Daily Scripture, February 24, 2025
Scripture:
Reflection:
Encountering Christ
I have often thought about some of the most impressive people I have encountered. It had to be Cardinal Ratzinger. Years ago he came to our monastery in Germany where I had a private concelebrated Mass with him and his sister. He was a great theologian and held a very high position in the Vatican. After our Mass, we had breakfast with him and his sister, with just me and another German Passionist. He asked me about my ministry and conditions in the United States. His English was very good and easy to understand. He was very kind, and it was a memorable experience. But I had no idea he would soon become our next Pope. If I knew I would have brought my camera and made extensive notes of our conversation.
In the Gospels, we find a long list of encounters with Christ. I counted 32 examples of people meeting and experiencing a personal encounter with Jesus. I am sure there are many more. In today’s Gospel in Mark, we find a distressed father of a possessed son meeting Christ and pleading for help. MK 9:22
Is this situation similar to when we meet Jesus? We believe He is close, but like the distraught father, we say: “But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” Jesus answers: “If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” What a great answer the father gives! “Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” The word “help” in the Greek-inspired NT is bo ae (cry out) and theo (run) . Run to my crying out! It is one of the beautiful words for prayer in NT
I did not realize what a wonderful presence the future Pope Benedict was to me. How very much more do we fail to recognize the constant and amazing presence of Christ with us twenty-four-seven! “Help” is a great prayer. What an opportunity when we encounter Jesus! “Until we’re convinced that prayer is the best way to spend our time, we will not find the time to pray”. Pope Benedict X111
I love the beautiful words of Pope Francis. “Every encounter with Jesus changes our lives, always! It is a step forward, a step closer to God. Thus, every encounter with Christ changes our lives. It is always. Always this way!”
Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.
Scripture:Proverbs 9:1-6Ephesians 5:15-20John 6:51-58Reflection:“The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”John 6:52The readings for today’s Mass invite us to eat and drink » Continue Reading.
Scriptures:Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32Matthew 19:13-15Reflection:What we do with our lives really does matter. How we live each day truly is of ultimate significance, because the cumulative effect of our daily » Continue Reading.
Scripture:Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63Matthew 19:3-12Reflection:The beautiful words of God’s care and love reverberate in these passages. We can even hearken back to Hosea 11 and Jeremiah 29 as further examples. » Continue Reading.
Solemnity of the Assumption of MaryScripture:Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab1 Corinthians 15:20-27Luke 1:39-56Reflection:Today we celebrate one of the most special feasts of our Blessed Mother, the feast of the Assumption. This » Continue Reading.
Memorial of Saint Maximilian KolbeScripture:Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-22Matthew 18:15-20Reflection:Saint Maximilian Kolbe: A Beacon of Sacrifice and HeroismSaint Maximilian Kolbe, a twentieth-century Polish Franciscan priest and martyr canonized by Pope John Paul » Continue Reading.
Scripture:Ezekiel 2:8-3:4Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14Reflection:Ezekiel was a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem when he was called by God to warn the people of immanent destruction. If the people did » Continue Reading.
Scripture:Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28cMatthew 17:22-27Reflection:In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus makes the first prediction of his coming passion and death late in Chapter 16. This prediction bewilders, confuses and frustrates his disciples resulting » Continue Reading.
Scripture:1 Kings 19:4-8Ephesians 4:30-5:2John 6:41-51Reflection:The Jews mumbled about Jesus because he said, ‘I am the bread of life that came down from heaven.’To understand today’s gospel, part of the Bread » Continue Reading.
Scripture:2 Corinthians 9:6-10John 12:24-26Reflection:Whenever I’m going through a difficult time, I have trouble maintaining focus in my contemplative prayer practice. I recently became increasingly frustrated – and guilty – over » Continue Reading.
Scripture:Nahum 2:1, 3:3:1-3, 6-7Matthew 16:24-28Reflection:Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein),a Very Good Professor.Every August 9th I have a conversation with Sr. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, OCD, (Edith Stein). » Continue Reading.