The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to reaffirm our faith in the Spirit to guide us through the trials we encounter on our Journey.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the trial before the Sanhedrin.
* [5:17–42] A second action against the community is taken by the Sanhedrin in the arrest and trial of the Twelve; cf. Acts 4:1–3. The motive is the jealousy of the religious authorities over the popularity of the apostles (Acts 5:17) who are now charged with the defiance of the Sanhedrin’s previous order to them to abandon their prophetic role (Acts 5:28; cf. Acts 4:18). In this crisis the apostles are favored by a miraculous release from prison (Acts 5:18–24). (For similar incidents involving Peter and Paul, see Acts 12:6–11; 16:25–29.) The real significance of such an event, however, would be manifest only to people of faith, not to unbelievers; since the Sanhedrin already judged the Twelve to be inauthentic prophets, it could disregard reports of their miracles.
* [5:30] Hanging him on a tree: that is, crucifying him (cf. also Gal 3:13).
* [5:31] At his right hand: see note on Acts 2:33. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 34 offers Praise for Deliverance from Trouble.
* [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of John declares Jesus as the One Who comes from Heaven.
* [3:31–36] It is uncertain whether these are words by the Baptist, Jesus, or the evangelist. They are reflections on the two preceding scenes.
* [3:34] His gift: of God or to Jesus, perhaps both. This verse echoes Jn 5:8. (John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Scott McClure comments that some things in life that we find truly un-believable are thus because they are so preposterous. Other things, however, we find un-believable because they are so beyond our scope of understanding. They are not preposterous but, rather, unfathomable. It is not that they are not true; rather, they are so weighty they cannot be totally grasped. Such are the references today in John.
In this Easter season, we rejoice in Jesus’ rising from the dead. Talk about unfathomable… and Jesus knows this would be especially hard for you and for me to believe. Two thousand years ago, Jesus was thinking of us when he told Thomas, You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me… blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe! Such is the nature of the transcendent. We, the created, cannot completely comprehend our Creator. Still, let us accept Jesus’ testimony with the eyes of faith and, in his words, be among the blessed. (McClure, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Always bless the Lord!” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When are you to 'bless the Lord?' When he showers blessings on you? When earthly goods are plentiful? When you have a plethora of grain, oil, wine, gold, silver... - while your mortal body remains healthy, uninjured and free from disease; while everything that is born on your estate is growing well, and nothing is snatched away by untimely death; while every kind of happiness floods your home and you have all you want in profusion? Is it only then that you are to bless the Lord? No, but 'at all times.' So you are to bless him equally when from time to time, or because the Lord God wishes to discipline you, these good things let you down or are taken from you, when there are fewer births or the already-born slip away. These things happen, and their consequence is poverty, need, hardship, disappointment and temptation. But you sang, 'I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be in my mouth always,' so when the Lord gives you these good things, bless him, and when he takes them away, bless him. He it is who gives, and he it is who takes away, but he does not take himself away from anyone who blesses him. (excerpt from EXPOSITIONS OF THE PSALMS 34.3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 3:31-36 comments that the Holy Spirit was there when God created the world, “sweeping over the waters” (Genesis 1:2). He was the “breath of life” whom God breathed into Adam and Eve (2:7). He guided the Israelites on their desert journey (Exodus 40:36-38), anointed King David (1 Samuel 16:13), and inspired all the prophets. He overshadowed Mary so that she could conceive Jesus (Luke 1:35). He was the power behind all of Jesus’ miracles and preaching (Matthew 12:28). And of course, it was the Spirit who transformed the first disciples and sent them out to share the gospel and build a Church that is now present in every culture and nation in the world (Acts 1:8).
What a great mystery—and what a great gift! The Holy Spirit is with you, generously breathing new life into you. There is no limit to his ability to transform your heart. And there is no limit to his power to help you share his love.
“Lord, send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth—through me!” (Meditation on John 3:31-36, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes the resilience of Peter who proclaims the kerygma even as the Jewish leaders forbid him to do so. The preexistence of Christ is proclaimed in the passage from John’s Gospel. Friar Jude reminds us that the dualism in John’s Gospel underlines our need to choose life by accepting Christ and the Cross that calls us to die to self.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, recalls Episcopal priest and educator Alice Updike Scannell (1938–2019) who considered spirituality to be an essential element of radical resilience. She writes that attending to our spirituality is an essential skill for radical resilience. The kinds of challenges and adversities in life that demand radical resilience usually cause pain and suffering.
The kind of spirituality that serves as a radical resilience skill respects the dignity of every human being; understands that all beings, the environment, and the universe are interconnected; views the Higher Power as loving; and holds honesty, self-awareness, compassion, forgiveness, reconciliation, openness, acceptance, and healing as core values.
Whenever we seek to understand how we can best live our lives with meaning and purpose, through prayer, meditation, or another practice of spiritual discernment, and we pay attention with an open mind to what comes to us in response to that practice, we’re engaging with our spirituality as a radical resilience skill. Over time, engagement with spirituality in this way is transformative. It changes the way we understand ourselves. It opens our hearts to an awareness of gratitude and leads us into greater compassion and a sense of connection with others. (Rohr, n.d.)
We contemplate the role of the Spirit in our encounters with the difficulties on our journey and reaffirm our gratitude for the spiritual and material assistance we have received.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/5?27
John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?
McClure, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/041124.html
Meditation on John 3:31-36. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/04/11/934634/
Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Spirituality as Radical Resilience. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/spirituality-as-radical-resilience/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). He Who Believes in the Son Has Eternal Life. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=apr11
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