Surprises and expectations

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of the surprises in living as disciples of Christ and some of the reactions we may expect from our society toward followers of Christ.

Community and Church

In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul travels to Philippi where Lydia hears the Good News and offers support in the mission of the Apostle to the Gentiles.

* [16:11–40] The church at Philippi became a flourishing community to which Paul addressed one of his letters (see Introduction to the Letter to the Philippians).

In the Gospel of John, Jesus instructs the disciples to expect the Holy Spirit to testify to the Truth of Jesus and also to know that this Truth will generate consequences of persecution from the religious authorities.

* [16:2] Hour: of persecution, not Jesus’ “hour” (see note on Jn 2:4).

Molly Mattingly is inspired by Psalm 149 and the story of Lydia today to encourage us to join with God and take delight in God’s people, and, like Lydia, pay it forward.

we are told that God opened Lydia’s heart to receive the good news of Christ. God was there, in her heart, and in the events, practices, and relationships that had prepared her to receive. I picture Lydia with similar delight to my student, hearing something familiar from a foreign source and lighting up with recognition. She immediately wants to pay that forward, by offering hospitality to the disciples

Don Schwager quotes the Prayer of Anselm of Canterbury for support from the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

"O merciful God, fill our hearts, we pray, with the graces of your Holy Spirit; with love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. Teach us to love those who hate us; to pray for those who despitefully use us; that we may be the children of your love, our Father, who makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity grant us grace to be patient; in prosperity keep us humble; may we guard the door of our lips; may we lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, and thirst after heavenly things; through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Friar Jude Winkler shares some details about the encounter of Paul in Philippi with Lydia, a wealthy woman, who may have led first house Church. Disciples encounter some difficulty and pay a price for being Christian. Friar Jude focuses on the Glory in the opportunity to proclaim the Truth.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that living Jesus teachings on forgiveness, healing, and justice work are the only real evidence of a new and shared life. If we do not see this happening in churches and spiritual communities, religion is “all in the head” and largely an illusion.

Paul’s communities are his audiovisual aids that he can point to inside of a debauched empire (where human dignity was never upheld as inherent), to give credibility to his message. To people who asked, “Why should we believe there’s a new or different life possible?” Paul could say, “Look at these people. They’re different. This is a different social order.” In Christ, “there are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28, JB). This is not just a religious idea, but a socioeconomic message that began to change the world—and still can.

The journey of Spiritual Surprises and conflict with a debauched empire are experiences of living today with the Spirit.

References


(n.d.). CHAPTER 16 Paul in Lycaonia: Timothy. 1He reached (also) Derbe .... Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/acts16.htm

(n.d.). CHAPTER 16 John Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/16

(n.d.). Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/