The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Daily Scripture, February 28, 2018

Scripture:

Jeremiah 18:18-20
Matthew 20:17-28

Reflection:

Jesus asked the sons of Zebedee, ‘Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?’  They replied, ‘We can.”

During this season of Lent it behooves us to reflect on what our answer to Jesus would be when asked this question.

LORD, HOLD US IN YOUR MERCY?

When we turn away because of fear.
When we say, let me think about it and never do.
When we really want to say YES, but find it just too hard.

It was not easy for Jesus to embrace this chalice.  Remember in the garden when he prayed, ‘Father, if it is possible take this cup away from me!’

Recently I was privileged to hear the witness of several women in various stages of recovery who say yes daily to drinking the chalice of Jesus.  They are living through the pain of addiction, homelessness, prostitution, poverty, abuse, neglect and so much more.  Their recovery is filled with uncertainty, loneliness and fear.  Their courage and strength comes from a new found faith in a God who loves them unconditionally even when they are unable to love themselves.

Lent calls us to suffer and die to our pride, greed, selfishness, irresponsibility.  Jesus is asking us ‘Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?’  Our answer can only be YES!  May our Lenten journey open our minds and hearts to embrace the suffering of the cross thereby gaining everlasting life in the Lord.

Have a grace-filled Lent!


Theresa Secord is a Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.

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.”