Boldness and courage

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite our contemplation of our approach to those who live with different understanding of faith and relationships to others.

Diverse and gifted

The reading from Acts describes the response of Paul to believers and others in Ephesus.

* [19:1–6] Upon his arrival in Ephesus, Paul discovers other people at the same religious stage as Apollos, though they seem to have considered themselves followers of Christ, not of the Baptist. On the relation between baptism and the reception of the Spirit, see note on Acts 8:16.1 

Psalm 68 declares confidence that God will destroy Israel’s enemies (Ps 68:2–4) and calls to praise God as savior (Ps 68:5–7).

* [Psalm 68] The Psalm ... translation assumes the Psalm accompanied the early autumn Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth), which included a procession of the tribes (Ps 68:25–28). Israel was being oppressed by a foreign power, perhaps Egypt (Ps 68:31–32)—unless Egypt stands for any oppressor. The Psalm may have been composed from segments of ancient poems, which would explain why the transitions are implied rather than explicitly stated. At any rate, Ps 68:2 is based on Nm 10:35–36, and Ps 68:8–9 are derived from Jgs 5:4–5. The argument develops in nine stanzas (each of three to five poetic lines): 1. confidence that God will destroy Israel’s enemies (Ps 68:2–4); 2. call to praise God as savior (Ps 68:5–7);2 

In the discourse in the Gospel of John that announces the coming of the Advocate, some of Jesus message appears to have more clarity in the minds of the apostles.

* [16:30] The reference is seemingly to the fact that Jesus could anticipate their question in Jn 16:19. The disciples naively think they have the full understanding that is the climax of “the hour” of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension (Jn 16:25), but the only part of the hour that is at hand for them is their share in the passion (Jn 16:32).3 

Eileen Burke-Sullivan comments that she might be tempted to say, “Ok, Jesus, the Apostles thought your message was clear and they blew it on Holy Thursday, “I thought your message was clear to me, and I’ve received your Holy Spirit, but since this world around me seems pretty scattered and divided, it is hard to have hope that we can live in real unity – even in the Church, among the Baptized?”

Then I remember with pleasure the consolation of the Spirit that was manifested at the wedding in St. Louis just a few days ago.  Christ’s Spirit conquers the world’s fear. Christ’s love, made real and concrete in self-giving human love, drives out despair. As I remembered the peace and radiant  joy on the faces of that young couple it occurred to me that I can believe that Christ continues to conquer fear and despair – so He really will end all divisions – He has won, he continues to win, and in the end He will reign in VICTORY, so now is the time to hang on – and celebrate!4 

Don Schwager comments that the Holy Spirit fills us with expectant faith, persevering hope, and unfailing love.

 While we cannot avoid all pain and suffering which may come our way in this life, the Lord Jesus assures us that he has overcome the world and all that would seek to keep us from his saving help and healing presence. He promises to guide us safely through any trial or hardship we may have to undergo for his sake. The Lord Jesus gives us the gift of his Holy Spirit who strengthens us with faith, courage, and perseverance to stay the course which he has set for us. The Holy Spirit fills us with a living hope in the power of Christ's resurrection (1 Peter 1:3) and reassures our heart with a confident trust in God's abiding presence.
Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ and the victory he has won for us (Romans 8:35-39). The Holy Spirit gives us the strength and courage we need to overcome every adversity and to persevere with faith and hope in God.5

The Word Among Meditation on Acts 19:1-8 comments that we are reminded by Paul’s example that there are many different philosophies and religious ideas out in the world. There are so many distractions in the media and so many demands on people’s lives. Imagine how effective an encounter with sincere, loving followers of Jesus can be in cutting through all that interference.

You can be that connection. Believe it or not, you have much to offer people, starting with the witness of your own story. It’s only a matter of taking time to draw near as Paul did. And you don’t always have to say anything! Offering to mow a neighbor’s lawn, meeting fellow parishioners after Sunday Mass, listening to a troubled friend—these are only a few ways to reach out.
The world is a busy, noisy, windy place, but you have a message that is powerful and moving. Never doubt that the witness of your life and the story of your journey can touch people’s hearts and bring them closer to the Lord.6 

The Franciscan Media site reflects on Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, the Saints of the Day for June 3. For his own unwillingness to submit to the immoral acts and his efforts to safeguard the faith of his friends, Charles Lwanga was burned to death at Namugongo on June 3, 1886, by Mwanga’s order. When Pope Paul VI canonized these 22 martyrs on October 18, 1964, he also made reference to the Anglican pages martyred for the same reason.

 Like Charles Lwanga, we are all teachers and witnesses to Christian living by the examples of our own lives. We are all called upon to spread the word of God, whether by word or deed. By remaining courageous and unshakable in our faith during times of great moral and physical temptation, we live as Christ lived.7

Friar Jude Winkler shows how the Baptism of John is completed by Baptism in the Spirit and Life in the Trinity. Saint Augustine of Hippo understood evil to be the absence of Love. Friar Jude reminds us that in the Gospel of John, the world categorized as evil is applied to those who have chosen to reject Jesus.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares on the importance of diversity that, like the Godself, we must be both “three and one,” different and united: diversity affirmed, protected, and overcome by One Shared Love.

Our basic human problem of unity and diversity has been resolved in the very nature of God, but unless we allow ourselves inside of that Infinite flow, we ourselves will always remain the three but never the one. If we remain exclusive monotheists, like Judaism, Islam, and much of Christianity up to now, we normally try to impose a false uniformity on others but rarely know how to love, honor, and respect diversity. We remain in competing tribes and colonies.8 

After a recent viewing of the 1992 movie “Malcolm X” with Denzel Washington and Spike Lee, the American Radio Works “Say it Plain; Say it Loud” podcast reports that the day after his Detroit speech, "The Ballot or the Bullet", Malcolm X embarked on an overseas tour that included a life-changing pilgrimage to the Muslim holy city of Mecca. (Known as the Hajj, the pilgrimage must be carried out at least once in a lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.) The racial diversity he experienced in the Middle East, especially among Muslims, led him to discard his strict notions of black separatism for a wider, more inclusive movement against white supremacy and colonialism. In the summer of 1964, Malcolm X announced a new effort, the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU).

In assessing Malcolm X's impact, theologian James Cone wrote: "More than anyone else he revolutionized the black mind, transforming docile Negroes and self-effacing colored people into proud blacks and self-confident African-Americans."10 By the end of the 20th century, Malcolm X was recognized in mainstream culture as a hero of the civil rights era. The militant radical whose image once provoked fear and hatred among many white Americans was celebrated in mainstream movie theaters, on Black History Month posters in elementary school classrooms, and on a 1999 postage stamp issued by the United States government.9 

The experience of Love is the essential start to our reevaluation of our relationship with God and others.

References

1	(n.d.). Acts, chapter 19 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 3, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/19
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 68 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 3, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/68
3	(n.d.). John, chapter 16 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 3, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/16
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved June 3, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 3, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved June 3, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/06/03/
7	(n.d.). Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions - Franciscan Media. Retrieved June 3, 2019, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saints-charles-lwanga-and-companions/
8	(n.d.). Diversity Protected — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 3, 2019, from https://cac.org/diversity-protected-2019-06-03/
9	(n.d.). Malcolm X | The Ballot or the Bullet. Retrieved June 3, 2019, from http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/blackspeech/mx.html