• 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 31, 2022

Scripture:

2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13
Mark 5:1-20

Reflection:

Today’s Word gives us an opportunity to reflect on “God’s Providence.” Simply put, the same God who gave being to the world continues to govern its affairs, including yours and mine. When this reality of “providence” comes to mind, “obedience” is immediately associated. But may I suggest the word “creativity?” John Macquarrie sums it up well:

“Faith in providence asserts that creativity has a positive character…Creativity is not just a random creativity, or one that might be overcome by dissolution and annihilation, or even halted and held steady by these. Rather it is an ordered movement into fuller and richer kinds of being. Faith in providence asserts this definitive movement in the creation, an overcoming of deficiency and distortions and a fuller realizing of potentialities…” (Principles of Christian Theology, p. 219)

Yes, God’s Providence is evident in King David, whose family history is complicated, pathetic, sordid, brilliant and successful, yet burdened with blotches of adultery and homicide in the case of Bathsheba and Uriah. Now confronted with a son in revolt and seeking his life, David advises restraint (that the clansman related to Saul should not be executed for cursing David) and he attributes the situation to God’s Providence. He declares, “Let him alone and let him curse for the Lord has told me to. Perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curse he is uttering this day.” (2 Sam. 16:12)         God’s Providence shows itself in this “crazy” incident whereby Jesus encounters a demoniac, “man out of the tombs,” a “legion” of evil spirits inside of him. “No one could restrain him anymore, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountain he was always howling and bruising himself with stones.” (Mk. 5:5) Jesus meets this chaotic reality with patience and compassion, and the man ends up sitting calmly, fully clothed and in his right mind. But, evil looks for evil. Among the native Jewish Gerasene people, the Gentile influence had them earn a living in a manner that was against Jewish law, herding swine. “Legion” begs Jesus “not to send them out of the country.” So Jesus gave them permission, and the “unclean spirit came out and entered some 2000 swine who rushed into the sea and were drowned. Take a moment to ponder this whole scene, including Jesus sending the restored man back to his home territory and to the Decapolis to publicly announce what Jesus had done for him, and, Jesus being asked to leave the region, which he did.

Can I recommit in prayer today my trust and cooperation in the Will and guidance from God? St. Thomas More, shortly before his martyrdom, consoled his daughter; “Nothing can come but that that God wills. And I make me very sure that whatsoever that be, seem it never so bad in sight, it shall indeed be the best.” (The Correspondence of Sir Thomas More, Ed. Elizabeth F. Rogers)


Fr. Alex Steinmiller, C.P., is a member of the Passionist Community in Detroit, Michigan.

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