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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, February 6, 2010

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:4-13 Mark 6:30-34 Reflection: Solomon was the second son of David and Bathsheba and the third king of Israel. He ruled for about forty years, expanding the » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, February 5, 2010

Scripture: Sirach 47:2-11 Mark 6:14-29 Reflection: Over the past two weeks, the Old Testament readings have been journeying with David.  We’ve seen him in his youthful days, through the adventures of his » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, February 4, 2010

Scripture: 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 Mark 6:1-13 Reflection: A Disciple’s Love As Jesus gathered the Apostles together and began to send them out to preach and heal, they must have » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, February 3, 2010

Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17 Mark 6:1-6 Reflection: If I want to follow Jesus and "accept" Him as the Will of the Father guiding my life, then I am willing » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, February 2, 2010

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Scripture: Malachy 3:1-4 Psalm 24: 7, 8, 9, 10 Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40 (alt., Luke 2:22-32)   Reflection: Sometimes we struggle to understand » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, February 1, 2010

  Scripture: 2 Samuel 15: 13-14, 30; 16:5-13 Psalm 3: 2-3. 4-5, 6-7 Mark 5: 1-20     Reflection: Through the stories in the Book of Samuel, we have been » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, January 30, 2010

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:1-7a, 10-17 Mark 4:35-41 Reflection: One of the most famous statements concerning fear is the message President Franklin Roosevelt gave the nation in 1933, when the country » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, January 31, 2010

Scripture: Jeremiah 1: 4-5 ,17-19 1Corinthians 12: 31, 13: 4-13 Luke 4: 21-30   Reflection: "…Love is patient, love is kind.  It is not jealous, it is not pompous…." Not » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, January 28, 2010

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29 Mark 4:21-25 Reflection: "Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, January 27, 2010

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:4-17 Mark 4:1-20 Reflection: "But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and » Continue Reading.

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