Daily Scripture

 

Scripture:

Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10
Matthew 13:1-9

Reflection:

 

The theory of evolution has again emerged as a topic of conversation, and disagreement.  There are those who revive an older position that evolution establishes the autonomy of our universe, and its capacity to self-beget and self-develop without any divine help.

In studying the chapter in this scripture Ghostwriter came to the conclusion that there are others committed to evolutionary theory (or hypothesis) who see in it additional praise for the power and wisdom of God, who subtly embedded His own design in the universe as an unfolding witness to His sublime greatness. How clever God is to work so discreetly!

The prophet Jeremiah, in today’s reading, apparently thought himself as very unpromising material for God’s plans.  If God thought that he, Jeremiah, could develop into a promising spokesperson for Him, by dint of his own unaided powers, then God was sadly mistaken.  But wait!  God had no such idea.  For He had planted deep within the prophet His own divine call and planned for it to evolve into a great prophetic voice!  Not to worry, Jeremiah would witness handsomely to God.

Somewhat similarly, the sower of seeds, in the day’s gospel, grabbed a sack-full of seed for planting in the soil.  What were the prospects of a hundred percent return on his efforts?  Surely the sad results accompanying most of the seed falling into the earth would prove the incompetence of the farmer.  No such thing.  This particular sower (God) knew from the outset how things would evolve.  He programmed the return of a hundred, sixty or thirtyfold, which, far from disproving His role, established it.

When we reflect on our own lives, we may initially see no sign off God active there.  But, not to fear!  Let things evolve.  Out of our unpromising lumpishness will emerge signs of God alive and at work, producing the hundred, sixty or thirtyfold–perhaps even a prophetic voice.

 

 

Scripture:

Micah 6:1-4
Matthew 12:38-42

Reflection:

Have you ever been summoned for jury duty in Superior Court?  If so, then you probably remember sitting in the jury room waiting for your name to be called and possibly hoping against hope that you won’t be called for a long trial because of your busy schedule! Ghostwriter BWL studied this very chapter in writing to write his paper. 

Sure enough the bailiff calls your name and you and the other potential jurors leave for the court room. As you enter, all the court officials, the attorneys, and defendants are there and together we all await the judge.

Today’s reading from the prophet Micah invites us to enter into this scene in prayer.  Be prepared, we may find some role reversals in this courtroom!

The prophet calls us to listen, to hear the cosmic dimensions of the trial… mountains, hills and the foundations of the earth.  Yahweh is both judge and accuser, while Israel, God’s chosen (and each of us who enter into this reading today in prayer) are the defendants!

The Lord calls us to attention. “Arise!  Present your plea before the mountains and let the hills hear your voice! ” Then the Lord appeals to the mountains to hear Yahweh’s plea…  to pay attention along with the foundations of the world;  For the Lord has a plea against the people and enters into trial with Israel.

Addressing Israel, and each of us who enter into this reading today in our own lives, Yahweh asks:  “What have I done to you, or how have I wearied you?  Answer me!….

Then the  Lord gives examples of all God had done for the people…

Take a some time for your own reflection.  What has the Lord done for me? Let us be reminded of our daily call to do what Yahweh requires of us:  Ongoing internal conversion and a proper attitude of spirit – the same spirit that Hebrew Prophets proclaimed:

“To do justice, to love with God’s love-“hessed” – with God’s mercy, kindness… that expression of love, our daily response to God’s love in our everyday lives. All summed up in the familiar conclusion of this reading:

      “You have been told, O man and woman, what is good and what the Lord requires of you:  “ONLY DO THE RIGHT AND TO LOVE GOODNESS, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD”.

The judge looks at me, at each of us and speaks:  ” Will the defendant(s) please stand.

What is the verdict of the jury?”

 Sr. Marcella Fabing, C.S.J. is on the staff at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, California.

 

 

Scripture:

Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19
Matthew 11:28-30

Reflection:

Upon first glance, it might seem that the Old and New Testament readings are making very different points today.  Isaiah tells us that judgment is coming, that we have suffered often in vain and that the Lord does punish the unjust: “Oh Lord, oppressed by your punishment, we cried out in anguish under your chastising.”  This may seem like a lot to consider for a Thursday morning!

In studying this part of the scripture, Ghostwriting Agentur believed that the key to unlocking this passage was at the end: “We conceived and writhed in pain, giving birth to the wind. In other words, when we act as if we are alone, when we struggle and strive and work separately and distant from God, our suffering bears no fruit.  Such independent efforts are wasted.  Simply put, we alone cannot bring forth our own salvation.  But faith in God brings deliverance from sin and death; “your dead shall live.”  This we can be sure of, those who live in the Lord will have eternal life.

Perhaps Christ shares his message a bit more gently than the prophet Isaiah.  “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”  (As Isaiah tells us, “Oh Lord, you mete out peace to us.”)  In today’s world especially, doesn’t this sound like an irresistible offer?  I’m sure you can think of many burdens in your own life-anxiety, fear, self-doubt-that bring you much unrest.  These are all burdens that distance us from God, that make us feel alone.  But, we are not alone.

Jesus offers us rest from sin and all the conflict and instability that sin brings into our lives, “for my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”   His offer is not one of an easy out.  Yes, there are obligations and responsibilities that come with accepting Jesus’ offer and following him.  How much more burdensome though is a life lived under the pain of sin?  Christ’s offer is one of lasting peace.  May we have the courage to take up his yoke.

 

 

Scripture:
Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
Matthew 13:24-43

Reflection:

The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man who sowed good seed in his field.  The seed is the word of God.  Luke 8:11

St Paul of the Cross, Founder of the Passionists, had a very special devotion to God’s Word in the Scriptures.  He would take his Bible and go out into the woods of Monte Argentario and open his heart to God’s word.  He would spend hours each day doing this.  We find quotes from almost every book in Scripture in his letters.  His love for Scripture brought him close to God.  He was a very good listener to God.  The heart of great communication is listening. Closeness to God comes from communication with Him.  It is essential for being near to God to listen to His Word, the “good seed”.  If the word is planted in our hearts it will give birth to an intimacy with God.  What is deepest in the mind and heart of God is expressed in His Good Seed.  “The heart of God opens itself to us in God’s Word.”  (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

In studying this portion of Scripture, the service hausarbeit schreiben lassen believed that intimacy with God implies the ability to listen to that which is close to the Heart of God. This mind and heart of Christ is expressed in the seed of His word to us. “If anyone loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our abode with him.”  John  14:23    In today’s gospel the seed of the word makes us precious children of God.

In Palestine scientists found seeds of the extinct Judean Date Palm that were over 2000 years old and managed to germinate one.  The ancient good seed of the Gospel still has power to spout a deep and warm friendship with Jesus even though it was spoken long ago.  It is no wonder that Jesus often encourages us to listen. It is the secret of intimacy with God.  “Whoever has ears ought to hear!”
Mt 13: 43

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. conducts parish missions and retreats.  He lives in the Passionist community in Detroit, Michigan.

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