Daily Reflections Archive

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https://cdr.creighton.edu/handle/10504/50011

About the Daily Reflections Archive:

Since 1998, Creighton University has offered Daily Reflections for every day of the year. Each day one of more than 50 Faculty and Staff writers at the university pray with a set of scripture readings and share their personal reflections on them. For recent and upcoming reflections please see the Creighton University Online Ministries web pages.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 8752
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    Reflection for Wednesday, December 31, 2022: 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas.
    (University Ministry, Creighton University., 2022-12-31) Crawford, David
    |We begin our readings with the "last hour" and end with "the beginning," which is quite appropriate on this day when we say goodbye to one year and prepare for the next.  Just as this time of year is full of emotions and distractions, I find writing this particular reflection to be a somewhat scattered endeavor.|Part of me wants to focus solely on the Gospel reading, which is a favorite of mine.  Is there any more glorious news than that the God, Who was, is and ever shall be, came to earth for us?|The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we saw His glory, the glory of the Father's only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth. (verse 14)|From his fullness we have all received . . . grace and truth through Jesus Christ.  (verses 16-17)|We who have accepted Christ have been given "the power to become the children of God." (verse 12)|Another part of me is drawn to the fact that this reflection is scheduled for December 31, the last day of the calendar year.  For many of us, this is a time when we simultaneously look back, reviewing the past year and recalling old friends (perhaps while singing Auld Lang Syne), and look ahead, making resolutions for the year to come.  These thoughts can be a very self-focused, and as such can be joyful and bright – or painful and dark.  I am reminded that, whichever group we fall into, God has been present and blessing us throughout the year; and that the best ways we can resolve to improve ourselves in the upcoming year are those that allow us to serve and glorify God.|If you read this on December 31st, you know that we are smack dab in the middle of the 12 days of Christmas, halfway between the day when we focus on the Christ child's birth and the day when we celebrate the arrival of the gift-giving Magi.  My wife grew up with a tradition that recalled the Magi's journey by having the three figures positioned on the opposite side of the room from the Nativity set; and each day the children would move them closer until they arrived at the manger on January 6.  (Perhaps you had this tradition, too?)  That memory brought to mind a sermon I heard many years ago that encouraged using these travelers from the East as models for Christian life.  These souls, drawn to Christ, left their homes and families (and safety) to go on a journey.  I can just imagine the conversations with their spouses and parents:|Where are you going?  Not sure. |How long will you be gone?  Don't know.|Who are you going to see?  Someone very important. |Who is that?  Not exactly sure. |Why are you taking the gold?|They left not knowing exactly where they were going (although they did have a star to guide them), how long they would be gone, or what dangers they would encounter.  They committed their lives and best gifts to seeking and glorifying Christ.  None of us knows what 2023 holds for us, but I encourage each of us to resolve to commit our lives to giving our best and our all to following our Lord, to serving Him by serving others, and to glorifying God in all that we do.|Loving God, thank you for the many times you blessed us this past year.  Be especially close to those who are filled with pain, fear, want and loneliness.  May our resolutions be to follow you, to serve you by serving others, and to use our best gifts – talents, skills, and resources – to glorify you.
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    Reflection for Tuesday, December 30, 2022: The Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
    (University Ministry, Creighton University., 2022-12-30) Shirley, Nancy
    |When I first received my assignment for this date, I was excited to reflect on the readings for the Holy Family.  As the date came closer, I became more hesitant – how to do justice to reflecting on the ideal family while living in reality.  Where is the balance between idealizing families and facing our brokenness as humans?  Christmas season is certainly the time to focus on hope and the "gifts" that we are given throughout the year.  The gift of family – whatever shape or form – is one to celebrate not only at this time but also throughout the year. Perhaps it makes great sense that we read about the Holy Family as we start the new year – to remind us of the need to appreciate family every day – and be full of hope for the new year.|I especially appreciated the gospel and the focus on Joseph.  Every reading about Joseph fills my heart with the image of a wonderful father.  While I pray frequently to Mary and consider her my loving Mother, I do cherish Joseph.  I understand that he is not a father in the way of our one Father – perfect and loving, yet Joseph to me comes as close as possible for an earthly perfect father.  He is understanding and forgiving, noble and humble, strong yet gentle and, most of all, a man of unfailing and enduring faith. Joseph listened to angels well before Bethlehem and accepted the situation and explanation.  It's always impressed me that even before the first dream and angel message, he did not condemn Mary, rather planned a way to save her.  He demonstrated that he was a man of kindness and compassion even when he thought he had been betrayed. His following of the dreams related in this gospel further confirm his faith in his God and his faithfulness to his family. He is the consummate protector – doing whatever was/is necessary for his family and in his very special way being guided by angels in dreams.  Joseph protected Jesus from before He was born and continued this care throughout His childhood and probably early adulthood. He was an earthly role model for Jesus, teaching Him to be a carpenter until His time came for public ministry. |Even though many details are missing as to Joseph's life, we know he is the good and faithful father and husband.  He is, indeed, a pivotal piece of the Holy Family.  Mary, our perfect mother, born without sin, provides the epitome of motherhood – one to hold in reverence and awe.  I always pray to her especially when praying for my children and grandchildren, knowing she understands the concerns of a mother.  However, I know that I will never be close to her perfection.  Joseph offers us (me) the approachable parent – not perfect but certainly wonderful!  I can learn so much from each member of the Holy Family!|Good, Good Father
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    Reflection for Monday, December 29, 2022: 5th Day in the Octave of Christmas.
    (University Ministry, Creighton University., 2022-12-29) Alexander, Andy, S.J.
    |Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. 1 John 2|The parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,|just as it is written in the law of the Lord. Luke 2|We are just four days after Christmas and the first reading challenges us. Who among us, in our experience of Christmas, didn't have some difficult experience with someone? It is almost inevitable each year that Christmas time can become a very stressful time. Christmas often gathers us with family and friends. Sometimes the most difficult relationships of our lives come together. Alcohol - intended as a traditional holiday element to add "cheer" - can make everything much worse. A word was said meanly. An old wound was re-opened. Someone was going through a hard time and was coping very badly. I re-discover how much someone really drives me crazy. As a result, I can understand the challenge of the First Letter of John: I want to be in the Light that is Jesus, but at the same time, there is somebody that I really hate or really resent or simply can't stand to be around, and that places me still in the darkness.|Christmas is about the Love of God coming into the world, to be Light in the midst of the world's darkness. It is about the invitation to receive the Light into our hearts and to let that Light shine in us as it did in him. This first reading helps us so directly: "whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked." To be a disciple of the Light, we have to let go of the darkness and let the Light into our hearts. We have to forgive. We have to love the way he has loved. The only way we can do that is to continue to let the healing grace of Christmas touch us. Innocence is born in poverty and suffers greatly trying to be faithful to his way.|Mary and Joseph walked the simple way of innocent trust in God in a most loving way. In today's gospel - this year, the same as Sunday's Holy Family gospel - they go up to the temple in Jerusalem to be faithful to the law. They meet Simeon, such an Old Testament prophet type of person, who comes into the temple "in the Spirit." In that moment, Simeon is able to hold on to the promise he has hoped in with innocent trust. Simeon's hope has not been narrow. He has been listening to the promise carefully. He is beholding not only "the glory of your people, Israel," but "a light to reveal you to the nations." Simeon's longing coincided with God's longing - that all God's children be one. In the Spirit, how else could Simeon dream, except with a reconciling and loving spirit?|Simeon's hope is not naive. And so he instructs Joseph and Mary in its depths. There will be people who contradict this vision of unity and peace. They will choose being unique and special, being chosen and righteous over being inclusive and forgiving. And, of course, Mary's own heart will be part of the suffering that is the cost of discipleship. To see her precious son so rejected would be like a sword piercing her own heart. Simeon himself could not have imagined how true that would be as she would behold his heart opened with a lance on the cross.|The poor couple, who could only afford two small birds for their offering, came home blessed. We can only imagine what they taught their child about being a light for all people, about unity and forgiveness, about trust in God and sacrifice. When Jesus was led into the desert by the same Spirit that was with Simeon, he was ready for his mission.|Dear Lord, Jesus, we thank you for your becoming one with us. We thank you for these days to help us continue to understand and embrace your coming. We thank you for being light in our darkness. We thank you for these scriptures which help us see what you wish to reveal to us. So we ask you today to heal whatever darkness might be left over after Christmas. Restore your own peace in our hearts. Let your Spirit lead us to the places where we can reveal your light to others. Prepare us for the swords that will pierce our hearts as we give ourselves to being your disciples for others. Andy Alexander, S.J. wrote this reflection in 2008.
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    Reflection for Friday, December 26, 2022: Feast of Saint Stephen, The First Martyr.
    (University Ministry, Creighton University., 2022-12-26) Zuegner, Carol
    |Today is the feast of St. Stephen, known as the first martyr of Christianity. I'd heard of St. Stephen, most notably in a Christmas carol called "Good King Wenceslas," which mentions the feast of St. Stephen. Stephen was one of the first deacons of the church and was known for speaking out, as the first reading states, with "with grace and power" because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Stephen ended up being stoned to death for speaking out, but he forgave those who committed the act before he died. In the gospel, Jesus reminds us that preaching the gospel and spreading the word of God can and likely will be difficult. The world then and now often is not receptive to a message of loving your neighbor, standing up for those who are oppressed and seek justice, treating all with dignity and respect.|Today's gospel is also a reminder that our faith requires that relationship with God, and a relationship with our community – family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, the world. How am I advancing the good news today? The bad news is that this work of advancing the gospel message in my own corner of the world can be difficult. How do I speak up for those who have less, those who struggle? My actions, even small ones, can make a difference. If I am afraid to speak up, I can remember the words of today's gospel: "Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."|Today, my prayer is from the psalm. Guide me to do the right thing even when it is difficult. "Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your kindness." Let me spread that kindness to others.
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    Reflection for Saturday, December 27, 2022: Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist.
    (University Ministry, Creighton University., 2022-12-27) Gabuzda, Rev.
    |Seeing, Hearing, Proclaiming|In a striking parallel to the prologue of the Gospel of John, today's first reading presents the mystery of Jesus, the Word of Life.  The focus of this prologue, however, is not so much on this Word, but on the witness, the testimony, of those who saw, heard, and touched Jesus:  "What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you."|The triad, seeing, hearing, and proclaiming, serves as a concise summary of the apostolic life and calling, the life that has borne witness to Jesus, not only in that first generation of witnesses, but down to our own day. |When we consider what has impacted us most in our faith journey, certainly what we have seen and heard from other people remains a powerful influence .  It may have been a teacher, or priest, or religious.  Perhaps it was the example of parents, spouse, close friends, or even neighbors. It may be that reading about the life of a saint set us on fire. |An attractive joy manifested to others, a life deeply committed to practical acts of charity, an extraordinary resilience in the face of trial and suffering are eloquent testimonies.  They provoke questions in the hearts of those who see and hear:  "Why are you so happy?  What moved you to do that?  How have you been able to survive so much difficulty?"  Responding to questions like that can deepen the witness.  As we read in the First Letter of Peter:  "Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope."|The Feast day today and the accompanying scripture remind us that we, too, are among those who have seen and heard.  Now it is our time to proclaim, in small ways, or large ways, by our joy, our charity, our life of faith, the One we have seen and heard.