• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Migration
    • Statement from Passionist Leadership Regarding Current United States Immigration Policies
    • The Global Migration Crisis: What Can a Retreat Center Do?
  • Laudato Si’
    • Laudato Si’ 2023-24 Report and 2024-25 Plan
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Sustainable Purchasing
      • Sustainable Purchasing Guide
      • Hints for Sustainable Meetings and Events
      • Sustainable Living Hints
    • Passion of the Earth, Wisdom of the Cross
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Celebrating the Season of Creation
  • Pray
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Video: Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • The Passionist Way
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Magazine
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Come and See Holy Week Discernment Retreat
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Province Leadership
    • Vocation Resources
    • Passionist Brothers
    • The Life of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Discerning Your Call
    • Pray With Us
    • Passionist Vocation Directors
    • World Day for Consecrated Life
    • Lay Partnerships
  • Connect
    • Find a Passionist
    • Passionist Websites
    • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Alumni Association
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
      • St. Gemma Circle of Giving Intentions
    • Leave a Legacy
      • Giving Matters
      • Ways to Give
      • Donor Relations
      • Testimonials
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Learn
    • Our Passionist History: Webinar Series
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • 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 24, 2022

Scripture:

2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10
Mark 3:22-30

Reflection:

Prayer, Remaining in His Love

These words in John’s Gospel have to be some of the most remarkable in the New Testament!  “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:9  That Jesus loves us with such vehemence as like the love between Father and Son in the Trinity! This has to be the greatest unmerited gift that God could give us!  The response to this love that God has for us has to be something infinitely more than living a good moral life and service to others as important as this is.  There is today a rather persistent tendency to reduce all Christianity to morality and to the neglect the deep encounter with God in a prayerful and contemplative life.

The Vatican Council in Gaudium et Spes beautifully reminds us of our relationship with God.  “The root reason for human dignity lies in humanity’s call to communion with God. From the very circumstance of our origin, we are already invited to converse with God. For man would not exist were he not created by Gods love and constantly preserved by it; and he cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and devotes himself to His Creator.” GS 19 § 1

Our response to God has to be deeply loving and fervent!  Prayer is an ultimate experience of our love. It should happen when Jesus comes and meets us.  We can see the anatomy of Prayer in Mt 28:9   “And behold, Jesus met (hupantao) them (the women) and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.”  First of all Jesus meets us and makes us aware of His presence.  The word for meet or encounter in the original inspired Greek text is hupantao i,e, a derivative of ἀντί before.  God comes and appears anti before us.  He must make the first move.  Prayer is not only hard but impossible if He does not make that first move.  Nobody sees Jesus unless He reveals Himself.  That is what we call grace.

Then like the women in Matthew’s Gospel, we must come to Him and grasp (Greek krateōie strong hold) His feet so He won’t leave.   The women were determined to keep Him close.  They then worshiped His divinity.  We must be careful that our God is not too small in our prayer.  Matthew’s account shows how we can “abide in His love” by prayer’.  Today we celebrate the feast of St Francis De Sales.  He in his wonderful way reminds us how “to remain in His Love”.  “Half an hour’s meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed.”

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

Footer

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

Name

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 © 2025 | Log in