• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Laudato Si’
    • Making Room: Lent Reflection Series
    • Celebrating the Season of Creation
    • Passion of the Earth, Wisdom of the Cross
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Small Grants to Implement Laudato Siˊ
    • Statement on Texas Elementary School Tragedy
  • Pray
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Video: Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • The Passionist Way
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Magazine
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Haiti
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Vision Fulfillment Newsletters
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Vocation Resources
    • Father Phillip Donlan, CP, Ordination
    • Are You Being Called?
    • 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
    • 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 30, 2011

Scripture:

Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Matthew 5:1-12a

Reflection:

How many of you were born in a castle or a palace?   Hmmm…  I don’t see any hands.  How many of you were born into a wealthy family like the Rockefeller’s, the Kennedy’s, or the Walton’s?  Are there any mayors, governors or presidents in your family?  Are you a millionaire, a famous movie star, or a super-bowl hero?

I don’t qualify, either.  Well, chances are, without much money, power or fame, you and I are not going to make much of an impact on life here on earth, right?

Wrong.  As a matter of fact, if we listen carefully to Paul’s letter to us today, we will see that you and I are very qualified to do great things.  Let me explain.

Where was Jesus born?  Not in a famous city.  In the little town of Bethlehem.  And not in a castle.  In a stable, of all places.  His mother and father were not famous.  Mary was an unknown maiden. Joseph was just a carpenter.  Both from the humble town of Nazareth.  The message it that God often chooses unlikely people from unlikely places to do his work.

Okay, maybe it’s a stretch to compare ourselves to Mary and Joseph.  So let’s look at the apostles.  Who were they?  Anybody outstanding?  A few were fishermen.  One was a tax collector.  The others were so unknown we don’t even know what they did.  These were the kind of people God choose then.  These are the kind of people God chooses now.

And why?  So that, as Paul tells us, humankind can do no boasting before the Lord.  "Let him who would boast, boast in the Lord."  That’s what Mary did.  She saw that God was doing great things through her.  So we have her beautiful hymn, the Magnificat, in which she proclaims, "God who is mighty has done great things to me.  Holy is God’s name."   Paul did a lot of boasting "in the Lord," wisely giving God all the credit for the success of his ministry.

The "poor in spirit" mentioned in our gospel today are those who are conscious of their total dependence upon God.  Consequently they are open to learn, to receive, to achieve, and then give thanks.  If we can bow low enough, hang on!  God will do great things through us.  Holy is God’s name.

 

Fr. Alan Phillip, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.  http://www.alanphillipcp.com/

 

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 © 2023 | Log in