Daily Scripture, February 20, 2020
Scripture:
Reflection:
In today’s Gospel Peter got it right…almost! When Jesus asked his disciples who they thought he was, it was Peter who responded, “You are the Christ.” No doubt Peter felt pretty good about his response and well he should. Apparently, some of the others were a bit hesitant to apply that title to Jesus. But not Peter. He stepped up and voiced his belief for all to hear.
Then Jesus does something a bit strange. As soon as Peter applied the title “Christ” to him, Jesus begins to teach that he must suffer, be rejected, be killed and rise after three days. Clearly, these kinds of experiences didn’t fit with being the “Christ” in Peter’s mind. He pulled Jesus aside and scolded him for talking of such things. Jesus reacts almost violently. “Get behind me Satan! You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do!”
Let’s face it, most of us tend to think as “human beings” do! Just recall St. Paul’s comment in First Corinthians that the sufferings of Jesus are “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles…” (I Cor 1:23) Few of us factor “suffering” into our understanding of a rich and satisfying life, especially if that life is our own or that of someone we love. Today’s Gospel seems to be inviting us to take a different look at the way we think about our lives. If suffering is essential to the life of Jesus, it is just possible that suffering is essential to our lives as well. If suffering is essential to our lives and not just the result of mindless circumstance or accident, perhaps we should look to the suffering in our lives to teach us important truths about our world, ourselves and, of course, God.
Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director retreats at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.
Scripture: Ezekiel 36:23-28 Matthew 22:1-14 Reflection: It’s fun to wrestle with the paradoxes of Scripture. At one point Jesus says, "Peace is my gift to you, my peace I want to leave you," but in another place Jesus says, "I didn’t come to bring peace, » Continue Reading.
Feast of St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church Scripture: Ezekiel 34:1-11 Matthew 20:1-16 Reflection: Well, it happened! The whole world watched Michael Phelps swim into Olympic history and claim the title of "the greatest Olympian of all time!" While we watched this amazing » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 Psalms 67: 3, 5-6, 8 Romans 11: 13-15, 29-32 Matthew 15: 2-18 Reflection: All four readings in today’s liturgy speak of the love of a God who has no boundaries. The God of today’s readings embraces diversities: geographical, ethnical, and theological. » Continue Reading.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Scripture: Revelations 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 Luke 11: 27-28 Reflection: The Solemnity of Our Lady’s Assumption is "the summer feast" for those of us in the Northern hemisphere. I remember as a young boy, this feast, » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Ezekiel 28:1-10 Matthew 19:23-30 Reflection: In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus talks to His disciples about the difficulty of the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Some people interpret the image of "the eye of a needle" as a low or narrow passageway. But » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Ezekiel 12:1-12 Matthew 18:21-1-:1 Reflection: There are times when we feel we are accomplishing very little with our lives. We get "down" on ourselves, and appreciate any "upper" that might give us a sense of our dignity and worth. We have such help in » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Habakkuk 1:12-2:4 Matthew 17:14-20 Reflection: Today’s Gospel tells the story of the disappointed man who brings his mentally ill son to the apostles for a cure. Because of their little faith, Jesus says, his disciples were not able to help him. Then Jesus challenges » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Ezekiel 9:1-7, 10:18-22 Matthew 18:15-20 Reflection: Jesus said to his disciples: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:22-33 Reflection: One of the ways Gospel teaching unfolds is through Jesus’ use of contrast. Whether it’s the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:10ff) or Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:19ff), the » Continue Reading.
The feast of St. Dominic Scripture: Nahum 2:1,3, 3:1-3 Matthew 16:24-28 Reflection: As today the Olympics begin in Beijing, China, the Church celebrates the life of one of its "Olympians": St. Dominic helped the Church "run the race" in the late 1100’s and early 1200’s, » Continue Reading.
