• 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, November 30, 2011

  Feast of St. Andrew, apostle Scripture: Romans 10:9-18 Matthew 4:18-22     Reflection: The rain said to the wind, "You push and I’ll pelt." They so smote the garden » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 29, 2011

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10 Luke 10:21-24 Reflection: Today’s first reading from Isaiah is one of my favorites!  I immediately am reminded of the scene from the "Wizard of Oz", where the » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 27, 2011

First Sunday of Advent Scripture: Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:33-37 Reflection: "Watch therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming." "It’s beginning » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 26, 2011

Scripture: Daniel 7:15-27 Luke 21:34-36 Reflection: Today’s prophesy of Daniel brings us to the doorstep of Advent.  All is tumultuous.  There is confusion and uncertainty.  Kingdoms rise and fall.  If » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 25, 2011

Scripture: Daniel 7:2-14 Luke 21:29-33 Reflection: Every night before I go to sleep I watch ABC’s Nightline.  At the end of the program there is a segment called Sign of » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving Scripture: Daniel 6:12-28 Luke 21:29-33 Reflection: It is a bit surprising that in the Hebrew Scriptures there is no exact translation for thanksgiving.  Part of the problem is what » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 23, 2011

Scripture: Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 Luke 21:12-19 Reflection: In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus warns His disciples that they will be persecuted, and put in prison, and "led » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 22, 2011

Memorial of Saint Cecilia Scripture: Daniel 2:31-45 Luke 21:5-11 Reflection: Today in the church we remember St. Cecilia, and in my family, we are also remembering in a special way » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 21, 2011

  Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Scripture: Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20 Luke 21:1-4   Reflection: A bit of a jumble surrounds the liturgy today, corresponding somewhat to » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 19, 2011

Scripture: 1 Maccabees 6:1-13 Luke 20:27-40 Reflection: "God is not God of the dead but of the living, for God, all are alive." Luke 20:39 The first reading for today’s » Continue Reading.

  • « Previous
  • 1
  • …
  • 433
  • 434
  • 435
  • 436
  • 437
  • …
  • 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