The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

Daily Scripture, October 28, 2017

Feast of Ss. Simon and Jude, Apostles

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:19-22
Luke 6:12-16

Reflection:

In a recent RCIA session we asked the candidates and catechumen this question:  “What are some of your peak moments in your faith journey that has led you to enter the RCIA process?”  The stories that were shared centered around the act of being called, being invited to reflect in a deeper and more serious way what faith was all about.  Each week we come together to share our faith stories, to sing and pray, to listen and learn, to be challenged and affirmed to spread the Good News of Jesus.  We are given the command or directive to invite others to live as disciples of Jesus.

The first apostles came from different backgrounds and cultures than we do today, but, nonetheless they are true models of faith that we can relate to and also be challenged by.  We hold many things in common with the first apostles, but most especially, that of being sinners and saints.  We celebrate the life of Sts Simon and Jude today.  Simon and Jude along with the rest of the apostles took their role of apostles very seriously.  They were not perfect but they believed in the Good News and spread the message of Jesus Christ wherever they were sent.

The month of November in the Church year calls us to reflect on the holy people in our lives who have gone before us in faith.  On All Saints Day and All Souls Day we celebrate the lives of family members and friends along with those who have been formally canonized as ‘Saints’ by the church.  We give thanks for the grace and wisdom they have brought to our lives in the past and continue to do so today.

Take some time during the coming month to prayerfully reflect on those peak moments in your faith journey that continue to lead you to the Table of the Lord and give thanks for all those special helpers who have walked the journey with you past and present.  We are all Saints called by God to lead lives of goodness and grace.

ALL YOU HOLY, MEN AND WOMEN, PRAY FOR US!  HAPPY FEAST DAY TO ALL!


Theresa Secord is a Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, 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.”