Daily Scripture, March 4, 2025
Scripture:
Reflection:
Following Jesus…Really!
Today’s Gospel selection flows from yesterday’s Gospel wherein the evangelist Mark relates the touching saga of a rich young man who runs after Jesus, kneels before Him and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus looked at him with love and reminded him of the Commandments and the need to be free from all attachments, even worldly goods, and then follow Him. The young man went away sad for he had many possessions.
Jesus then challenged his disciples by commenting how hard it is for those with wealth to enter the Kingdom of God. He also encouraged them: “All things are possible for God”…even camels moving through the eye of a needle…
Then Peter questions Jesus and takes the idea a step further, speaking for so many of us: what about us, we’ve left everything?? Jesus states that we’ll receive “a hundredfold” of good things – and some persecution, and eternal life in the age to come. Great!! But…huh?…really??
Following Jesus as 21st Century disciples means following His very Life. As countless spiritual authors have reflected, that means letting Jesus’ life become our way of life, which includes a litany of transformative virtues: sensitivity, celebration, compassion, openness, willingness, determination, generosity, prayerfulness, selflessness, sacrifice…yes, unconditional love.
The great season of renewal called “Lent 2025” starts tomorrow, and today’s Gospel helps prime the pump for a possible approach to our Lenten “metanoia” or change of heart. Jesus invites us to ponder His life, to follow Him, to help our sisters and brothers worldwide experience God’s love for them in their every blessing and need.
May Jesus look at each of us with love and share with us His encouragement to “do the impossible”: to freely and lovingly join Him in lives of selfless love and service. May we be blessed these days…and every day, both on earth and –with God’s loving help – in heaven!
Fr. John Schork, C.P. serves as the Province Vocation Director and also as Local Superior of the Passionist Community of Holy Name in Houston, Texas.
Mother’s Day Scripture: Acts 9:26-31 1 John 3:18-24 John 15:1-8 Reflection: I am fascinated by the theme of connection that runs through today’s readings. We are connected to Christ, the » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 13:26-33 John 14:1-6 Reflection: Easter is a season of 50 days. We need time to grasp and soak in the reality of the resurrection. During this season, we » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 13:44-52 John 14:7-14 Reflection: There comes a time in the life of almost every woman when she looks at her reflection in a mirror and sees not herself » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 13:13-25 John 13:16-20 Reflection: From this day until Pentecost, our gospels come from the Book of Glory, the discourses of the Lord that St. John locates after the » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 12:24-13:5a John 12:44-50 Reflection: In the reading from Acts, we see the beginning of the first of three missionary journeys that Paul the Apostle will undertake. Paul (he » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 11:19-26 John 10:22-30 Reflection: Perhaps it is commonplace to want things in black and white. When things are in black-and-white we don’t need to deal with certain ambiguities. » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 4:8-12 1 John 3:1-2 John 10:11-18 Reflection: The Word Please, contemplate, carefully, the first line of St. John’s letter today: "See what love the Father has given us." » Continue Reading.
Feast of St. Joseph the Worker Scripture: Acts 9:1-20 John 6:52-59 Reflection: "Is he not the carpenter’s son? Where did Jesus get all this?" Today’s feast was established by Pope Pius » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 8:26-40 John 6:44-51 Reflection: When we are about to receive Holy Communion the priest or Eucharistic Minister holds up the host and says, "The Body of Christ," and » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 9:31-42 John 6:60-69 Reflection: Today’s readings continue the "work" of the Easter Season – that of deepening our faith in the Risen One, Jesus. In the Gospel Reading, » Continue Reading.