The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Daily Scripture, February 4, 2016

Scripture:Lent week 2 - reflection

1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12
Mark 6:7-13

Reflection:

 

A Disciple’s Love

As Jesus gathered the Apostles together and sent them out to preach and heal, they must have been filled with both excitement and fear.  To preach repentance, to heal, to have authority over unclean spirits…with your only resources being your faith in Jesus, the clothes on your back, sandals and a walking stick…Wow!  And – it worked!  They drove out many demons, anointed the sick and shared God’s healing love.  To be able to come back to Jesus and report what happened…priceless!

In our own way, we share that same call as 21st century disciples:  to bring the Good News of Jesus to our needy world and its people.  No small task in our large and complex world which is beset with all-too-many suffering and human tragedies!

Jesus missioned those early Apostles in a spirit of simplicity and sharp focus.  Today’s call to Jesus’ mission comes to many of us in the midst of personal lives that are complex, cluttered, and most likely all-too-busy.  Our desktops, smartphones and calendars are filled with all sorts of opportunities, commitments and challenges.  As we are sent out, our tendency is to carry along all our “baggage” (witness recent holiday travel on airlines!).

Just perhaps today’s Scripture is meant to encourage us in simplifying and refocusing our lives — just as David did with his son Solomon as death drew near.  Jesus’ Message is clear today as it was centuries ago:  believe in Him and follow his example of all-inclusive, selfless, sacrificial love; live as if today were the ultimate day of life on earth and the gateway to the fulfillment of Life which is Heaven.  Food for thought:  What needs to be set aside?  Jesus encourages only a simple tunic, a walking stick and a pair of sandals…

With Lent on the immediate horizon, I can hear Jesus speak to us:  “disciples:  simplify, and take time for yourselves:  some peace & quiet in prayer, time for a personal retreat, the opportunity to see the sun rise or set in these frosty winter days, time to get back in touch with family and friends, time to experience the mercy of God in this special Jubilee Year.”  Let’s preach the Good News of Jesus — mercy, repentance, healing, love — by our lives, using words if necessary!

Amen!

 

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is a member of the Passionist community in Chicago, Illinois. 

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.”