• 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
    • Opening Mass of the Passionist Jubilee Year
    • Video: 300th Jubilee – English
    • Video: Jubileo Pasionista – Español
    • Jubilee Icon Itinerary
    • Jubilee Resources
    • Jubilee Song
  • Pray
    • Lent 2021
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • 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
    • Nicholas Divine, CP, Ordination to the Diaconate
    • 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, January 20, 2017

Scripture:Red Hood-Cross

Hebrews 8:6-13
Mark 3:13-19

Reflection:

Our Scripture readings for today have led me to reflect on what it means to be church. Our reading from the letter to the Hebrews speaks about the new covenant we have in Jesus Christ. A covenant implies a relationship not only between God and individuals, but between God and a people, a community. In our Gospel reading, Jesus calls twelve disciples as Apostles. Why did Jesus call twelve? It’s clear that Jesus is making a parallel to the Twelve Tribes of Israel making up the Chosen People.

As a church, one of the ways we refer to ourselves is as the People of God. If we as a church were to see ourselves as a community of faith in mission, it would be a powerful witness to the world. Can we come together as a community, as a church? I don’t ask that question lightly. Just as it is in society, there are many things that can divide us even though we hold a common faith. Political and cultural differences seem to play themselves out in the church as much as they do in the broader society. But even apart from those considerations, there are also the all-too-human tendencies to turf wars and rivalries.

There are bound to be differences of opinion and even conflicts in any institution made up of human beings, and the Church is no exception. But we are called to something different when it comes to resolving conflicts. We are called to something different than one faction trying to eliminate or dominate the other. That is the way of the world. Rather, we are called to love each other as Christ loves us. Our proclamation of the Good News of Jesus’ love carries much more weight when people can see that love in the church.

Like the Twelve, we are called to preach by our lives the love of God in Jesus Christ! And when we come together and support each other in living out our faith, we can help cast out the demons of prejudice and fear and division. May the Good News shine through us together!

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P. is on staff at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan. 

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