Challenged to be Word in the world

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate our role in God’s plan and how we are supported in fulfilling this role.

Invited to the day

In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul gives some final instructions to the elders who will shepherd the community of Ephesus, when he departs.

* [20:16–35] Apparently aware of difficulties at Ephesus and neighboring areas, Paul calls the presbyters together at Miletus, about thirty miles from Ephesus. He reminds them of his dedication to the gospel (Acts 20:18–21), speaks of what he is about to suffer for the gospel (Acts 20:22–27), and admonishes them to guard the community against false prophets, sure to arise upon his departure (Acts 20:28–31). He concludes by citing a saying of Jesus (Acts 20:35) not recorded in the gospel tradition. Luke presents this farewell to the Ephesian presbyters as Paul’s last will and testament.

In the Gospel from John, Jesus prays for our consecration to the Truth as we move toward union with Him and the Father.

* [17:1–26] Climax of the last discourse(s). Since the sixteenth century, this chapter has been called the “high priestly prayer” of Jesus. He speaks as intercessor, with words addressed directly to the Father and not to the disciples, who supposedly only overhear. Yet the prayer is one of petition, for immediate (Jn 17:6–19) and future (Jn 17:20–21) disciples. Many phrases reminiscent of the Lord’s Prayer occur. Although still in the world (Jn 17:13), Jesus looks on his earthly ministry as a thing of the past (Jn 17:4, 12). Whereas Jesus has up to this time stated that the disciples could follow him (Jn 13:33, 36), now he wishes them to be with him in union with the Father (Jn 17:12–14).

Tamora Whitney declares that all of us are disciples. We are all charged to help and protect and save others.

Jesus prays to God in the gospel to protect us because the world is harsh. He prays to keep us from evil, because there are bad things around us. He prays that we will be consecrated in truth. In so many ways we are like Jesus. Like him, our eventual home is not in this world. And like him we are sent to save.

Don Schwager quotes John Henry Newman (1801-1890) who wrote God created us for a purpose and a mission.

"God has created me to do him some definite service; he has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission - I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for nothing. Therefore, I will trust him. Whatever, wherever I am. I cannot be thrown away." Do you trust in God and in his call and purpose for your life?

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 17:11-19 comments that, through Jesus, God’s love and grace are available and asks what do we need it for?

Maybe you need the Lord’s peace to squelch anxiety. Or to help you become more kind and understanding toward your children. Whatever it is, the Word of God is not going to leave you alone to struggle by yourself. In Jesus, you have all the grace and love you’ll ever need.

Friar Jude Winkler notes that the Elders at Miletus are warned by Paul that the flock will be endangered by internal dissension and some external forces. As Paul takes leave from Ephesus they all embrace and cry. Friar Jude underlines the importance of an emotional connection with our community. He notes how Jesus prays for His community to know and live the Truth of God.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, cites Dr. Barbara Holmes, who suggests that both art and contemplation have a related goal: shifting paradigms. Art and contemplation lead us to wonder, but first they perplex us. He notes that Ronald Rolheiser writes about experiencing God in awe and wonder.

God cannot be thought, but God can be met. Through awe and wonder we experience God and there, as mystics have always stated, we understand more by not understanding than by understanding. In that posture we let God be God. In such a posture, too, we live in contemplation.

God created us for a purpose and a mission and we are supported in our unity with Jesus and the Father in movement to work on our mission to be the Word in the world.

References

(n.d.). Acts, chapter 20 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 16, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/Acts/20:185

(n.d.). John, chapter 17 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 16, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/17

(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved May 16, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 16, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(2018, May 16). 7th Week of Easter - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations .... Retrieved May 16, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/2018/05/16/

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 16, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/