Abundant Love addresses our need

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that the Abundant Love of God is always available to assist our journey.

God or Men?

Three verses stand out to frame the theme today.

We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5.29The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Psalm 34.6He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. John 3.34

The Sanhedrin are told by Peter, in the Acts of the Apostles, that the disciples of Jesus must obey God not men.

The Psalm of thanksgiving declares that God hears the cry of the poor.

* [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).

In the Gospel from John, Nicodemus is taught that Jesus comes from the Father with the gift of the Spirit.

* [3:34] His gift: of God or to Jesus, perhaps both. This verse echoes Jn 5:8.

Cindy Murphy Mcmahon reflects on how often we face decisions or dilemmas that cause us to question the right course of action. Sometimes we are choosing between what our heart, or gut, tells us vs. what the social norm or “preferred way” dictates.

His (Peter) assurance was due in part to the fact, as stated by John in the Gospel, that God is indeed trustworthy. We can trust that if we truly believe, after reflecting and praying, that we are acting according to God’s guidance, then we are acting justly. If new information comes to light or things don’t turn out as planned, we can still be assured that God is pleased with our attempts to do the right thing and will show us the way forward once again.

Don Schwager quotes the advice of Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D., to always bless the Lord! This advice resonates with the attitude of Job.

"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)

Friar Jude Winkler compares the inability of Peter to refrain from preaching to the fire within Jeremiah that he could not contain. The Law and some special Prophets, Eli, Elijah and Moses, connected to apocalyptic texts in Scriptures, were thought to bring understanding of heaven. Jesus explains to Nicodemus that He is one who is come from heaven.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, wonders why the same battles for justice must be fought by every generation.

Certainly, there were enough sacrifices, martyrs, and legislation during the ’60s to ensure justice for all. Yet . . . “we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities and the rulers of darkness in high places” [Ephesians 6:12]. The powers or systems do everything they can to resist change. In response to the demand for justice, systems morph and adjust while maintaining the status quo.

In the confrontation with injustice, greed and evil we have the Spirit to guide us to the Will of God who hears the cry of the poor.
References


(n.d.). Acts 5. Retrieved April 12, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/acts/5:27

(n.d.). psalm 34. Retrieved April 12, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/psalms34.htm

(n.d.). John 3. Retrieved April 12, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/john/3:31 

 
(n.d.). Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved April 12, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 12, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 12, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/