Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Acts 15:1-6
John 15:1-8

Reflection:

Jesus’ analogy of the vine and the branches reminds me when we toured a winery. Our guide walked us through the grape arbors and explained the importance of caring for the vines. Not all growth is beneficial to the vine and must be pruned. Some branches die out and must be removed to prevent disease and decay. The result of careful cultivating was a very healthy, productive vineyard!

While this was a novel experience for me, it was everyday life for the disciples. They would easily relate to this analogy.

Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.

What lessons can we take from this reading?

We are intimately connected with God, the vine grower, through Jesus, the vine. Jesus’ life flows through us guided by the Holy Spirit. By remaining attached to the vine, we grow and produce fruit that benefits the community.

We are interconnected with each other as members of the same vine. There are not separate vines for gender, race, or nationality. God’s love is the same for all of us. We are expected to support and encourage each other.

We need pruning. Diseased branches and wild shoots drain life from the vine and branches. Unhealthy growth must be removed, and good growth needs to be encouraged. Pruning can be painful, but we must have faith that God the vine grower has a plan for us.

Springtime is here and nature is waking up. If you are able, take a meditative walk in a park, forest or your own neighborhood and pay close attention to the plants, vines, and trees. How healthy are the branches of your spiritual life? Are you contributing to the vitality of the vine? Do you need some pruning?  God speaks to us through nature, if we listen with an open heart!

Mike Owens is coordinator of the Passionist Alumni Association and a member of the Migration Commission of Holy Cross Province.  He lives in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Scripture:

Acts 14:19-28
John 14:27-31a

Reflection:

“’Peace’ is my farewell to you, my peace is my gift to you….” We find these words that begin today’s gospel to be powerfully consoling and immensely reassuring not only because they speak to one of the deepest desires of our hearts, but also because we know that if we could only abide in peace, all would be well. Is there a better parting gift that Jesus could bestow on us? And yet, when Jesus says that the peace he offers is not “as the world gives peace,” but his peace, we know the path to peace will be different than we expect.

Nothing illustrates this more dramatically than today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Paul is stoned, dragged out of town, and left for dead, all of which would lead us to suspect that he could hardly be at peace. But that is not the case at all. The hardship and suffering Paul has undergone—and the certainty that more awaits him—do not deter or defeat him, much less diminish his zeal for proclaiming the gospel; if anything, Paul seems energized and emboldened. What’s striking in this snapshot of Paul and Barnabas’ missionary journeys is that they are always on the move. Today we find them first in Antioch, then Derbe, then Lystra and Iconium, then back to Antioch, and then to Pisidia, Pamphylia, Perga, Attalia, and back again to Antioch. Far from withdrawing in fear on account of all he has suffered, Paul is absolutely courageous, joyful, and, strangely enough, totally at peace.

Perhaps that is because for Christians, peace is not the absence of suffering and hardship, but the abiding presence of God. When Paul and Barnabas arrive in Antioch, they share with that Christian community “all that God had helped them accomplish,” which explains that no matter what he might suffer, Paul could abide in peace because God was with him every step of the way. It is no different for us. Like Paul, suffering and hardship will visit us, but they should never rob us of peace because God, who is life and love, is with us every step of the way.

Paul J. Wadell is Professor Emeritus of Theology & Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the Passionist Family.

Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin & Doctor of the Church

Scripture:

1 John 1:5–2:2
Matthew 11:25-30

Reflection:

Start being brave about everything. Drive out darkness and spread light.
Don’t look at your weaknesses. Realize instead that in Christ crucified you can do everything.”   – Saint Catherine of Siena

Today the Church celebrates the feast day of one of the four women Doctors of the Church, Catherine of Siena. Her influence on Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome from Avignon, France was Divine intervention only because she listened to God with deep love and was open to the Holy Spirit.

The above quote from Saint Catherine of Siena goes so well with the readings for today. It challenges us to be the one who “drives our darkness and spread light”. It challenges us to be the ones who bring light to those around us. A smile, a small act of kindness or a gentle word. As humans we tend to look at our shortcomings when God has given us many gifts and talents. When we focus on these, we become so much stronger.

                How will I bring the Light of Christ to others today?

In the first reading the author of the Letter of John speaks of God being light and if we are walking in the light then we have all that we need. If we walk in darkness then we walk in sin, and walk in the world as one who stumbles in the dark feeling our way around, searching for something to steady ourselves. The author reminds us that our sins are forgiven through Jesus’ offering of his own Blood. During this time of Easter, it is easier to choose the light and bask in the Resurrection of Christ knowing that we have eternal life. The challenge is when the joy of Easter begins to fade, and we return to old habits or move back into our comfort zone. Easter is about new life and living in that life. Just as a butterfly cannot return to the cocoon so we must not return to old habits that we worked to change over Lent.         

                How am I celebrating my new life in the Resurrected Christ?

Linda Schork is a theology teacher at Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Acts 9:26-31
1 John 3:18-24
John 15:1-8

Reflection:

Happy Springtime!  I hope wherever you hail from these days you are able to enjoy the colors and sounds and warmth that Mother Nature has blessed us with during this Eastertide.  Our scriptures speak of the hope of resurrection and new life as well.  The early Christian community welcomes a new disciple into the fold as Saul/Paul embraces the new life open to all believers in Jesus Christ!  Initially, Paul was not welcomed with open arms by the other disciples. They were reluctant to believe that Saul, the persecutor had really undergone a conversion to become Paul, the believer who spoke out boldly in the name of Jesus.  In a short time, Paul was able to show by words and example that he was truly committed to following Jesus.  How willing are we to accept the ‘Sauls” in our lives who don’t measure up to our unrealistic expectations?

In the second reading from 1 John, we are reminded of the greatest commandment to Love one another just as Jesus loves us!  How often do we pick and choose who is going to feel our love or wrath on any given day?!

Today we hear the familiar story of the Vine and branches as recounted in the Gospel of John.  Jesus is the true vine; God is the vine grower and we are the branches.  Jesus tells us what we must do to grow and prosper as his disciples in these words:

            “Remain in me, as I remain in you.
            Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
            Unless it remains on the vine,
            So neither can you unless you remain in me.”

If you are a gardener, you know well that the season of springtime is a time of planting, nurturing, pruning, and weeding our plants, flowers, and vegetables so that we may enjoy a bountiful harvest in the coming months. The Easter season is also a time for us as disciples to allow ourselves to sit with the scriptures of the season, to acknowledge our failures and successes as members of the Body of Christ, to allow ourselves to be pruned and prodded and challenged in the areas of our faith life that are in danger of being consumed by the weeds of apathy, frustration, selfishness, etc.

I always find the scriptures of the Easter season, wherein the highs and lows of the early Christian community are recounted, as a time of renewed hope. Hope for myself and others in our community of faith here in 2024, who struggle to live out our call to bring the message that JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN!  HE IS ALIVE AND WELL and LIVING IN EACH OF US!  May we take time today to enjoy the hope and promise this season offers us.  Easter Peace!

Theresa Secord is a retired Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Acts 13:44-52
John 14:7-14

Reflection:

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…

These final discourses in John’s gospel focus not so much on what Jesus did, but on who Jesus is and what he does in and through us.  In some ways, these discourses are building a bridge between Him and faith.  In this passage, we hear the familiar words of God spoken to Moses “I am.”  Jesus repeats three times “I am in the Father”… “I am in the Father” … “I am going to the Father.”

 “Whoever believes in me with do greater works than me” … these are difficult words for the disciples – how can they do what Jesus has done, how can they do even greater things than Jesus has done?  Just show us….just show us!

Jesus is yet again, having to explain to the disciples…does he yet again have to explain to us?  Our challenge is the same as the disciples’ challenge – to confront the world with the Word of God and bring people to faith.   The disciples knew Jesus – the Word – of God.  We too know the Word of God – are we willing to share it?  Are we willing to allow it to transform who we are so that what we manifest to the world is his Love – his way of being present to the other, his way of seeing the presence of God in others, in all of creation; his way of noticing the presence of God in every situation – the wonderful times and events and the painful times and events.  Jesus introduced his Father not so much with words, but with actions, with presence, with love.  Can we do the same so that God can work miracles through us?

Faith Offman is the Associate Director of Ministry at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan.

Feast of St. Mark, Evangelist

Scripture:

1 Peter 5:5b-14
Mark 16:15-20

Reflection:

Courage

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Mark, whose Gospel is the earliest of the four evangelists. Mark’s Gospel is symbolized by the lion (Matthew, Luke and John depicted as angel, ox and eagle, respectively) mirroring courage.  We imagine the courageous person as one possessing valor or guts, but the word actually comes from the Latin, cor (heart) and agere (to act); so, to be courageous means to have the strength of “acting from the heart.”

Years ago, while directing a retreat for college students, I remember asking these salt-of-the-earth good young people what the most important attribute or virtue might be in their choices of friendship. Nearly all of them said they look for integrity or authenticity in others… that people be true to their hearts, not so much their thoughts or abstract ideas.

Our liturgical readings during these days of basking in the shadow of Eastertide we keep hearing (especially from the Acts of the Apostles) those stories about the early followers of Jesus being transformed… converted from being a scattered group of frightened and suspicious independents, they were suddenly galvanized into a believing community.

Perhaps one of the reasons many young people today are drifting away from the structures of participation — in politics and government and church — could be a call for all of us to be more authentic or genuine, to act from the heart. Courage. Saint Mark.

Fr. Jack Conley, CP, is the local superior of St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Acts 12:24-13:5a
John 12:44-50

Reflection:

The Word

Today’s readings in Acts starts and ends with “The Word”.  “The Word of God continued to spread and grow”  Act 12:24. “They proclaimed the Word of God,”  The Word (logos’) is used some 318 times in New Testament. Other expressions for  word in NT  are “sayings” (raymah)  64 /  speaking gently (laleo)  / voice (phonae) 128 times   “The Word” is an ancient expression used for the Gospel.  The nature of God has this overwhelming and consuming desire to speak to His children!  “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.” John 8:37     In the OT God is said to speak (debar etc) thousands of times!

In today’s Gospel Jesus cautions   “If anyone hears My sayings (raymah) and does not keep (phylassō) them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.  He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. John 12:47

The inspired Greek NT word  is to be carefully guarded (phylássō) or keep.  Jesus strongly advises us to treasure the tremendous value of His words!  The spoken Word of God is tremendously priceless!   With His Word comes the wonderful intelligence of God Who not only knows all things but designs and creates them!   Even greater than the intelligence and knowledge of God’s Word is His immensurable love embracing it.   John even says “the Word is with God and is God!”  Not only does God’s Word contain prodigious wisdom and engulfing love but awesome creative  power!   “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made!” Ps 33:6  “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice (phonae) of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. John 5:29   So many years ago Saint Ephrem +373 said : “Who is able to understand, Lord, all the richness of even one of your words?”

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Acts 11:19-26
John 10:22-30

Reflection:

In our gospel reading, the people complain to Jesus: “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus responds, “I told you and you do not believe.” Then He continues to use the image of a shepherd to refer to Himself: “The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

When we think of sheep, and when we think of ourselves as sheep, it can be pretty humbling, and perhaps we resist the idea of being sheep, even when it comes to Jesus as the Shepherd. But we are still free to choose. Why would I choose to be a sheep, even to Jesus? Because life has shown me that following myself as the shepherd has not worked. But if I want serenity of heart and peace of mind, I will follow Jesus as the Good Shepherd, even when it comes to carrying a cross.

And I know that I am in Jesus’ hands. He will not abandon me or leave me behind: “No one can take them out of my hand.” The only way I can be out of Jesus’ hands is if I choose to leave Him. It is still my choice.

Now, the thing is, by the grace and love of God, I can still do great things as a sheep. And by an even greater grace, I won’t care who gets the credit! I will just be able to abide in the love of my Shepherd, and follow Him by bringing more love and hope into the world. May God grant us the grace to be good sheep.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.