• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Migration
    • Statement from Passionist Leadership Regarding Current United States Immigration Policies
    • The Global Migration Crisis: What Can a Retreat Center Do?
  • Laudato Si’
    • Celebrating the Season of Creation
    • Laudato Si’ 2023-24 Report and 2024-25 Plan
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Sustainable Purchasing
      • Sustainable Purchasing Guide
      • Hints for Sustainable Meetings and Events
      • Sustainable Living Hints
    • Passion of the Earth, Wisdom of the Cross
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
  • Pray
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Video: Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • The Passionist Way
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Magazine
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Come and See Holy Week Discernment Retreat
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Province Leadership
    • Vocation Resources
    • Passionist Brothers
    • The Life of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Discerning Your Call
    • Pray With Us
    • Passionist Vocation Directors
    • World Day for Consecrated Life
    • Lay Partnerships
  • Connect
    • Find a Passionist
    • Passionist Websites
    • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Alumni Association
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
      • St. Gemma Circle of Giving Intentions
    • Leave a Legacy
      • Giving Matters
      • Ways to Give
      • Donor Relations
      • Testimonials
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Learn
    • Our Passionist History: Webinar Series
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • Our Founder
    • History
    • The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross
    • The Diary of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Mission and Charism
    • Saints and Blesseds
    • FAQs
    • Find a Passionist
    • STUDIES IN PASSIONIST HISTORY AND SPIRITUALITY
  • Safe Environments

Daily Reflections

Daily Scripture, September 17, 2025

Scripture:

1 Timothy 3:14-16
Luke 7:31-35

Reflection:

Our readings today might aptly be described as a “lesson on manners,” a brief but very insightful tutorial on how Christians ought and ought not to behave. In the passage from 1 Timothy, we are reminded that through baptism we were incorporated into “the household of God.” Even though all of us belong to multiple “households” (family, friendships, local communities, groups and organizations), none should ever become more important than the household of God, which is “the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.” The household of God is our true place of belonging, the foundation and center of our lives; no other “household” should ever supplant it.

Lest we think the household of God is a haphazard collection of individuals, each doing as he or she pleases, the writer insists that every member should “know how to behave in the household of God.” That’s because as we grow as members of that household, we are initiated into the ways of God that have been revealed to us in Christ. By learning the “manners” of Christ, we can fulfill our baptismal vocation of witnessing Christ in our lives until, as 1 Timothy promises, he is “believed in throughout the world.”

By contrast, today’s strange nugget of a gospel shows us how not to behave; it is a pithy, if initially perplexing, lesson in “bad manners.” Jesus zeroes in on people who are always finding fault, always criticizing, and using that as an excuse to reject the message as well as the messenger. John the Baptist comes along, and rather than taking his message to heart, they declare, “He is possessed by a demon.” Then Jesus stands right in front of them, and rather than opening their hearts to receive him, they mock him as “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” As a result, they stay exactly as they were, untouched, unchanged, unredeemed. That’s not only bad manners; it’s also an inconsolable tragedy.

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 of Holy Cross Province.

Daily Scripture, May 9, 2025

Scripture: Acts 9:1-20John 6:52-59 Reflection: Daring to Enter the Conversation As Jesus concludes speaking of Himself as the Bread of Life, John notes that Jesus was teaching in the synagogue » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 8, 2025

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40John 6:44-51 Reflection: It is one of those amazing Spring mornings when the sunlight glistening off the dew on the grass and the budding tree branches waving in » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 7, 2025

Scripture: Acts 8:1b-8John 6:35-40 Reflection: Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,because I came down from heaven not » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 6, 2025

Scripture: Acts 7:51-8:1aJohn 6:30-35 Reflection: Decades ago, on cool May mornings with the smell of honeysuckle in the air, my grandmother and I walked a mile on a narrow rural » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 5, 2025

Scripture: Acts 6:8-15John 6:22-29 Reflection: Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people.   –Acts 6:8 Amen, amen, I say to you, you are » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 4, 2025

Scripture: Acts 5:27-32,40-41Revelation 5:11-14John 21:1-19 Reflection: “…Feed My Lambs…My Sheep.” We continue to celebrate the heart of our faith, this great season of Easter – and today’s Scriptures highlight the » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 3, 2025

Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8John 14:6-14 Reflection: One of the simplest yet profound summaries of Jesus—summarising his being, mission, and relationship to us—is his » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 2, 2025

Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Scripture: Acts 5:34-42John 6: 1-15 Reflection: Although St. Athanasius lived in the fourth century, he experienced persecution much like the » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 1, 2025

Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker Scripture: Genesis 1:26b-2:3Matthew 13:54-58 Reflection: Where did he get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Jesus’ neighbors were puzzled » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 30, 2025

Scripture: Acts 5:17-26John 3:16-21 Reflection: A gentile came up to the great rabbi Hillel and challenged him: “Teach me the Torah while I stand on one foot.”  Hillel responded: “That » Continue Reading.

  • « Previous
  • 1
  • …
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • …
  • 527
  • Next »

Footer

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

Name

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province
660 Busse Highway | Park Ridge, IL 60068
Tel: 847.518.8844 | Toll-free: 800.295.9048 | Fax: 847.518.0461
Safe Environments | Board Member Portal | Copyright © 2025 | Log in