The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to struggle in the tension between being liked as easy going and being truthful about the need for change in relationships.
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| Truth telling |
Difficulty in the leave taking of Paul, seen in the reading from Acts, in his Farewell Speech at Miletus is connected to his need to continue his mission to Jerusalem and be assured that he has done all he could do to prepare them to accept Life in Christ.
* [20:16–35] Apparently aware of difficulties at Ephesus and neighboring areas, Paul calls the presbyters together at Miletus, about thirty miles from Ephesus. He reminds them of his dedication to the gospel (Acts 20:18–21), speaks of what he is about to suffer for the gospel (Acts 20:22–27), and admonishes them to guard the community against false prophets, sure to arise upon his departure (Acts 20:28–31). He concludes by citing a saying of Jesus (Acts 20:35) not recorded in the gospel tradition. Luke presents this farewell to the Ephesian presbyters as Paul’s last will and testament.1
Psalm 68 offers praise for God’s past help and for future interventions.
Psalm 68 the settlement in Canaan (Ps 68:10–11) and praise for God’s past help and for the future interventions that will be modeled on the ancient exodus-conquest (Ps 68:20–24);2
The Prayer of Jesus in the Gospel from John is praising the Father for the unity into which those He is calling are invited, as Jesus petitions the Father for the protection of those who follow Him.
* [17:1–26] Climax of the last discourse(s). Since the sixteenth century, this chapter has been called the “high priestly prayer” of Jesus. He speaks as intercessor, with words addressed directly to the Father and not to the disciples, who supposedly only overhear. Yet the prayer is one of petition, for immediate (Jn 17:6–19) and future (Jn 17:20–21) disciples. Many phrases reminiscent of the Lord’s Prayer occur. Although still in the world (Jn 17:13), Jesus looks on his earthly ministry as a thing of the past (Jn 17:4, 12). Whereas Jesus has up to this time stated that the disciples could follow him (Jn 13:33, 36), now he wishes them to be with him in union with the Father (Jn 17:12–14).3
George Butterfield shares that sometimes it can be hard to be a messenger - an intermediary, especially when you have bad news or a message that will make you unpopular.
We should not be nasty or pushy in proclaiming the Good News. Our words should be "seasoned with salt," to use Paul's words. But we cannot shrink from telling the truth. We cannot do anything to domesticate the radical message of the Gospel. Following Jesus is filled with joy and love but also hardship and trials. To present to people anything but the unadulterated plan of God, the Gospel of his grace, is to stand before God with blood on our hands. In light of this, I am beginning to think that being loved by everybody is highly overrated.4
Don Schwager comments that in Jesus Christ we see the perfect love of God - a God who cares intensely and who yearns over men and women, loving them to the point of laying down his life for them upon the Cross. Jesus is the revelation of God - a God who loves us completely, unconditionally and perfectly. Schwager quotes a prayer of Francis de Sales, (1567-1622).
"If only I possessed the grace, good Jesus, to be utterly at one with you! Amidst all the variety of worldly things around me, Lord, the only thing I crave is unity with you. You are all my soul needs. Unite, dear friend of my heart, this unique little soul of mine to your perfect goodness.You are all mine; when shall I be yours? Lord Jesus, my beloved, be the magnet of my heart; clasp, press, unite me forever to your sacred heart. You have made me for yourself; make me one with you. Absorb this tiny drop of life into the ocean of goodness whence it came."5
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 17:1-11 connects Jesus’ prayer for protection to knowing God’s love today.
It’s about being kept safe from anxiety and insecurity, for they can be fierce enemies as well. Jesus wants you to be able to rest secure in his Father’s love for you. He wants you to know that no sin is so big that it overpowers his mercy. There isn’t any distance too far for his outstretched arms to reach.6
Friar Jude Winkler offers an explanation for Paul meeting the elders at Miletus outside of Ephesus. Paul reveals a bit of his ambiguity about life and death as presented to the Philippians (Philippians 1:20–21). Friar Jude reminds us that the glory manifest by Jesus in John’s Gospel is the Cross and this sets the expectation for us that we get to give to the point of suffering for others in a society that does not easily accept the message of Love.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, cites Julian of Norwich, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, and Christena Cleveland, as he identifies being “in love,” as moving out of our small, individual selves to unite with another, whether in companionship, friendship, marriage, or any other trustful relationship.
Love, the attraction of all things toward all things, is a universal language and underlying energy that keeps showing itself despite our best efforts to resist it. It is so simple that it is hard to teach, yet we all know love when we see it. After all, there is not a Native, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, or Christian way of loving. There is not a Methodist, Lutheran, or Orthodox way of running a soup kitchen. There is not a gay or straight way of being faithful, nor a Black or Caucasian way of hoping. We all know positive flow when we see it, and we all recognize resistance and coldness when we feel it. All the rest are mere labels.7
Loving others, as Jesus models, is not conditional. The truths that we may feel need to be accepted for ongoing conversion are present in the relationship we offer and the Spirit is trusted to be the initiator of change of heart.
References
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(n.d.). Acts, chapter 20 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 4, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/20
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(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 68 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 4, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/68
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(n.d.). John, chapter 17 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 4, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/17
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(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved June 4, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
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(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 4, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
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(n.d.). 7th Week of Easter - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations .... Retrieved June 4, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/06/04/
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(2019, June 4). Love Draws Us Together — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 4, 2019, from https://cac.org/love-draws-us-together-2019-06-04/
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