The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite contemplation of those dark temptations that may result in choosing death over Life.
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| Dark Temptation |
The reading from the Book of Acts reveals the Sanhedrin were enraged and wanted to kill Peter and John.
* [5:17–42] A second action against the community is taken by the Sanhedrin in the arrest and trial of the Twelve; cf. Acts 4:1–3. The motive is the jealousy of the religious authorities over the popularity of the apostles (Acts 5:17) who are now charged with the defiance of the Sanhedrin’s previous order to them to abandon their prophetic role (Acts 5:28; cf. Acts 4:18). In this crisis the apostles are favored by a miraculous release from prison (Acts 5:18–24). (For similar incidents involving Peter and Paul, see Acts 12:6–11; 16:25–29.) The real significance of such an event, however, would be manifest only to people of faith, not to unbelievers; since the Sanhedrin already judged the Twelve to be inauthentic prophets, it could disregard reports of their miracles. 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. Gamaliel’s advice against this course finally prevailed, but it did not save the Twelve from the punishment of scourging (Acts 5:40) in a last endeavor to shake their conviction of their prophetic mission.1
Psalm 34 offers praise for deliverance from trouble.
* [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 dialogue from the Gospel of John proclaims the One who comes 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
Scott McClure, in reflecting on today's scripture, a story of Thomas Aquinas is what came to mind because, just as Thomas' previous work was dwarfed by what he saw, the Sanhedrin's ire is dismissed by the Apostles precisely because what they had experienced - Jesus' resurrection - eclipsed whatever admonishment the Sanhedrin could deliver. They could not be swayed from their resolve in carrying out Jesus' directive.
Unlike the Apostles, we did not see Jesus resurrected. What a gift that must have been. Yet, we are called to share their resolve in proclaiming Jesus as Lord and sharing the Gospel with our whole lives. For this, Jesus said we are blessed. This requires not the intellectual prowess of Thomas Aquinas. In fact, we have heard from him how little that matters anyway. Let us, instead, lean on our faith in Jesus and share the love that is God with one another.4
Don Schwager quotes “Always bless the Lord!” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When are you to 'bless the Lord?' When he showers blessings on you? When earthly goods are plentiful? When you have a plethora of grain, oil, wine, gold, silver... - while your mortal body remains healthy, uninjured and free from disease; while everything that is born on your estate is growing well, and nothing is snatched away by untimely death; while every kind of happiness floods your home and you have all you want in profusion? Is it only then that you are to bless the Lord? No, but 'at all times.' So you are to bless him equally when from time to time, or because the Lord God wishes to discipline you, these good things let you down or are taken from you, when there are fewer births or the already-born slip away. These things happen, and their consequence is poverty, need, hardship, disappointment and temptation. But you sang, 'I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be in my mouth always,' so when the Lord gives you these good things, bless him, and when he takes them away, bless him. He it is who gives, and he it is who takes away, but he does not take himself away from anyone who blesses him. (excerpt from EXPOSITIONS OF THE PSALMS 34.3)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 5:27-33 shares there is more than one type of prison that holds us back from sharing our faith. We can just as easily feel trapped by fear of failure or by a natural reluctance to put ourselves out there. So how can we break free from these prisons?
The first and most important thing anyone needs to remember about evangelization is that it is a work of human encounter, not one of logical argumentation. Sometimes the most convincing “argument” anyone can offer is authentic care and concern for someone else.
This may be easier than you think. Terms like “encounter” can sound awfully technical or demanding, but all it means is getting to know someone and gradually sharing your life with that person. It’s the way Jesus reached out to the people he evangelized—by showing a true concern for them and offering them a glimpse into the reason for his own joy, confidence, and peace.6
Friar Jude Winkler underlines the decision of Peter and John to obey the authority of God rather than human leaders. Concupiscence and temptation try to drag us down in opposition to Love. Friar Jude reminds us that selfishness may lead to thinking we are our own gods.
James Finley, Fr Richard’s friend and fellow teacher at the CAC, began studying the mystics at the Abbey of Gethsemani at age eighteen, with Thomas Merton as his novice master. Jim describes the effect the writing of John of the Cross had on him.
John’s core intuition is that the Infinite Love that is the architect of our hearts has made our hearts in such a way that nothing less than an infinite union with Infinite Love will do. It’s the setup in the beginning. For Infinite Love to create us in the image of itself is for Infinite Love to create us as a capacity to receive the forms of Infinite Love as our destiny. That love is our origin, love is our ground. That Infinite Love creates us as a capacity for love, for love’s sake alone. Love is the fabric of the true nature of everything that’s happening. This is the love nature of life.7
Fr. Richard concludes that throughout these weeks, “I have been praying, trying to understand how”, as Jim puts it, “love is the fabric of the true nature of everything that’s happening.” How can it be that God’s love is at work and present in the tragedies around the globe right now? But knowing what harrowing circumstances John of the Cross was in when he came to experience the infinite love of God gives Fr. Richard hope and perseverance. In times of darkness, when evil is visible, we trust the Spirit to guide our journey to the Light of Love.
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