• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Laudato Si’
    • Making Room: Lent Reflection Series
    • Celebrating the Season of Creation
    • Passion of the Earth, Wisdom of the Cross
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Small Grants to Implement Laudato Siˊ
    • Statement on Texas Elementary School Tragedy
  • Pray
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Video: Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • The Passionist Way
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Magazine
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Haiti
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Vision Fulfillment Newsletters
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Vocation Resources
    • Father Phillip Donlan, CP, Ordination
    • Are You Being Called?
    • 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
    • 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 Scripture, April 15, 2019

Scripture:

Isaiah 42:1-7
John 12:1-11

Reflection:

Does our first reading sound familiar?  “I, the Lord, have called you for a victory of justice…to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.” (cf. Isaiah 42:6-9)

It reminds us of the familiar passage read during the Christmas season, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (cf. Isaiah 9:1-6)  And the passage from chapter 61 of Isaiah comes to mind, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners.” (cf. Isaiah 61:1-3)

Christian tradition has seen these passages fulfilled in Jesus.  But have they really been fulfilled?  There are still people among us who are blind, walking in darkness.  There are still prisoners confined to dungeons, waiting for release.  There has yet to be achieved a “victory of justice.”

Maybe we can make a similar application of the words of St. Paul to the Colossians.  He writes, “in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ…” (Colossians 1:24)  We, the Body of Christ, are called to “fill up what is lacking,” to continue working for the victory of justice that was begun in Jesus.

In his short lifetime on earth Jesus could not do everything but he did do something.  None of us can do everything, but each of us can do something.  Jesus spelled out the course.  Jesus set the pace.  Now we, by our words, our actions and our enthusiasm are to be Christ in action today.  We are to give light to those living in ignorance and fear.  We are to help free those shackled by selfishness and sin.  We are to wipe out oppression with the power of love.

If the task seems intimidating, we find our strength in today’s Psalm response, “The Lord is my hope and my salvation; whom should I fear.” (Psalm 27:1)  Let’s do it.

 

Fr. Alan Phillip, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.   http://www.alanphillipcp.com/

 

Footer

Facebook Feed

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

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 © 2023 | Log in