• 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
    • 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
    • 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, July 31, 2015

Memorial of St. Ignatius of LoyolaSt Ignatius Loyola

 Scripture:

1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
Luke 14:25-33

Reflection:

 “Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”

“Any of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

I’ve been working from home all week.  There were some repair-emergencies on the house that kept me there to keep an eye on the workmen.  They were working on plumbing, as well as some resulting water damage and electrical issues.  No matter how much I tried, or how much I wanted to, I simply couldn’t find a way to justify taking the opportunity to recline at the house, sip a cool beverage, and ignore all my responsibilities.

So I set up my office in the kitchen.  I made a list of projects and a timeline, began unpacking my laptop, many of my books and folders, pads and pens and pencils, several instruments, and of course my iPhone and iPad were both present.  Everything was laid out, ready to be opened and used to its fullest capability.  Friend, I was ready for action!

As I launched into all I had to accomplish, I recognized something that made me very uneasy (and no, it wasn’t the odor of the gentleman who was replacing a portion of that wall over there).  I had been so focused on all this other stuff that I hadn’t yet fed our animals and gotten to hear their clucks and meows of gratitude.  Or kissed my daughter good-morning and gotten a great hug.

Or prayed.

I was so distracted by the things I thought I needed, that I completely excluded caring for and appreciating the gifts by which God has so profoundly blessed me.  The items I carried to work that morning may have been necessary to complete my scheduled tasks, but they really shouldn’t have been the focus of my life.  Is it the end result or is it the journey that makes our trip worthwhile?

And you know, it’s not just about “things.”  We humans have this incredible capacity to carry tons of cluttered baggage in our hearts.
Grief from death?  Still stings like a knife.
Pain from a broken relationship?  It’s as real and acute as the moment it happened.
Hurt from something someone said?  Yep… it’s palpable.
Guilt and regret from mistakes I’ve made?   Oh, BROTHER, wow!!!
And hate and fear and…

The list goes on.

When we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by a tsunami of things and baggage, we close the door on our dance with presence of God – we shut the journal on what He is writing for us. And, friends, I really don’t want to miss out on that!

It’s true, in our world we must tend to our responsibilities… but where does our true heart rest? What’s keeping us from being a true disciple?  What is it that we refuse to let go of?  What tomorrows – what heavens are we denying because we insist on holding on to yesterday?

Dear God, thank you for the gift of your constant presence, even when we ignore You.
Please grant us the grace to shed the weight that binds, so we may have room for the true love and joy of Christ in our hearts.
Amen.

 

Paul Puccinelli is Director of Liturgy & Music at St. Rita Parish in Sierra Madre, CA, and a member of the retreat team at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center.

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