Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Hebrews 10:1-10
Mark 3:31-35

Reflection:

In light of the latest events in Washington, today’s Gospel is especially timely.  No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, it’s impossible not to wonder what could bring so many people-from so many walks of life-together in peaceful unity.  Today’s readings might give us a clue.

My thoughts about this Gospel have transformed over the years.  It used to sting a bit whenever I thought about Jesus acting so indifferent to the fact that his "mother and brothers" were stuck outside the crowds wanting to speak to him.  Looking around, Jesus rhetorically asks; "Who are my mother and my brothers?"  But I don’t believe this is Jesus being callus or unfeeling about his familial relationships. 

Here Jesus takes the opportunity to teach us about the importance of a spiritual family-perhaps not one you were born into, but a real family nonetheless-one formed by the shared belief in Christ.  Jesus looks out and proclaims: "whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother."  As Christians, we are called the family of God.  By talking in these terms of brothers and sisters, Jesus demonstrates the importance of following him.  We can all understand the closeness within our own families.  Christ shares this same intimate bond with those who believe and follow him.

There is a bit of a catch, however.  Christ embraces a family far beyond those with whom he shares blood, but this invitation does not include just anyone.  Only those who do the will of God can be called brothers and sisters of Christ.  So, we have to ask ourselves the difficult question whether, in our own lives, we have accepted Christ’s invitation to join his family by doing the will of the Father.  The good news is that, if the answer is not what we had hoped, there is still time to accept the call.

The passage from Hebrews echoes this message.  It’s not outward, superficial sacrifices that the Father wants.  God is not impressed with "sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings."  That was the old way, before the Father sent his only son to be offered as a sacrifice for all humankind.  The Old Testament sacrifices were imperfect, a shadow of the true sacrifice that is to do the will of God; "Behold, I have come to do your will."  Jesus surrendered to the Father’s will through his death.  And in so doing, we have become "sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."  Now, we are asked each day to make this sacrifice in our own lives-to surrender to the will of God.

So, back to those millions gathered in Washington last week.  These were not people joined by blood.  They were not really brothers and sisters.  But they found a sameness of purpose perhaps in a love of country or a long-fought commitment to civil rights.  Surely, they were not all Christians.  But their peaceful gathering at such difficult times serves as an example that something even greater than family can bring people together for the common good.  Let’s pray that this "something" may be to carry out the will of God.

 

Marlo Serritella is on the staff at the Passionist Development Office in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Hebrews 10:11-18
Mark 4:1-20

Reflection:

All of us have heard Mark’s Gospel about the sowing of the seed many times.  I think it is one of those Gospel stories that because of its familiarity, we seldom think about the multitude of messages that it contains.

One of the primary messages in Mark is at the end of this Gospel when he tells us that we are the seeds called to hear the Word and to BEAR FRUIT.  

            But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it
           and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.

It is not enough to be the seed that falls on fertile ground, but to be truly Christian, we must bear fruit, we must ACT on the Word.  It is not enough to passively hear the Word, but we must follow Christ’s example and LIVE the gospel.  It was through the Crucifixion, Christ’s ultimate living out of the obedience and faith that he taught, that Christianity took root and grew.   As Christians, we must also be ACTIVE recipients of the Word.  We are called to bear fruit by spreading the Word to others through our ACTIONS.  

So we can preach the Word to our neighbor but if we do not extend a loving hand to them when they are in need, we are not truly spreading the Word.  We can tell our children about what God wants them to do, but if we don’t make our lives an example of the Gospel, we are not teaching the Word to them.  We can attend Mass and resonate in the certainty of our Catholicism, but if we don’t act with love of others, regardless of their religious beliefs, we are not spreading the Word. 

What an awesome responsibility Christ gives us.  Not just to be the fertile ground that will take the seed and nourish it, but to be the very seed that bears fruit.  Not just to listen to the Word and reflect on it, but to ACT on it.  To live the Word, to love the world, to be Christian – that is what we are each called to do.

 

Mary Lou Butler is a member of the board at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California

Scripture:

Jonah 3:1-5,10
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20

Reflection:

The Book of Jonah tells about the reluctant preacher Jonah, who preaches to the people of Nineveh.  These are a notoriously wicked people, who hear the word of God and repent.  The good news of salvation is intended for all people.  The Epistle to the Corinthians also reminds us that time is limited so we must embrace the Gospel and be converted.  The Gospel of Mark recounts the call of four of the disciples.  Peter and Andrew are apparently older men, successful in that they owned their own boat.  James and John are younger men, who are still apprenticed to their father, who has a successful fishing business because he even has hired hands.  The Book of Jonah and the Gospel of Mark, are forceful reminders that God’s call is a summons, one we can’t refuse, as Jonah tried.  God calls us whenever it pleases him, when we are young or when we are older.  We are all summoned when it is God’s pleasure.

Today’s reading tells us that God finds us where we are and invites us to: 1. Reform our life.  2. Believe in the Gospel and 3.  Follow Jesus.  In return God makes these promises:  "I will make you fishers of people.  I will give you rest.  The reign of God will be yours’.  You will be consoled.  You will inherit the land.  You shall have your fill of holiness.  Your reward will be great. You will be the light of the world.  You will be the salt of the earth.  God who sees in secret will repay you.  God will forgive you.  Ask and you will receive.  You will be great in the Reign of God.  You shall be called "children of God."  You shall see God."

Pope Paul VI in Evangelii Nuntiandi  reminds us:  Evangelists must be worthy.  Have no doubt or fear.  Be unremitting. Be faithful.  Bring a new creation. Bring unity to community.  Bring sincerity and authenticity:  Holiness of life nourished by prayer and love of the Eucharist.  Simplicity of life.  Love for all, especially the poor and lowly.

Obedience and humility.  Self-forgetfulness and renunciation.  Reverence for truth.  Share the truth.

 

Fr.Kenneth O’Malley, C.P. is the archivist for Catholic Theological Union and lives with the Passionist formation community in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Hebrews 9:2-3, 11-14
Mark 3:20-21

Reflection:

"When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is in ecstasy."  The Greek word here is ex-is’-tay-mee which means to stand outside oneself or to be amazed.  While those around Jesus thought He had lost his mind,He really was astonished at the importance of the poor humans around Him to the point He gave up his meals to be with them.

When we speak of ecstasy we are not speaking of the hallucinogenic drug.  Nor are we referring to some mysterious mystical experience.   We mean the shock and awe we experience the presence of God.

To achieve closeness to God we need ecstasy in our lives.   Einstein observed "He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed".   When people witnessed Jesus bringing the young girl back to life, "They were astonished (ex-is’-tay-mee) with great astonishment".  (Mark 5:42)  St Francis de Sales in his instruction on prayer says, "place yourself in the presence of God, beseech him to inspire you".

The Gospels are full of wonder and ecstasy.   When Jesus healed the palsied man,"they were all amazed (ex-is’-tay-mee)  and glorified God, saying, we have never seen anything like this". Mark 2:12.   I think that real closeness to God only comes with a profound sense of ecstasy and amazement that the Holy Spirit must give us.

The Hebrew scriptures exhort us many times to open our eyes to God’s marvelous works. "Stand still, and consider the wondrous works { paw-law’} of God."  Job 37:14  The natural world around us is full of the riches of His glory. "Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done." Ps 40:5    The incredible size of the universe with itsgalaxies billions of light years away calls us to a deep spirit of awe.   Like childrenthe only response we often can have is "wow".  I love Bradbury’s quote: "Space travel has made children of us all again."

Ecstasy is the cradle of appreciation of God.   It puts our lives in a constant state of amazement.  
G K Chesterton observed years ago: "Ennui is indeed, the great sin, the sin by which the whole universe tends continually to be undervalued and vanish from the imagination".   Ecstasy gives birth to the spiritual life, but it also crowns the ultimate vision of Christ.   The old man Simeon with Christ in his arms prays: "my eyes have seen your salvation."   Indeed, ecstasy must accompany our entire spiritual journey, the beginning, the middle, and the end in the beatific vision.   St Thomas Aquinas tells us, "Amor facit ecstansans–love produces ecstasy"

 The most amazing thing in all creation is human nature, especially the human nature of Christ.  Jesus fulfills what God said in Genesis: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him.  "And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him." Luke 2:33

 

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. lives with the Passionist community in Detroit, Michigan.  His primary ministry is preaching parish missions and retreats. 

Scripture:

Hebrews 8:6-13
Mark 3:13-19

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel reading from Mark, we see the names of the Twelve Apostles. But before the list of names, Mark tells us that "Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him."

The summons Jesus sent out was not only meant for the Twelve Apostles, nor only for those recognized as saints by the Church, but for you and me. This is not always understood. There may be times when we have difficulty imagining that we are among those whom Jesus wants. Perhaps someone in our parish has suggested that we become some kind of liturgical minister, or participate in some parish outreach, and our immediate reaction has been, "I’m not worthy."

It has been my experience that it doesn’t matter so much if I deem myself worthy or not. What matters most is that I am called. I could point out some very talented young men who were in the seminary at the same time I was. By all accounts they would have made better priests or religious than myself. But they did not stay. One could only surmise that they were not called to that particular vocation.

When one reads the Gospels, one can see that the Twelve did not always understand what Jesus was trying to tell them, nor did they always act in the best way. But Jesus called them, and they grew into the leaders Jesus wanted them to be. What remains for us is to live out our vocation whatever it may be for us. All vocations, married, single, religious, or ordained life, are sacred, as they come from God.

Be assured: Jesus wants us for something. We need only to respond to His call.

Scripture:

Hebrews 8:6-13
Mark 3:13-19

Reflection:

"Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me." Ps 40: 6

I’ve always had a hard time saying no when I’m asked to do something that I consider a "good" thing. God finally showed me that I’m not called to do everything! There will always be things that need to be done, but it’s important to first discern if God is calling me to do it – not just if I’m capable of doing it. I need ears open to obedience. For one, it’s easy to get over-committed and then family life suffers and often prayer time gets lost in the shuffle. Another result is that we sometimes keep others from volunteering because we say yes so quickly that no one else has a chance to step up.

It’s such an easy trap to fall into – especially in the church. Ministries usually need people to help. Someone tells us "You’d be so good at that!" We feel good when our ego is stroked, so we say yes. But is it actually God calling us? When our children were very young we went on a Marriage Encounter weekend. Afterwards the presenting couples asked us if we would like to be on the team. We were flattered, and really wanted to say yes. But after prayer and reflection, we realized that we couldn’t be away from our kids that much. It was a hard decision, because it would have been fun to share our love with other couples and to go out of town some weekends. Sometimes being obedient to God means saying no to good things. (And even though our answer was no, it was also right for someone else to say yes!) 

We can do lots of stuff for God and yet not even spend time with Him. But He doesn’t want our good deeds and worship out of obligation. He wants our hearts. I can go to mass every Sunday, and still be far from God. I can teach Sunday school and be in every committee at church and still be far from God. All of my acts of goodness don’t mean anything unless they come from a heart that loves God first. We are to abide in Him. When we do that, we soak up the love He gives us so freely, and then we say yes when He calls us to share that love with others.

 

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.

Scripture:

Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17
Mark 3:1-6

Reflection:

Barack Obama carries out his first full day of work as the President of the U.S. today.  His presidency represents a change in more than the usual sense of the term, when we speak of the change of watch that presidential succession entails.  For he is the first African-American to hold this office.  Quite a change!

And we expect corresponding changes from him in various areas of U.S. life, of which he allegedly said the very first thing to which he would attend, upon assuming the presidency, would be: the sick economy, the conduct of our two wars, the practice of torture and extradition, the reduction of taxes for the middle class, extended unemployment benefits, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, etc., etc.

The liturgical readings from the bible today likewise address change, leading us to ask whether the changes they describe portend anything above and beyond the obviously religious tenor we observe about them.  Hebrews looks to the ancient priest Melchizedec as a type or model of the priesthood Jesus represents: a new kind of priesthood, that is a change from the Aaronic priesthood that prevailed within Judaism up to that point in time: "…another priest raised up after the likeness of Melchizedec,…" (Heb 7.15).  And Mark describes an incident that Jesus instigated in the synagogue, on the Sabbath, healing the withered hand of a man present there.  In doing so, He changed the terms of the event from a Sabbath desecration to a: "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil…?" (Mk 3.4)

These "terms of engagement" associated with Jesus: are they "only" religious, or do they suggest that any significant changes occurring in any venue must have a religious base?  We memorialize the young girl Agnes today: was not her death, even though religiously motivated, capable of shaking the foundations of the Roman Empire?  And are not the religious changes for which we pray during this octave of prayer for church unity capable of moving beyond the churches, and reaching farther, like the priesthood of Jesus, the keeping of the Sabbath, and the death of Agnes, right up to the desk of the President?

 

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

Scripture:

1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19
1Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20
John 1:35-42

Reflection:

"Here I am, Lord, You called?"

"Jesus,  I heard Your call and I ended up with  a sense of direction.  As I look back on my life there have been times that You have used others to get my attention.  That still happens in my life.

For instance, I know that fifth grade seems awfully young for a boy to "hear" what would eventually develop into a realization that You were calling me to take a look at priesthood.    Our collecting of pennies "for the foreign Missions" during our years in grade school got me thinking: ‘how about my actually going on the Foreign Missions to help these people?’  Then, a Passionist priest came to St. Lawrence grade school to thank our student body for raising funds for our Holy Family parish, made up of African Americans, in Birmingham, AL.  But I also heard that the Passionists had  missionaries in China!   "Here, I am, Lord, you called!"

 But more immediately my contact with the Passionist community in Detroit introduced me to a group of young Passionist religious in their college years who appeared to me as men, who are happy, have a great sense of humor, easy to relate to, …and wow, some of them can really play baseball!  That was a powerful message to me: they were quite human, easy to relate to, whether they were on a ball field wearing sports clothes accented by a baseball cap and a baseball glove, or walking around the monastery wearing the Passionist habit and sandals.  The person mattered.   ‘Here I am, Lord, You called!’ 

 So I entered the Passionist Seminary in my first year of High School and continued on with much support from my parents, brother and sisters, and my Passionist family there in the Seminary.   Jesus, I remain ever grateful for the interest, trust and challenges that were presented to me during my seminary days.   "Here I am Lord, You called!" 

Ordination to priesthood came in 1957 followed by a special year in writing sermons, practicing them and finally getting into the pulpit.  Remember, Jesus, we wrote a sermon (we called it a "common-fit all occasion" sermon that fit every weekend and so allowed us to preach the same sermon a number of times so we could feel comfortable and sneak a peek at the congregation.  So at the end of that year we received our assignments: ‘Dear Father Peter, you are hereby assigned to the Minor Seminary to teach Latin."   Whoops!  ‘Here I am Lord, but, forgive me, where are you?  The Passionists are a preaching Community, are they not?’ ‘ Indeed, you are.’ ‘ Walk your talk, Peter, among the High School Seminarians.’  I ended up preaching in a St. Louis parish on weekends.  No, by this time I was writing a sermon that fit the readings of the day!  The teaching was fine.  I enjoyed the young men.  I did this for nine years.  "There I was Lord, You called!"

And then, another series of calls via my Superiors:

please become the Director of Christ the King Retreat Center in Sacramento, CA [nine years][ sure you can take 9 months off for a sabbatical in Denver, CO];

please head up the Passionist Student Residence house in Northridge, CA[three years];

please be the Vocation Coordinator on the west coast[four years];

please go to Pittsburgh, PA as Assistant Novice Master [2 years];

please take over the Vocation Recruiting Office for the Province in Chicago, IL [four years][sure, you can take 9 months sabbatical at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkley, CA.][ I really didn’t know that my "yes" included a the heart attack while there!];

please, now that you have recovered and finished your studies, become the retreat Director of Our Lady’s Retreat Center in St. Louis [3 years];

please become associate pastor at the Passionist parish of the Immaculate Conception in Chicago, IL[4 years][again, that "yes" included time out for prostate cancer surgery];

and then, please become the Director of Holy Name Retreat Center[2 years] followed by 6 more years up to the present here in Houston, TX. [I am running neck and neck with Fr. Dennis McGowan, C.P. in Japan in counting stents in our arteries to keep our hearts functioning!] "Here I am, Lord, You called."

There has always been a deep peace within me knowing the Lord is, indeed, with me.  His calls have surprised me at times, finding me a bit queasy as to whether I would measure up to the call.  I gradually began to say to my Superiors and friends, "You know my gifts AND my limitations.  I will give it my best shot."   You and I know, Jesus, that a few shots have gone far afield!  And there have been both laughter and tears, successes and failures.

Looking back I realize that I was being called by You, Lord, to prepare myself for the future by many who were in tune with Your own wishes.  There is great value in having wise counsel when we are aware that we are being called by the Lord. 

Join Jesus at the table, talking over His calls to you.

 

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