The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Daily Scripture, November 4, 2008

Feast of St. Charles Borromeo 

Scripture:

Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 14:15-24

Reflection:

Jesus’ skill as a prophetic story-teller reaches across the ages to challenge us in the 21st century:  what does it mean to follow him as his disciple?  Our response is based on both faith, a generous heart, and the example of fellow believers.

Our reading from Philippians 2 is "classic":  this "Song of the Philippians" highlights Jesus’ free gift of himself in the great plan of salvation.  He came among us, humbled himself — even to death on the Cross!  The words of verses 10 and 11 are used by many Passionists to begin their praying of the Liturgy of the Hours; indeed, we bend our knees and confess that Jesus is Lord!  No doubt these deeply meaningful words regularly guided the prayer of our Holy Founder, St. Paul of the Cross.

Luke’s Gospel selection contains Jesus’ parable of the great dinner to which many were invited, but few willingly came.  Their excuses "I’ve purchased a field…I’ve purchased some oxen…I’m newly married…" all border on the ridiculous for such a great dinner invitation.  Others were then invited — the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame — and the banquet hall was filled.  No doubt, quite a party — as only Jesus could "throw"!

Jesus, our Crucified Savior, invites us to join in His Banquet of Life, to follow Him in the 21st century by lives of Christ-like virtue and civic responsibility.  Faith, generosity, and determination help us to say "yes" each day — summarized by those few words of the Lord’s Prayer:  "your Will be done".

In the 16th Century, St. Charles Borromeo was invited to use his personal and spiritual talents to help reform the Church.  As a bishop, he encouraged good example and an apostolic spirit in the lives of the religious leaders of his day.  He himself sacrificed greatly, giving his time & treasure, caring for the poor and sick of his own day.  Charles saw Jesus Crucified in his neighbor, and responded generously to the invitation to selfless love and service.

Today, may Jesus — and St. Charles Borromeo — inspire us in our service of God and one another, especially the faith-witness of our responsible voting.  Jesus is Lord!

 

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is the local leader of the Passionist community in Louisville, Kentucky.

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.”