Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
Matthew 25:14-30 or 25:14-15, 19-21

Reflection:

I grew up the child of Depression-era parents. My dad turned off the lights constantly, he saved string and rubber bands, balled up to a size he could never fully use; he hated waste. So when I read today’s Gospel, I often feel a little sorry for the servant who, out of fear, goes and buries the little that he has been given for fear of losing it. I can relate! It reminds me of how my parents must have juggled risk versus security, trust versus fear, holding on tight versus letting go. Given today’s financial climate, that doesn’t seem like a bad thing after all.

But the readings today aren’t really talking about finances, are they? I love the line in the second reading: "For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness…"  And the reader might think the next line will be, "So RELAX. Have fun!"

But instead, the next line is a call to consciousness, to awareness: "Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober."

All three of today’s readings celebrate rightful action, trust in God, and a desire to take whatever one is given and use it to its full promise.  The worthy wife of the first reading is not to be prized because of her charm or looks, but because of her charity, her dutiful labor and obedience to God.  The servants in the Gospel took unquestioningly what the master had given them and faithfully made more of it. They did not mourn that they had not been given enough; they went about their labors and glorified the master with what they could bring forth.

Perhaps these readings can help us to remember to let our trust in God be the center of our lives and to put our labors to good and loving use.  And that extra string? Well, maybe we can tie it around our finger as a reminder of how rich God has been making us all along.

 

Nancy Nickel works with the Passionist Development Office in Chicago.

Scripture:

2 John 4-6
Luke 17:26-37

Reflection:

Just the other day I had an x-ray done of my left foot in order to see if I had torn a tendon while doing some steep climbing (crazy things like that seem to happen these days in my older years!)  X-rays are amazing things aren’t they?  Imagine seeing beneath the surface, through muscle and flesh, nerves and ligaments, all the way down to the bone!  What a great thing to have x-ray vision!  It struck me as I was reading our scripture passages for today that once in a while God’s holy word is much like an x-ray, too.  It cuts right through to the bone, giving us a view below the surface, and revealing for us a message that is so crisp and clear that we can only be amazed at the way the Lord shares his divine plan with us.

Today is one of those days.  In the second letter of John we are told that what it means to love is not something obscure or hidden at all.  In fact, to love as God wants us to love means only one thing: to walk according to God’s commandments, loving God above all else and, as we remember so well, loving our neighbor as our very self.  If we do this we will be living in love, and if we live in love, we will possess the very living presence of God and God’s Holy Spirit.  Surely it is the certainty and joy that comes from living in God’s love that makes Luke’s Gospel warnings about the end of time something not to be feared but rather, a future to be embraced and looked forward to with eagerness and hope.

 

Fr. Pat Brennan, CP is the director of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Philemon 7-20
Luke 17:20-25

Reflection:

Megan McKenna, the noted spiritual author and lecturer, tells a good story from her own spiritual director.  He told her: "You need to live in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says: "Damn, she’s up and at it again!"

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, today’s saint, was such a person.  Called forth from Italy by the Spirit and the encouragement of Pope Leo XIII, she worked tirelessly for the good of immigrants in the Americas, in the United States, Brazil, Argentina and Nicaragua.  She was a dynamic person, who knew her one and only strength was the Lord and her relationship with him.  She would not be hindered by hardships or discouraging results in any of her community’s ventures. She wrote to her sisters: "Hardships must never discourage the spouse of Christ; rather they should make her stronger and more determined.  Go forward always, with the serenity and fortitude of angels, because you are the angels of the earth and so must continue on your way in the midst of so many contrary influences.  Everyone can be serene when things run smoothly; it is in difficult situations that fidelity and constancy are proven."

Mother Cabrini can continue to teach us to uphold the rights of immigrants, who are so often not only subject to discrimination in many countries, but hatred and violence. 

In today’s gospel, Jesus said: "For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you."  May Jesus, once a stranger upon our earth, and Frances Xavier Cabrini, his friend, continue to impel us to reach out to the " stranger, the sick and the frustrated" (today’s opening prayer).  Remembering our own immigrant ancestors and their love of our country, their hard work to build up families, parish communities and the reign of God, may our hearts be grateful.

 

Fr. Bob Bovenzi, C.P. is stationed in Chicago, Illinois.

Feast of St. Albert the Great

Scripture:

3 John 5-8
Luke 18:1-8

Reflection:

There are many forms of prayer: praise, thanksgiving, and petition. Jesus begins this teaching by speaking about prayer in general. He says it should have two qualities. First we should "pray always". For St. Paul of the Cross this means we must cultivate a deep interiority. Paul was a man of action. He founded thirteen monasteries, preached over two hundred missions, directed eighty retreats, and wrote about 10,000 letters of spiritual direction. But the foundation of all this work was his union with God. He valued solitude, quiet, silence, and spent hours each day in prayer. We could say that he walked in the presence of God.  We need to cultivate a like interiority in our own lives. Achieving it is a challenge. Jesus recognizes this by making a second point. He notes that we should pray "without becoming weary". What does he mean?  Maybe the Revised Standard Version catches the meaning more clearly when it translates the Greek as "pray and not lose heart".  At times it seems that our prayer is not getting us anywhere. The same old stuff comes up when we prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. What’s the use? The temptation to give up prayer or let it slip is subtle, almost not a conscious decision. Paul of the Cross had to face this often in the people he directed. Again and again he encourages them to be faithful to prayer. If they can do nothing else they should just gaze at the crucifix, the sign of God’s overwhelming love.  

 

Fr. Michael Hoolahan, C.P. is on the staff of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Dedication of St. John Lateran

Scripture:

Ezekiel 47: 1-2, 8-9, 12
1 Corinthians 3: 9c-11, 16-17
John 2: 13-22

Reflection:

For most people, individuals as well as cultures, tribes, societies and families, a place can have great importance and a deep meaning.  A place, whether land or structure, can evoke memories of home and roots; battles won or lost; historical events which give meaning to the present; and especially a connection with the Holy.  But it is not merely geography or edifice which anchors reverence most deeply in the human heart.  Rather reverence is developed for a place because of the connection it provides with others, living or dead, past, present or even future.  A place becomes sacred because of the connections it provides with others and with the Holy.

Today’s feast celebrates such a reality.  The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the official parish church of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.  Its origin can be traced back to 333 and the Emperor Constantine.  It has been destroyed, rebuilt and restored multiple times over the centuries.  At one time there was a palace connected with the church which became the residence of the Pope. In the early centuries, St. John Lateran was viewed as the Mother Church of Christendom, the symbol of the oneness of the people of God and their unity with Christ. After the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in a more favorable location in the 16^th century, the symbol of unity was transferred to that larger structure and the importance of St. John Lateran faded from peoples’ memory.  However, the significance of this particular church expanded and has developed into a theology of the indwelling of Christ with the community that has come to be what we celebrate today.

The reading from Ezekiel describes the Temple in Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God, and the life-giving waters that flow from it.  The water is fresh and flows into the salt sea giving life to the dead waters. The water flowing from the sanctuary provides abundant life to all it touches.  The life giving presence of God is not meant to be contained within the physical confines of the Temple.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus is seen driving out merchants and money changers who are desecrating the Temple, the house of his Father.  The building is a sacred structure and a location of the Holy for the Israelites, the sign of the indwelling of God with them.  But Jesus expanded the image of the location of God’s presence to himself, the temple of his body.  God was to be experienced in the actual living historical presence of Jesus.

It is Paul who expresses most succinctly what this feast has come to represent today, the focus of our celebration.  The presence of God is not confined to a building or a particular location.  Jesus was certainly the presence of God in a unique way to the people of his time.  But most amazingly, says Paul, we, by the grace of God in baptism, are actually the presence of God, the holy temple of God, today.  Our foundation is Jesus Christ and the Spirit of Christ is alive in us and makes us who we are called to be.  And this is a truly challenging belief to understand, live out and make real.  If we really believe we are the body of Christ, the presence of God in the world today, then we must accept the challenge to live what we are.  In our treatment of family, strangers, friends or those we don’t really like, we must in some way give them a sense of the goodness and love of God, not in a forced artificial pietistic way of acting but as an unspoken manifestation of our inner reality.

A church, The Church is not a building or a single person but the people of God together, growing in holiness though not yet completely holy but unable to be confined or limited by walls or boundaries and constantly spreading outwards  to provide new life for others.

 

Cathy Anthony is on the staff of St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center, Detroit, Michigan. 

Scripture:

Philippians 4:10-19
Luke 16:9-15

Reflection:

This is the Jubilee year of St. Paul the Apostle. This selection from Philippians 4 highlights one of his most famous teachings: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Paul does not mean succeeding at a job or doing impressive feats like many think. Rather, he is writing about contentment or happiness.

As a missionary, I’ve experienced that some weeks the food is great, the crowds large and the bed soft. Other weeks the water is soft (ever try to get that off of you?) the sound system sputters and there is no cook. Yet, despite the abundance or the difficulties there is a tranquility through Christ who infuses grace and strength in us. I’ve discovered, strangely, that sometimes when I have the least, I am the happiest.  It is not circumstances that determine our attitude, rather our attitude colors our circumstances.

Many look for contentment in riches and money. The Gospel goes deeper. It is God, not mammon whom we must serve. God alone brings the contentment we crave. Contentment is not only possible, but is a fruit of living a deeper life with God. Happiness is not based on things.

I heard a verse from a song from Sheryl Crow’s "Soak up the Sun" that applies here: "It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got."

Contentment and happiness are our right in Christ. No matter what you are going through right now, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

 

Fr. Cedric Pisegna, C.P. is a missionary preacher, author of 12 books and creator of the TV program Live with Passion! airing in many cities. You can learn more about his ministry at: http://www.frcedric.org/

Scripture:

Philippians 3:3-8a
Luke 15:1-10

Reflection:

The Pharisees and scribes were enjoying their time with Jesus until the tax collectors and sinners started joining the crowd to listen to Jesus. In fact, the gospel story says the tax collectors and sinners were "drawing near" and that made the Pharisees and scribes very uncomfortable. Jesus should know better than to associate with or to have meals with tax collectors and known sinners. When they complained, Jesus told them three parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son (not included in today’s reading). Each of the parables is a story about God’s attitude toward sinners, which was in opposition to the attitude of the religious leaders.

It’s a matter of motivation. The Pharisees and scribes were looking out for themselves. They didn’t want to be contaminated by sinners. They looked upon sinners as non-people to be ignored and rejected. But Jesus tells us God is very willing to be with sinners; in fact, that is why God sent his only Son in the world. Jesus thought of the other person, the one who was lost and needed help. The sinner doesn’t need to be rejected, but included with compassion, understanding and forgiveness.

With these parables Jesus is teaching the religious leaders that God loves and searches for lost and sinful people. These tax collectors and sinners were of infinite value to God. Jesus understood this and that is why he reached out to sinners. In fact, Jesus said: "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

It’s exciting and reassuring to know that our God’s circle of love is infinitely large and embraces saint and sinner. To believe this is critical when I know myself to be a sinner! I’m not rejected, but valued, searched for and invited back into the Kingdom.

The parables challenge us to enlarge our circle of love.

 

Fr. Don Webber, C.P., is Provincial Superior of Holy Cross Province and resides in Chicago at Immaculate Conception Monastery.

 

Scripture:

Philippians 2:12-18
Luke 14:25-33

Reflection:

As we move toward the end of the Liturgical Year, the liturgical readings become very strong and the challenges are quite focused. This is always a time where the eschaton, or the end times becomes the energy which challenges the church.  Just as it did in the apostolic period, so too, we are challenged and asked if we are taking Jesus’ coming seriously.  And today is no different, as the church invites us into our reflections on discipleship.

In the Gospel today, we see a strong sense of division.  Jesus says we have to turn our backs on our fathers and mothers, wives and children, brothers and sisters, and indeed our very self.  Otherwise we can not be his followers.  This is a rather strong statement.  But I think it touches the very seed of free choice and thus discipleship.  In order to freely choose something for my life means something else will get excluded.  Saying "Yes" to something means I must also say "No" to something else.  So turning our backs toward something means we also turn our faces toward something.  This is what discipleship is—taking a radical stand against what might be popular or profitable to say "Yes" to the call of Jesus and the challenge of the gospel.

Certainly Jesus isn’t speaking literally here because there is no possible way for a person to turn their back on themselves. So what is it that we need to turn our backs toward would be those things that hinder or obstruct our growth.  In doing so our eyes and ears are now focused toward the one who calls us.  (Have you ever noticed how deep and rich the call of the Lord is in Scripture?) 

Luke reminds us that this call to discipleship has a price.  As the man who builds the tower, or the king who marches into battle do their calculations previous to accepting the task, so too does a disciple know of the price.  Are you aware of what price you pay to be a disciple of Jesus?

Paul the apostle certainly knew the price.  He asks the Philippian’s community to get in touch with the goodness of God which had been poured out upon them.  Reflection upon this doesn’t leave room for grumbling and complaining because it is more prone to honor, gratitude and thanksgiving.   Paul’s instruction challenges one to choose the things which are good and right.  In doing so, there will be no room for grumbling or arguing.    Again, turning towards something means turning one’s back towards something else.
 
Paul of the Cross used to teach the same truth.  So frequently in his letters he invited people to know the divine good in their life and want it, pursue it, desire it.  In doing so you choose that which is good.

When I know and understand divine good, it is something I pursue.  It is then easier to turn my back towards whatever hinders this pursuit; simply because the light, goodness, truth, wisdom and beauty of the grace calling me is so loud and so profound that it is worth the ultimate sacrifice–my life.

 

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is on the staff at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, California.