Receiving and rejecting

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer insight into the growth of the Church and the consequential rejection of followers by those who have not known Jesus.

Witness on Main St.

In the reading from Acts we hear of the encounter of Paul with Lydia as the apostle goes into Europe.

* [16:10–17] This is the first of the so-called “we-sections” in Acts, where Luke writes as one of Paul’s companions. The other passages are Acts 20:5–15; 21:1–18; 27:1–28:16. Scholars debate whether Luke may not have used the first person plural simply as a literary device to lend color to the narrative. The realism of the narrative, however, lends weight to the argument that the “we” includes Luke or another companion of Paul whose data Luke used as a source1. 

Psalm 149 is a hymn inviting the people of Israel to celebrate their God in song.

* [Psalm 149] A hymn inviting the people of Israel to celebrate their God in song and festive dance (Ps 149:1–3, 5) because God has chosen them and given them victory (Ps 149:4). The exodus and conquest are the defining acts of Israel; the people must be ready to do again those acts in the future at the divine command (Ps 149:6–9).2 

In the Gospel from John, Jesus warns His disciples of their hour of persecution at the hands of those who do not know Him.

 * [16:2] Hour: of persecution, not Jesus’ “hour” (see note on Jn 2:4).3

Luis Rodriguez, S.J. underlines that we know people by being with and interacting with them... the witness could not be understood by those who knew neither the Father nor Jesus and that resulted in persecution that was even colored as service of God.

When on November 16, 1989 six Jesuits and two coworkers were murdered by the military at the Catholic University of San Salvador, those planning the killing made reality this warning of Jesus to his disciples. In his book Companions of Jesus Fr. Jon Sobrino, S.J. informs us that:

The actual murders themselves were decided during a high-level meeting of the National Intelligence Directorate the night of the shootings... The meeting finally ended at about 11:00 p.m. with the men joining hands together for prayer. They prayed that God in his goodness and mercy would protect them (the military) and come to their aid in their time of need.

Was Jesus right, when he said to the disciples: ...the hour is coming, when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God?4 

Don Schwager quotes “The Comforter is with us in our troubles,” by Cyril of Jerusalem, 430-543 A.D.

 "He is called the Comforter because he comforts and encourages us and helps our infirmities. We do not know what we should pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us, with groanings that cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26), that is, he makes intercession to God. Very often, someone has been outraged and dishonored unjustly for the sake of Christ. Martyrdom is at hand; tortures on every side, and fire, and sword, and savage beasts and the pit. But the Holy Spirit softly whispers to him, 'Wait on the Lord' (Psalm 27:14). What is now happening to you is a small matter; the reward will be great. Suffer a little while, and you will be with angels forever. 'The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that shall be revealed in us' (Romans 8:18). He portrays to the person the kingdom of heaven. He gives him a glimpse of the paradise of delight." (excerpt from CATECHETICAL LECTURES 16.20)5

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 16:11-15 comments that Lydia was a Gentile who worshipped the God of the Jews, but she listened closely to Paul’s preaching and allowed her heart to be opened further—to Jesus. God’s love for her awakened a new level of trust and action. Suddenly, she not only had the courage to invite the apostles into her house, but she persisted in asking them to stay with her. She didn’t care that they might see her true self.

 Don’t let your fear or pride stop you! Jesus always responds to our inner messes with love, mercy, and yes, a readiness to help. He is like that person who comes into your messy home and then happily lends you a hand.
So don’t worry about sharing those messy struggles with the Lord. Instead, let him help you clean them up, as any good friend would do.6

Friar Jude Winkler shares the background of the dream invitation to Paul that resulted in the establishment of a “house church” in Philippi. The ambiguity of the Greek word for Advocate allows the many facets of the Holy Spirit to be contemplated. Friar Jude identifies our persecution as making up for what is lacking in Christ’s suffering (Colossians 1.24) as the absence of the mystery of the Cross in our time.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reminds us that Carl Jung, a supposed unbeliever, knew that any authentic God experience takes a lot of humble, honest, and patient seeking.

This is where embracing the Christ Mystery becomes utterly practical. Without the mediation of Christ, we will be tempted to overplay the distance and the distinction between God and humanity. But because of the incarnation, the supernatural is forever embedded in the natural, making the very distinction false. How good is that? This is why mystics like Hillesum, Jung, Augustine, Teresa of Ávila, Thomas Merton, and many others seem to equate the discovery of their own souls with the very discovery of God. It takes much of our life, much lived experience, to trust and allow such a process. But when it comes, it will feel like a calm and humble ability to quietly trust yourself and trust God at the same time. Isn’t that what we all want?7 

The rejection of the Way of humble love, mercy and compassion is rooted in lack of experience of the person of Jesus Incarnate.

References

1	(n.d.). Acts, chapter 16 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 27, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/16
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 149 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 27, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/149
3	(n.d.). John, chapter 16 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 27, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/16
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved May 27, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 27, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved May 27, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/05/27/
7	(2019, May 27). God Speaks — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 27, 2019, from https://cac.org/god-speaks-2019-05-27/