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The Love that Compels

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Daily Reflections

Daily Reflection, September 6, 2025

Scripture:

Colossians 1:21-23
Luke 6:1-5

Reflection:

I miss Pope Francis. No other world leader has ever connected with me as he did. Perhaps it was his human touch or that he instinctively knew how fragile we humans are and that we need compassion more than rules.

He taught me to think differently about my faith and thinking differently led to living differently. Because of him I want to believe I am more compassionate, less fearful of people’s differences, and more bold in living what I claim to hold dear.

Today’s Gospel selection reminds me of how Christ-like Francis was. The religious establishment of Jesus’ time had expectations, norms, that every good Jew was to accept as part of daily living.

As a boy in rural Indiana, I remember hiking through a wheat field in June, just before harvest, to crush a few hardened heads of grain, see how unmilled grain tasted. I didn’t care for it. A Hostess Cupcake, made of the same grain, was more to my liking.

To pluck grain on the Sabbath in Jesus time was a no-no, regardless of how hungry or curious one was. When the establishment powers questioned Jesus’ disciples’ simple act of popping a few grains into their waiting mouths, Jesus noted the leaders’ failure to see what was important in God’s eyes.

From God’s perspective, basic human needs are primary. Francis understood this and preached it.

Compassion.
Food.
Shelter.
Clothing.

Everyone needs these to live because God wants his Temples of the Holy Spirit, us, to not just stay alive but to thrive!

The challenge for comfortable middle-class faith communities today is to think like Jesus, not like the culture around us. To follow social norms to the letter, to be accepted in the eyes of others, to submit to the status quo, can miss the point of Christian life.

The prophetic life Jesus invites us to is a life of uncertainty, a life of surprises, because we see the world through Jesus’ eyes.

He wants us to take more risks, to be honest about the what is evil in our midst, to model how God wants humans to live.

Our world is fragile, causing many to react strongly to shore it up, to use whatever means . . . violent or otherwise . . . to keep things stable, to protect our “American Way of Life.” This is not the way of Christ.

What would happen in your comfortable parish if you suggested inviting the unhoused, the hungry, the lonely, the outcasts to share your pristine facilities, to let poor children use your polished gym floor, to regularly serve banquets in your parish hall for people living on the streets, or to open parishioners’ homes to refugees and immigrants, as Pope Francis suggested?

Jesus called for radical love, not radical adherence to rules. Rules can be helpful guidelines, but  more helpful for daily prophetic living are the Corporal Works of Mercy. Curiously, in Matthew 25, Jesus tells us these works of mercy, these “rules,” are the only ones that count when we meet our Maker face to face.

Jim Wayne is a member of the Passionist’s parish of St Agnes in Louisville, Kentucky. He served in the Kentucky House of Representatives for 28 years, is the author of the award-winning novel, The Unfinished Man, and chairs the Sister Thea Bowman Society for Racial Solidarity at St Agnes. He also serves on the Passionists Earth and Spirit Center Board in Louisville.

Daily Scripture, July 27, 2010

Scripture: Jeremiah 14:17-22 Matthew 13:36-43 Reflection: "The weeds are the children of the evil one." I was looking forward to my assignment this month.  I’ve had my Bible waiting on » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 26, 2010

Scripture: Jeremiah 13:1-11 Matthew 13:31-35 Reflection: Sometimes the little things in life do matter! A loincloth, a mustard seed, a particle of yeast…seemingly insignificant items that reveal a most significant » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 16, 2010

Scripture: Isaiah 38: 1-6, 21-22, 7-8 Matthew 12:1-8 Reflection: God bless my dad. He had a saying, "There are rules and regulations…" I’m not sure he ever finished the phrase. » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 15, 2010

Memorial of St. Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church Scripture: Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19 Matthew 11:28-30 Reflection: In the 11th chapter of his gospel Matthew gathers the teaching of » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 13, 2010

Scripture: Isaiah 7:1-9 Matthew 11:20-24 Reflection: What if you knew for certain that there was an event about to take place and you told everyone you knew and no one » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 12, 2010

Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-17 Matthew 10:34-11:1 Reflection: Once Swami Vivekanandha asked his disciples a question. When is it that you are in the daylight, and when is that you are in » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 10, 2010

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8 Matthew 10:24-33 Reflection: "Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known." Hmmm…really?  If that is the case, I’d better start » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 9, 2010

Passionist Feast of Mary, Our Mother of Holy Hope Scripture: Hosea 14:2-10 Matthew 10:16-23 Reflection: The feast of Mary, Our Mother of Holy Hope, is celebrated in the Passionist Congregation, » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 8, 2010

Scripture: Hosea 11:1-4, 8c-9 Matthew 10:7-15 Reflection: St. Paul of the Cross realized the necessity of benefactors in order to fulfill our mission. He spoke of our benefactors in the » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 7, 2010

Scripture: Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 Matthew 10:1-7 Reflection: The Eternal All-Holy God created humankind in holiness, but the first man chose to be independent of God.  Evil multiplied with murder  wholesale » Continue Reading.

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