Daily Scripture

Scripture:   

1 Timothy 1:15-17
Luke 6:43-49

Reflection:

Jesus often speaks in parables in the Gospel. He uses an image to describe what the kingdom of God is. Funny how the Scribes and Pharisees ask him to speak plainly. He reveals the meaning to His disciples! I will show you what a follower of mine looks like. One who builds their house on a firm foundation, one who has a firm foundation in God, the Rock. This is the house that can weather the storms, the daily afflictions and bombardments.

This day in 1810 inaugurated Mexico’s war for independence. A Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo rang the church bells in 1810. In the form of grito, he “decried” Spanish oppression with an impassioned speech. The brutal war lasted nearly eleven years. To this day, the tradition continues with the Mexican president ringing the same 200+year bell at midnight and reciting the cry of pain.

The bell continues to ring out across our world; we hear the cries of the earth. The war in Ukraine persists. Incidents of gun violence are taking the lives of our children. With all these events, what is our firm foundation? We are crying out and searching for our firm foundation. Christ indeed says that in the world that you will have trouble. But also, to take courage because He has conquered the world. Let us hear these “gritos” and stretch out our hands to our needy brothers and sisters. God bless!

Fr. Phillip Donlan, CP, is the Associate Director of Ministry at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, California.

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

Scripture:

1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14
John 19:25-27 or
Luke 2:33-35

Reflection:

On one occasion I was invited to preach in the beautiful Rosary Chapel in Lourdes.  A very large group of us were assembled together in pilgrimage, many who were very ill, whom we lovingly referred to as “maladies.”  The others were family members, friends, and the patrons of the pilgrimage, the Knights and Dames of Malta.

It was the feast of the Blessed Mother, Mary Queen of Heaven and Earth.  I naturally thought of her under her other title, as well, Queen of Angels and Saints.  As I prepared this sermon for the Mass, I remembered prior visits to Lourdes with so many who were ill and suffering in so many different ways.  I knew that if I were to preach about Mary as Queen, I would have to also remember when she became our Queen, so beautifully adorned with clothing, robes, a scepter in her hand, and a golden throne upon which she would sit and inspire.

I remembered all the beautiful images of our Blessed Mother, sitting upon her throne, a moment captured by many Italian and Dutch artists, and others as well.  Radiant in her beauty, surrounded by angels and saints, too.  But because I was so aware of all those who would be seated before me in the Rosary Basilica, so many of whom would be in wheelchairs and voitures, as they are called in French, I knew I could hardly invite them to a golden throne, so majestic and beyond earthly experience.  Rather, as a Passionist, I realized that the Lord was asking me to bring all the assembled to a different place, to the first throne of Mary, the mother of Jesus.  And where do we find this very “first throne” of Mary?  At the foot of the Cross.  We see Mary sitting in the dirt, adorned not with silk robes but rather wearing blood-stained garments and her tear-streaked face, all of which came from the unimaginably painful moment when she held in her arms, embraced in her lap, the broken, crucified body of her beloved Son, Jesus, our Crucified Lord.

This is the moment when Mary, simple maiden of Nazareth, became Queen of Heaven and Earth, Queen of Angels and Saints, seated in the mud and dirt of Calvary, at the foot of the Cross.  This is when Mary became our Queen, our very own “blessed” mother.  And, in this moment, as we approach the Cross of Christ, it is her calloused and stained hand that can reach out and hold our own.  She knows our sorrows; she knows our pain.  Not simply as a queen gloriously enthroned in Heaven, but as a beloved mother who embraces us, even as we seek to understand the meaning behind our own crosses and suffering so often encountered in daily life.  Mary, our Sorrowful Mother, holds us, too, in her warm embrace as she leads us to Jesus, her crucified and beloved Son.  It was on Calvary, sharing in the Passion of Christ, that Mary became our Queen, our Mother of Sorrows.  And it is this special mother gifted us by God whom we honor on the special feast of Our Sorrowful Mother.

Fr. Pat Brennan, C.P. is the director of Saint Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan.

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Scripture:

Numbers 21:4b-9
Philippians 2:6-11
John 3:13-17

Reflection:

Sometimes it’s hard to understand why the God of the Old Testament was so angry and punishing, while the Son of God in the New Testament seemed more reasonable and empathetic. The bronze snake on the pole reminded the Israelites of their lack of loyalty to God, just as the Holy Cross reminds us of God’s willingness to help us overcome sin.

In today’s readings, the word “steadfast” in the Psalms is important. Just like spouses promise to be steadfast in sickness and health, we should ask ourselves if we are staying faithful to God no matter what challenges or joys we face. God’s Kingdom belongs entirely to Him and He cannot be replaced like an elected politician. The Israelites complained about their food, but the bronze snake on the pole served as a warning to be steadfast, to let go of pride and unfaithfulness.

The Holy Cross takes the message of the bronze snake to a higher level. It reminds us that God sacrificed His only son to teach us about faith, humility, obedience, and the belief in eternal life.

Jack Dermody is the editor of the CrossRoads bulletin for the Passionist Alumni Association and a member of the Migration Commission for Holy Cross Province. He lives in Glendale, Arizona. 

Scripture:

Colossians 3:1-11
Luke 6:20-26

Reflection:

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we can be so focused on the demands immediately before us, that we easily lose sight of what is truly important.  “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:2).  With these words, Paul the Apostle exhorts us to remain centered on God.

We should not be mistaken, though, in thinking that Paul wants us to live with our heads in the clouds and ignore our responsibilities here on earth. No.  Paul is pressing on us the need to bring those heavenly qualities into our everyday lives, to set aside all behaviors that work against our goal of eternal life.  After all, what we believe has a definite connection with how we behave.  Faith in Christ means being united to Christ.  It means dying to ourselves in order to live in Christ.  Through our baptism, we share in Christ’s death and resurrection.  Our old self has died.    We have put on the new self and have been made new.

Can we hear Christ’s call to be his disciples?  Can we perceive that God is doing something new in us, calling us to new life?  “Set your minds on what is above,” we are admonished, so that we may become the whole person God intends us to be.

Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Colossians 2:6-15
Luke 6:12-19

Reflection:

May the Holy Name of Mary be always in our hearts and on our lips.

Once again in Luke’s gospel, Jesus departs in seclusion “to pray” upon a mountain.  How he must have cherished being alone with his Father, especially after the earlier disputes with the scribes and pharisees about what is lawful vs what is good on the Sabbath.  He spends an entire night in prayer, a distinct reminder of my own treasured quiet times praying to the Father to refresh my spirit.

Early the next morning the disciples rejoin Jesus, still on the mountain.  From among the assembly, He chooses twelve…only twelve…from the great crowd of disciples.  I ponder if I were there, whether I might have been chosen.  Or would I have walked down the mountain with the unchosen but still beloved other disciples?  What is in store for these twelve?

When back down from the mountain there is a great crowd of his disciples and a large number of people from all of Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.  I imagine that I am one of them.  How exhilarating to witness his miracles and hear him preach.  It was breathtaking to watch everyone crowding around to touch him because of the power that came forth from him.

Then there follows three years of watching, listening, questioning, witnessing, praying, wondering, fearing.  Over time a bewildering and frightening message develops about his pending passion and death.  How can that be?  That is scary.  Perhaps I should go back to my life before the encounter on the mountain.  It was much safer and more certain.  He washes my feet before we share the Passover meal.  There is a confusing scene at the meal when He offers his body and blood.  What does that mean?  Thereafter another night of prayer in Gethsemane.  But this night is one of utmost agony and despair followed by the passion, trial and ultimate crucifixion.  Where will I go from here?  How many of us will follow him to the foot of the cross?  Mother Mary, Mary Magdelene, Mary of Clopas, and the beloved disciple are there.  Where are the rest of us?  Peter isn’t the only one who abandoned him.  Is this not what we signed up for in our exhilaration when we were called that morning on the mountain?  What happened to our resolve?  Why did we let him down?  We know that He still loves us unimaginably and forgives us.  Mother Mary, please bring me back with you to stand at the foot of the cross.  I so want to hold you in my arms and comfort you during your unimaginable grief and suffering. 

I suppose I will spend many more nights in prayer asking for forgiveness and wondering why I wasn’t there when He needed me most.  Thank you, Jesus, for calling me in spite of myself.  Please never cease calling me.  I will try to follow wherever you lead me.     

Bill Berger notes that because of his father’s close relationship with the Passionist Community in Detroit, he was a member of the Passionist family from the moment of his birth.  Bill and his wife Linda are currently leaders of the Community of Passionist Partners in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

Colossians 1:24-2:3
Luke 6:6-11

Reflection:

For many today, keeping the Sabbath seems like a quaint Jewish tradition.  But for Jesus’ contemporaries, and even today, the Sabbath has been a powerful symbol of identity in an often hostile world.  The Sabbath is a sign to all that they are God’s special people.

In Jesus’ time, Jews strongly emphasized keeping the Sabbath because only a few hundred years earlier, Jews had been exiled from their land for disobeying God’s laws.  Consequently, they carefully and sometimes scrupulously defined what “work” meant and what activities were forbidden.  However, religious leaders could set aside Sabbath rules if human life was in danger.  However, certain types of non-death-threatening healing activities were prohibited. 

Even Jesus did not generally heal on the Sabbath.  In keeping with tradition, Jesus too would wait until after the Sabbath had ended at sunset to perform healings.”

Why, then, did Jesus heal a man’s withered right hand on the Sabbath and among a synagogue community?  In chapter 5, Luke tells us.  “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath” (v. 5).  Jesus clearly declares his superiority over sabbath laws and can authoritatively interpret them.  Luke composed his gospel, which included Jewish Christians, primarily for Gentile converts and other marginalized peoples. 

These were the ones who needed to hear Jesus’ Christological affirmation.  They were the ones who needed to be reminded of Jesus’ words at the beginning of his ministry when he read the Isaiah scripture passage:  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor…” (Is.  61:1).  Then Jesus pronounces unambiguously that this scripture has been fulfilled in the synagogue community’s hearing.

Sabbath rest remains a sound principle today for everyone.  We all need rest, true rest from all that distracts or distresses us.  We need quiet time with God.  Only then can we hear Christ calling us to proclaim the good news to the poor, the marginalized, those whose souls and hearts may have withered by life’s circumstances.

Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Ezekiel 33:7-9
Romans 13:8-10
Matthew 18:15-20

Reflection:

Repeatedly, Jesus emphasizes love as the basic necessity of discipleship. All else – every commandment, every activity, every community action – flows from love. Simple, right? Oh, how I wish it were!

Love that does no evil or harm to another is a difficult balancing act. I’ve had times where someone has hurt me deeply. I resist the urge to hurt back, acting out of compassion and recognition of their worth in God’s eyes, and sometimes our openness to each other results in mutual forgiveness and reconciliation. Yet in other situations, reconciliation is impossible or ill-advised. I still resist the urge to hurt back, but how do I understand, forgive, love, and wish the best for someone, while keeping myself from being hurt or victimized by them again?

In another vein, we are commanded to hold each other to account for our actions. We must be able to take responsibility, accept corrections, and in cases of wrong-doing, apologize while doing what is possible to restore them to wholeness. I’ve personally experienced correction from people who live or work with me that was truly helpful, changed my perspective, improved our relationship, or prompted me to grow in positive ways. I’ve also experienced correction that served to tear me down with disparaging criticism. Such “correction” is usually birthed out of that person’s insecurities, past wounds, or desire for control and power. Again, how do I manage being corrected in the latter case without violating Jesus’ commands on love?

Most importantly, what about my own actions and motivations? How willing and able am I to tell someone they’ve hurt me without making it personal and destructive? When offering correction to others, in what ways do I act out of my own insecurities, past wounds, or desire for control and power? Are there people in my life who don’t have the courage or personal resources to tell me that I’ve hurt them, and if so, how do I feed that reluctance by my attitudes and actions toward them?

I wish I could give you the answers to all these questions. It’s inadequate to say, “Well, the answer from Jesus is simply to love,” because the rubber hits the road in discerning how to enact God’s love in tough situations. As Jesus says in another passage, it’s easy to love those who are lovable and who love us. It’s a challenge to love those who hurt or are destructive to us.

In my prayer this week, I focus on examining myself for how I can improve, and on praying for wisdom in my most difficult interactions. As I said, it’s not easy! But I trust that over time, and probably with a lot of trial and error, Christ will light my path and instruct me in the ways of divine love. I pray the same for you, too! It’s the only way to live the reign of God in our midst.

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:

Colossians 1:21-23
Luke 6:1-5

Reflection:

Come Queen Sabbath, Come Lord Jesus

When the mistress of the house sees three stars together in the sky, the sign that the Sabbath is over, she recites the ’t’chinoh’, a meditative prayer to our merciful God to feed and protect.

                                    “God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob,
                                    Guard Thy people Israel in Thine arbor;
                                    The beloved Sabbath is departing….”

It seems a small issue, the nibbling disciples rubbing the grain and eating it on the Sabbath. Our Lord offers a Scriptural exception to perhaps put judgement on hold. But the argument is far from satisfied. The Sabbath had developed many laws over the years, and their defenders are speaking from devotion and tradition.

The Sabbath arises among the Jewish people as a day of rest, a day of kindness to the tired animals, the working men, and an opportunity to extend charity to strangers and travelers. Before the kingdoms unite and Israel will go into exile, the day of rest is joined by assembling in the temple. We hear that because it is a Sabbath day the temple will be filled. And so that day is the best time for the coup d’erat against the evil queen Ataliah and the ascendancy of the young prince Jehu (Amos 8:5).

During the Exile in Babylon the Sabbath grew to importance equal to circumcision, the hallmark of the covenant with God. There was no temple or altar on which to offer sacrifice, but observance of the Sabbath could be observed. With the return to Jerusalem after the exile two lines of development are seen in understanding the Sabbath: many laws of observance were introduced, but also a “special parallel observance of delight, not a burden” was present. At this time grew also the synagogues which complimented the Sabbath day with study and prayer.

It was said of the Sabbath that it was a wonderful gift from the God of Israel; the pleasures of the Sabbath were one-sixteenth of the depth of the world to come; and, on the eve of Sabbath God gives man a special soul, and with the ending of Sabbath it is taken away from Him.’

In 3rd century Palestine the Talmud attests to wearing Sabbath cloths on Friday evening and saying , “Come, let us go out and meet the Sabbath Queen,” or “Come, bride; come, bride!” With the introduction of this ceremony the poetry of the Sabbath reaches its peak: a procession forms, cantor and congregation turn about at the last stanza of the song and face the door of the synagogue, as if they expected the royal bride, the Princess Sabbath, to come in to her beloved groom, Israel.

With Israel we who follow Jesus are also a people who wait and hope. Arguments happen, human things change and develop, but for God who rests times and seasons obey. Queen Sabbath and the Bride groom meet. But Queen Sabbath departs, so it seems. Let us celebrate their mystery and love as we wait.

Come Queen Sabbath, Come Lord Jesus. Your love and mystery we ponder.

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