The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Daily Scripture, February 8, 2014

Scripture:

1 Kings 3:4-13
Mark 6:30-34

Reflection:

Today’s readings are rich with meaning and contain much for us to treasure.  Certainly Solomon’s humble plea for a compassionate heart is one that we should regularly imitate in our prayers;  and Jesus’ care for the hungry multitudes in the Gospel inspires us, as His disciples, to reach out, evangelizing and caring for those in need.  But I am struck by the first line of the Gospel:  "The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught." 

Our lives are so busy, so filled with activities – some worthwhile and important, and others- not so much.  Our prayer is often about asking or about getting away from it all: finding quiet time, escaping the hustle and bustle to bask in God’s love.  And this is surely a good thing.  Retreating from the world and materialism and the things that encumber our lives is necessary for our spiritual being and growth, and coming to God with our needs is always a beautiful prayer.    But, we are, after all, called to be to be about Christ’s work in all that we do.  I wonder if we made reporting all that we have done part of our daily prayer, if it wouldn’t help us to be better disciples.  In the business world, regular reporting of activities is a wise operational function.  Maybe it would also be a good idea for our spiritual life.

I wonder what the Apostles said when they gathered together with Jesus and shared what they had done.  Did they perhaps talk about  the supper they had eaten with a village family and how they told them of the Messiah or did they let him know about a crying child they tried to comfort or did they maybe relate how a ripped sandal had prevented them from travelling as far as they had planned.

What would you say if you reported to Jesus ALL that you have done this day?  Maybe the very fact that we are reporting might help us make better decisions about what we do, about how we use our time and resources.   As they say, "Couldn’t hurt."

 

Mary Lou Butler is a long-time friend and partner in ministry to the Passionists in California.

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.”