• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Online Masses
    • Passionist Online Masses and Services
  • 300th Jubilee
    • Jubilaeum Video
    • Opening Mass of the Passionist Jubilee Year
    • Video: 300th Jubilee – English
    • Video: Jubileo Pasionista – Español
    • Jubilee Icon Itinerary
    • Jubilee Resources
    • Jubilee Song
  • Pray
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Video: Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Passionist Magazine
      • Passionist Magazine, Spring 2020
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Haiti
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Vision Fulfillment Newsletters
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Fr. Nicholas Divine, CP, Ordination
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Discerning Your Call
    • Pray With Us
    • Passionist Vocation Directors
    • Lay Partnerships
  • Connect
    • Find a Passionist
    • Passionist Websites
    • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Alumni Association
      • Reunions
      • 2019 Passionist Alumni Reunion
      • Welcome
      • Letter from the Provincial
        • These Men We Call Our Brothers
      • Mission Statement
      • CrossRoads Bulletin
      • Alumni Enrollment Form
        • Alumni Survey
      • Reunion Photo Gallery
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
    • Leave a Legacy
      • Giving Matters
      • Ways to Give
      • Donor Relations
      • Testimonials
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Learn
    • 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, December 7, 2015

Scripture:Gold Candles

Isaiah 35:1-10
Luke 5:17-26

Reflection:

Sitting in a meeting not long ago, the question arose on where we should start the evening’s reading. I offered what seemed to me a perfectly logical spot when the chair responded with another location a whole page before my suggestion. Thinking he had missed the obvious I repeated my recommendation. He again gave his original suggestion. After a few more back and forth banters (I don’t give up easily, especially when I think it’s obvious) the gathered community chose to start at the “wrong” spot.

Forgiving the chairperson did not come easily. As we reached the paragraph where I thought we should have begun, I was sure everyone including the moderator would then understand that my suggestion was surely the right place to start. In the comments afterwards however, a number of people said how happy they were that we started where we did. No one said they thought Dan’s suggestion was better.

I began to forgive the moderator for being right and accept that I may not always have the answer. The moderator eventually shared his reflection and I was able to hear what he was saying. He started with “I don’t believe in god…” (I let that go without a need to explain why I do believe). Then he shared a most inspiring and practical suggestion. He said instead of working at making an examination of conscience before going to sleep, he follows the Buddhist’s practice of listening to his thoughts, letting the spirit (he didn’t call it the spirit) lead the examen. With that practice he quickly falls asleep. I tried it and have continued doing it since then. It works!

Thank you God for giving me eyes to see and ears to hear. I’m often slow like the Scribes and Pharisees in today’s gospel selection.


Dan O’Donnell is a Passionist Partner and a longtime friend of the Passionists.  He lives in Chicago. 

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 © 2021 | Log in