Daily Scripture

Scripture:

1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20
Mark 1:29-39

Reflection:

My grandson sent me a picture from the San Diego Zoo of two young tiger cubs chasing each other and tussling with delight. One of my comments back to him and his parents was that I wish I had that kind of energy, but I’m afraid that’s long gone! Still, no observer could help but smile watching their freedom and joy in just being tiger cubs and doing what tiger cubs do. That is, after all, the will of God for them. They don’t need to “find” God’s will to obey it. They just allow the depth of who God created them to be to bubble up to the surface and be exuberantly expressed.

Jesus committed his life to allowing the depth of who God created him to be to bubble up and be expressed. To do so, he regularly went into the wilderness to pray, to be with God, and to be reminded of who and whose he was. Then he returned to the world to live his deepest identity, using his gifts to preach, heal, and serve as many people as he could.

I find that I’m too often more like Samuel than like Jesus. I don’t have an easy time hearing God’s voice. Even when I hear it, I so readily doubt what I’ve heard. “Hmmm, is someone calling me? Who could it be? What do they want? Are they sure they have the right person?” I look around, puzzled, and then I go back to bed. That doesn’t do much good, though, does it?

Having spent Advent concentrating on building a path straight to my heart for God, I’ve learned that’s only the beginning. Once I let God in, I have to let God teach me how to more clearly hear that divine voice. I have to take time in prayer to keep myself grounded in my deepest identity as God’s beloved child. Then I need the courage to live that identity in the world, even when others don’t understand or actively object. Like all of creation and Jesus himself, the will of God for me is to become ever more who I was created to be. God’s will is written right into the cells of my being and lives in the depths of my heart.

So it’s a constant back-and-forth process on that path – sitting still long enough to truly hear the ever-present voice of God calling my name, and then going back to the world to follow that voice. I need to decrease the amount of time I’m asking, “God what should I do? What is your will?” Instead, I need to listen to the deepest part of me and then step out in faith, trying always to freely and exuberantly use the gifts that God has given me to live out who I am. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll even find that I have more energy when I cooperate with my core identity in God rather than fighting against it. I might even learn to be as fully “me” as those cubs! Care to join me?

Amy Florian is a teacher and consultant working in Chicago.  For many years she has partnered with the Passionists.  Visit Amy’s website: http://www.corgenius.com/.

Scripture:

1 Samuel 1:9-20
Mark 1:21-28

Reflection:

Here Begins the Gospel of Mark

We begin our daily reading of Mark’s gospel today: 1:21-28. The celebrant can include Monday’s gospel, the calling of the fishermen to maintain the fullness of the story. The ‘very beginning’ of the gospel was heard this year on the 2nd Sunday of Advent, with the opening verse: “Here begins the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God”.

Imagine if you were a first century Christian and gathered where the gospel of Mark was known and read, and someone came to you asking why you believe in Jesus. You might give him the gospel and say, I believe Jesus is the Son of God and he brings the good news of hope and salvation. You can read the story of Jesus, here, in the writing of Mark. Perhaps Mark’s gospel could be used in that way; opening the book may open the door that will lead to faith.

But the gospel is more. It makes Jesus present to the community that celebrates around the table of the Eucharist. This Word of God gives life to the community that finds meaning in its written words through the Holy Spirit.

The first verse tells us simply, ‘Jesus is the Son of God’. It seems to say it all.

As we read the Gospel of Mark, we see Jesus named as the Son of God used when he dies upon the Cross. A Roman soldier, the centurion in charge, declares, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God’. How could he know that? He may well have heard of Jesus reputation, witnessed a dignity in him, certainly witnessed the ugliness of those mocking and showing hatred, yet feelings of compassion or respect for this crucified man would not account for declaring him, ‘Son of God’.

It is in the silence, the surprise of grace, that just as in God’s plan the Baptist would prepare us for the Lord’s coming, so a Roman soldier will prepare us for Jesus Victory. The soldier and we who read Mark see Jesus in death emptied and a poor sharer like us in our human condition of death. God’s grace turns that awful reality into the silence of the empty tomb. Jesus who spoke to Abba in the Garden of Gethsemane and died feeling abandoned by the Father is not abandoned, but raised to new life, Son of God.

In today’s gospel we hear the first of several times when Jesus is identified as ‘the holy One of God’, known by the unclean spirits, the demons. They are silenced by Jesus.

No one can say that Jesus is the Son of God until the solemn pronouncement by the soldier at Jesus death. This is part of the beautiful writing and plan of Mark.

Even we who know from the very beginning the ‘secret’, we need the silence that Jesus calls forth from those who know. Why? Because we need to ponder the mystery, to ask for the grace that the words generously invite us to receive, to walk with the Word made flesh guided by the sacred word that we read. This is what Mark invites us to do as we once again take up his Gospel and accompany Jesus through his written word. For the grace to drink deeply and receive refreshment from the Well of God’s Holy Word in this year ahead, we pray.

Fr. William Murphy, CP is a member of Immaculate Conception Community in Jamaica, New York.

The Baptism of the Lord

Scripture:

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 or Acts 10:34-38
Matthew 3:13-17

Reflection:

The Commissioning of Jesus

Today’s feast of Our Lord’s Baptism brings Christmas season to its end, but Matthew’s account of Jesus’ baptism gives us a beginning, a ‘commissioning’. “This is my beloved Son.” A lovely description says these words are ‘a daughter of a voice’, that is, an echo of a word spoken in heaven.

This daughter of a voice is often taken to mean the revelation of Jesus as the uniquely loved and chosen by the Father. But Fr. John R. Donahue, SJ, explores these words spoken from heaven at Jesus’ Baptism as the commissioning of Jesus. Both Mark and Luke say, ‘You are my beloved Son’, so is a slight difference from Matthew’s, “This is my beloved Son”. In this difference Fr. Donahue hears a presentation and commissioning rather than the words of the intimate love between Father and Son. How does he come to hear this and what does it mean for us?

In the first reading from Isaias the Church understands Jesus to be the one who will “establish justice upon the earth” (Is. 42:4). God speaks to Israel through the prophet saying, I have grasped you by the hand, I formed you, and I set you as a covenant, a light for the nations. Israel is in exile, but God loves them so much, that rather than being angry with them God approaches them with gentleness. God reaches out to take the hand of Israel and pulls them from darkness and despair into God’s own light and hope.

A tiny spark or smouldering ash will flare up and become the new ardent fire of love. Humble, broken, fragile Israel will open the eyes of the blind, free prisoners, lead those hidden in dungeons out of darkness. Isaiah tells Israel they are: uniquely loved and chosen. The one who does this is a suffering servant.

“I have called you for the victory of Justice”. Jesus continues the mission of the suffering servant of Isaias. He will show us how to be just before God and with one another. This is my Beloved Son being sent now to speak and bring to life the parable of the last judgment that Matthew gives at the end of his gospel: come blessed of my Father to receive your reward, for what you have done to the least, for the suffering, and to those on the margins, you have done to me.

I recently took part in a discussion where each person was asked to name where they encountered people on the margins. My response was ‘when celebrating Baptism’. Often a parent or both parents present their child to be baptized with fear and trembling. They are uncomfortable and unfamiliar with the church, a marriage irregularity or no marriage is usual, there is a fear of the unknown – what do we need to do now that we are here? Will we encounter anger or be yelled at? It is so sad that such a beautiful moment is lost. Or maybe and hopefully it is a beginning, a life-giving moment, not only for the child baptized. Parents and godparents, the community, we are commissioned to renew our lives and faith in the mystery of Gods’ grace. To us is the child’s baptismal candle entrusted so it will be kept burning brightly and this child can go forth in life as a child of light, alive with everlasting life.

With Matthew may we celebrate Jesus’ commissioning by remembering our own commissioning. Let us give our beloved daughters and sons the grace of faith, with them love as Christ those on the margins and share light and Good News, and to be suffering servants working to establish justice on our earth. We are the adopted sons and daughters of God, other Christs, who share Jesus’ commission.

Fr. William Murphy, CP is a member of Immaculate Conception Community in Jamaica, New York.

The Epiphany of the Lord

Scripture:

Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

Reflection:

Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.  -Matthew 2:2

Sitting in the barber’s chair getting my hair cut, the other day, I was bemoaning the fact that robots are taking over all the tasks that used to provide many of us with a good living (status in the community). He agreed saying: “Yes, they’re even talking about robots taking over my job!” I assured him that if he was still coming downtown to cut hair, I’d be coming to him to get my hair cut. (Two old chaps bemoaning progress–or is it?)

Where is this wealth of the nations that Isiah talks about in our first reading and Luke refers to in our Gospel passage today? I am reminded of my own heritage and family’s search experience. My father’s parents came to this promised land of America in 1909 because my grandfather (in 1909, women worked in the home which is the root of the word economics, care of our home) couldn’t find work. Upon arriving in Chicago, he went to work the next day, digging ditches for the gas company. Not too long after that he was able to get back to the work he did in Ireland and England, taking care of horses. Only here did he take care of the horses used for delivering milk to the citizens of his new home, Chicago.

God help me to continue the journey to you, realizing You have given me signs of your wealth and life, just like you did Isaiah, Herod, the Wise Men from another land, and the Shepards abiding around the lowly stable where your son Jesus was born. He was born because Mary and Joseph, two simple human beings just like me and those who went before me, were willing to understand, trust and act in a loving way to the messages you sent them.

Dan O’Donnell is a Passionist Partner and a longtime friend of the Passionists.  He lives in Chicago.  

Scripture:

1 John 5:5-13
Mark: 1:7-11

Reflection:

The writer of the Gospel of Mark does not mince words. The narrative is quick, blunt, to the point.

In today’s reading from that gospel, we are immediately put in the scene at the Jordan River where John the Baptist, that prophetic figure dressed to conjure up the image of Elijah, is initiating an entirely new order. The carpenter’s son from the backwater town of Nazareth steps up to participate in this revolution.

It is a revolution that will dramatically clash with the dominate powers of Rome and the Jewish establishment.

During the centuries since this baptism, the revolutionary pillars of Jesus’ messianic mission . . . confronting the old social order, building an alternative society, and lifting up the outcast, devalued, and the poor . . .have all been diluted, compromised and tamed by the status quo. Nothing controversial here, just move on. Maintain what you have been doing. Instead of living the revolution, we again and again succumb to the dazzling attractions of status, power, and money. We spend our talents, time, and worries on what is fleeting, superficial, and unsatisfying.

The subversive faith of Jesus is founded on a powerful connection with God the Father (“You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well-please!”). The heavens are literally ripped open and the Spirit hovers over Jesus as he completes the washing ritual to begin his life’s work.

In baptism he, like us, has died to the old order and our most primitive instincts . . .the instinct to control our own destinies, to get even, to hold a grudge, to dominate, to possess more stuff, to be better than others, and dismiss the weak, vulnerable, and powerless.

We have been gifted with grace to love and follow this Jesus, this God-man who spoke the truth even when it leads to the cross. We are called to be prophets in the tradition of John the Baptist, but more importantly in imitation of Jesus. We need not be afraid to call out injustice in our communities, nation, world. We support one another in serving the hungry, homeless, mentally ill, refugees, the bitter, and the angry.

As Jesus initiated his life work in the Jordan, we must re-think a vanilla, non-confrontational, bland faith designed to comfort us in a world marinating in greed, violence, hated, and destruction of the environment. It is an illusory comfort, destined to disappoint. True comfort is found resting securely in God. Jesus assures us, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him (John 15,21)

Christianity does not endorse these sins. We are graced to resist them, eliminate them where and when we can, and suffer the consequences of doing so, as Jesus and John the Baptist did. The God of peace and joy will see to it we are rewarded with our most authentic, true selves. This is our destiny.

Jim Wayne is a board member of the Passionist Solidarity Network (PSN), and author of The Unfinished Man. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

1 John 3:11-21
John 1:43-51

Reflection:

This is the message you have heard from the beginning:
we should love one another…   –1 John 3:11

Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him.   –1 John 3:19

Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip.
And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”   –John 1:43

This Christmas season we had the opportunity to see the Broadway on Tour production of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Now, this isn’t going to be a review of the show, but I will say a lot was added to the story that wasn’t in the book I remember reading with my mother. However, one song that caught my attention was “Santa for a Day.” In this song, little Cindy Lou Who (if you don’t know what a Who is, go read the book) sings to the Grinch (a big meany) that he is her Santa for a day and that they belong “Heart to heart.”

This got me thinking about belonging. One of the most terrible punishments we exact on people is solitary confinement, putting someone apart from everyone. Many societies throughout the ages have used shunning as a method to ensure compliance with the standards of behavior in the community. Even the Holy Family are told on Christmas Eve that there is no place for them. But Jesus Emmanuel, God with us, comes anyway, despite the world’s best efforts to shun Him.

The message He brings is one of belonging. In fact, it is this very aspect of His teachings that most riles the authorities of that time, and even today — that everyone belongs. The religious authorities (then and now) who value their positions as ‘holy gatekeepers’ are incensed at the idea that just anyone can enter into the kingdom of heaven, that our heavenly Father would actually allow “those people” to be in His presence.

As Jesus gathers His disciples in today’s reading, He doesn’t go to the temple or the palace. He chooses to go where the poor, the broken, the common people are. He calls to them, “Follow me.” He still calls today to all of us, “You belong, follow Me.”

Talib Huff is a retired teacher and a member of the retreat team at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, California. You can contact him at [email protected].

Scripture:

1 John 3:7-10
John 1:35-42

Reflection:

“…Come and see…”

Today’s Gospel selection features John the Baptist and two of his disciples encountering Jesus as He walked by – so named “the Lamb of God” by John the Baptist.  This chance encounter ultimately led to Jesus’ invitation to “come and see” where He was staying.  Ultimately, those hours with Jesus led Andrew and, later, his brother Simon Peter to lives as disciples and personal witnesses to Jesus.

“Come and see…”  That invitation of Jesus has touched the hearts and changed the lives of countless men and women over the centuries.  One such 18^th Century American woman-disciple is today honored by the Church:  St. Elizabeth Ann Seton…the first American-born saint.

Born in New York City in 1774, Elizabeth Ann was raised as an Episcopalian.  At age 20 she married William Seton and gave birth to and helped raise their five children.  She was drawn to the Catholic faith by an Italian Catholic family whom she met while traveling in Italy with her husband.  After her husband’s untimely death from tuberculosis at age 30, Elizabeth Ann freely embraced the Catholic faith – and subsequently opened a parish school in Baltimore to both support her family and witness her faith. 

Drawn by Elizabeth’s charismatic fervor, a group of young women joined Elizabeth Ann in her approach to education and the Christian life.  In 1809 they formed the American Sisters of Charity, following the rule of St. Vincent de Paul; later they help found other schools and orphanages.  By the time of her death on January 4, 1821, the community had expanded their valued ministries as far west as St. Louis.

Elizabeth Ann Seton was called by God to help grow the Church in her day.  As noted in today’s Gospel, Jesus drew disciples to himself and began the Church; centuries later Jesus touched the heart of Elizabeth Ann to invite her to join those early disciples in saying “yes” to Jesus and working tirelessly to build the Church.

“Come and see…” words spoken to us today as we head into the new year 2024.  God invites us to come and see, to share in the life and spirit of St. Paul of the Cross whose birthday in 1694 we celebrated just yesterday; his special love for Jesus Crucified motivates us as members of the 21^st Century Passionist Family.  May we deepen our relationship with Jesus these new year’s days – and like Andrew and Elizabeth Ann Seton and Paul of the Cross encourage others to “come and see” God’s love speaking to our hearts.  And may we likewise generously serve our sisters and brothers in their needs and their growth as daughters and sons of God!

Fr. John Schork, C.P. serves as the Province Vocation Director and also as Local Superior of the Passionist Community of Holy Name in Houston, Texas.  

Scripture:

1 John 2:29-3:6
John 1:29-34

Reflection:

By the time of the composition of the Gospel of John, the Johanine community had several generations of faithful living, spiritual reflection and praying both personally and liturgically to draw upon.

One senses all these elements at work in the construction of today’s gospel text. One can see that these early Christians have wrestled with the mystery of God and indeed had already begun to see the Trinitarian Life of God and their own part in the mystery of their salvation.

I suggest ‘wrestling with’ rather than defining the mystery might be the more apt statement. There is always an element of faith at work in every relationship and it is a primary concern in our relationship to God. Indeed, the early church continued to grow in understanding of the mysteries of the trinity and the life of Jesus for some hundreds of years till the Council of Nicaea gave us formulas through which we might best articulate our faith. 

But for today in this text, we see the community putting some of the essential pieces of the mystery in place. They have come to see God as One who calls and sends (and who Jesus will address as Abba), they can see the Holy Spirit as a guide who is indwelling and bearer of graces, they can see Jesus as both pre-existent and here with them now as the one sent by God and as the one whose sacrifice will set them free. They can see too their own role as well – it’s as if John represents them and they like John are called to go before the Lord, perhaps not called by God to a baptismal ministry but nevertheless called to announce Jesus and proclaim him as the true Lamb of God. 

Perhaps the title of Jesus as the Lamb of God had emerged from their early liturgical practice and devotion, but it has remained and is still part of both our own liturgical prayer as well as a formulation that expresses our faith.

Let us go forth to announce him to the world by our witness also.

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is the Provincial Superior of Holy Spirit Province, Australia.