Daily Scripture

The feast of St. Dominic

Scripture:

Nahum 2:1,3, 3:1-3
Matthew 16:24-28

Reflection:

As today the Olympics begin in Beijing, China, the Church celebrates the life of one of its "Olympians":  St. Dominic helped the Church "run the race" in the late 1100’s and early 1200’s, and has challenged countless others to know Jesus, and to follow Him.

            Today’s feast day scriptures highlight our charge as disciples to personally know Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and to willingly proclaim that Good News in both spirit and power.  The gospel portrait of Jesus pictures him calling his disciples, encouraging them to let nothing stand in the way of their discipleship, not even their most treasured relationships. 

            St. Dominic followed Jesus as a simple yet eloquent itinerant preacher, combating heresies and winning over hearts for Jesus.  As his preaching bore more fruit, others were attracted to his style of life and preaching, and "leaving all things behind" St. Dominic and that early band founded the Order of Preachers in 1215.  They sought to link everyday life with God through study and prayer, leading to a ministry of salvation by the Word of God.  He invited others to join him and his new community in both contemplation of God’s salvific work, and then focused activity to build up God’s Kingdom.  His insights and efforts were blessed, the Church grew, and today Dominican men and women span the globe in service of the Good News.

            We may not be Olympic athletes or formal members of the Dominican family; our daily lives may be filled with all-too-much activity and too-little time for quiet moments (much less serious contemplation!).  God continues to call each of us to follow Him in the complex reality of 21^st century life.  Can we "run the race"?  Can we be free enough to leave everything else behind to focus on Jesus Crucified?  Can we "preach" by our lives, if not by formal wordy sermons? 

            St. Dominic’s life faithfully proclaims that it is possible.  May we each respond "Amen!" to God at work in our world.

 

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is the local leader of the Passionist community in Louisville, Kentucky.

 Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Scripture:

Dn 7:9-10, 13-14
Mt 17-19

Reflection:

Today’s Gospel tells us of Peter, James and John being led by Jesus to a high mountain where they are given the extraordinary gift of witnessing the transfiguration of Jesus and the appearance of Moses and Elijah, their spiritual ancestors. What a heart-pounding, exalting, strange yet wondrous experience this must have been for the three. Perhaps it was frightening in addition to being exhilarating; maybe they wanted to shout their experience from the mountaintop even though Jesus asked them not to speak of their experience to anyone.

For most of us, in times of doubt or suffering, we may wish that God would reveal himself so radiantly to us as He did to Peter, James and John. What a comfort it might be to see Jesus right before our very eyes, transformed and transforming us from doubters to believers. 

Or maybe, even when we are blessed with a deep spiritual experience, we may want it to last, to assume a concrete permanence that we can return to as we wish. Peter says to Jesus, "If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."  Who can’t relate to Peter’s very humble and heartfelt wish to make a home for His Savior, to remain with Jesus "up there on the mountaintop" in the grip of a spiritual experience that is life-changing. 

But faith is not lived on the mountaintops, and we cannot control our experience of it. For most of us, faith is lived daily in the ordinary stuff of life — in the big and small kindnesses we do for others, in our frail but deliberate attempts to reach out to God, in our embrace of the mysteries of the Spirit. And often our spirituality is not something we can even describe to others. How frustrating it must have been for Peter, James and John to be asked not to share their experience!  But Jesus guides them, like He often guides us, to hold our experience of God in our own hearts; to be with it in quiet until more is revealed at the moment of God’s choosing.

What stands out is Jesus’ gentle touch reminding them, "Rise, and do not be afraid."  That is the spiritual gift we can hold onto. Whatever our spiritual experience is, we are not alone and we need not fear. We have only to trust and be open to those God-given moments when the Spirit is revealed to us.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22
Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14

Reflection:

Both the first reading and today’s Gospel are reminders of God’s enormous power in our lives and the wisdom of living in true faithfulness to God rather than hollow displays of obedience or no obedience at all. If God is the ultimate source of our joy, and the absence of God the source of all unrelenting sorrow, then our authentic relationship to God can only bring us the true peace we desire. It is our heartfelt acceptance and gratitude for God’s presence in our lives that lights our path and brings us to salvation.

In the Gospel, the Pharisees question Jesus as to why the disciples are breaking with the tradition of their elders. The implication, of course, is that the disciples are not being good or faithful Jews, and that Jesus is associating with those who would cast aside their own history and tradition.  But Jesus reminds the Pharisees, in a very serious and deliberate way, that the real sin is not in failing to perform a time-honored tradition. The sin that defiles our very selves is speaking and behaving as if WE are God: "…what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one."

The disciples, like any of us who have been unfairly accused, want to levy their judgment in return on the Pharisees. But Jesus reminds them, too, that everything on this earth has been put here by God; it is God who plants and who uproots what He has not planted, according to His will. It is not even for the disciples, innocent as they may be of wrong-doing or negligence, to cast their judgments on others.  Such judgment only leads to self-delusion and blindness.

Ultimately, in resting on the appearance of faith or believing our power to be supreme, we may be in very real danger of leading ourselves and others to a painful and dark place.  But when we remember and honor the real source of all power and goodness, and seek to bring our true selves to God’s light, then we may find we are blessed with a sure-footedness and an insight that we can truly count on.

 

 Nancy Nickel is the Director of Communications for Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Isaiah 55:1-3
Matthew 14:13-21

Reflection:

Both the first reading and today’s Gospel talk about the necessity of true nourishment, the food and drink that sustains our human bodies, but more importantly, the spiritual nourishment that feeds our soul and brings us to everlasting life. Further, both readings remind us that such plentiful spiritual nourishment does not depend on our ability to buy it with our human riches. Spiritual abundance comes to us from God and is available to all who seek God’s word and live by it. "Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare." And when we do so, we are blessed with a true abundance that we can then share with others in need.

Many of us live in a world that tempts us with the idea that real satisfaction comes through the acquisition of goods, or that feeling full is the result of feeding our human appetites richly.  When sorrow strikes, so we are often told, dull it with drink, soothe it with food, make it go away with something new and pretty.

But in the Gospel, when Jesus hears of the death of John the Baptist, He does not seek out false balms or easy distractions. "He withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself." Jesus went to God, to His Father.  In the face of a mighty and life-changing loss, Jesus sought out the place where his soul could gain the real nourishment He needed to carry on and assume the leadership that would ultimately take him to the Cross. Jesus went to the banquet that is God’s love and strength.

When Jesus returned and saw the vast crowds who were waiting, hungry, He might have walked away in fear or abandonment. Instead, nourished and alive with the Holy Spirit, Jesus walked toward them in compassion, thereby bringing all of us to the table that will be our ultimate fulfillment. He cured the sick and fed the multitudes.  Through Jesus we find the way that we, too, might be filled with the love that will truly sustain us: "They all ate and were satisfied."

 

Nancy Nickel is the Director of Communications for Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 28:1-17
Matthew 14:22-36

Reflection:

The relationship between the two readings for today may not be immediately apparent.  The language of Jeremiah is dense, inviting a careful read.  In stark contrast, we have one of the most famous gospels written, so common that we might gloss over its finer points.  At their core, both of these passages pose similar questions about how, in a complicated, stormy world filled with uncertainty, even war, will we know where to place our trust.  Perhaps there is not a more relevant message for us in our times today.

I fear that we sometimes see passages like this one from Jeremiah, and that we are put off by references to figures such as Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar and Hananiah.  But if you look past the strange names, you’ll find a simple message; beware of false prophets. Hananiah is a self-proclaimed prophet who is weary of Jeremiah’s message of judgment, war and suffering.  In the course of a few short lines, Hananiah attempts to dismiss Jeremiah with a much more cheerful prediction, "[the Lord] will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’"  In response, Jeremiah writes, "Listen, Hananiah!  The Lord has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies." 

Now, there is much historical and theological background to this excerpt.  Earlier in the Book of Jeremiah, we learn that he has professed generations of bondage to the King of Babylon.  Jeremiah even wore a wooden yoke around his neck as symbol of this bondage.  Hananiah not only tells the people that the oppression of Nebuchadnezzar will last for just two years, but he goes so far as to smash Jeremiah’s symbolic yoke.  In case you need a bit more proof that this "prophet" does not speak with authority from God, note that Hananiah is dead by the end of the passage!

Yet we know from the reading that the people did in fact put their trust in Hananiah and his message of peace and prosperity.  Who wouldn’t want to believe this?  It isn’t always easy to see the false prophets in our own lives.  But Hananiah seems to promise abundance and a return to better days without any need for effort or repentance.  As much as this might be attractive, we have to know that it is not God’s will.  Our Lord is waiting for us (even for generations if need be) to return to him.  It may not be an easy road, but the reward is no less than eternal peace and happiness.

The question of true faith is next addressed most eloquently in Matthew’s gospel.  First, we should note that this passage follows immediately after Jesus has fed a crowd of thousands with just a few loaves and fishes.  And yet, the miracle that gets all the attention comes right after when Jesus goes to join the disciples on a boat.  It doesn’t seem very extraordinary until you find out he takes a short cut and simply walks across the sea to join the others.

When Peter sees this, he calls to Jesus, "Lord, if it’s you . . . tell me to come to you on the water."  And for a few steps, Peter too walks on the water.  But in a matter of moments, as the winds increase, fear and doubt creep in and Peter is literally sinking.  Of course, Jesus saves Peter and they both return safely to the boat.  The disciples seem truly astonished at this and immediately proclaim, "Truly you are the Son of God." 

 

Why are the disciples so amazed at this feat when Christ has just created a meal for thousands out of enough to feed only a few?  Perhaps it is because Christ is expected to nourish us.  Or maybe what is most impressive is not that Jesus walked on the water, but that he was able to somehow share this power with Peter.  Ah!  But, "you are little faith!"  Hasn’t this always been Christ’s message? 

With Christ, anything is possible.  When Peter falters, it is because he lets himself take notice of the wind instead of staying focused on Christ.  So, not only can Christ perform miracles in our lives (the loaves), he can help us to achieve miraculous accomplishments (Peter walks on water), but we must take an active role by believing whole-heartedly (Peter sinks when he doubts).   I will leave you with one last thought.  Maybe the bigger question here is; why did Peter even need to test Jesus in this way, "if it’s you . . . tell me to come to you."  Doesn’t this imply that Peter does not believe Christ can possibly be walking on water?  And if we approach Christ in this way, is it any wonder that we sink at the first sign of trouble . . .    

The Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Scripture:

Jeremiah 18:1-6
Matthew 13:47-53

Reflection:

On this feast of Ignatius of Loyola we have wonderful imagery presented to us in our readings, lively images that fill us with hope, on the one hand, and a bit of caution and trepidation, on the other.  We have potters and we have sorters!

First the potters!  Have you ever had one of those days when you’ve felt like a cracked pot?  I certainly have.  Those are the days when nothing I try to do goes right and it feels as if everything is just going wrong and I don’t know why!  I am sure you know the feeling only too well.  Just as we read in the passage from Jeremiah, we wish we could rise up and be off to the potter’s house, hoping that he can quickly fix this broken pot of ours or reshape and remold us all over again!

Unfortunately, in real life, we don’t have the potter’s house right around the corner where we can go to get everything fixed.  Not in real life.  In real life we have something even better!

If you follow Jeremiah’s beautiful passage about the potter hard at work at his wheel, we learn something very hopeful about potters and clay.  Jeremiah tells us,

Whenever the object of clay which he was making
turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making
of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased.

What do we have that is even better than the hard working potter?  Why, we have the Lord!  We have the Lord who never gives up on us, his creation!  We have the Lord who will faithfully take us up into loving hands and reshape us, refashion us from a cracked pot into something that is once again useful and beautiful!

And thank God for that because, as we read in Matthew’s gospel, we have sorters out there, too, angels who will collect fish of every kind and put the good ones into buckets while the bad ones are thrown away only to be tossed into a fiery furnace!

So dear friends, while we might be fearful of those angelic sorters who only keep bucketfuls of the good ones, we know we will always be able to resort to the infinite mercy of our faithful, loving God who will never give up on us.  And like the divine Potter that he is, will continually reshape us, calling us back to the original goodness and beauty with which we were created. 

 

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

 

Scripture:

1 Kings 3:5, 7-12
Matthew 13:44-52 or 13:44-46

Reflection:

Two weeks ago the Gospel pondered seeds, last week weeds, and this week needs. You know…cravings. Hunger. Cultural commentators remind us how many folks speak of their spiritual hunger. You’ve probably heard them: they want spirituality, they just don’t want religion. Today’s liturgy nudges us along this path of holy longing, wholeness and holiness, integration.

Once again, Jesus uses metaphors for the Kingdom. We may desire a firsthand experience of God, soul, or mystery. We may dream of hiking in the woods, strolling along the shore at sunset, or sharing a candlelight dinner with someone we love – and suddenly experiencing a breakthrough. Perhaps a deeper consciousness, heightened passion or pleasure or purpose. These "aha" moments can be exhilarating. Finding a treasure or a pearl of great price we thunder enthusiastically, "Yes!".

But it soon dawns on us that if we want to purchase the treasure or pearl we’ve got to sell all the trinkets we’ve zealously accumulated. Our spiritual core is the most valuable because it relates us to God and others, and positions us correctly in the world. It’s the one, true treasure. But it can’t be found in the surface of life, in the shallow and entertaining world of everyday gratification. It is hidden, buried in the field of ourselves. What is the one valuable pearl that I am willing to sacrifice everything in order to have? That’s the discomforting part.

The thing Solomon wanted most was an understanding heart. Trust wisdom. What would our nation and our world be like if, instead of possessions, personal security, pleasure, or comfort… our pearl of great price was world peace based on justice for everybody? And no longer does might make right? And my right to possess ends where another’s need begins? And the worship of God through prayer, service and a preferential option for the poor determines our identity. What would that be like? Jesus says it would be like the kingdom.

 

Fr. Jack Conley, C.P. is pastor of St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.

The Feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori

Scripture:

Jeremiah 26:1-9
Matthew 13:54-58

Reflection:

Today’s church calendar focuses attention on St. Alphonsus Liguori, the 18the Century founder of the Redemptorist Congregation.  Stark, challenging Scripture readings for today’s liturgy illuminate the spirit of St Alphonsus.

The Old Testament reading is a reminder of how costly obedience to God’s Word can be!  The prophet Jeremiah must deliver a difficult message. Not caring for his summons to fidelity, the people seize him with death threats on their lips!  The reading from St. Matthew’s Gospel voices the same theme.  Matthew recounts that Jesus’ own friends and neighbors "found him altogether too much for them."  This resistance, sadly, would grow into the terrible fear and hatred that ensnared Jesus in the Passion.

St. Alphonsus and his Redemptorist Congregation are noted for their zealous concentration on the love God has for us.  Of noble birth and high social standing, Alphonsus received excellent education and began a legal career.  Spiritually unsatisfied, he abandoned this path to the consternation and vigorous disapproval of his family.  Yet, in this rupture, he found peace and knew God’s guiding hand.  The more he gave himself to God’s inspirations, the more his spirit soared.

St. Alphonsus worked among the poor and forgotten of his time.  Their need for spiritual reassurance and practical moral guidance led him to fashion a new moral approach that echoed the Gospel practicality of Jesus himself.  Suspected of being wishy-washy and heretical, Alphonsus clung to the lights God gave him.  He is revered in the church today as the patron saint of moral theologians and confessors.

We pray today for courage to walk in fidelity to God’s summons.  Let no price be too great to pay in this great quest!  May the life witness of St. Alphonsus Liguori be comfort and reassurance for us.

 

Fr. Jim Thoman, C.P. is director of St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center, Detroit, Michigan.