The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to be open to the prompting of the Spirit to testify by our actions to love, truth, and beauty.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the conversion of Lydia.
* [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 source. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)
Psalm 149 offers praise for God’s Goodness to Israel.
* [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). (Psalms, PSALM 149, n.d.)
The Gospel of John proclaims testimony and the Work of the Spirit.
* [15:26] Whom I will send: in Jn 14:16, 26, the Paraclete is to be sent by the Father, at the request of Jesus. Here the Spirit comes from both Jesus and the Father in mission; there is no reference here to the eternal procession of the Spirit. (John, CHAPTER 15, n.d.)
Larry Gillick, S.J. comments that the Gospel Reading for today’s Eucharistic liturgy is from the Divine Poet assisting the hearers to keep pondering the poem of life, of love, of accompaniment.
As an elder Jesuit now, who does know what love has been in his life, has not attempted writing a love-poem since. The more there is love in my life, the more I wish to live it rather than give it away in frivolous and picturesque words. God continues writing our personal poems and sends the Holy Spirit of Creation to live its verses rather than try to absolutely exhaust its meaning. The more intimate an experience is, the less it can be exactly or accurately conveyed. The more someone wants the explanation for God or Jesus or our own life-poem the less they are really interested in reading as intimacy, but rather as something to react to rather than respond in their own reading of their own poem. The Spirit still is urging God’s Divine Poem, Jesus, to be received as mysterious and lived as a gracious revelation. Early in the first chapter of John’s Gospel, he writes that everything was created in Him, (Christ) and without Him nothing was created. So Christ is the fullness of the Divine Poem and each of us is a blessed word, image, verse within and of that Poem! This poem can seldom make sense or rhymes either. One more famous quotation from Father Waters in his poetry class still sounds in my head, simply, “Gillick, read the text!” (Gillick, 2023)
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) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 16:11-15 comments what a wonderful work the Holy Spirit did through Lydia! He built on her previous experience and natural gifts and brought forth something new and vibrant. Through her generosity, the gospel kept advancing, and the Church was built up in Greece and beyond.
That’s what faith does: it moves outward. God touches our lives, and it has a ripple effect far beyond ourselves. So let your faith move you to action today. Let your gratitude for all the ways God has worked in your life propel you to find ways to share the good news. Then watch to see how God takes your response and extends its effect beyond your expectations!
“Holy Spirit, guide me as I respond to the gift of faith.” (Meditation on Acts 16:11-15, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that Luke describes the significant moment of the evangelization of Europe as Paul goes to Philippi and meets Lydia who invites the believers to meet in her house. The Paraclete reveals the truth or not of our encounters. Friar Jude notes the possibility of our experience of the help of the Spirit in persecution as we share in the Cross.
Barbara Holmes, CAC teacher, helps students make sense of the biblical language of the “principalities and powers” of evil. For Father Richard, Paul’s language of “principalities and powers” names the corporate evils of our day.
We must first convict religion in its organizational form—not in its adherents, who might be quite good and holy—but the glorified organization itself. Then we must consider nation-states, war economies, penal systems, the banking system, the pharmaceutical system, etc. They are all good and necessary, in and of themselves. But when we idolize them and refuse to hold them fully accountable—I am going to dare to say the unsayable—they usually become demonic in some form. We normally cannot see this until it is too late. [2] (Holmes, 2023)
We are supported by the Holy Spirit when we step out to demonstrate assistance, love, mercy, compassion, and understanding for the people we encounter on our journey.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/16?11
Gillick, L. (2023, May 15). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/051523.html
Holmes, B. (2023, May 15). Principalities and Powers — Center for Action and Contemplation. Richard Rohr. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/principalities-and-powers-2023-05-15/
John, CHAPTER 15. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15
Meditation on Acts 16:11-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/05/15/678326/
Psalms, PSALM 149. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/149?1
Schwager, D. (n.d.). When the Counselor Comes, the Spirit of Truth. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=may15
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