• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Laudato Si’
    • Making Room: Lent Reflection Series
    • Celebrating the Season of Creation
    • Passion of the Earth, Wisdom of the Cross
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Small Grants to Implement Laudato Siˊ
    • Statement on Texas Elementary School Tragedy
  • Pray
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Video: Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • The Passionist Way
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Magazine
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Haiti
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Vision Fulfillment Newsletters
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Vocation Resources
    • Father Phillip Donlan, CP, Ordination
    • Are You Being Called?
    • 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
    • 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, September 25, 2013

Scripture:

Ezra 9:5-9
Luke 9:1-6

Reflection:

Our Scripture readings today give testimony to what is going on in the world, and what our response might be. In our first reading Ezra prays to God, acknowledging the guilt of the people, which led up to their exile at the hands of the Babylonians. Even though our circumstances are different from those of Ezra’s time, his words can be descriptive of our situation today:

"… for our wicked deeds we have been delivered up, we and our kings and our priests, to the will of the kings of foreign lands, to the sword, to captivity, to pillage, and to disgrace, as is the case today."

We may not be under the rule of foreign leaders, but it can seem that we have been delivered up to the sword (violence), to captivity (addiction), to pillage (greed), and to disgrace (scandal).

What is our response? We find it in our Gospel reading. Jesus sends out the Twelve and gives them "power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases," and He sends them "to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick."

Our response to the ills of our world is the love of God in Jesus Christ. This is what we have received. This is what we are called to share. This is the basis for our concern for the environment, our thirst for justice, and our desire for peace. This is what gives meaning to the use of our gifts, talents, and resources. Perhaps this last is the lesson we learn from Jesus saying to the Twelve, "Take nothing for the journey." What we can bring to the building up of the Kingdom is not much without the love of God infusing everything we say and do.

Like Ezra, may we realize we have been given "new life" in Christ, and may we "raise again the house of our God" in our lives and hearts, our words and deeds.

 

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P. is on staff at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan. 

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 © 2023 | Log in