The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Daily Scripture, February 27, 2020

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Luke 9:22-25

Reflection:

We begin another season of lent, contemplating what we can “give up”; how much chocolate or soda or gossip we can avoid for those forty days. But was that the intent of the comment, “take up your cross and follow me”? Isn’t it more? More about being Christ to others, more about serving the poor, the sick, the dying. If there is some way that passing up that Hershey bar helps someone, great; but, if there is something more valuable you can contribute to society in the form of service, why not try to make that your dedicated sacrifice – maybe it will turn into something as habit forming as a chocolate addiction!

God bless you!


Patty Masson resides in Houston, Texas.

Ash Wednesday

On March 2, the Church celebrates Ash Wednesday. 

Most of us learned early in our Catholic lives that Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, and that is a time of special sacrifice in preparation for the Easter celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection.

Dear brothers and sisters, every moment of our lives is a time for believing, hoping and loving…. These words of Pope Francis, taken from his Lenten Message of last year, 2021, and echoing the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity, can still inspire our answer to the question: “What am I giving up for Lent?” 

We can draw our Lenten sacrifices out of our daily life: 

Share our faith in God’s presence by sharing in prayer with our family or with those in our parish community.
Share our hope in God’s promises by encouraging positive and respectful dialogue in our family circle and among our friends. 
Share the charity God has bestowed on us in the Passion of Jesus, with those whose sufferings are ignored or aggravated.

Let us pray for one another as we enter the season of Lent. Our Passionist “motto” can be our daily prayer during Lent, “May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts.”