Glory unity and politics

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that opportunities to connect with the Spirit and encounter the glory of God occur in our daily interactions with others.

People and politics

In the Acts of the Apostles, the clever political action of Paul diverts the Jerusalem Sanhedrin to infighting and away from their prosecution of his case.

* [23:11] The occurrence of the vision of Christ consoling Paul and assuring him that he will be his witness in Rome prepares the reader for the final section of Acts: the journey of Paul and the word he preaches to Rome under the protection of the Romans.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus high priestly prayer seeks unity of all people with Him and the Father.

* [17:24] Where I am: Jesus prays for the believers ultimately to join him in heaven. Then they will not see his glory as in a mirror but clearly (2 Cor 3:18; 1 Jn 3:2).

Eileen Wirth recalls Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s work with Special Olympics as she comments that today’s reading should teach us that not only is it okay to work politically, it’s virtually a moral mandate.

It’s NO insult to acknowledge Paul’s political and communications skills. The important thing is to learn from him as we try to carry out St. Ignatius’s command to change the world for the good

Don Schwager quotes a Prayer of unity for all who believe, by Cyprian of Carthage, first martyr bishop of Africa, 200-258 A.D..

"The Lord's loving-kindness, no less than his mercy, is great in respect of our salvation in that, not content to redeem us with his blood, he in addition prayed for us. See now what the desire of his petition was, that just as the Father and Son are one, so also we should abide in absolute unity. From this, it may be evident how greatly someone sins who divides unity and peace, since even the Lord himself petitioned for this same thing. He no doubt desired that his people should in this way be saved and live in peace since he knew that discord cannot come into the kingdom of God." (excerpt from THE LORD'S PRAYER 30.1)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 17:20-26 tells us today that we are gifts from the Father to Jesus.

It also means that just as you are a gift to Jesus, so is every other person. We are all gifts individually, and we are also—and no less importantly—a gift as a group. It may not be the most perfect analogy, but the body of Christ is like that bicycle the father is putting together. There are many parts, but together they form a precious gift that God delights in giving to his Son, Jesus.

Friar Jude Winkler provides background on the offence of Paul in Jerusalem of bringing a pagan within the inner courts of the Temple. Jesus prays, in John 17, for those consecrated in the truth and He extends the prayer to those who will come to believe in the future. Friar Jude declares Evangelist John’s purpose to reveal the Love of Father for us and urge us not to follow things that have no value.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, cites Dr. Barbara Holmes continues exploring the contemplative in surprising places: The only divisions between the sacred and the secular are in the minds of those who believe in and reinforce the split.

All things draw from the same wellspring of spiritual energy. This means that the sermonic and religious can be mediated through a saxophone just as effectively as through a pastor. . . . How can this be? . . . [Can] tapping feet and blues guitar strokes . . . evoke the contemplative moment and call the listener to a deeper understanding of inner and outer realities? . . . The need to create impermeable boundaries between the sacred and the secular is . . . a much more recent appropriation of western values. . .

We witness the desire of God to be one with us when our normal secular activities reveal truth, beauty and goodness connection to the Love that is between Father and Son to which we are invited.

References


(n.d.). Acts 23:6-11. Retrieved May 17, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/23

(n.d.). John 17:20-21. Retrieved May 17, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/john17.htm

(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved May 17, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 17, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). 7th Week of Easter - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations .... Retrieved May 17, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/ 

(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 17, 2018, from https://cac.org/richard-rohr/daily-meditations/daily-meditations-archive/