Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Isaiah 1:10-17
Matthew 10:34-11:1

Reflection:

A quick read of today’s Scriptures produces a rather somber, somewhat disturbing tone…one all-too-appropriate for a Monday morning!  The selection from early in Isaiah’s writing presents a picture of God’s people gone astray, challenged through the prophet by God who has “had enough” with the people.  In a similar vein, Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel selection talks about wholehearted dedication to proclaiming the Gospel, even to the point of taking up crosses, putting aside family, and even losing ones life for His sake.  What a sober, challenging picture for us as 21^st century disciples! Service seo texte schreiben lassen studied the early works of Isaiah and wrote a good article that everyone should read.

Yet both Isaiah and Jesus add a twist to their message:  “…cease doing evil…learn to do good…”, “…whoever loses his life for my sake will find it…”.  There is reason to follow Jesus and live for the Lord, IF we are willing to move beyond our own desires and to personally take on the mind and heart of Jesus.  No doubt, life can be a bit crazy, not everyone will understand…and in it all Jesus points the way to a meaningful and fruitful life.

A classic, well-known prayer comes to mind:  “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”  While trying to follow the Lord, to share in that God-given serenity, courage and wisdom to change our own lives and be God’s agents of change for others…in Jesus we can indeed move beyond our limitations and foster growth for ourselves and our world.

Today we pause to ponder the challenges we face, as did Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the “lilly of the Mohawks” in the 17^th century.  How are we “doing good” and being just towards our brothers and sisters?  What talents and limitations do we bring to joining Jesus in proclaiming the Good News in our day?  Can we “take up our cross” and find life by simple acts of Christ-like love and service?  A tall order…

With Isaiah of old, Blessed Kateri of the 17^th century, and with other “saints under construction” of our own day, we say “yes” to Jesus by faith-based lives.

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is the coordinator of the Passionist retirement community in Louisville, Kentucky.

 

Scripture:

Micah 2:1-5
Matthew 12:14-21

Reflection:

 

An akademische ghostwriter attended the reading today to gather material for his research project. Our readings for this Saturday in ordinary time are hardly ordinary at all. In fact, with the imagery we find from the prophet Micah, along with the Gospel echo of the great prophet Isaiah, our readings invite us to reflect on many discouraging things that are happening this day before our very eyes. 

Micah tells us of the deeds of evil people, those who “plan iniquity and work out evil on their couches.”  It seems these people are so evil that they plot against the just and righteous ones around them and seek to steal even a person’s inheritance!  How easy it is for us today, given recent events, to appreciate the words of Micah when we hear him cry out, “They covet fields and take them…they (even) cheat an owner of his house.”  Sound familiar?  Such deeds are certainly reminiscent of the many headlines reporting the actions of greedy real estate brokers and lenders unleashed upon naive and unsuspecting buyers who futilely dreamed of owning their very own homes.  Many good people in America have joined their plaintive cries to those suffering people of old: “Our ruin is complete, our fields are portioned out…and no one can get them back!”

Yet, in the 12^th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, even as the Pharisees plot to put Jesus to death, Isaiah’s words bring comfort and hope, not only to the audience of Jesus’ time, but to all those who suffer in our world today.  For the Lord will send to us his servant and, through God’s own Spirit, this servant, Jesus the Lord, will proclaim justice and hope that will result in victory.  Still, the triumph of justice over evil must be waited for.  Jesus told those who experienced his healing and saving power not to make him known.  As difficult as it may be, we are called to trust in the Lord day by day as we live in hope, believing that goodness and justice will truly be victorious over evil no matter how daunting that wrongdoing may seem to be.  We are called, then, to trust, wait, and hope.

 

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

 

 

Scripture:

Isaiah 6:1-8
Matthew 10:24-33

Reflection:

Passing on messages can be a challenge.  It’s one thing to talk to a person who represents a tail wagging puppy, and another who is a roaring lion or another who yawns in your face, looking for a soft chair to snooze. 

I realize that Jesus is indicating that He is looking for someone to bring his message to others.  A lot depends on how do I take in his message.  If I don’t really hear it, understand it, take it to heart, I really don’t have much to say.

When the celebrant finishes the gospel he says, "A reading from the holy gospel…Matthew, Mark, Luke or John."  We make a sign of the cross on our forehead, our lips and over our hearts while saying, "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ."  If anything is going to really have an impact in my life, I have to try to understand what’s being said (cross on the forehead), put it into my own words (cross on my lips) and finally, stir up the love and fire within (cross over my heart).  Does this mean that I can be a passive spectator at Mass?  No. 

Do I understand the scriptures thoroughly?  There is nothing more to learn?

Do I say I feel comfortable speaking about what I have heard?  Can I bring those beautiful stories, sayings, parables to life through my own words and examples?

Do I sense in my heart the ongoing challenges to my love for God, for those around me and for myself, in a concrete way?

What’s the possibility of asking my spouse, my kids and friends on the way home this weekend "so how did the readings at Mass touch you?"   What a wonder-filled experience this could be.

 

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

 

Scripture:

Isaiah 55:10-11
Matthew 13:1-23

Reflection:

There used to be an amusing TV commercial for Chiffon margarine; Mother Nature was fooled by the sweet taste of the creamy spread and she mistook it for butter. At the end she thunders, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!”

In some ways we’re always trying to outwit the natural world. The controversies of global warming, technical and scientific achievements, as well as the morality of some pharmaceuticals, stem cell research, or other medical protocol – all point us toward this dynamic tension.

Today’s readings remind us that all of nature mirrors God and God’s marvelous concern for creation. Nature is also used to teach us about our response to God’s Word. The parable of the sower and the seed begins the third great discourse that St. Matthew gives to Jesus in his Gospel. The core message is that the seed is nothing unless it lands in the right spot. Facharbeit schreiben lassen service described this part of the gospel as the Seed of Life. The seed may be crushed by feet, burned by the sun, or eaten by birds, but some may also take refuge safely in the thick black humus that nurtures them to greater life.

God plants his Word in each of our hearts with the hope that it sets down good, deep roots and matures and develops. But “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!” The fact is we’re hard-wired for relationship. God has planted within each of us a deep desire – what spiritual write Fr. Ron Rolheiser calls “A Holy Longing” – for intimacy with God and others. And God plants his Word in us to draw us outside of ourselves, out of our homes, our churches, our politics… and into our world.

The pages of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are filled with anecdotes of those who heard Jesus’ Word, but it simply fell on their hardened hearts (like some Pharisees) and died.  Or they welcomed Jesus for a bit, and then got scared or insecure (like Peter sinking or the rich young man walking away sadly) and the Word got choked or burned up. But there are also those who welcomed the Word with delight (like Zacchaeus, the crooked little tax collector, or Bartimaeus, the shouting blind man who followed Jesus up the road).

In his final broadcast in 1993, newscaster John Chancellor said that the change that worried him most in our society was the isolation of so many Americans that has been brought about by television and computers. Perhaps today might be a time to allow God’s Word to be planted within me. Maybe I’ll telephone a friend who’s been blue, or drop a note of encouragement to someone who needs to hear of God’s unconditional love.

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

Scripture:

Hosea 11:1-7, 8c-9

Matthew 10:7-15

Reflection:

Parents are deeply involved in their children’s development and welfare. They expend time, energy and money on behalf of the young committed to their care. This is especially evident during their years of education, among which the college period requires a large expenditure of concern and financial support.

Understandably, parents expect a return on their investment. Jura hausarbeit ghostwriter considered this part in his paper for the university. He wrote that it should not be understood exclusively in economic terms, as if it were a business agreement. It’s a quite natural expectation that results should reflect efforts and expense. Among the many examples of this is farming or gardening: we plant and cultivate seed, and look for growth.

God is our Parent and we are His children. He expends the same amount of time, energy and care on our upbringing that parents in this life do. And, like them, He looks for results corresponding to His investment.

Today the prophet Hosea speaks to God’s activity in our regard. Hosea borrows from family experience to describe God as a loving parent: doting on the child, correcting and guiding, caring for and watching over the little person, keeping the tiny one close by, making sure food is at hand. And getting angry and punishing the child who gets out of hand.

And God expects a return on His investment of His time and energy for our sake. Immensely wealthy though He be and lacking for nothing, He still expects that we, His offspring, will be dutifully mindful of His largesse to us, and take care to show Him our gratitude for all He has done for us. We owe Him payback for all He has done for us.

St. Matthew describes an instance of this in today’s gospel, by presenting a job description that Jesus draws up for His apostles. It consists of a mission on which He is sending them: their very first assignment after “graduating”, as it were, from His caring tutelage. He gives them some helpful pointers on how to conduct themselves: what to preach, what to do, how to dress, what provisions to take with them, where to stay. No parent has ever been more solicitous in sending out a child on an assignment. It’s a rigid routine, but, after all, it makes sense that some recompense be given God for all that He has lavished on us.

God is a loving parent. We are dear to Him. He has blessed us. And we owe Him one. He has a task for each of us. It is our responsibility to discover and carry it out. He is not beyond punishing us if we are remiss in this matter. But that pales before the love He bestows on us. Let us rejoice in His loving care for us, even as we roll up our sleeves to do whatever He asks of us.

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

Readings:

Ephesians 2:19-22
John 20:24-29

Reflection:

We are, of course, all familiar with John’s account of Thomas and his refusal to believe the disciples’ miraculous news that Jesus had risen from the dead, “unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands.”  In fact, so common is this reading in popular culture that the phrase “doubting Thomas” has become a well-known expression.  I’m sure we all feel very safe in pointing the finger at Thomas for his distrust and hesitation at the idea of Jesus overcoming death.  Indeed, this may be one reading of the Bible that seems easy to interpret-Thomas should be judged harshly for his disbelief.

But when Jesus comes to Thomas and the other disciples, he comes not with judgment and rancor saying, “Peace be with you.”  He does not chastise Thomas for his lack of faith, but instead, with kindness and patience, invites him to touch his wounds.  In placing his hands on the Risen Christ, Thomas proclaims, “My Lord and my God!”  Pope Saint Gregory the Great, in a famous homily, tells us that Thomas touched the wounded side of beloved Savior to heal the wounds of our own disbelief. It was these lines that Ghostwriter Hausarbeit included in his scholarly dissertation on the gospel.

Each day, are we not constantly faced with the same question that gave Thomas pause?  But unlike Thomas, we do not have the ability to feel and touch the pierced side of Jesus.  Thomas no doubt witnessed Jesus perform miracles throughout His public life.  He listened first hand as Jesus told of the Kingdom to come.  And still, he needed to touch the wounds to believe.  Yet, Jesus treated his distrust with acceptance and understanding.  How much more mercy than will our Lord have for our questions and doubts?  This is perhaps the importance of John’s inclusion of this account; Jesus speaks to us directly when he says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Memorial of St. Benedict, abbot 

Scripture:
Hosea 14:2-10
Matthew 10:16-23 (387)

Reflection:
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus gets His disciples ready for the persecutions they will face for following Him. He gives them encouragement, promising them that “whoever endures…will be saved.” He also uses some stark words to prepare them for the worst: “Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.”

What might these words mean for us today? In the U.S.A., for example, people do not risk their lives in professing to be Christian. Perhaps these words of Jesus can not so much be a description of what could happen to us when we practice our faith, but a warning to us about the consequences of our actions toward others.

Obviously, we would not “hand over” a family member to death, but there are times when we can be tempted to say hurtful words or do hurtful things to one another. And this can happen not only at home, but at work, or school, or even at church. When those temptations come, we may ask ourselves, “Is this life-giving, or death-dealing?”, or “Am I following Jesus here, or something else?”

Our call, of course, is to follow Jesus, and to do what is life-giving. The world has seen enough persecutions and death. There are times when we might not be sure of what to say or do. At those times, and indeed at all times, we can listen to the Spirit given to us, so that in whatever we say or do, it is not us, but the Spirit speaking and working through us.

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