• 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’
    • 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
    • Celebrating the Season of Creation
  • 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, July 2, 2025

Scripture:

Genesis 21:5, 8-20a
Matthew 8:28-34

Reflection:

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
When the poor one called out, the Lord heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.  ~ Psalm 34:7

This psalm response summarizes the message of today’s Scripture readings: God hears the cry of the poor, and God acts on their behalf.

And today’s readings show us very graphically what poverty looks like. In our first reading from Genesis, we find Hagar, a slave put out into the wilderness with her child, with a little food and water. When the water ran out, Hagar wept bitterly as she despaired for the life of her child. And in the Gospel reading for today, Jesus encounters two violent men, possessed by demons, feared by those around them, and relegated to living in the tombs outside of town. They cry out to Jesus for help.

The slave woman, her child and the two men living in the tombs are all on the margins of society, meaning they do not benefit from the economic and social assets enjoyed in the mainstream. Low status in society (being a slave) and those whose behavior does not conform to society’s standards, (violent and erratic behavior) lead one to the margins—and to poverty.

But God hears the cry of the poor. Hagar’s son is named “Ishmael”, which means “God hears.” God hears Hagar’s cry for her child’s life and sends an angel to help her. And Jesus hears the cry of the poor men living in the tombs and releases them from their demons.

Pope Francis, in an address for the World Day of the Poor in 2018, reaffirmed that the cries of the poor find a hearing with God. And then Pope Francis put out a challenge to us Christians: “Do we have eyes to see, ears to hear, hands outstretched to offer help? ‘Christ Himself appeals to the charity of His disciples in the person of the poor.’ (Gaudium et Spes). He asks us to recognize Him in all those who are hungry and thirsty, in the stranger and those stripped of dignity, in the sick and those in prison. The Lord stretches out His hand, freely and not out of duty. And so, it must be with us.”

Patty Gillis is a retired Pastoral Minister. She serves on the Board of Directors at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroi, Michigant. Patty is currently a member of the Laudato Si Vision Fulfillment Team and the Passionist Solidarity Network.

Daily Scripture, April 26, 2011

Scripture: Acts 2:36-41 John 20:11-18 Reflection: The Gospel of John presents us with a striking story of Mary Magdalene’s grief. Her heart is broken and her grief at the loss of Jesus » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 20, 2011

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-9a Matthew 26:14-25 Reflection: "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me… they began to say to Him one after another, surely it is not » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 19, 2011

Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-6 John 13:21-33, 36-38 Reflection: False witnesses have stood up against me and my enemies threaten violence; Lord, do not surrender me into their power! (Psalm 26:12-Entrance Antiphon). » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 17, 2011

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Matthew 26:14-27:66 or 27:11-54     Reflection: Holy Week in my house has always been a time » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 16, 2011

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:21-28 John 11:45-56 Reflection: There is only a short space of time at Mass, minutes, between the first reading, which soothes us with its promise of peace, to » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 15, 2011

Scripture: Jeremiah 20:10-13 John 10:31-42 Reflection: Jeremiah was the last great prophet before the catastrophe that overtook kingdom of Judea: the sacking of Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple, and » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, Aprl 14, 2011

Scripture: Genesis 17:3-9 John 8:51-59 Reflection: As we draw closer to the most sacred week of the entire Liturgical year we see in our readings today a wonderful parallel between » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 13, 2011

Scripture: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 John 8:31-42 Reflection: Many of us have probably heard the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and the fiery furnace from our childhood.  It’s a popular story which has » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 12, 2011

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9 John 8:21-30 Reflection: Jesus said to them, "You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 10, 2011

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:12-14 Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45 Reflection: After my husband died suddenly, I remember praying that God would bring him back to life like » Continue Reading.

  • « Previous
  • 1
  • …
  • 446
  • 447
  • 448
  • 449
  • 450
  • …
  • 522
  • 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