Service fear and trust

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today show how our needs are addressed by those who follow Jesus lead as the Good Shepherd.

Beside restful waters

The reading from Acts describes the need for assistants to manage the charity of the Christian community.

* [6:2] To serve at table: some commentators think that it is not the serving of food that is described here but rather the keeping of the accounts that recorded the distribution of food to the needy members of the community. In any case, after Stephen and the others are chosen, they are never presented carrying out the task for which they were appointed (Acts 6:2–3). Rather, two of their number, Stephen and Philip, are presented as preachers of the Christian message. They, the Hellenist counterpart of the Twelve, are active in the ministry of the word.1 

Psalm 33 is a hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God.

* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22).2 

The Gospel from John uses Jesus walking on the water to have us contemplate overcoming fear through our relationship with Him.

* [6:19] Walking on the sea: although the Greek (cf. Jn 6:16) could mean “on the seashore” or “by the sea” (cf. Jn 21:1), the parallels, especially Mt 14:25, make clear that Jesus walked upon the water. John may allude to Jb 9:8: God “treads upon the crests of the sea.”3 

Kyle Lierk shares a poem of fear overcome by trust.

Can you sense him nearby?“It is I.”“Do not be afraid.”Can we accept his bold commandwhen everything around us tirelessly tries to say the opposite?Fear is all too familiar......but, so too is our friend Jesus.When we hear his voiceand heed his command amidst the storms of lifewe will suddenly find ourselves on the safe and sturdy ground of shore...4 

Don Schwager quotes “Christ our physician, by Saint Augustine of Hippo,” 354-430 A.D.

"God sent the human race a physician, a savior, One Who healed without charging a fee. Christ also came to reward those who would be healed by Him. Christ heals the sick, and He makes a gift to those whom He heals. And the gift that He makes is Himself!" (excerpt from Sermon 102,2)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 6:1-7 comments that Luke adds what we might call a throwaway line about some of the early converts: “Even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith” (6:7).

This one detail from Acts assures us that we can expect the unexpected. If the Holy Spirit could touch people so completely steeped in their traditions, he can touch anyone. Conversions do happen, even to those we might consider the least likely people. The friends and family members we have been lifting up to the Lord for years may be just a heartbeat away from turning to him. They may be just waiting for an invitation or a witness from us to bring them to a decision of faith.6 

Friar Jude Winkler relates the background dispute between Aramaic and Greek followers of the Way that led to an order of service in the diaconate. Psalm 23 is mirrored in John 6 with Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Friar Jude comments that Jesus leads us to restful waters and nourishes the greatest hunger of our lives.

In the repose of the calm waters and the shore of safety, we contemplate how the fearful episodes of our lives were moderated by our trust in Jesus Presence.

References

1	(n.d.). Acts, chapter 6 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 4, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/6
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 33 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 4, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33
3	(n.d.). John, chapter 6 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 4, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/6
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved May 4, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 4, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). 2nd Week of Easter - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations .... Retrieved May 4, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/05/04/