Daily Scripture

Scripture:

Ezra 18:25-28
Philippians 2:1-11
Matthew 21:28-32

Reflection:

Anyone who has raised, taught or just been around children can relate to today’s readings.  How often have we heard children cry, “It’s just not fair!”, or had them agree to a parent’s request but not follow through?  As tempting as it is to explore those behaviors for children or adults (!), they simply set the stage for the theme of today’s readings: the blessings of conversion to God.  Today’s responsorial psalm, Psalm 24, ties together the readings with a simple meditation on spiritual conversion.

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.

Ezekiel assures the Israelites that by turning away from their sins they will live.  The path for the Israelites was faithfulness to the Law. For us Christians we are commanded to love God and one another.  We are sent teachers, such as John the Baptist, who will show us the way, but our hearts must be open to hear the message.

Remember that your compassion, O LORD, and your love are from of old. The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not; in your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O LORD.

We are imperfect humans and likely to stumble along the path. When that happens, we cannot accuse God of being unfair simply because the path is too difficult. We must ask whether God is the problem or is it us!  God is willing to forgive as long as we are trying.  Jesus commended the tax collectors and prostitutes for opening their hearts to the Baptist’s message, unlike the Scribes and Pharisees who heard John’s message but closed off their hearts.

Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way.

St. Paul says to humbly regard others as more important than ourselves.  How do we learn humility?  Christ is our perfect model:  humbling himself as human, not expecting to be treated as God, becoming obedient even unto death on the cross. 

Jesus, you have shown us the path to conversion.  Please grant us the grace to remain faithful to your ways.

Mike Owens is coordinator of the Passionist Alumni Association and a member of the Migration Commission of Holy Cross Province.  He lives in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Scripture:

Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15a
Luke 9:43b-45

Reflection:

‘Pay Attention’ Jesus tells his disciples and us!

I used to teach RCIA sessions at Saint Agnes.  Each week the inquirers, team and sponsors gather in the prayer circle to check-in and pray.  Our prayer includes sharing where we have seen or experienced God in the past week. Oftentimes, the sharing is slow in coming as we all ponder our ‘God moments’.  Each week I remind everyone to begin to ‘pay attention’ to the ways God is being manifest in our lives and the lives of those around us.  In our busyness, we often miss these moments when we aren’t paying attention and it is good to be reminded of how even the smallest incident or encounter can become a ‘God moment’.

When we ‘pay attention’ to how God is working in our life, our hearts are opened and we are challenged to take more seriously our call to discipleship.  On a recent trip home to Michigan, I was blessed to enjoy many ‘God moments’ with family and friends and nature.  I was also reminded of the importance of taking time to listen and hear the stories and laughter as well as the respite of a beach walk and a Lake Michigan sunset!  It was easy to ‘pay attention’ and savor these God moments.

Sometimes it is more challenging to ‘pay attention’ to how God works in our life when the message is one that challenges us or calls us to do something we don’t necessarily want to do. As I remember the return to the busyness and blessedness of parish ministry, my heart was sad and my spirit lagged as we began the process of changing leadership. Our parish had been blessed to have a pastor who faithfully listens and pays attention to God’s call and I have been blessed to be a part of a pastoral team that continues to embrace the gifts that each brings to ministry.

It is my prayer that in the days and weeks ahead I will have the courage and faith to ‘pay attention’ to how God is calling me to live out the paschal mystery as it unfolds before me.  I pray that I will not miss the many ‘God moments’ that I know will come.

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

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels

Scripture:

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
John 1:47-51

Reflection:

Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him.     

-Daniel 7:10

Depictions of angels can be found in most specialty shops, catalogs and art stores in the forms of small, medium and large statues, pictures, on prayer cards, garden art and numerous other objects. They can be found in stain glass windows and statuary of the great cathedrals of Europe and around the world. We grow up knowing the guardian angel prayer and hope we haven’t frightened ours off by the time we have “grown up”. In the Catholic faith there are the nine choir of angels beginning with the lowest to highest ranking; Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominions, Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim. In the Church we celebrate the archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael who are mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. Michael’s name means, “Who is like God?” We have a prayer calling on St. Michael for protection. This archangel is best known for his battle with evil, as in the Book of Revelation. Gabriel is known as the messenger angel who announced to Mary that she was going to bear God’s Son. Gabriel’s name means, “God is My Strength” and is known as the Archangel of Wisdom, Revelation, Prophecy, and Visions. Raphael’s name means, “Healing Power of God”. We find this Archangel in the book of Tobit. He was sent in an answer to Tobit’s prayers and the prayers of his daughter. In this book of the Old Testament, Raphael is companion, guide, and heals Tobit of his blindness.

In today’s Gospel reading from John, Nathanael has come to see if what Philip said of Jesus is true. He discovers that Jesus knows exactly who he is and so he proclaims that Jesus is the “Son of God”. Jesus’ response is a reflection of Jacob’s ladder with, “you will see the heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man”. He also seems to be foretelling what will transpire at his Resurrection.

Angels are spiritual beings who assist God with those tasks on earth and in heaven. In the readings today we read that, “Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him.”(Dn 7:9 – 10) What a sight that must be! All of those spiritual beings tending to God and doing what God commands. As I picture it in my mind’s eye it seems as if Heaven is a very busy place. During the Triduum I have pondered what the angels were doing as Christ went through his Passion, death and Resurrection. I can imagine Michael standing ready with an army of angels, waiting for God’s command. Gabriel watching with great sadness and Raphael wanting to heal broken hearts. And then great joy with Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension. And most likely they too understood the plan that God had in mind and tended to Christ on the day of Resurrection and the Ascension.

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

Scripture:

Haggai 1:1-8
Luke 9:7-9

Reflection:

Cost of Discipleship!

Jesus said to his disciples in relation to discipleship:

                        “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.”
                        “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

Today as we celebrate the feast day of Saint Lawrence (Lorenzo) Ruiz and his companions we reflect on the cost of discipleship.  St Lawrence Ruiz, also called Saint Lorenzo was born in Manila of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, both Christians.  He grew up learning Chinese as well as Tagalog, language spoken in the Philippines from his parents.  He studied under the Dominican friars.  He was a member of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary. He became a professional calligrapher and worked as a clerk for the Binondo Church.  He married and was the father of two sons and a daughter.  His comfortable life took a change after he was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard.  He sought asylum on board a ship bound for Japan with the help of the Dominican friars.  Upon arrival in Japan where there was a massive persecution of Christians, Lorenzo and his companions were arrested and thrown into prison.  Over the next two years they were underwent brutal torture which led to their death because of their refusal to renounce Christianity.

Saint Lawrence was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1987, making him the first Filipino saint.  He is revered throughout the Philippines as the country’s protomartyr.

Discipleship calls all of us to accept the challenges that may come our way when we commit to being a follower of Jesus Christ.  We may not suffer the consequences of the brutal martyrdom that Saint Lorenzo endured, but we are called to persevere in living out the gospel message in the way we live our everyday lives.  We live in a world where we are faced with injustice, violence, apathy, discrimination and many other isms that challenge our faith.

Jesus promises to walk with us as we strive to make a difference in small ways as we preach his message of love and peace in our faith communities, families and neighborhoods. May the faith that Saint Lawrence (Lorenzo)lived and died for continue to inspire us to ‘Keep on Keepin’ on as the faithful disciples we are called to be.  Saint Lawrence, Pray for us!  Amen.

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

Scripture:

Ezra 9:5-9
Luke 9:1-6

Reflection:

Our readings today give us a great summary of discipleship and what it means to be church. In our first reading Ezra is overcome with the guilt of his people, and acknowledges that guilt before God, describing what happened to the people in exile after the Babylonians conquered Israel and destroyed the Temple that Solomon had built.

But Ezra also acknowledges that even though the people were in exile as a consequence of their sins, God had not abandoned them! And so, after the Persians conquered the Babylonians, they allowed the Israelites to go home. As Ezra says, “Thus he has given us new life to raise again the house of God and restore its ruins. God has shown mercy and given new life to the people to rebuild the Temple.

Even though God may let us suffer the consequences of our actions, He does not abandon us! God shows us mercy time and time again, and continually offers us new life. But this new life is not meant to be lived just for ourselves. In our first reading the Israelites were to rebuild the Temple. In our Gospel reading, Jesus sends out the Twelve to proclaim the Good News and drive out demons and cure diseases. He tells them to take nothing for the journey except themselves, and so rely on God for what they need. In a way, Jesus is sending the Twelve out to do what the Israelites did earlier. He sends them out to help people not rebuild the Temple, but rebuild their lives. If there are some who are not ready to be healed or refuse to have their lives restored, they are to simply move on and shake the dust from their feet as testimony.

God has given us not openly a second chance, but a third and a fifth, and maybe even a hundredth chance, and we are called to be instruments that God uses to give others another chance as well. May we be about building up, not tearing down, and may the Good News be always proclaimed through us!

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

Scripture:

Ezra 6:7-8, 12b, 14—20
Luke 8:19-21

Reflection:

My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. Luke 8:21

Jesus praises his mother for “hearing and doing the word”.  In the original Greek text, the words “hearing and doing” are placed together. Mary was first presented to us as hearing and receiving the Word.  “Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”  Lk 1:38   Hearing and doing the word is at the heart of our following Christ.

The critical question is where do we hear the Word?  God speaks to us in many ways.  The overwhelming beauty of nature eloquently speaks to us of the power and wisdom of its creator. “Every creature is a word of God.” Meister Eckhart “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”  Rom 1:20  “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made”, Ps 33:6

God’s word is especially experienced in Scripture.  It is the most precious and authentic way of hearing God’s voice!   “Your words were found and I ate them” Jer 15:16  We must have a big appetite when we encounter His Word.  We must have a passion to digest His word by study so as to know what He is speaking to us!  The SS often speaks of our hard hearts.  Our hearts are hard like a rock which resists any saturation.  Prayer is the great heart softener.

Prayer is essential to hear the word.  At its best prayer is speaking and listening to God.  It is “pondering the word” as Mary did in the Gospel.  “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering (sumballō in Greek to put together) them in her heart.” Lk 2;19  Again in Lk 2:51 we find Mary His “mother treasured (diatereo to deeply and carefully keep) all these things in her heart.” The word must get into our hearts.  The word brings a deep intimacy with God.  “Through the word of God to the heart of God” St Gregory the Great

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

Scripture:

Ezra 1:1-6
Luke 8:16-18

Reflection:

There’s an old song entitled “God Bless the Child.” I think it was first recorded by Billie Holiday and later by Blood, Sweat and Tears, among many others. I sometimes think of the lyrics when I hear our Gospel reading from Luke or its parallel in other Gospels: “Them that’s got shall get/them that’s not shall lose/So the Bible said/ but it still is news/ Mama may have/ and Papa may have/God bless the child/that’s got his own.”

I think when we hear Jesus say, “To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away,” many of us follow the interpretation that the song seems to make; “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” But before Jesus says the verse mentioned above, He says, after saying that what will be hidden will become visible, “Take care, then, how you hear.”

I can’t believe that Jesus is advocating, or perhaps more accurately, capitulating to, the reality of poverty and inequality. What the Scripture scholars tell us is that Jesus is talking about a desire for a closer relationship with God, and a subsequent desire to follow God’s will in all things. As we get closer to God, we want even more, and God will grant this to us! As we seek to do God’s will, we receive more and more insight into what that will may be for us. As we seek to know God’s love and are willing to share it with others, the more we will receive to do just that. But if we try to interpret God’s will to match ours, instead of the other way around, we will grow less close to God.

We have been given the light of Christ’s love, and as Jesus tells us, we are not to hide it, but share it! Indeed, God bless the child who receives this light, and God bless the child who lets it shine to others!

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

Scripture:

Isaiah 55:6-9
Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a
Matthew 20:1-16a

Reflection:

Kindness of God

In today’s Gospel a kind owner of a vineyard gives workers a full day’s wage to people who only worked an hour!  In New Testament times, wages were given one day at a time.  Without a full day’s wage, a man could not feed his family.  We here see the kindness and thoughtfulness of the owner. Don’t you love a kind person?  

The landowner says: “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’” Mt 20;15   The Landowner in the story is obviously an image of God “who is rich in mercy”!  “So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” -Matthew 5:45 

We should never underestimate the riches of God’s mercy!  Most people are poor materially because of lack of opportunity, sickness, raising a family, or just plain lack of interest.   But today we see a far more threatening problem of lack of faith and religion!   Faith is a generous gift of God.  We are all workers of one hour in God’s vineyard!   We can never enter God’s kingdom with our merits alone, probably most of us don’t even put in a full hour at that!

But praise to God’s mercy we can reach the Divine embrace of Christ if we are children of God!   He loves us not so much because we are long hard workers in the vineyard but rather, He is exceedingly fond of us! I just love the quote of Pope St John XXIII.   “I live only on the mercy of God, everything I own is from it, everything I hope for is on it.”  

One of the most needed forms of love is kindness.

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