The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with joy and confidence that springs from our faith in Providence to provide all we need for our journey.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles the trial of Peter and Paul before the Sanhedrin orders them not to speak.
* [5:34] Gamaliel: in Acts 22:3, Paul identifies himself as a disciple of this Rabbi Gamaliel I who flourished in Jerusalem between A.D. 25 and 50.
* [5:36–37] Gamaliel offers examples of unsuccessful contemporary movements to argue that if God is not the origin of this movement preached by the apostles it will perish by itself. The movement initiated by Theudas actually occurred when C. Cuspius Fadus was governor, A.D. 44–46. Luke’s placing of Judas the Galilean after Theudas and at the time of the census (see note on Lk 2:1–2) is an indication of the vagueness of his knowledge of these events. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 27 is a triumphant Song of Confidence.
* [Psalm 27] Tradition has handed down the two sections of the Psalm (Ps 27:1–6; 7–14) as one Psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself. Asserting boundless hope that God will bring rescue (Ps 27:1–3), the psalmist longs for the presence of God in the Temple, protection from all enemies (Ps 27:4–6). In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Ps 27:7–12); the climax of the poem comes with “I believe” (Ps 27:13), echoing “I trust” (Ps 27:3). (Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus shares the sign of feeding the Five Thousand.
* [6:1–15] This story of the multiplication of the loaves is the fourth sign (cf. note on Jn 5:1–47). It is the only miracle story found in all four gospels (occurring twice in Mark and Matthew). See notes on Mt 14:13–21; 15:32–39. John differs on the roles of Philip and Andrew, the proximity of Passover (Jn 6:4), and the allusion to Elisha (see Jn 6:9). The story here symbolizes the food that is really available through Jesus. It connotes a new exodus and has eucharistic overtones.
* [6:1] [Of Tiberias]: the awkward apposition represents a later name of the Sea of Galilee. It was probably originally a marginal gloss.
* [6:5] Jesus takes the initiative (in the synoptics, the disciples do), possibly pictured as (cf. Jn 6:14) the new Moses (cf. Nm 11:13).
* [6:6] Probably the evangelist’s comment; in this gospel Jesus is never portrayed as ignorant of anything.
* [6:7] Days’ wages: literally, “denarii”; a Roman denarius is a day’s wage in Mt 20:2.
* [6:9] Barley loaves: the food of the poor. There seems an allusion to the story of Elisha multiplying the barley bread in 2 Kgs 4:42–44.
* [6:10] Grass: implies springtime, and therefore Passover. Five thousand: so Mk 6:39, 44 and parallels.
* [6:13] Baskets: the word describes the typically Palestinian wicker basket, as in Mk 6:43 and parallels.
* [6:14] The Prophet: probably the prophet like Moses (see note on Jn 1:21). The one who is to come into the world: probably Elijah; cf. Mal 3:1, 23. (John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries was not available at publication time.
Don Schwager quotes “God enables us,” by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.
"In rendering service to the grace of God, we are not only made subject to our King through obedience but are even joined to him through the will. If we are of one mind with him (willing what he wills, disapproving of what he disapproves), he himself will bring us victory in all our battles. He who has given the 'will' will bestow also the ability. In this way can we 'cooperate' with his works, speaking that prophetic utterance in the exultation of faith: 'The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?'" (excerpt from Sermon 26,4,2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 5:34-42 comments that no matter what our lives are like at any given moment, we can make a conscious choice to rejoice in what God has done for us through Christ. That decision may lead us into a personal experience of joy—along with a desire to share the reason we are feeling that way.
We may not be called to preach and teach in quite the same way as the apostles. However, we can discover our own “temples”: those places where we can bring the good news. This might be in our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our families—wherever the Lord leads us. May the example of the apostles inspire us to share the gospel out of the abundance of joy in our hearts.
“Lord, my Savior, I rejoice in you!” (Meditation on Acts 5:34-42, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the advice of Gamaliel, a teacher of Paul, to have nothing to do with the followers of Jesus, who will fade away or truly be from God. Jesus has the perfect number of food objects, and the bread of the poor to offer in His sign pointing to the greater reality of the Eucharist. Friar Jude reminds us that Jesus, in the Gospel of John, tries to bring people beyond what we understand with our human minds.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, teaches that the essence of contemplative prayer is presence and love.
The present moment has no competition; it’s not judged in comparison to any other. It has never happened before and will not happen again. But when I’m in competition, I’m not in love. I can’t get to love because I’m looking for a new way to dominate. The way we know this mind is not the truth is that God does not deal with us like this. Mystics, those who really pray, know this. Those who enter deeply into the great mystery do not experience a God who compares, differentiates, and judges. They experience an all-embracing receptor, a receiver who recognizes the divine image in each and every individual.
For Jesus, prayer seems to be a matter of waiting in love. Returning to love. Trusting that love is the deepest stream of reality. That’s why prayer isn’t primarily words; it’s primarily an attitude, a stance. That’s why Paul could say, “Pray always; pray unceasingly” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). If we read that as requiring words, it’s surely impossible. We’ve got lots of other things to do. We can pray unceasingly, however, if we find the stream and know how to wade in its waters. The stream will flow through us; all we have to do is keep choosing to stay there. (Rohr, n.d.)
We are invited to contemplate the moments in which we recognized a sign of the Presence of God and to be open to the gift of confidence in the Eternal Love of God.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/5?34
John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?1
Meditation on Acts 5:34-42. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 12, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/04/12/935387/
Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/27?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). A True Encounter. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved April 12, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-true-encounter/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 12, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=apr12
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