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The Love that Compels

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Daily Reflections

Daily Scripture, July 14, 2025

Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin

Scripture:

Exodus 1:8-14, 22
Matthew 10:34-11:1

Reflection:

The Enduring Shadow of Cruelty

When we look back at history, as far back as the oldest writings of the Old Testament, the patterns of human cruelty are stark and undeniable. From the ancient Egyptians’ subjugation of the Jewish people to the systematic genocide perpetrated by the Germans in the last century, the echoes of injustice reverberate. We see it in the brutal enslavement of Africans by 17th and 18th-century plantation owners in the Americas, and in the genocide inflicted upon indigenous peoples by settlers across the continent. Today is no exception. Tyrants and the people who support them unleash invasions and bombs, indiscriminately murdering innocent civilians.

A Call to Action: Choosing Compassion

Given this enduring legacy of cruelty, how can each of us contribute to nudging human behavior away from it, starting within our own families and communities? Is it truly so difficult to love both our neighbors and our enemies?

Every moment presents a choice. When we have a stressful thought or when someone causes us stress, what can we do to transform our thinking into positive thoughts and action? Or when we feel offended, don’t we have an opportunity to transform that offense into deeper understanding? We can choose compassion over contempt, and empathy over animosity. By making these conscious choices, we begin to dismantle the roots of cruelty, one interaction at a time.

.Jack Dermody is President of Share Our Gifts, Inc., a Passionist alumni organization dedicated to assisting those who live in poverty; he is also editor of CrossRoads, the Passionist Alumni Association’s newsletter.

Daily Scripture, October 11, 2014

Scripture: Galatians 3:22-29 Luke 11:27-28 Reflection: "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed!" What the woman declared is true.  Mary was blessed to » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 10, 2014

Scripture: Galatians 3:7-14 Luke 11:15-26 Reflection: In the opening of the Star Wars trilogy, a planet is destroyed and the tragedy reverberates through The Force. This delineates the "bad guys" » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 8, 2014

Scripture: Galatians 2:1-2,7-14 Luke 11:1-4 Reflection: Today’s readings speak to the call of Christians to universality-another way of saying that we have been told to love everyone.  In the First » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 7, 2014

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary Scripture: Galatians 1:13-24 Luke 10:38-42 Reflection: St. Benedict told us hundreds of years ago, that there is only one thing that is important, » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 4, 2014

Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi Scripture: Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 Luke 10:17-24 Reflection: This past week we’ve been privileged to walk with the Old Testament person Job and prayerfully » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 6, 2014

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-12 Luke 10: 25-37 Reflection: Three week ago, Pope Francis talked about the function of law. He said laws are needed and can be good. However, Jesus did » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 5, 2014

Scripture: Isaiah 5:1-7 Philippians 4:6-9 Matthew 21:33-43 Reflection: "Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 3, 2014

Scripture: Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5 Luke 10:13-16 Reflection: "Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence where can I flee? If I go up to the heavens, you » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 2, 2014

Memorial of the Guardian Angels Scripture: Job 19:21-27 Matthew 18:1-5, 10 Reflection: What do we think of Angels in 2014?  Where do our notions of what Angels are and what » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 1, 2014

Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux Scripture: Job 9:1-12, 14-16 Luke 9:57-62 Reflection: Today is the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, ranked with St. Francis of Assisi as the » Continue Reading.

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