Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20
Mark 12:38-44

Reflection:

 We finish today the readings from the Book of Tobit. Raphael, a central character in the Book, finally reveals himself as a messenger of God, one of the seven angels who serve God. He was the one who presented to God the prayers of Tobit for sight, Tobiah for a wife, and Sarah for healing from her curse. The family is eternally grateful to Raphael. Tobit tells Tobiah to pay Raphael his wages, plus a big bonus. Raphael, who has no use for money, instructs them to give thanks to God. The way to give thanks to God is to share their possessions with others. "Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving…"

We are reminded of the words of Jesus: "As often as you do it to the least of my brothers and sisters you do it to me." Generosity is the spirit of thanksgiving. If we are truly grateful, we will not hoard our possessions. Jesus criticizes the scribes for their selfish spirit, their desire to be served rather than serve others, thinking about what they could get rather than what they could share, especially with those in need. Jesus points to a poor woman at the treasury of the Temple. She offers two coins. She could have given one coin and kept the other one for her own needs. That sounds very reasonable and prudent. But she gives all the coins she had. What an example of generosity!

The two coins were an insignificant amount, yet her giving received special notice from God. We give because we can’t help ourselves; we’re grateful for all God has done, and we want to give, cheerfully. God will notice.

Proverbs 11:24 reminds us, "The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller."

 

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

Scripture:

Acts 25:13b-21
John 21:15-19

Reflection:

As we near the culmination of the Easter Season with the celebration of Pentecost this Sunday, our reading of the Gospel of John comes full circle. Just as Jesus began his public ministry in John’s Gospel with an invitation to "follow me," so this portion near the end of John’s Gospel again repeats the invitation of Jesus to all to "follow me."

At first, the invitation in John’s Gospel is a rather mysterious one because the disciples (and the reader) are not quite sure what that invitation really means. What does it mean to follow Jesus? What is the relationship of the disciple to the master? What does it cost and how do I have to change?

However, by the time we reach the end of the Gospel, the disciples (and the reader as well) know the answers to these pivotal questions. If you follow Jesus you will not only witness to the Kingdom of God in word and deed, but as a result you too will have to suffer shame, humiliation, calumny and lastly death. But that is not the end. The end is ultimately victory; the end is ultimately Life! 

To emphasize this truth, the dialogue that follows between Jesus and Peter is key. In a sense the dialogue is meant not just to be between Jesus and Peter but also, and perhaps more importantly, between Jesus and the reader.

As Peter previously denied his Lord three times, so Jesus asks Peter now to reaffirm his commitment to him three times. He asks Peter (and us): "Do you love me more than these?" Scholars continue to wonder what the "these" refers to…were they the other disciples? Were they Peter’s fishing boats–symbolic of his life as fisherman? Were they Peter’s family or friends? No matter. Peter makes clear in his three-fold response that he is now more than prepared to truly follow Jesus. Peter knows clearly the risk, the cost, and ultimately the surrender that Jesus is asking of him. As Jesus makes clear to him by way of metaphor, Peter no longer belongs to himself, but rather to God.

As we wait once more the Church’s celebration of the gift of the Spirit, let’s reflect on this Easter season and what it has meant in our lives. Are we any closer to Jesus? Are we more willing than we were 50 days ago to surrender our lives and our loves to Him and His Kingdom? What does it really mean to us to hear the voice of Jesus echo throughout the centuries…"Follow me."

 

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

Scripture:

Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
John 17: 20-26

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus prays to his Father to make us one with Him and with one another.  I think this may be one of the most compelling and awesome lines in scripture.  Just think about these words, "…that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me…"  It is mind boggling to think about…becoming one with God.  Jesus is not asking his Father to help us be like him, He is praying for us to be one with Him just as He is one with the Father!!!   

When various saints, like St. Paul of the Cross, had a mystical experience, they knew this intimacy – this oneness with God.  But that’s the saints – surely, this can’t apply to us ordinary folks!  And yet, that’s exactly what this reading is telling us – Jesus is praying that each of us have that experience.  And as if that weren’t enough then Jesus is praying for us to be one with each other in the same way.  All of us!  Even those who don’t agree with us.  Imagine!

There are in our lives, if we are lucky, maybe one or two people with whom we feel so united that we can say we are truly one with them – perhaps a spouse, a child or a parent – but it is beyond our capability to even imagine achieving this oneness with everyone.    And that’s the kicker – because when we reread this excerpt what we find is that this oneness is not ours to achieve.   This isn’t something we can make happen.  Jesus is praying to His Father to GIVE it to us.  It is a gift!  And the form the gift takes is God’s love…"the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."   We just have to accept the gift.  As we approach Pentecost, let us spend time praying with Jesus that we will be filled with the love that is the Holy Spirit and that we will be open to union with God and the embracing of one another – to love as God loves us.

 

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. 

Scripture:

Acts 20:28-38
John 17:11b-19

Reflection:

"I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.  . . .  As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." (Jn 17:15; 18).

I have read today’s gospel over several times; it’s really a beautiful, compelling passage.  This reading tells of Jesus’ prayer to the Father shortly before his Passion and death.  What continues to resonate with me is how tenderly our Lord prays for the followers he will soon leave behind on earth.  All day, the words have played over and over in my head.  Protect them, he asks.  Set them apart from the world, he asks.  Make their joy complete, he asks.  Sanctify them, he asks.  Hours before Jesus is called to make the greatest sacrifice, his prayer is not for mercy on his own life.  Instead, he pleads for all Christians, past and present, "that they may be one."  So the question I can’t help asking myself is-so, how have we done so far?    

Jesus knew what he was going to.  Though he was walking to his death, eternal happiness and union with the Father would follow.  What he also knew was that evil would never give those remaining on earth a moment’s rest.  With what must have been a great deal of sadness, Jesus says, "I am no longer in the world, but these followers of mine are."  Hate, greed, envy, pride, fear, bigotry, jealousy.  These are the temptations that awaited Christians. These are the powerful evils that threatened to divide Christ’s followers, to separate us from each other. 

In case we had any doubts about the difficulty of leading a true Christian life, of proclaiming the gospel to those who have not heard it, our Lord is blunt: "I have given them your word, and the world has hated them."  This isn’t easy to hear.  The world hates us.  But just when you might want to throw in the towel-I mean, how can we fight the whole world?!?  Just when you might think it’s too hard to follow Christ, take note of the other part of that statement-I have given them your word. 

Not only have we been given this great gift, this gift of the truth, of salvation, of the word.  But, we have been given this gift by Christ himself.  Our Lord has put us in the world then to proclaim this truth.  He has set us apart from the world, but has kept us in the world for this reason.  Of course, that doesn’t mean we are all traveling around the world bringing those who don’t know of God’s word into his Church.  But, it does mean living a life that is true to that word.

So, let’s go back to Christ’s plea to the Father that we be "one."  Certainly, it sounds like we have enough problems with evil and the world conspiring together against our Lord’s message.  Have we at least remained unified in the mission?  I think, sadly, we all know the answer to that question.  So, I challenge myself and all of you to answer Jesus’ prayer.  Despite our differences, can we find our common ground?  Can we surrender our own need to be right in order to come together on that which we all agree?  Have we allowed all those evils of the world to drive a wedge between us and thereby achieve the goal of weakening us?  I mean, isn’t our most unifying factor the greatest and most powerful unifying factor there can be?  One word, Jesus. 

 

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

Feasts of:
Venerable Bede, 
St. Gregory VII (Pope),
St. Mary Magdalene de Piazzi                                      

Scripture:

Acts 19:1-8
John 16:29-33

 

Reflection:

Several years ago I did an internship in spiritual direction.  This program required the participants to take three major workshops/conferences on spirituality outside the program.  One I took was on "Listening."  A couple of things I learned in this workshop is: 1.) If you do not know a person, or a person is extremely upset there is a certain way for you to respond.  Example #1. Someone is very angry and says "I have never been so angry in all my life."  Ordinarily, I would have been tempted to say:  "I am sorry to hear this.  I know exactly how you feel."  The better response would have been: "You have never been so angry in all your life?"  This invites the angry person to explain why s/he is so angry and explains it.  Thus, providing a cathartic moment to help that person process their anger and get over it.  Example #2.  A person says:  "This is the happiest day of my life, but I have never been so hurt."  I would probably have said something like:  "I am happy you are having a good day!"  I probably am avoiding the "bad news" so I select only the "good news."  The better response would be:  "This is the happiest day of your life, but you have never been so hurt?"  This avoids my making a choice in this dichotomous message and allows the speaker to explain the apparent contradiction, and allows him/her to integrate the conflict themselves. 

In John’s Gospel Jesus is speaking of the future, the disciples are concerned with the present.  Jesus tells the disciple He loves them.  The disciples speak of their knowledge of Jesus.  Jesus is speaking of his departure.   The disciples are speaking of His origin with God.  In other words, Jesus is preparing the disciples for His suffering, death and resurrection.  But the disciples do not want to hear about it so avoid listening to Jesus’ words.  Jesus is trying to tell the disciples.  Time is short:  in verse 25 He says:  "The hour is coming."  In verse 28 He says:  "The hour is coming, indeed it has come!"  Jesus promises the disciples that the relationship He and the Father shares, will be like the relationship He will share with his disciples.  He leaves them with these words of reassurance and hope. It is important for us to listen to each other. It is every bit as important the make sure we are listening accurately to God in our life.

Memorial of St. Philip Neri 

Scripture:

Acts 20:17-27
John 17:1-11a

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 Passionists Father Victor Houglin 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!

Pilgrims blessings to you and yours!!

 

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

Scripture:

Acts 18:23-28
John 16:20-23

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus continues to talk to His disciples about His leaving them to go to the Father. One of the things He says is, "I have spoken these things to you in veiled language. A time will come when I no longer do so, but shall tell you about the Father in plain speech."

In His Passion, Death, and Resurrection, Jesus has spoken to us "in plain language" about God. He has told us that God’s power is not in violence or domination, but love. He has told us that God loves us to the point of sacrifice for us. He has told us that God goes beyond what is reasonable and safe in dealing with His children. He has told us that above all, God loves us.

At times when we may have difficulty hearing God speak to us, we need to look again at the Cross, and remember again the empty tomb, and realize once again the immensity and depth of God’s love for us all. And if we can accept that love, we are called to share it with others, speaking in the same kind of "plain language" that Jesus used, the language of action and sacrifice.

When we go outside of ourselves to serve others, we are speaking to people about God. When we live with integrity and honesty, we are speaking to people about God. When we carry our own crosses in faith, we speak to people about God. And when we have joy and peace even in the midst of chaos, we witness to our trust in the love and power of God.

In an era of "spin" and so many different ways of communication, the world needs the "plain language" of Christian witness. May the language of Jesus’ love be spoken through us.

 

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P.([email protected])is the pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, Fairfield, Alabama.

Scripture:

Acts 18:9-18
John 16:20-23

Reflection:

"God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise." PS 47: 6-7

Learning to praise the Lord in word and song has been a very important part of my spiritual journey and is now a big part of my prayer life. I grew up praying our traditional prayers, and I still love them and pray them every day. I especially like to pray the "Anima Christi" after communion. But I’ve also learned to simply praise the Lord… focusing on God’s attributes and getting lost in who God is.

I start saying the names of God and thinking about who God is…"Praise You Lord, You are the Living Word and the Bread of Life. You are my Hiding Place, my Savior, and my Provider. You are the great I AM. You are my Shepherd, my Rock, my Deliverer" and so on. When I focus on who God is, my heart starts rejoicing and I am filled with thanksgiving. I am then much more able to be quiet and listen to the Lord, or I can just enjoy basking in His presence. God is SO GOOD!!!

Praise ushers us into God’s throne room. We read in Ps. 100: 4, "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise." Praise takes us right up to God’s throne! I can’t get in to see President Obama without great difficulty, if ever, but I can come into the courts of the King of kings and the Lord of lords whenever I want to!!! How awesome is that?

Another great thing about praising God in all situations is that it keeps our minds off of our problems. When we choose to praise God even when things aren’t going so well, we are trusting Him to provide for us and take care of things. It saves a lot of time and energy that we might otherwise spend worrying or trying to figure out the solution to the problem. Let’s praise God often for He alone is worthy of our praise. Let’s keep our eyes on God and rejoice in His amazing love!!!

I created a bookmark with many of the names of God found in a Litany of Praise. If you send me a SASE I will be happy to send you one. (You can get my address by emailing me.)

 

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 her website: www.jcarleton.com or email her at [email protected].