• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Advent
  • Laudato Si’
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Sustainable Purchasing Guide
    • Passion of the Earth, Wisdom of the Cross
    • 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
    • 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
    • Province Leadership
    • 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, May 11, 2020

Scripture:

Acts 14:5-18
John 14:21-26

Reflection:

Many years ago, I had the privilege of serving as Deputy Mayor in charge of communications for then Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.  He was a popular mayor, who thoroughly loved serving his constituents.  The frequent positive news coverage reflected his popularity.  Therein, however, lay a danger – the danger of his ego swelling. One of my roles, and that of mayor’s staff, was to keep him grounded in the reality that “he ain’t perfect.”  The mayor’s critics just may have a point, and we should listen.

My City Hall experience came to mind as I reflected on the rather comical experience of Paul and Barnabas during their visit in Lystra.  There, they saw a man crippled from birth who had never walked.  In a loud voice, Paul called out “Stand up straight on your feet.”  The man leaped to his feet and began walking, to the astonishment of the gathered crowd.  The pagan temple priest promptly declared Paul and Barnabas to be gods.  Paul was Hermes, “because he was the chief speaker,” and Barnabas Zeus.  The apostles indignantly “tore their garments when they heard this,” shouting they were just humans like them.  “We proclaim the good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God,” they announced.

Paul and Barnabas were not swayed by public adulation.  They did not allow egos to creep in.  They refused “to believe their own press.”  The two were solidly grounded in who they were, whom they served, and the purpose of their mission.  They claimed no glory for themselves.  With the psalmist they could pray: “Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.”   It is what the good sisters at St. Alphonsus School often reminded us students of – and of what today’s first reading calls us to remember.  In all that we do – in work, play, prayer, or even sitting safely and patiently at home during this pandemic – we are to do for the glory of God.


Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Footer

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