• 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, January 29, 2025

Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-18Mark 4:1-20 Reflection:                                 Hear this! A sower went out to sow. –Mark 4:3 We are in the midst of winter and as I look out at my » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, January 28, 2025

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-10Mark 3:31-35 Reflection: HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025! As we begin this new year our scriptures of today call us to ponder and reflect! » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, January 27, 2025

Scripture: Hebrews 9:15, 24-28Mark 3:22-30 Reflection: In our Gospel reading for today, there are some scribes, who, apparently seeing or hearing about Jesus driving out demons, say, “He is possessed » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, January 26, 2025

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-101 Corinthians 12:12-30Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 Reflection: From St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians: Brothers and sisters:As a body is one though it has many parts,and » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, January 25, 2025

Scripture: Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22Mark 16:15-18 Reflection: To Rise Above the Toxins of Disparagement, Division, and Hatred…to Remain “Unharmed by Deadly Poison” Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, January 24, 2025

Scripture: Hebrews 8:6-13Mark 3:13-19 Reflection: There was an old military ballad that began with the lyrics: “Give me ten men who are stout-hearted men, and I’ll soon give you ten thousand » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, January 23, 2025

Scripture: Hebrews 7:25-8:6Mark 3:7-12 Reflection: In our Gospel reading, Mark relates that, even though Jesus “withdrew toward the sea with his disciples,” people followed Him, hoping to be healed. Their » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, January 22, 2025

Scripture: Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17Mark 3:1-6 Reflection: In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus is in a synagogue on the Sabbath, and there is a man there with a withered hand. » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, January 21, 2025

Memorial of St. Agnes Scripture: Hebrews 2:14-18Mark1:29-29 Reflection: Today is the feast of St. Agnes, a popular (twelve- or thirteen-year-old) early Roman persecution martyr. Her life has been celebrated on » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, January 20, 2025

Scripture: Hebrews 5:1-10Mark 2:18-22 Reflection: “…new wine is for fresh skins…” Why do your followers not…doesn’t that sound familiar?  A typically human response – we want everyone to do as » Continue Reading.

  • « Previous
  • 1
  • …
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • …
  • 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