Daily Scripture

Feast of St. Stephen, First Martyr 

Scripture:

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Matthew 10:17-22

Reflection:

With the glorious celebration of Christmas so fresh in our minds and hearts, the Church abruptly shifts our focus from cradle to Christian death.  Each December 26^th we celebrate together the Feast Day of St. Stephen. 

At my parish church, there is a beautiful stained glass window depicting the Nativity.  The window shows the Magi joining shepherds, sheep and oxen, paying homage to the newborn Christ Child.  What makes this vibrant window unique, however, is that the infant Jesus has his arms stretched out as if on the cross and the palms of his tender little hands bear the marks of his future crucifixion.  This window reminds us that the future of this newborn King will involve suffering and death.  Indeed, the stained glass window foretells the Passion-our ultimate experience as Christians.  As Christians, born of the Spirit, we are taught not only how to live, preach and witness our faith, but our Christian community also teaches us how to die.  By embracing this faith journey, we move ever closer to our eternal life in Christ. 

Today’s Feast of St. Stephen provides us with a holy witness to this mission of death and new life.  St. Stephen was clearly an inspiration to the early Christian community who suffered great persecutions.  While you and I may not relate to his martyrdom by torture (or so we hope!), we can relate to St. Stephen’s life, mission and example.  According to the Acts of the Apostles, St. Stephen had been commissioned to take bold action to care for those in need.  He worked wonders, and his proclamation of the Good News was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Stephen verbally challenged the religious authorities and his prophetic speech got him in great trouble-it cost him his life. 

We too must trust that the Holy Spirit will support us as we serve and support our community, and as we boldly speak out-even at the cost of upsetting authorities.  Like Stephen, it is our call to proclaim in word and actions the hope revealed in Jesus Christ.  St. Stephen was stoned to death for his bold witness.  Despite the cruelty of his brutal murder, St. Stephen prayed to the end for those who tortured him.  As he died, he verbally turned his spirit over to the Lord.  It is important to note that Paul (then Saul) heard St. Stephen pray to his death. How could St. Paul ever forget this witness of Stephen?  He too would follow in Stephen’s footsteps. 

While you and I may not be stoned literally, there are times when we are stoned by others’ harsh words, cruel actions or unjust accusations.  At these times, how willing are we to forgive our enemies and pray for them?   And, like St. Stephen, would it not be wonderful to leave this world proclaiming aloud "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."  St. Matthew clearly has it right as he writes, "whoever endures to the end will be saved."  Let us live in this hope!

And…so the Christmas Season begins!

 

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

Scripture:

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a
Luke 1:5-25

Reflection:

Most of our attention in the Christmas story goes to Mary and Joseph and Jesus, but in today’s Scripture readings we are invited into the lives of two other families who experience the wonderful gift of new life.  In the Book of Judges the parents of Samson receive the surprise announcement from an angel that is repeated twice in the Gospel of Luke.  Elizabeth and Zechariah meet the same Angel Gabriel today who carries the same good news. You are chosen by God!  You will bear a child! Then, of course, Gabriel visits Mary. 

Advent and Christmas are God’s ways of sending a powerful signal of hope to remind us that life is stronger than death. Light is more powerful than darkness. Good is more powerful than evil. God’s blessings will replace barrenness in the Kingdom that is coming. That’s the message of Christmas!

Aren’t there hundreds of Christmas stories again this season?  I heard yesterday that in early January there will be a sit-down dinner with all the living U.S. presidents, past, present and future.  They will gather at the White House for a pre-inaugural celebration that will leave behind for the moment their political disagreements.  Not as dramatic perhaps as Isaiah’s lion and lamb, but still a minor tableau of the "Peaceable Kingdom."

These are the days to look around and see the wonders of the Lord.  They are told in song and story-in the Scriptures, on the evening news, in family gatherings, and if we take the time, in the quiet reflections of our hearts. 

Let us pray today’s Psalm response:

My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
I will treat of the mighty works of the LORD;
O God, I will tell of your singular justice.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

Fr. Jim Strommer, C.P. is on the provincial leadership team and is stationed in Chicago, Illinois.

 

 

Scripture:

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Luke 1:57-66

Reflection:

In our Gospel reading from Luke which we heard last Sunday, the angel Gabriel tells Mary that her relative, Elizabeth, considered barren and in her old age, had conceived a son, for "nothing will be impossible for God." As we near the fulfillment of the angel’s words concerning Mary, we hear today the fulfillment of his words concerning Elizabeth and her son, John, who later became known as John the Baptist.

The birth of John the Baptist is remarkable in its own right. Rejoicing with her that she has given birth, Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives are prepared to call the baby Zechariah, but she tells them the baby’s name is to be John. Not understanding this, they turn to Zechariah the father. Zechariah, struck mute by the angel Gabriel because he couldn’t bring himself to believe what the angel said about Elizabeth conceiving a child, has to write on a tablet that the baby’s name is John. When Zechariah does that, he is able to speak, and begins to praise God. When the people there see all these things, they begin to wonder about the baby and ask, "What, then, will this child be?"

We know what John the Baptist turns out to be: the herald of Jesus. He is seen as the fulfillment of all those prophecies that foretell of a messenger sent ahead of the Messiah to prepare His way. But the same question that was asked about John could be asked about us. As we near the end of this Advent season, what, then, will we be? Are we willing to be heralds of the Good News? Are we willing to prepare the way for others to welcome Jesus, not only in these last days before Christmas, but for the months and years ahead? It may be hard to see ourselves in that role, but we shouldn’t let that strike us mute. Instead, like Elizabeth who was filled with the Holy Spirit when she greeted Mary, and like Zechariah whose tongue was loosed after the naming of his son, and like John the Baptist himself, we are to witness to the wonders God has done for us in Jesus Christ.

 

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P. is pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, Fairfield, Alabama.

Scripture:

1 Samuel 1:24-28
Luke 1:46-56

Reflection:

Our children do not belong to us. We help God in the creating of their lives, but they are a gift from Him and He only loans them to us for a short while. Have you given yours back to God? We don’t have to leave them at the church like Hannah left Samuel at the temple, but I think it’s so important to remember that He created them for a purpose, and we can dedicate ourselves to helping them find it. We need to want God’s plan for their lives more than we want our own for them and we can encourage them to use their gifts and talents to help build the kingdom. I spoke recently with a woman in her 90’s. She was crying and very upset about the fact that she felt she had been called at 16 to be a nun, but her family didn’t understand God’s ways and couldn’t help her figure it out. Now she believes her "whole life" was wasted. How sad! I assured her that God understands, and her life was not wasted, but she is being tormented by these thoughts.

Raising kids can be overwhelming at times and I don’t see how anyone does it without God’s help! If you let yourself consider all that is wrong with the world, and all of the scary things that could happen to them, you feel pretty helpless to protect them. And of course the question of whether or not they will choose Christ for themselves looms large sometimes. One day I prayed, "I give them back to you Lord. Please do whatever You need to in each of their lives to draw them to Yourself." It was a very freeing prayer for me – not only because we aren’t supposed to worry and fret, but also because they are ultimately His kids and entrusting them to Him is the best place they can be. He loves them more than we ever could. Thank you Lord for the gift of children. Help us to steer them toward You and to release them to your perfect plan for their lives.

 

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.

4th Sunday of Advent

Scripture:

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38

Reflection:

We conclude the Advent season this week, bringing to a head basic perceptions about the coming celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  A certain highpoint is reached today.  It concerns the breaking through of a major, perhaps THE major, revelation God wishes to transmit to us: that He is a Creator God, the ultimate source of life-and that an appreciation of life is the best way to "understand" Him.

Christmas Day itself will address this life theme best of all, in the form of the infant born of Mary.  But, by way of immediate preparation for this break-through manifestation, we hear God instruct the submissive prophet Nathan today about what He has been about throughout the history of the Jewish people leading up to David, almost as if God is miffed, as a provoked teacher, that such a prized student as Nathan could overlook a very important fact: God has been busy firming up the house of David as a fertile source of life for Israel. 

And today’s reading from St. Paul supports the tenor of this insight, laying out "the mystery kept secret for long ages" about the revelation of God through Jesus Christ as eternal and wise, as He brings to completion the full manifestation of Himself in the living person of Jesus.  Who better illustrates St. Irenaeus’: "The glory of God is man fully alive"?

The climax of this exposition of Who God is takes place in the words of Gabriel to Mary-words focusing on the new life-form to come about in her, Who will also be the Son of "the Most High": a double life-form, so to speak, to make unmistakably clear how God wants to reveal Himself to us: under the guise of life.

This revelation of God as One Who brings forth life is a manifestation of Himself as Creator.  This is how He wishes to be known.  The current insistence of the church on the worth and dignity of life is not only aimed at safeguarding vulnerable human life, but also at laying down an apologetic for coming to appreciate God for Who He is: the source and creator of life.  Christmas leads to an appreciation, not only of infant life, but also of divine life.

 

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

Scripture:

Isaiah 7:10-14
Luke 1:26-38

Reflection:

Today’s readings are about promise and fulfillment, fear and courage, cynicism and trust.   Just five days before we celebrate the birth of Christ, the readings remind us that the coming of Christ was no accident, no twist of fate.  Rather, the coming of Christ was the fulfillment of a promise made long before.

The first reading tells us about the Prophet Isaiah’s encounter with Ahaz, the King of Judah.  Isaiah is trying to give Ahaz a spine so he can face his enemies who are at the gate.  He assures Ahaz of God’s care and tells him to ask for a sign of God’s favor.  Ahaz can’t imagine how God could make a difference in this crisis so he begs off with the words, "I will not ask.  I will not tempt the Lord."  Isaiah, in disgust, responds, "…the Lord Himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel."  The fear and cynicism of Ahaz result in the destruction of his Kingdom.

In the Gospel we hear the story of Mary’s encounter with the Angel of God.  The angel tells her that God has a plan for her that boggles her imagination.  She is told that she will bear a son "who will be called holy, the Son of God…and who will rule over the house of Jacob forever."  Though she is unsure how these things could possibly happen, her personal courage and complete trust in God move her to respond, "I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word."  Luke clearly sees that the promise made by God through Isaiah is fulfilled in the "yes" of the Mother of Jesus.

These readings call us to realize that God’s promises are best fulfilled in the hearts and lives of those who are open to Him.  As we prepare for Christmas let our prayer be, "Lord, help us welcome you with trust in our hearts whenever you come."

 

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director of lay formation for Holy Cross Province and is stationed at Immaculate Conception Retreat in Chicago.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 23:5-8
Matthew 1:18-25

Reflection:

Jesus, can I share my thoughts?  I know we have a few more days left before we celebrate your birth but the gospel brings it up for reflection at Mass today.    Seeing You in the crib brings tears to my eyes.   

The tears of gratitude flow from the realization that You chose to experience our life…"he was like us in all things."    On Christmas day the little ones will connect with You immediately when they see You as the "baby Jesus."    The rest of us will approach You a little differently.    Our stage of life finds some of us looking back with a loving smile.  Baby pictures are wonderful!  But then we need to move on.  

The question You asked the disciples seems right to the point: "Who do you say that I am?"  For me as an adult it is an awareness through the years of my deepening friendship with You.   There certainly were moments of dealing with the truth of what friendship is all about and feeling I wasn’t carrying my part of the load.  Oh, how I wish I could erase some things.  These 79 year-old eyes have also known the tears of sorrow.  For me growing up is closely connected with a continual reaching out in love to You, as well to all my brothers and sisters and lastly, to myself.  Nothing wrong with the love and tears that I experience at the celebration of your birth so wonder-filled.

What keeps coming back to me again and again is the fact that my/our salvation could have taken place at the very moment of Your birth.  But, no, You continued living , teaching, healing, forgiving and loving us.  "You shall call His name Jesus, because he will save His people from their sins."  What a joy it is to picture myself holding you as a little precious infant in my arms.  The truth is that Your love lead You to die on the cross out of love for me.  And, now, the embrace, the hug that I receive comes from You who chose to keep the marks of Your love in Your hands and feet and side.  Now I think you understand where the tears are coming from.  Thank you.  

 

Fr. Peter Berendt, C.P. is on the staff of Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center, Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

In today’s first reading from the book of Genesis, Jacob blesses his son Judah and says, "The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his legs, while tribute is brought to him, and he receives the people’s homage."  Thus began the rumbles of the monarchy which one day would come to Israel, led by the royal dynasty of Judah.  David was of the house of Judah and in 1 Samuel 7, what seemed like an eternal promise was made to David.  The Davidic line would always be enthroned as king of Judah and Israel.  But history would make this begin to seem impossible.  The Davidic dynasty was humiliated and even deprived of all royal privileges.  True it was blessed by God in its glory days but great sufferings would begin to break open another, deeper level of meaning. 

Human concepts, metaphors and paradigms are ultimately shabby houses for the intentions of God.  This royal dynasty would begin to erode and be but a glimmer in the coming fulfillment.  Matthew would mention three women with blights on their character, Tamar, Ruth and Bathsheba, who would enter into the story line of the coming Messiah.  Mary, the mother of Jesus was not of the house of Judah.  It was Joseph, the foster father of the Messiah who was of this lineage.  It would be by a legal fiction that Jesus would be of the house of David.  All of the high pomp and circumstance of royalty would give way to the coming kingdom of lowliness and poverty that Jesus would establish.

I have some friends who go to California and crave to see some of the movie stars.  They will go to the "right restaurant, nightclub, etc." in an effort to accomplish this.  Are we still in the "regal" stage of our spiritual growth?  Can we find the child Jesus in the simple and ordinary people that are all around us, at work, in our family home, etc.?  Where we are is a gold mine of God’s presence.  Be at Peace and Be Attentive my soul!

 

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