Courage and Conviction

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today echo the courage and conviction that we seek to live our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader.

Sign of the "Pope of Hope"

In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter and Paul proclaim the kerygma.

Psalm 118 is a thanksgiving liturgy.

* [Psalm 118] A thanksgiving liturgy accompanying a procession of the king and the people into the Temple precincts. After an invocation in the form of a litany (Ps 118:1–4), the psalmist (very likely speaking in the name of the community) describes how the people confidently implored God’s help (Ps 118:5–9) when hostile peoples threatened its life (Ps 118:10–14); vividly God’s rescue is recounted (Ps 118:15–18). Then follows a possible dialogue at the Temple gates between the priests and the psalmist as the latter enters to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice (Ps 118:19–25). Finally, the priests impart their blessing (Ps 118:26–27), and the psalmist sings in gratitude (Ps 118:28–29). (Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Mark presents Jesus' appearance to Mary Magdalene, to Two Disciples, and the Commissioning of the Eleven.

* [16:9–20] This passage, termed the Longer Ending to the Marcan gospel by comparison with a much briefer conclusion found in some less important manuscripts, has traditionally been accepted as a canonical part of the gospel and was defined as such by the Council of Trent. Early citations of it by the Fathers indicate that it was composed by the second century, although vocabulary and style indicate that it was written by someone other than Mark. It is a general resume of the material concerning the appearances of the risen Jesus, reflecting, in particular, traditions found in Lk 24 and Jn 20. (Mark, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)

Mardell Wilson comments that we meet Peter and John in today’s reading. These are two men: untrained, unschooled, “ordinary,” as Luke says.  They are standing before the most powerful religious authorities of their day. They are being told, in no uncertain terms, to shut it down, knock it off. Stop preaching. Stop teaching. Stop talking about Jesus. Or else!

As we find ourselves still clearly in the light of Easter, we celebrate the joyous resurrection of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole world. Like Peter and John, we are called to stand firm in the face of the world and say, “It’s impossible for us NOT to speak about what we have heard. Not out of defiance, but out of joy knowing that Jesus lives and always will. He has transformed everything for you and for me and for all of the world. (Wilson, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The Great Commission,” by Augustine of Hippo, 430-543 A.D.

"The command to the apostles to be witnesses to him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the uttermost parts of the earth was not addressed exclusively to those to whom it was immediately spoken. They alone would not be the only ones who would carry such an enormous task to completion. Similarly he seems to be speaking to the apostles very personally when he says: "Behold I am with you even to the end of the world," yet who does not know that he made this promise to the universal church which will last from now even to the consummation of the world by successive births and deaths?" (excerpt from Letter 199, To Hesychius 49) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 4:13-21 comments that not even the threat of prison could silence these “uneducated, ordinary men” or steal their joy (Acts 4:13). They were just like most of us: lacking titles, status, or formal training. But they were set ablaze by the fire of God’s love.

During this Easter season, the Church is singing for joy to our risen King. Death is defeated, and we have been raised to new life! Let your voice join in the proclamation! Let the joy of Easter flow out of you and bring hope to everyone around you.

“Risen Lord, I cannot help but share the joy of knowing your love!” (Meditation on Acts 4:13-21, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the boldness of Peter and John explaining themselves to the Sanhedrin after healing and proclaiming the kerygma. They respond with their obligation to listen to God, not the authorities. Friar Jude shares the development of the longer ending of Mark as inspired text from the other Gospels.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces theologian Matthew Fox who explores how we can choose to live resurrection each day. Fox asks “Who does not seek Resurrection? Who does not seek a full and fuller life?” Did Jesus not promise, “I have come that you may have life, life in abundance?” (John 10:10)

Resurrection is a commitment to hope and being reborn. It is a commitment to creativity, to the Spirit who “makes all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Resurrection is the Spirit’s work. It is life of the Spirit.  

And what about Life? How am I Life? How living and alive am I? How much in love with life am I? Can anyone or any event separate me from my love of life? Paul the mystic asks (and then answers), “Who shall separate us from the love of God? Neither death nor life, height nor depth, neither present nor future” (Romans 8:35, 38). Is my curiosity alive? My gratitude? My mind? My imagination? My laughter and sense of humor? My creativity? My powers of generosity and compassion? My powers for continually generating and regenerating life?… (Rohr, n.d.)

As we witness the funeral of Pope Francis today we seek renewed inspiration from the Spirit to follow Jesus' Way of love, mercy, and hope with courage and conviction.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/4?13 

Mark, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/16?9 

Meditation on Acts 4:13-21. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 26, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/04/26/1262544/ 

Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/118?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Celebrating Resurrection: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 26, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/celebrating-resurrection-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Go and Preach the Gospel to the Whole Creation. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 26, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=apr26 

Wilson, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved April 26, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/042625.html 

Help in Harvest

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of the challenges in teaching Jesus Way and reassure us of His continuing support of our mission as fishers of people. 

The Keystone of Life

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes Peter’s Witness before the Sanhedrin.

* [4:1] The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees: the priests performed the temple liturgy; the temple guard was composed of Levites, whose captain ranked next after the high priest. The Sadducees, a party within Judaism at this time, rejected those doctrines, including bodily resurrection, which they believed alien to the ancient Mosaic religion. The Sadducees were drawn from priestly families and from the lay aristocracy.

* [4:11] Early Christianity applied this citation from Ps 118:22 to Jesus; cf. Mk 12:10; 1 Pt 2:7.

* [4:12] In the Roman world of Luke’s day, salvation was often attributed to the emperor who was hailed as “savior” and “god.” Luke, in the words of Peter, denies that deliverance comes through anyone other than Jesus. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 118 is a thanksgiving liturgy.

* [Psalm 118] A thanksgiving liturgy accompanying a procession of the king and the people into the Temple precincts. After an invocation in the form of a litany (Ps 118:1–4), the psalmist (very likely speaking in the name of the community) describes how the people confidently implored God’s help (Ps 118:5–9) when hostile peoples threatened its life (Ps 118:10–14); vividly God’s rescue is recounted (Ps 118:15–18). Then follows a possible dialogue at the Temple gates between the priests and the psalmist as the latter enters to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice (Ps 118:19–25). Finally, the priests impart their blessing (Ps 118:26–27), and the psalmist sings in gratitude (Ps 118:28–29).

* [118:22] The stone the builders rejected: a proverb: what is insignificant to human beings has become great through divine election. The “stone” may originally have meant the foundation stone or capstone of the Temple. The New Testament interpreted the verse as referring to the death and resurrection of Christ (Mt 21:42; Acts 4:11; cf. Is 28:16 and Rom 9:33; 1 Pt 2:7). (Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John proclaims Jesus' appearance to the Seven Disciples.

* [21:1–23] There are many non-Johannine peculiarities in this chapter, some suggesting Lucan Greek style; yet this passage is closer to John than Jn 7:53–8:11. There are many Johannine features as well. Its closest parallels in the synoptic gospels are found in Lk 5:1–11 and Mt 14:28–31. Perhaps the tradition was ultimately derived from John but preserved by some disciple other than the writer of the rest of the gospel. The appearances narrated seem to be independent of those in Jn 20. Even if a later addition, the chapter was added before publication of the gospel, for it appears in all manuscripts.

* [21:2] Zebedee’s sons: the only reference to James and John in this gospel (but see note on Jn 1:37). Perhaps the phrase was originally a gloss to identify, among the five, the two others of his disciples. The anonymity of the latter phrase is more Johannine (Jn 1:35). The total of seven may suggest the community of the disciples in its fullness.

* [21:3–6] This may be a variant of Luke’s account of the catch of fish; see note on Lk 5:1–11.

* [21:9, 12–13] It is strange that Jesus already has fish since none have yet been brought ashore. This meal may have had eucharistic significance for early Christians since Jn 21:13 recalls Jn 6:11 which uses the vocabulary of Jesus’ action at the Last Supper; but see also note on Mt 14:19.

* [21:11] The exact number 153 is probably meant to have a symbolic meaning in relation to the apostles’ universal mission; Jerome claims that Greek zoologists catalogued 153 species of fish. Or 153 is the sum of the numbers from 1 to 17. Others invoke Ez 47:10.

* [21:12] None…dared to ask him: is Jesus’ appearance strange to them? Cf. Lk 24:16; Mk 16:12; Jn 20:14. The disciples do, however, recognize Jesus before the breaking of the bread (opposed to Lk 24:35). (John, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)

Maureen McCann Waldron comments that Jesus had come to shower Peter with love and forgiveness, and to let him know that it was Peter’s very humanity, his love and, yes, his enthusiastic bumbling at times, that made Peter – this flawed sinner – the right person to lead the group into the future.

All of us may have had times when we feel distant from Jesus.  Our flaws or our busyness have kept us from prayer and conversation with him.  Like Peter, we can be blind to Jesus’ presence in our lives.  But it’s never too late to recognize the one who loves us endlessly, the one standing before us with open arms.  We can peer out from Peter’s boat through the dark of night, and recognize that he is standing there, waiting for us – waiting to feed us.

Today in these post-Easter days, we can put down our fears and look to Jesus who wants to welcome us back to shore with kindness, warmth and breakfast.

No matter how long we have been gone. (McCann, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “Resurrected Bodies,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"The bodies of the righteous at the resurrection will need neither any fruit to preserve them from dying of disease or the wasting decay of old age nor any bodily nourishment to prevent hunger and thirst. For they will be endowed with such a sure and inviolable gift of immortality that they will not eat because they have to, but only if they want to. Not the power but the necessity of eating and drinking shall be taken away from them... just like our Savior after his resurrection took meat and drink with his disciples, with spiritual but still real flesh, not for the sake of nourishment, but in an exercise of his power." (excerpt from City of God 13.22) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 21:1-14 comments that the instinct to run toward Jesus develops over time through a growing relationship with him. Jesus’ magnetism had drawn Peter from the start. Then, as his relationship with Jesus deepened, he was drawn more and more deeply toward him—even as he maintained his impetuous, passionate ways!

Jesus remains just as compelling today. Deep within, we all long to jump out of our boats and run toward him. Even if there are times when you feel unworthy to be in his presence or when temptation seeks to hold you back, that longing is still there. So the next time you feel an inner tug to be near to the Lord, act on it! Drop what you’re doing (if you can) and turn your heart toward him. Every time you do, you’ll discover greater freedom and joy—just as Peter did!

“Lord, help me to hear when you call me today and to respond by running toward you!” (Meditation on John 21:1-14, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the arrest of Peter at the direction of the Sadducees after he proclaims the kerygma identifying Jesus as the cornerstone. The sign of the great catch of fish impells the impetuous Peter to jump into the water to reconnect with Jesus. Friar Jude notes that the vertical and horizontal aspects of our faith are joined by our missionary mandate to be fishers of people.

Brian McLaren encourages us to make Easter an expansive celebration of resurrection. He asks what might happen if every Easter we celebrated the resurrection not merely as the resuscitation of a single corpse nearly two millennia ago, but more—as the ongoing resurrection of all humanity through Christ?

Easter could be the annual affirmation of our ongoing resurrection from violence to peace, from fear to faith, from hostility to love, from a culture of consumption to a culture of stewardship and generosity … and in all these ways and more, from death to life. What if our celebration of Easter was so radical in its meaning that it tempted tyrants and dictators everywhere to make it illegal, because it represents the ultimate scandal: an annual call for creative and peaceful insurrection against all status quo based on fear, hostility, exclusion, and violence? (McLaren, n.d.)

We ponder our missionary charge to invite people to join us as we are fed by the Resurrected Jesus, the keystone of our lives, with the Spirit that brings love, compassion, forgiveness, and joy to our lives.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/4?1 

John, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/21?1 

McCann, M. (2025, April 25). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/042525.html 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). An Ongoing Celebration. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-ongoing-celebration/ 

Meditation on John 21:1-14. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/04/25/1261879/ 

Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/118?1 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Revealed Himself Again to the Disciples. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=apr25