The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary present an opportunity to contemplate the choices we make between living as Jesus models or in a darker pattern attuned only to our needs.
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| Choice of path |
The reading from Acts describes that when the Twelve resumed public teaching, the Sanhedrin determined to invoke upon them the penalty of death.
* [5:17–42] A second action against the community is taken by the Sanhedrin in the arrest and trial of the Twelve... When the Twelve immediately resumed public teaching, the Sanhedrin determined to invoke upon them the penalty of death (Acts 5:33) prescribed in Dt 13:6–10.1
In Psalm 34 God will give the righteous protection.
* [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22).2
The Gospel from John presents the choice we have in relating to the One from Heaven.
* [3:31–36] It is uncertain whether these are words by the Baptist, Jesus, or the evangelist. They are reflections on the two preceding scenes.3
Barbara J. Dilly asserts that traditions are not enough. We don’t worship and praise our traditions or even the saints. We praise a living Lord who takes an active interest in our lives and the lives of all who call upon the Lord.
The saints remind us that each of us must stand firm on our faith even if we are not assigned the tasks of theological scholarship as was the case with Saint Athanasius. As Easter people, each in our own way, we are emboldened by our faith to identify with the cries of the poor and the crushed spirits of the broken hearted. As Easter people, we can bless the Lord at all times because we believe in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. For whatever our troubles and the troubles of others, we can take them on, trusting that the Lord hears us and delivers us. Like St. Athanasius, we shouldn’t give up. Alleluia!4
Franciscan Media reflects on Saint Athanasius, Saint of the Day for May 2.
Athanasius suffered many trials while he was bishop of Alexandria. He was given the grace to remain strong against what probably seemed at times to be insurmountable opposition. Athanasius lived his office as bishop completely. He defended the true faith for his flock, regardless of the cost to himself. In today’s world we are experiencing this same call to remain true to our faith, no matter what.5
Don Schwager quotes Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) in his reflection on our freedom to choose.
Saint Augustine said, "I believe in order to understand; and I understand the better to believe." Faith opens our minds and hearts to receive God's word of truth and to obey it willingly. Do you believe God's word and receive it as if your life depended on it?
God gives us the freedom to accept or reject what he says is true. But with that freedom also comes a responsibility to recognize the consequences of the choice we make - either to believe what he has spoken to us through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, or to ignore, reject, and chose our own way apart from God. Our choices will either lead us on the path of abundant life and union with God, or the path that leads to spiritual death and separation from God.6
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 3:31-36 declares His nature is to pour himself out for us without limit.
Think about how Jesus poured himself out for us on the cross. He spared nothing in his quest to redeem us. Then think about how he poured out his Spirit abundantly on the first disciples at Pentecost. Their preaching and signs and wonders were evidence of the Spirit working powerfully in them. And the result? The explosive growth of the Church.
God has already given you his Spirit in Baptism and Confirmation. But that’s not enough for him. He wants to pour out more of his Spirit on you each and every day. He wants to give you all that you need to be his disciple and to share his love with the people around you. He doesn’t want to give you just enough to get by; he wants to give you more than you could ever imagine.7
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the controversy that arises when the apostles speak boldly about Jesus empowered by the Holy Spirit. People continue not to understand the Who and Where of Jesus. Friar Luke exhorts us to embrace Jesus invitation by making a consistent choice for Him.
James Finley was a spiritual directee of Thomas Merton (1915–1968) at the Abbey of Gethsemani. Drawing from this experience and his own insights as a student of the mystics and a clinical psychologist, Finley helps us get a glimpse of heaven.
When Merton told me that “one thing for sure about heaven is that there is not going to be much of you there,” he was, I think, referring to the mystery that even now we are in God’s kingdom.8
We may face decisions that have serious impact on our existence.The Holy Spirit guides us to adopt inspired attitudes and actions to work with ultimate choice.
References
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(n.d.). Acts, chapter 5 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 2, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/5
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(n.d.). psalm 34 - usccb. Retrieved May 2, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/psalms34.htm
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(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved May 2, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
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(n.d.). Saint of the Day - Franciscan Media. Retrieved May 2, 2019, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/source/saint-of-the-day/
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(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 2, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
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(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved May 2, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/05/02
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8
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(n.d.). Richard Rohr's Daily Meditations - Daily Meditations Archives .... Retrieved May 2, 2019, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/
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