time to be considering such a fate, I suppose.  It seems as though everywhere you turn there is some new story of the "Wall Street" executives and their deceit and mishandling of other people’s money.  You know who I am talking about.  These are the people who live in palatial homes and have personal assistants, cooks and drivers.  My friends and I have wasted many of our conversations wondering how anyone could be so greedy.  They made it pretty easy to throw stones.

And then I started to think on it a bit more.  I’m sure that all the other times I have come across this reading, I have easily shrugged it off as not applying to me since I am not "rich."  But that’s a relative term isn’t it?  Don’t we still live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world?  Don’t most of us have shelter, running water, food? 

We have become a nation obsessed with scrutinizing the state of the economy.  I certainly don’t mean to minimize the real struggles for the unemployed, those without insurance or those who are living in fear of homelessness or poverty.  But the truth is, for most of us, we saw our 401k’s dwindle.  We saw our house values plummet.  We had  to pass on this year’s vacation or hold on to that old car for another year–not exactly huge sacrifices.  I may not have a cook or a driver, but I often spend $3.00 on a cup of coffee.  We are so fearful of not having enough.  But I would ask all of you to consider that you probably threw away more food this week than some families had to eat. 

But we’ve become so accustomed to planning–for retirement, our kids’ education, or just a rainy day.  Much of that planning revolves around financial security.  Sure, we go to church, we pray.  But, the question is, where are we really putting our trust?  We seem now, more than ever, to be looking for some guarantees about the future.  But James tells us that even gold and silver will corrode; "Your wealth has rotted away."  We have become experts on mortgages and mutual funds.  What about our souls?  I’ll be honest, I spent far more time this past month thinking about the money in my bank account than the needs of my neighbor.  So, how do we begin to change?

I think the answer, in part, comes in Mark.  I remember hearing this gospel so may times and thinking how harsh a solution it seemed–if your hand is sinning, cut it off!  But we all know that the hand or the foot is not the culprit.  I may pay for my Starbucks with the money in my hands, but it’s me–my heart and mind–making the decision.  Jesus isn’t really telling us to cut off our hand, then.  Rather, we need to cut off that which is causing us to sin–the desire we hold in our hearts.  It’s going to be difficult and painful.  We may even feel like we have lost  something important  to us.  But indulging ourselves in this life will bring much greater loss in the next.  

Let’ s remember that It’s not wealth itself that is sinful.  God has created us in his own image.  We have talents and gifts beyond measure.  For some, this means material gain.  But when we elevate our worldly possessions above God, when we put our faith in our checking account over our Lord and Savior, we have gone astray.  Think about all that you have.  Think about what your real fears are when you think about the need for financial security.  Open yourself to the possibility that faith in God is the greatest investment.  And you can take that to the bank. 

 

Marlo Serritella ([email protected]) is on staff at the Holy Cross Province Development Office in Chicago.

Scripture:

Haggai 2:1-9
Psalm 43: 1-4
Luke 2:18-22

Reflection:

In today’s gospel Jesus has just fed the 5,000.  Jesus goes apart to pray.  He then asks the disciples "Who do the crowds say that I am?"  Then He asks the disciples: "Who do you say that I am?"   After Peter’s confession, Jesus makes His first Passion Prediction. 

Luke has Peter’s confession take place where Jesus prays.  In other word, what follows is God’s plan for Jesus and His disciples.  Luke has Jesus ask what the "crowds" say?  Jesus is referring to those "crowds" who experienced the Miracle of the Loaves.   Luke says that the crowds say Jesus is "one of the ancient prophets."  In other words, Jesus belongs to the long lineage of prophets God has sent to save Israel. 

The Jesus asks the disciples: "Who do you say that I am?"  Peter says: Jesus is "the Messiah of God!"  Like Peter, our knowledge has to be first hand. Disciples need to have a personal experience of Jesus.  After Peter’s confession Jesus predicts His passion.    Peter was not prepared to hear this.  Jesus tells Peter to be a disciple one must "pick up their cross daily and follow Him."  As Messiah Jesus is faithful to His mission and it leads to the cross.  Jesus rescues humanity from alienation from God.    

One of the most important questions in life has to do with identity and relationships. If we are disciples of Jesus it has to be a personal relationship.  This relationship defines our values, priorities, and commitment.  We are called to be people of   prayer and to make our life decisions out of our prayer.  We are called to have personal relationship with Jesus.  Our discipleship allows us to daily die to ourselves in service to the "crowds," the others.

 

Fr. Kenneth O’Malley, C.P. is the archivist at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.  

Scripture:

Ezra 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20
Luke 8:19-21

Reflection:

"My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it." Lk 8:19-21

When Julie was accepted to the Sisters of Life, we started hearing stories about the life of a postulant: no phone calls, no email, and you only write home once/month. She even heard she might not be able to take pictures of us with her to the convent.

After her second visit to their community she told me about her final conversation with Mother Agnes. Mother said to her, "I can’t wait until the day that I can call you daughter." When she told me that I felt a stab in my heart and immediately I thought, no one else can be your mother – that’s who I am! How dare she?! Almost immediately the Holy Spirit whispered in my heart, "You will always be Julie’s Mom. There is room for Mother Agnes too." Of course, I knew it was true. And actually, how fortunate for Julie that she will be loved and guided by this holy woman!

Mary too must have felt something when she heard that Jesus said others were his mother. And all of us can often take something someone says wrong and be hurt by it. Years ago I took a little line from "God Calling" (my favorite daily devotional) and have tried to live it: "I refuse to be offended". Some days I have to say it over and over, but it’s a good one! It helps me to keep my peace and look deeper at what the person might have meant. It helps me rely on God when I don’t understand.

We are back from our trip to New York where we got Julie settled into the convent and met many of her new sisters. We loved every one of them, and came away knowing in our hearts that Julie is exactly where she is meant to be. We do still get to be her family, just in a different way, and our family is now 69 members bigger and richer! God is SO good!!! Oh, and she did get to take some pics with her. 

 

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:

Haggai 1:1-8
Luke 9:7-9

Reflection:

Today’s first reading in the liturgy is the opening of the prophet Haggai.  This is an interesting Book in the Bible because he is focused on one task, to rebuild the temple.

The people live in paneled houses, while God’s house lies in ruins.  The prophet is single-minded in his preaching: now is the time to build the temple.  The people keep saying: this is not the time.  In Hebrew it is: Lo ayth…not now.

All time belongs to God.  It is always His time.   Haggai reminds the people that everything is going wrong for them because they are not rebuilding the Temple.  "Now thus says the Lord of hosts: consider how you have fared.  You have sown much but harvested little: you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put them into a bag with holes."

Then Haggai gives this recurring theme: "Thus says the Lord of hosts: consider how you have fared".   In Hebrew he says: put your heart on your ways.   Put it in your heart that without God your lives are a disaster.

Probably today the biggest lie we hear is that God is not that important in our practical lives, nor do we have to be concerned about that temple of God’s presence that we are.

But Paul says: "do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God?" 1 Cor 6:19    Temple maintenance is important: "If any man destroys the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is holy, and such are you."  1 Cor 3:17

I think Haggai reminds us today, 2500 years later, how important it is that we rebuild this temple of ourselves that sadly can fall into ruin.   Paul again reminds us: "What agreement has the temple of God with idols?  For we are the temple of the living God as God said: I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."  2 Cor 6:16

 

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. gives parish missions and retreats.  He is a member of the Passionist community in Detroit, Michigan. 

 

Feast of St. Matthew

Scripture: 

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
Matthew 9:9-13

Reflection:

Accountants and auditors don’t sound like very exciting people.  Nor do tax collectors.  They seem to be the self-effacing type who wear inconspicuous clothing and prefer to be unnoticed.  They work away behind piles of books and papers, shying away from the limelight.  They need quiet time to cull "the books" and try to reconcile the facts of the case with the prevailing statutes and laws.  Their hope is to make as few waves as possible to avoid calling attention to themselves.  Colorless anonymity suits them fine.  Matthew probably fitted this description, since we’re not even sure about his name, given that at times he apparently went by another name-Levi (Mk 2.14).

Nonetheless, Matthew, a professional tax man and likely an accountant, still stands out:  he received a special call from Jesus.  Along with Peter, John, James and Andrew, his recruitment by Jesus merits attention.  Perhaps Jesus felt someone like him was needed to keep an eye on Judas, who apparently was not beyond purloining a few shekels (Jn 12.6) from the money bag.  But still, Matthew probably would have preferred that the banquet he gave after his call by Jesus remained low-key, but unfortunately it grew into a bit of a row as the Pharisees attacked his shady background, and that of his companions.

Matthew was quite a bit different from the other disciples-a company man with some professional credentials.  But his calling by Jesus served to highlight a major theme apparent in his later life: that of unity.  Already on the occasion of his calling, this unity theme was apparent because it gave Jesus the opportunity to clarify what He was about: calling sinners (as well as saints) to His discipleship.  He was pursuing the bad as well as the good, breaking down the wall of division between them, and unifying them in the great privilege of being companions of Jesus.

St. Paul picked up on this characteristic trait of Jesus in his words to the Ephesians where he clearly states that he is "…striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:…"  Paul spells out that unity in terms of one Lord, one faith, one baptism.  And he further describes it in terms of the diversified tasks in the early community: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers.  He doesn’t mention tax collectors, but Matthew slips in under the category of apostle.

Matthew was to live out his life pursuing this unity theme, trying to reconcile the implications of following Jesus Christ, with the Judaism that was so dear to Matthew and many of his converts.  He wanted no part of the ostracism he experienced earlier in life,  later on in life, whether for himself or for his converts.

 

Fr. Sebastian MacDonald, C.P. is a member of the Passionist community at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Illinois.

 

Scripture:

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
James 3:16-4:3
Mark 9:30-37

Reflection:

Do you ever feel like you’re being battered by all the people, issues, or ideas that are demanding your attention?  Whether it’s the family activities, work obligations, social expectations, religious and personal values, economic and political pressures, there can be no doubt that all of us are under great pressure to give our attention and commitment to a wide variety of people and issues.  It takes a great deal of stamina and wisdom to evaluate and balance all the demands that are placed upon us.

What’s our measure?  How do we decide, among all the clamoring demands, which is worthy of our attention, which will bring life?

In today’s reading from the letter of James, we find a very important measure.  James tells us that, "the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace."

In the first reading, from the book of Wisdom, we’re told that the "wicked" cynically seek to destroy the "just one."  In the Gospel reading from Mark, Jesus chides his disciples about their poor choice in pursuing the "first place," reminding them that giving themselves for the sake of others is the best choice.

Sometimes the beliefs we cherish and the things we pursue fill us with anger and judgment about others.  We become cynical and untrusting of others.  We become hardened to the concerns of others and unwilling to acknowledge their sincerity.  If we find ourselves locked into these feelings, it’s time to reassess our attitudes and commitments.  For James reminds us that the wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit nourishes peace and gentleness within us, mercy toward others, and self-gift so others can thrive.  May the wisdom of that comes from the Holy Spirit guide us all. 

 

Fr. Mike Higgins, C.P. is the director of lay formation for Holy Cross Province and lives in Chicago, IL. 

Scripture:

1 Timothy 6:13-16
Luke 8:4-15

Reflection:

"They may look but not see, and hear but not understand" (Luke 8:10)

 

I remember the time when one of our teachers looked at our class with frustration, with a look close to despair, and said, "Alright, I am going to explain this one more time, and those who get it, will get it and those who don’t will have to do a lot more work!" Of course, I didn’t get it. And I forget just how much more work I needed to do before I "got it."

Jesus quotes Isaiah in today’s Gospel, Isaiah 6:8, citing words that God spoke to this prophet right after that dramatic moment when Isaiah called out with intense conviction, "Send me!" God told him very clearly that he was being sent into a community with whom God had established a covenant of life, but a community who had lost their way to God, and would hear but not listen, see, but not understand. Nonetheless, Isaiah’s vocation was to speak the truth, whether it was convenient or inconvenient, as Paul says to his disciple, Timothy. (2 Timothy 4:2)

Many of us "preachers" (and that includes everyone who "bosses" someone else around, regardless of age) believe that our words are to be listened to, accepted and believed. Because we say it, we want everyone to believe it and accept it. We can get very upset when someone doesn’t listen to us or believe what we say. That is when we should begin to suspect that this spirit of righteousness, of explosive anger and rage, and even of malicious hatred and absolute disrespect is not from God. We can easily delude ourselves into thinking that just because we know the truth, we can tell lies to get our point across and we can dehumanize the other as stupid and crazy and unworthy of our respect.

We certainly have had many examples of this kind of behavior over the last few years. We have seen it over and over again on TV "news" shows, and we have heard it over and over again as "debates" take place on a great number of issues. We may have even participated in these behaviors to a lesser degree when we have dealt with family issues or relationship concerns. Whether we are screaming at the kids for doing something we have told them a thousand times not to do or tearing down a coworker because he or she does not agree with our religious or political "truth," we are the ones who just don’t "get it," "look, but do not see, hear but do not understand."

What Jesus is doing with his disciples (and with us) in today’s Gospel is helping them and us to be good teachers. Jesus is inviting us to take a deeper look into the mysteries of life and to find meaning where there is a lack of understanding. Jesus is inviting us to help people discover the Goodness of God, since God truly desires a rich harvest when the Word of God is sown upon good soil. A few Sundays back, we heard the testimony of people who witnessed Jesus’ work: "He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." All four Gospels give us dramatic accounts of Jesus curing the blind. There are 185 references to the word "see" in the Gospels, 96 to the word, "look" and 37 to the word "blindness." If we think that we are not the deaf and blind ones and those who need Jesus to make us whole, then we just don’t "get it."

Our vocation as followers of Jesus Christ is to preach the Gospel of peace and understanding, a Gospel of enlightenment and insight, a Gospel of love and compassion for every human being on earth, indeed, for all of God’s creation to everyone who is in relationship with us. If people don’t "get it" the first time, then we do this over and over and over again. There is no limit to God’s patience. For this, we are deeply grateful. And so we pray, "God, help me be a patient teacher and preacher." May we preach the Gospel always, and use words when we have to.

 

Fr. Clemente Barron, C.P. is a member of the General Council of the Passionist Congregation and is stationed in Rome.

Scripture:

1 Timothy 4:12-16
Luke 7:36-50

Reflection:

In our first reading today, taken from the Letter to Timothy, Paul offers Timothy, encouragement, support and advice.  Timothy is a young man, extremely talented and highly committed to Jesus Christ.  But, he is young.  He has a lot of energy and can rather easily dissipate his focus and energy by pursuing too many interests.  Paul tells Timothy to continue in love, faith and purity; devote yourself to Scripture, preaching and teaching; do not neglect your gifts; attend to your duties; watch yourself and watch your teaching; persevere; keep busy.  "As you attend to your duties, let them absorb you, so that everyone may see your progress."

For those of us living in today’s world, this advice sounds like calling someone to monastic living.  Close out the noisy world.  Keep focused on God and His Church! 

We are constantly having our consciousness pulled this way and that.  I get absorbed watching a pro football or baseball game, even shouting at the TV set on occasion.  I get captured by a good movie and just let it take me along.  I watch world news and let my consciousness travel to different time zones and mysterious places.  Most of us do not "empty" our world of the many distraction or stimuli that are there.  Does this mean we will be forever scatterbrained?  Not necessarily.

We are called to be "quick change artists".  I can enter this energy source or that.  For the moment I seem to be totally absorbed there.  But, almost instantaneously when I surface from that world, I can be back in the presence of God.  A medical doctor can spend the day seeing patients, viewing them as biological bodies to be treated.  When he gets home after a long day’s work and his young daughter greets him with a hug, she is a loving human being and not seen in biological terms.  He has developed that ability to go from seeing life in one dimension to being able to see it in a very different way.

Not to get caught in a one-dimensional world requires some practice and training.  We need to practice making these quick changes in consciousness.  There is the practice of doing the Jesus Prayer.  Say over and over again the little prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner".  This becomes the background music of your inner self.  It disappears when we must devote our attention to certain things but as soon as that attention is no longer needed, that little prayer is heard again.

It is amazing how we can live in such a busy and noisy world and still keep Jesus in the center of our hearts and lives. 

 

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