• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Migration
    • Statement from Passionist Leadership Regarding Current United States Immigration Policies
    • The Global Migration Crisis: What Can a Retreat Center Do?
  • Laudato Si’
    • Laudato Si’ 2023-24 Report and 2024-25 Plan
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Sustainable Purchasing
      • Sustainable Purchasing Guide
      • Hints for Sustainable Meetings and Events
      • Sustainable Living Hints
    • Passion of the Earth, Wisdom of the Cross
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • 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
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • The Passionist Way
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Magazine
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Come and See Holy Week Discernment Retreat
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Province Leadership
    • Vocation Resources
    • 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
    • Our Passionist History: Webinar Series
    • 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, October 4, 2018

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Scripture:

Job 19:21-27
Luke 10:1-12

Reflection:

“The Kingdom of God is at Hand!”

Today’s Gospel selection recalls the sending of the 72 disciples, in pairs, to every town and place Jesus intended to visit.  His instructions were clear:  go, as lambs among wolves; pack lightly, take nothing extra; greet no one along the way; proclaim God’s peace, cure the sick, announce the Kingdom of God.  The disciples did as instructed; the Kingdom was proclaimed; lives were changed – and we today, worlds away from those early disciples, are blessed with our Christian faith.

That same call of God has been shared with many other great men and women – with “heavenly” results!  The month of October celebrates the lives of many founders of religious communities; today we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi…patron of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and thousands of men and women who seek to enflesh the charism and ministry of St. Francis of Assisi.

Today’s Gospel passage about the sending of the 72 disciples came alive for Francis of Assisi.  His carefree youth was radically changed by the call of Jesus; he renounced his personal possessions and changed his life to one of evangelical poverty and preaching.  Francis’ life witness was truly charismatic, compassionate, and loving of all God’s creation…so much so that God called others to join him in community.  Francis compiled a “rule of life” and established many religious communities of men and women.  In the 44 short years of his life, he sparked a spiritual renewal that continues to inspire men and women of all ages and walks of life, in all parts of the world.

Have we heard the call?  No doubt, Jesus and St. Francis spoke to the heart of the Founder of the Passionists, St. Paul of the Cross, and today we Passionists are grateful for our charism that is rooted in the love of Jesus Crucified and ministry to the “least, the last, the lost”.  Jesus speaks to each of us today as our world deals with a variety of challenging issues:  violence, mistrust, abuse, the environment, a lack of good leadership, a “ho-hum” attitude about life, selfishness, etc.  Jesus and Francis and Paul of the Cross challenge us to look deeply into our hearts and respond as people of faith and courage and service.

Let’s pray that, with St. Francis’ example, we all may help renew the Church in our day and age, especially with the generous involvement of young people as the XV Ordinary General Synod of Bishops takes place in Rome, focused on “Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment”.  The Kingdom of God is at hand

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is a member of the Passionist community in Chicago, Illinois. 

Footer

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

Name

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 © 2025 | Log in