• 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
    • Jubilaeum Video
    • Opening Mass of the Passionist Jubilee Year
    • Video: 300th Jubilee – English
    • Video: Jubileo Pasionista – Español
    • Jubilee Icon Itinerary
    • Jubilee Resources
    • Jubilee Song
  • Pray
    • Lent 2021
    • 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
    • Vision Fulfillment Newsletters
    • 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, May 15, 2013

Scripture:

Acts 20:28-38
John 17:11b-19

Reflection:

In a few days we will be celebrating the feast of Pentecost. As he finishes his final missionary journey to Greece and Asia Minor Paul himself was on his way to Jerusalem eager to get there by the feast of Pentecost if at all possible (Acts 20:16). Of course he was very much aware of the power of the Spirit in his own life and ministry (Acts 20: 22-23). On his way to Jerusalem Paul decides to avoid Ephesus, a place where he had spent three years teaching, setting in rather to the port of Miletus, about thirty miles from Ephesus. He summons the presbyters of Ephesus to Miletus for a farewell discourse and instruction.  Luke summarizes it by first emphasizing how selflessly Paul lived among them and preached the kingdom to them. Then we have the words we read today.

Paul begins by reminding them of their responsibility to "watch over themselves and the whole flock".  You have the Holy Spirit to help you he says. What you always have to remember that the Church of God is the Spirit’s work! This is something we have to remember today. Paul speaks of savage wolves that will come from your own group to pervert the truth. Be vigilant, Paul says. We ourselves have experienced the devastating effects of the clergy abuse scandal. What has made it so difficult for the ordinary Catholic is the failure for many years of our leaders to deal effectively with this scourge. As Paul finishes he has tears in his eyes and commends presbyters of Ephesus to God. His final wish is that they would "help the weak".   He quotes a saying of Jesus that is not in the gospels: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Doesn’t that say it all? Isn’t this the simple Way of Jesus? Isn’t this the path that St. Francis of Assisi found? 

In our gospel Jesus prays to his Father for his disciples: "Consecrate them in truth. Your word is truth". May we take the simple words of Jesus into our hearts and ask the Holy Spirit to set our hearts on fire to live as Jesus lived.

 

Fr. Michael Hoolahan, C.P. is on the staff of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center,  Sierra Madre, California. 

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