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The Love that Compels

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Daily Reflections

Daily Scripture, May 23, 2025

Scripture:

Acts 15:22-31
John 15:12-17

Reflection:

In our first reading from Acts, we have the outcome from the meeting held in Jerusalem around the question whether Gentiles who had converted to Christianity had to become circumcised according to the Mosaic law observed by Jews. The apostles and elders discerned that the Gentile Christians did not have to be circumcised. In other words, the Gentile Christians did not have to be like Jews in order to be Christian

This account of a dispute in the early Church reminds us that conflicts can occur. And what is necessary to resolve such conflicts or debates is what we hear Jesus say at the beginning of our Gospel reading: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” 

We are called to love as Jesus loves, and we have an indication of what that means: “No one has greater love than this. To lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” I don’t see doing what Jesus commands us to do as a condition for Jesus to love us. I believe Jesus loves us no matter what. I see it more as saying, “This is what you need if you truly love me and want to be in a relationship with me: do what I command you to do.” 

Jesus also says: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain…” We are called to go and bear fruit, not spend time passing judgments on others. However, we may resolve the disputes and conflicts that come up, even within the church, we are called to resolve them in love.

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

Daily Scripture, June 24, 2020

Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-6 Acts 13:22-26 Luke 1:57-66, 80 Reflection: The Abyss of God’s Mercy “He shall be called John.” LK 1:60    My mother used » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, June 23, 2020

Scripture: 2 Kings 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36 Matthew 7:6, 12-14 Reflection: When I was young, there was a comic strip in the newspaper called “Pogo,” done by Walt Kelly. The » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, June 22, 2020

Scripture: 2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18 Matthew 7:1-5 Reflection: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged.” I remember hearing similar words so many times as I was growing up. » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, June 21, 2020

Scripture: Jeremiah 20:10-13 Romans 5:12-15 Matthew 10:26-33 Reflection: Fear No One Today we return to Ordinary Time… and green vestments. The drama of Pentecost, the mystery of the Body and » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, June 20, 2020

Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Scripture: Isaiah 61:9-11 Luke 2:41-51 Reflection: Today we celebrate the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a day to » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, June 19, 2020

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Scripture: Deuteronomy 7:6-11 1 John 4:7-16 Matthew 11:25-30 Reflection: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, June 18, 2020

Scripture: Sirach 48:1-14 Matthew 6:7-15 Reflection: In this passage one of Jesus’ disciples asks him how to pray?  Jesus answers the request with the “Our Father.”  In the early community » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, June 17, 2020

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Reflection: Nobody likes a showoff. But all of us, at least occasionally, enjoy being one, and that’s not surprising. Human beings hunger » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, June 16, 2020

Scripture: 1 Kings 21:17-29 Matthew 5:43-48 Reflection: Matthew has just finished giving the Beatitudes to his disciples.  In this passage he goes further and talks about the obstacles that are » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, June 15, 2020

Scripture: 1 Kings 21:1-16 Matthew 5:38-42 Reflection: …but I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil… How are we to interpret these words?  Are we called » Continue Reading.

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