The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our sense that some care needs to be applied to the neglected problems of our world community.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the need for assistants as seven are chosen to serve.
* [6:1–7] The Hellenists…the Hebrews: the Hellenists were not necessarily Jews from the diaspora, but were more probably Palestinian Jews who spoke only Greek. The Hebrews were Palestinian Jews who spoke Hebrew or Aramaic and who may also have spoken Greek. Both groups belong to the Jerusalem Jewish Christian community. The conflict between them leads to a restructuring of the community that will better serve the community’s needs. The real purpose of the whole episode, however, is to introduce Stephen as a prominent figure in the community whose long speech and martyrdom will be recounted in Acts 7.
* [6:2–4] The essential function of the Twelve is the “service of the word,” including development of the kerygma by formulation of the teachings of Jesus.
* [6:2] To serve at table: some commentators think that it is not the serving of food that is described here but rather the keeping of the accounts that recorded the distribution of food to the needy members of the community. In any case, after Stephen and the others are chosen, they are never presented carrying out the task for which they were appointed (Acts 6:2–3). Rather, two of their number, Stephen and Philip, are presented as preachers of the Christian message. They, the Hellenist counterpart of the Twelve, are active in the ministry of the word. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 6, n.d.)
Psalm 33 praises the Greatness and Goodness of God.
* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus walks on the water.
* [6:16–21] The fifth sign is a nature miracle, portraying Jesus sharing Yahweh’s power. Cf. the parallel stories following the multiplication of the loaves in Mk 6:45–52 and Mt 14:22–33.
* [6:19] Walking on the sea: although the Greek (cf. Jn 6:16) could mean “on the seashore” or “by the sea” (cf. Jn 21:1), the parallels, especially Mt 14:25, make clear that Jesus walked upon the water. John may allude to Jb 9:8: God “treads upon the crests of the sea.”
* [6:20] It is I: literally, “I am.” See also notes on Jn 4:26 and Mk 6:50. (John, CHAPTER 6, n.d.)
Kimberly Grassmeyer comments that while all seven selected were men, deemed wise, faithful and of strong reputation, one was - surprisingly - a convert to the faith. This selection struck me as an intentional inclusion in the passage, specifically demonstrating that all have a role to play in community. Strong of faith, weak of faith, lacking faith - if we're open to it, we'll find strength in Christ; we need not be afraid; we too can be of service in our own way.
For me personally, I sometimes serve meals or distribute food at our pantry, sometimes reflect, write and share, sometimes sit with a person in need, sometimes pray. In each of these acts, God's work is being done.
I'm grateful for the opportunity of these humbling, reverent, faith-building efforts, as each reminds me that God has blessed me - as God has blessed you - with gifts to share. In what ways do you distribute to the widows? When do you call out your fears? How do you receive Christ's reassurances? May you receive God's blessings and grace in your every effort to grow in faith, and to serve others. Amen. (Grassmeyer, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Christ our physician,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"God sent the human race a physician, a savior, One Who healed without charging a fee. Christ also came to reward those who would be healed by Him. Christ heals the sick, and He makes a gift to those whom He heals. And the gift that He makes is Himself!" (excerpt from Sermon 102,2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 6:1-7 comments that each of us can contribute to the good of the body. But to do so, we can’t sit by when we see a problem or a need. Nor can we just grumble or complain. Instead, we can take the initiative by bringing up the problem and then working with others to resolve it.
Are you aware of a need in your parish community? Maybe, like the Hellenists in today’s reading, it’s time to step out and voice your concerns. You might spark a much-needed discussion and help your church move toward a solution that hasn’t been considered before. Just be sure to be respectful, patient, and open to other people’s ideas. And most importantly, call on the Holy Spirit. Just as he guided the early Christians, he will guide you.
“Lord, inspire me to take a proactive role in building up my faith community.” (Meditation on Acts 6:1-7, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the possibility of racial prejudice against the Hellenist Jews who spoke only Greek and were not as connected to Temple religion as the Hebrew community. The Greek word for deacon is translated as service. Friar Jude emphasizes the nature miracles of Jesus in multiplying the loaves and walking on the water.
Peter Edmonds SJ, a member of the Corpus Christi Jesuit Community in Boscombe, takes us through this section of John’s Gospel and explains how it functions as a homily, referring to and weaving together a rich assortment of Scriptural texts.
The walking on the water (6:16-21)
John tells this sequel to the feeding, familiar to us from Mark (6:45-52) and Matthew (14:22-33), in his own way. Jesus reassures the disciples: ‘I am; do not be afraid.’ He is much more than prophet and king. We hear echoes of words spoken by God to Moses at the burning bush and words of Deutero-Isaiah:
‘I am who I am’ (Exodus 3:14);
‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you … Do not fear, for I am with you … I am God and also henceforth I am He.’ (Isaiah 43:1‑13) (Edmonds, 2021)
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces ecologist and pastor Andi Lloyd who writes of the Hebrew prophets’ understanding that the land itself grieves with its people. He describes our interconnectedness with God, each other, and the earth on which we dwell.
The land’s mourning speaks simultaneously of a vision of the world as it ought to be—that beautiful fabric—and the truth of the world as it is: too much injustice and too little love fraying the threads that hold us all. The land feels those fraying threads. The land grieves those fraying threads. The land mourns.
Now, as then, the fabric that connects all of creation is badly torn: torn by manifold injustices wrought and perpetuated by the exploitative systems in which we live, torn by ideologies of scarcity that teach us to love too narrowly and too little. To mourn is to speak that truth to the lies that prop up the denial on which the status quo depends.….
Mourning together, in true solidarity, we name the truth of what’s wrong. And in so doing, we begin to make it right. (Rohr, 2023)
We are informed by the Spirit of both the stormy sea of disaster that threatens us on many fronts and of the power of the love of Christ to propel us to work in peace with others for solutions.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 6. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/6?1
Edmonds, P. (2021, August 5). The bread of life: John 6. Thinking Faith. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/bread-life-john-6
Grassmeyer, K. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/042223.html
John, CHAPTER 6. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?16
Meditation on Acts 6:1-7. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/04/22/662079/
Psalms, PSALM 33. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?1
Rohr, R. (2023, April 21). The Land's Lament — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-lands-lament-2023-04-21/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=apr22
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