Community contradicts the world

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate two contradictory narratives about the nature of the response of people to the Spirit led initiatives of Jesus disciples.

Contradict the world

The reading from Luke’s Book of Acts describes Paul led by the Spirit through areas of present day Turkey where he encounters Timothy and makes many converts.

* [16:7] The Spirit of Jesus: this is an unusual formulation in Luke’s writings. The parallelism with Acts 16:6 indicates its meaning, the holy Spirit.1 

Psalm 100 is a hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts.

* [Psalm 100] A hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts with thank offerings for the God who created them.2 

Reasons for the world’s hatred of His disciples are described by Jesus in the Gospel from John.

* [15:21] On account of my name: the idea of persecution for Jesus’ name is frequent in the New Testament (Mt 10:22; 24:9; Acts 9:14). For John, association with Jesus’ name implies union with Jesus.3 

Tamora Whitney concludes that If we follow Jesus instead of following the world, the world will not love us. This world will not reward us. In following Him, we do not belong to this world but to the next.

The slave is not greater than the master. The followers will not be treated better than the leader. Following Jesus is not easy. It’s not always popular. It’s not necessarily profitable or rewarding in the conventional sense. The same world that persecuted Jesus will not treat his followers any better. But in truly following Jesus, we do what is right. We treat people decently. We seek true justice for all. We love others even when they do not love us. Even when they hate us.4 

Don Schwager quotes “Those who suffer with Christ reign with Christ,” by Cyril of Alexandria, 375-444 A.D.

"It is just as if Jesus said, 'I, the creator of the universe, who have everything under my hand, both in heaven and on earth, did not bridle their rage or restrain ... their inclinations. Rather, I let each one choose their own course and permitted all to do what they wanted. Therefore, when I was persecuted, I endured it even though I had the power of preventing it. When you too follow in my wake and pursue the same course I did, you also will be persecuted. You're going to have to momentarily endure the aversion of those who hate you without being overly troubled by the ingratitude of those whom you benefit. This is how you attain my glory, for those who suffer with me shall also reign with me.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 16:1-10 comments that Timothy’s credentials might leave us feeling inadequate as believers. It’s easy to view saints and holy people that way. But Timothy was very much like us. Like most of us, he had gifts and talents that enabled him to serve the Lord well, and he also had challenges and roadblocks that he had to overcome.

It seems that Timothy was somewhat shy, as Paul urged the Corinthians to put him at ease among them and to be careful how they criticized him (1 Corinthians 16:10-11). He was timid, perhaps, but also gentle and tactful. Paul trusted him to deal with awkward situations. “I have no one comparable to him,” he once said (Philippians 2:20). Timothy also frequently suffered stomach ailments, causing Paul to prescribe a little wine to help (1 Timothy 5:23).6 

Friar Jude Winkler connects Timothy to his Jewish heritage. Paul’s sense of the coming end of the world kept him moving to evangelize in territory that had not been previously visited by disciples. Friar Jude uses the background of the very dualistic Gospel to ask if we are giving enough Christian witness.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, believes all of history has been the age of the Spirit. Creation just keeps unfolding. He recalls thoughts of Wm. Paul Young (The Shack), Jürgen Moltmann (Reform theologian), and Richard Hauser SJ (Jesuit priest) concluding with a traditional prayer practice in the form of a Litany of the Holy Spirit.

Pure Gift of God
Indwelling Presence
Promise of the Father
Life of Jesus
Pledge and Guarantee
Defense Attorney
Inner Anointing
Homing Device
Stable Witness
Peacemaker
Always Already Awareness
Compassionate Observer
God Compass
Inner Breath
Mutual Yearning
Hidden Love of God
Implanted Hope
Seething Desire
Fire of Life and Love
Truth Speaker
Flowing Stream
Wind of Change
Descending Dove
Cloud of Unknowing
Uncreated Grace
Filled Emptiness
Deepest Level of Our Longing
Sacred Wounding
Holy Healing
Will of God
Great Compassion
Inherent Victory
You who pray in us, through us, with us, for us, and in spite of us.
Amen, Alleluia!7 

The actions of the followers of Jesus when led by the Spirit will contradict selfishness, greed, hatred, and egotistical behaviour. This will draw persecution to the followers of the Way who will find consolation with the Indwelling Spirit.

References

1	(n.d.). Acts, chapter 16 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 25, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/16
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 100 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 25, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/100
3	(n.d.). John, chapter 15 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 25, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/15
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved May 25, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 25, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved May 25, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/05/25/
7	(n.d.). Indwelling Spirit: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and .... Retrieved May 25, 2019, from https://cac.org/indwelling-spirit-weekly-summary-2019-05-25/