The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Daily Scripture, May 4, 2020

Scripture:

Acts 11:1-18
John 10:11-18

Reflection:

A Shepherd’s Care:  Life’s Journey in 2020

Today our Easter celebration continues, and the Gospel selection continues yesterday’s Gospel selection from John 10, sharing Jesus’ loving message:  He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for us; He knows us and we know Him; He seeks to unite us all.  In all of life He offers us the gift of His Love…the Good Shepherd.

For many of us in 21st century United States, our image of “sheep” and “shepherding” relies simply on textbook knowledge or the occasional ride through the countryside.  We may have (and dutifully care for!) various types of household pets, yet we lack the full understanding that Jesus imparts in His image of shepherding, protecting and caring for a flock of sheep in the everyday world of times past.

Jesus the Good Shepherd speaks to us today.  As our world experiences the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Risen Jesus speaks to us today as He did to the men and women of long ago:  “I care!”  “I love you!”  Wracked by the illness, death, fear and uncertainty so evident today, we meet the Risen Jesus who as a gentle shepherd reaches out to us with His hands of love that are marked by the nails of crucifixion; Jesus the Good Shepherd walks with us on the road of life, His feet marred by the nails of crucifixion; Jesus the Good Shepherd looks us in our eyes and lovingly sees into the depths of our hearts.  Jesus knows us well, what it is to suffer; we are not alone as we deal with life today!

As people of faith, we are invited to deeper trust, to a renewed realization that we are not alone, that both security and goodness are shared with us in ordinary and extraordinary ways, that healing and life and growth and love are real…in Jesus!  Jesus knows us well … and loves us dearly!  Amen!  Alleluia!

(And we continue our prayer and support for an increase in priestly and religious vocations…those whose vocation, in a distinct way, continues Jesus’ love as the Good Shepherd.)


Fr. John Schork, C.P. is the Vocation Director for Holy Cross Province. He lives at St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois. 

Ash Wednesday

On March 2, the Church celebrates Ash Wednesday. 

Most of us learned early in our Catholic lives that Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, and that is a time of special sacrifice in preparation for the Easter celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection.

Dear brothers and sisters, every moment of our lives is a time for believing, hoping and loving…. These words of Pope Francis, taken from his Lenten Message of last year, 2021, and echoing the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity, can still inspire our answer to the question: “What am I giving up for Lent?” 

We can draw our Lenten sacrifices out of our daily life: 

Share our faith in God’s presence by sharing in prayer with our family or with those in our parish community.
Share our hope in God’s promises by encouraging positive and respectful dialogue in our family circle and among our friends. 
Share the charity God has bestowed on us in the Passion of Jesus, with those whose sufferings are ignored or aggravated.

Let us pray for one another as we enter the season of Lent. Our Passionist “motto” can be our daily prayer during Lent, “May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts.”