A Passionist Blog

Writing as he is to potential martyrs, the Apostle wants to instill in them – and in us! – what the saints have often called “holy indifference.” That is, we can be at peace and even joyful in both good and bad circumstances, since we see in all of them the will of our Heavenly Father Whom we trust with all our hearts.

It is the Passionists’ particular mission in the Church, as well as our great joy, to teach people in our deeply wounded world how their pain has meaning when united with the Passion of Christ

“The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” On the one hand, this could be seen as an assurance that the Church will have impregnable defenses against the Evil One. In the other hand, it could mean that the powers of darkness will be unable to resist when the Church goes on the offense!

“It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” What on earth could have prompted Jesus to respond in such an uncharacteristic fashion?

At first glance, St. Peter’s “bid me come to You on the water” in today’s Gospel seems like a crazy request. Should he, storm-tossed and terrified, be asking to leave behind the last scrap of safety he has by stepping out of the boat?

Not only are we searching for God, but He is searching for us! And if we “sell everything we have” to embrace the Kingdom, it is only because He first “sold everything” in the Incarnation and Redemption to purchase the priceless “pearl” that is each human soul!