Taught by God

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the action of learning more about the universal invitation to all people to live as children of God.

Teaching time

The Acts of the Apostles details the conversion of the eunuch as Philip responds to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

* [8:30–34] Philip is brought alongside the carriage at the very moment when the Ethiopian is pondering the meaning of Is 53:7–8, a passage that Christianity, from its earliest origins, has applied to Jesus; cf. note on Acts 3:13.

In the Gospel from John, Jesus continues to teach as Wisdom Incarnate as He introduces our relationship to Him as flesh.

* [6:22–71] Discourse on the bread of life; replacement of the manna. Jn 6:22–34 serve as an introduction, Jn 6:35–59 constitute the discourse proper, Jn 6:60–71 portray the reaction of the disciples and Peter’s confession.

Thomas Lenz finds the readings of today seem to focus his attention on the connection between Jesus and bread. He notes that society may try to influence us to a different understanding.

Society has a tremendous influence on how we think and on our actions. It’s easy to be convinced that a no-carb diet is the way to good health. Just the same, it is easy to be convinced that the way to happiness and peace is through material goods and actions that are counter to the “consumption” of Jesus. Jesus is the bread of life. To consume him means that we are fully nourished, happy and healthy.

Don Schwager considers the advice of Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D., about studying the Scriptures with humility.

"My ambition as a youth was to apply to the study of the Holy Scriptures all the refinement of dialectics. I did so, but without the humility of the true searcher. I was supposed to knock at the door so that it would open for me. Instead I was pushing it closed, trying to understand in pride what is only learned in humility. However, the all-merciful Lord lifted me up and kept me safe." (excerpt from Sermon 51,6)

Friar Jude Winkler notes that the passage from Isaiah that the eunuch was studying is not far from texts which indicate the inclusion of eunuchs in the New Israel. Jesus as Wisdom Incarnate will teach His audience and initiate them into the life of God. The intimacy of two becoming one flesh as we consume the Bread of Life is compared to marriage by Friar Jude.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that, at the time of Vatican II, the Catholic Church seemed to realize the inadequacy of the Greek view of marriage—solely for procreation. He borrows from Diarmuid O’Murchu’s insights on gender and sexuality within a historical context.

Sexual abuse flared on several fronts, often involving children, adolescents and vulnerable adults. Sexual deviancy, promiscuity and the extensive spread of pornography were deemed to be the primary culprits. Virtually nobody named—and still fail to do so—the explosion of sexual repression, buried deep in the human psyche over several previous centuries. It is the legacy of that repression that still continues to haunt our contemporaries, and particularly those of a religious background. Responsible incarnational redress will not be forthcoming till that deep psychic woundedness is acknowledged, named, and subjected to a more discerning and compassionate analysis. [3]

Acceptance, rejection, expression, repression, humility, and pride impact our human relationships and our perception of God. The Holy Spirit works with our openness to bring us life that is resonant with our intimacy with the Word made flesh.
References


(n.d.). Acts, chapter 8 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved April 19, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts8:58

(n.d.). John, chapter 6 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved April 19, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/john/6:44

(n.d.). Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved April 19, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 19, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/ 

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 19, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/