The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present narratives which tell of the decision of the religious authorities, in accord with the advice of Rabbi Gamaliel, to let the disciples of Jesus alone and perhaps they will disappear as other 'rebels' did. Some of the deeper meaning, related in the comments of Friar Jude Winkler, shows men rejoicing in the privilege of suffering for and with Jesus. This attitude of joy in suffering is most counter cultural. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit and energized by the intimate relationship of the one who suffers with God. The psalmist echoes the joy of patient and joyful waiting in the confidence of the Presence of the Lord. The last verses of this psalm are the hope filled declaration of believers that "I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living"
The multiplication of the loaves and the fishes from the Gospel of John is, as expected, rich with symbols and precise selection of words and phrases to speak at a deeper level than the miraculous sharing of food. Friar Jude notes the testing of Philip by a Divine Jesus, the perfect number of 7 objects through which the "perfect" is multiplied by Jesus, the thanksgiving verb used is intended as eucharistic thanks, and the Good Shepherd sits the people down in the green grass of Psalm 23. The surface of encounters with the Divine is life giving and nourishing. The patient waiting in expectation of the Spirit to resonate within leads to transformation of simple actions to encounters and simple living becomes enabled to be witness to others of the transcendent nature of intimacy with the Divine.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment