Daily Scripture

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

Scripture:

Acts of the Apostles 12:1-11
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18
Matthew 16:13 -19

Reflection:

Today we celebrate two great men of the Church, Saints Peter and Paul. Two ordinary men, one a fisherman and the other a Pharisee and a tentmaker. Two ordinary men who recognized that God had called them to be something greater than they thought themselves to be. Two ordinary men who had courage to speak the truth that was spoken to them through Christ. They endured suffering through many hardships and trials for their words and actions and yet they kept on believing in the truth that dwelt in their hearts.

How could ordinary men come to do extraordinary things?

“The angel said to Peter, “Put on your belt and your sandals. “He did so. Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” Acts 12:8

Even in prison Saint Peter did not give up hope in Jesus Christ. He listened and followed the angel out of the prison. The angel had to awaken him from his sleep. If Saint Peter was asleep he certainly was not afraid of the trial that was to take place the next day. The passion that he felt in his heart, about who he had spent three years following and all that he had seen Jesus Christ do for others, must have been a source of his hope and courage. He was open to the possibility that Jesus was the Messiah and confirmed it when Jesus asked him “Who do you say that I am?” Mt 16: 15-16. 

“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” 2Tim 4:7

Saint Paul was also in prison and did not fear death. He knew that he had completed what Christ had called him to do for the proclamation of the Kingdom. An ordinary man who was passionate about his faith to the point of persecuting the first Christians. Then Jesus caught his attention with a flash of light and a bit of a humbling fall to the ground. A “snap out of it” moment. He would carry the message of Christ to the Gentiles beyond Jerusalem to the end of the world, at that time, the Roman world. Again, his passion came from the truth that dwelt in his heart and he was not afraid to recognize it and act upon it.

Each of us is called to become something greater than what we think we are. Just as Saints Peter and Paul were called to extraordinary tasks of establishing the Church, we are also called to be Christ for others. We gain strength to do this through faith, prayer, hope and trust in Christ.

In what way is Christ calling you to bring his presence to others?

Linda Schork is a theology teacher at Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky.

Memorial of Saint Irenaeus

Scripture:

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Matthew 7:15-20

Reflection:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves.”

Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr, whose feast we celebrate today was no stranger to false prophets. As bishop of Lyons, France in the late second century, Irenaeus fought against the Gnostics of the time who could be viewed as “false prophets”.   The Gnostics claimed they had access to secret knowledge from Jesus that he imparted to only a few disciples.  Irenaeus was successful in exposing their claims as untrue, which helped confused Christians to disbelieve the heresy of Gnosticism.

It seems we are surrounded in our times by many ‘false prophets’ who claim to have the only truth or the only way to believe or understand things.  Oftentimes it is hard to know what truth is or who to believe!  Our faith calls us to be aware of those who bear bad fruit.  Sometimes the naysayers and false prophets can make us overwhelmed and despairing, but it is good to remember that by their fruits we will know them.

Recently our parish was privileged to resettle a refugee family of eight coming from the Congo.  We have settled several families over the past few years, and it is always a tremendously rewarding experience for our team.  Our workers became those that bear good fruit.  They worked hard and shared their wealth of love and goodness in preparing for this family’s arrival.  It was an overwhelming experience to see the generosity of our parish family and friends as adults and children, young and old, came together to share faith and love on behalf of others in need.  It was truly the working of the Spirit and the living out of gospel values.

It is a gift to be a part of this tree of faith that continues to produce good fruit! Thanks to our loving God and to the faithfulness of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr.     

Theresa Secord is a retired Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Genesis 13:2, 5-18
Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Reflection:

It took me some time to understand what it meant to throw your pearls before swine… truly, why would anyone even consider doing such a silly thing? Then there was that great cartoon written by Stephan Pastis called Pearls Before Swine. If you haven’t read it, look it up – the cartoons were usually pretty funny.

But as I got older, I finally understood what it meant to “throw your pearls before swine.” Sometimes, people don’t want what you have to offer, so why would you try to give something to someone who will not appreciate or who doesn’t want them? How many times have we attempted to witness to someone about our love for Christ, or our dedication to him in our troubles and woes? And how many times have people turned their backs on us because they can’t begin to receive what we offer because of their lack of faith, or their lack of understanding or knowledge. Maybe they are doubting Thomas, and nothing you say can open their eyes to realize the real truth.

We are meant to treasure the gifts that God gave us, and to prayerfully discern with whom and what we share. We must try our best to recognize when people are ready to receive a spiritual message or spiritual gift. If you are witnessing to someone with no background of faith, realize that sometimes people can’t accept what they don’t understand. But we continue to do unto others as we would want them to do unto us – we are Christ to others, always, in all situations, and to the best of our ability.

Persevere through that narrow gate, fight the distractions that prevent you from focusing on what is important to reach the arms of God. Pray for God’s infinite mercy in your life, that he provides you with the determination to fight the good fight, to focus on his path, and to continue to share your gifts with others with love and compassion. God bless you all!

Patty Masson is the Director of Adult Formation and Evangelization at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring, Texas.

Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Scripture:

Isaiah 49:1-6
Acts 13:22-26
Luke 1:57-66

Reflection:

John the Baptist

“John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.” ACT 13:24    John the Baptist preached a message of repentance.  Translations from the inspired Greek text into modern English can be very difficult.  The Greek NT word for repentance is metanoia.  It basically means “to change one’s mind^”.

One has to think of God in a much bigger and exciting way.  We must change dramatically our thoughts about the wonder of His love.  What God is going to do for us has not even entered into the mind and heart of man in His wildest dreams!  Biblical “repentance” means not so much that we look to our wayward sins, but to God’s startling love for us!  We are challenged with God’s amazing ways to call us into the wonderful love life of the Trinity.  

Jesus says the most astonishing things about this sharing of intimacy with God!  “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. John 15:9   I think this is one of the most astounding words spoken by Jesus!  So strong is Jesus’ love for us it is like the Father’s love for His “Only Begotten”.  How could Jesus say it more strongly than that?  When John the Baptist said: “Behold the Lamb of God” that was the most wonderful sight in the world! Pope Benedict XVI beautifully said: “EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON THE INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS!”

Some years ago, I visited the marvelous Basilica Sacré Coeur in Paris.  It was in the evening when a teen-age girl with her family came in and knelt behind me.  There is a giant mosaic of Jesus above the altar that is over 5,000 sq feet. It is the largest mosaic in France.  When the family of the girl first came in she cried out: “look at Jesus”!  I think these wordssums up the breathtaking point of John the Baptist when he proclaims:“Behold the Lamb of God.”

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30
Matthew 6:19-23

Reflection:

I am writing this reflection a day after Juneteenth, and that leads me to reflect on the second half of our Gospel reading in a particular way. Jesus says: “The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

I don’t think Jesus is talking about physical sight. For me, the “eye” in Jesus’ image, is how we look at the world, or other people, or anything. And in thinking about Juneteenth, the “eye” represents for me how we look at the “other;” how we look at those who are different from us.

I am reminded of a quote from Booker T. Washington: “In any country, regardless of what its laws say, wherever people act upon the idea that the disadvantage of one man is the good of another, there slavery exists. Wherever, in any country the whole people feel that the happiness of all is dependent upon the happiness of the weakest, there freedom exists.”

If I “see” that your gain is my loss, I am lost in darkness. If we as a society, “see” things in that way, we are lost in darkness, and the “treasure” in our hearts to which Jesus refers in the first part of our Gospel reading is revealed to be having some advantage or power over another.

Jesus calls us to see things differently. He invites us to let Him in and fix our “eyes” to see as He does; to see each other, and indeed all of creation, as beloved by God, and not as objects of domination or exploitation. Jesus came so that we may all gain.

May our eyes be sound, so that the world will be filled with the light of Jesus.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 11:1-11
Matthew 6:7-15

Reflection:

In today’s gospel, Jesus offers a class on prayer. In this passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his disciples, the crowd that assembled that day, and now us what has aptly become known as “the Lord’s prayer.” Why did Jesus teach us to pray in precisely this way? Maybe because this prayer offers the most truthful account of who we are and how we should live.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” There is a God who absolutely surpasses us, a God to whom we are bound and accountable; but a God who as Father also draws near, watches over us, endlessly cares for us and seeks our good. This God who is holy is perfectly good, perfectly just, and perfectly loving, and thus deserves our adoration and praise.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” God’s kingdom is the community where love, goodness, justice, and peace abound. It is the exultant joy that comes when every person’s dignity is affirmed and where every creature flourishes. Heaven is the everlasting bliss that results when God’s will is flawlessly followed, and points the way for what we should strive for in our world now.

“Give us this day our daily bread.” God wants to fill the deepest hungers of our lives. For some it will be a prayer for food, shelter, clothing, and safety. Others will pray for healing and hope. Many today pray that loneliness will be vanquished by the assurance that somebody knows and cares. And, sadly, for countless others their “daily bread” will be the courage needed to endure suffering, tragedy, and seemingly inconsolable loss.

“And forgive us the wrong we have done as we forgive those who wrong us.” We live only by the forgiveness and mercy of God and, in gratitude, are to share that same mercy and forgiveness with others. Forgiveness is always a path to life because it is what makes us most like God.

And so it is that to say “Amen” to the Lord’s prayer is always an unassailable declaration of hope. 

Paul J. Wadell is Professor Emeritus of Theology & Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the Passionist Family.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Matthew 6: 1-6,16-18

Reflection:

In the late-40s A. D. a famine spread across Judea and Christians in Jerusalem were in dire need.  The leaders of the Jerusalem Church, James, Cephas, and John asked Paul to assist the poor, which Paul was willing to do.  Paul asked the Christians to contribute and make an offering to provide relief to Jerusalem Christians.  Paul asked Christians to give in the first letter of Corinthians as well as in today’s first reading in the second letter of the Corinthians.  In the second letter he uses the Macedonian Church as an example of generous giving. (Adapted from Richard Neill Donovan, Sermon Writer, Biblical Commentary 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary-old/2-corinthians-96-15/)

The Corinthian Church responded to Paul’s request and gave generously in spite of being poor.  Some of the Corinthians complained that they could not give generously because they were quite poor.  Paul tries to convince these Corinthians that if they give generously then they will receive God’s generous blessings in return.  Hence, God loves a cheerful and a generous giver.(Richard Neill Donovan, Sermon Writer, Biblical Commentary 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary-old/2-corinthians-96-15/)

Paul then shares a principle that a farmer would know that if one sows the seed too sparingly then that farmer will reap a poor and sparse harvest. What is our spirit when we give?  Each of us are called to be generous, merciful, and compassionate.  It helps to be positive when giving to others. We are called to be generous even on our grumpy days.

Lord, today help me discover someone I can be generous to in a spirit of love and compassion. 

Carl Middleton is a theologian/ethicist and a member of the Passionist Family.