The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite contemplation of the experience of God with us that stands in sharp contrast to the situation encountered during the Apostles mission to the pagans.
 |
| Recall pagan practice |
In the reading from the Book of Acts, Paul and Barnabas in Lystra and Derbe are mistaken for Greek gods.
* [14:15–17] This is the first speech of Paul to Gentiles recorded by Luke in Acts (cf. Acts 17:22–31). Rather than showing how Christianity is the logical outgrowth of Judaism, as he does in speeches before Jews, Luke says that God excuses past Gentile ignorance and then presents a natural theology arguing for the recognition of God’s existence and presence through his activity in natural phenomena.1
Psalm 115 declares the impotence of idols and the Greatness of God.
* [Psalm 115] A response to the enemy taunt, “Where is your God?” This hymn to the glory of Israel’s God (Ps 115:1–3) ridicules the lifeless idols of the nations (Ps 115:4–8), expresses in a litany the trust of the various classes of the people in God (Ps 115:9–11), invokes God’s blessing on them as they invoke the divine name (Ps 115:12–15), and concludes as it began with praise of God. Ps 135:15–18 similarly mocks the Gentile gods and has a similar litany and hymn (Ps 135:19–21).2
In the Last Supper Discourse from the Gospel of John, Jesus promises the Advocate to guide us in keeping the Word.
* [14:22] Judas, not the Iscariot: probably not the brother of Jesus in Mk 6:3 // Mt 13:55 or the apostle named Jude in Lk 6:16 but Thomas (see note on Jn 11:16), although other readings have “Judas the Cananean.”3
Nancy Shirley comments the crowds in Lystra and Derbe did not understand – they attributed this miracle to the gods – those beings whom when pleased would allow good things and when not placated would destroy and punish. This love of false idols was not based on a true loving relationship, rather on a master-subservient relationship. The actions are not done out of love and the desire to please out of love rather out of fear of retaliation. So, sacrifices are made to appease these false idols – to prevent negative consequences. Nancy shares the experience of love as a parent and grandparent.
The message that Jesus brought them (and continues to bring us) is one of love and actions related to loving. When we truly love someone, we want to act in a way that is pleasing, a way that brings them delight. Our actions are not to avoid punishment or retribution – our actions are done because of the love we want to express and for the other to feel. It is a LOVING relationship – a shared love that grows out of acts of kindness and mutual respect. It is a love to be nourished, ever growing stronger. The acts of kindness are not done with expectations of returns – done to demonstrate love to one we love. As I write this, I think of how I have been loved and loved in my life. I think of my role as a parent and the pure delight of seeing one’s children grow. The many times one their acts of kindness filled my heart to overflowing and the times when their actions or words cut into my heart. As a grandparent, this love is so easy, I can’t be around my grandchildren without wanting to hug and kiss them – be in awe of the fact that they came from my children. Even though they range from 5 years to 22 years, it still blows me away that my children are now parents and these lovely grown beings are their offspring. WOW!4
Don Schwager quotes “God is pleased to dwell in us,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"God is not too grand to come, he is not too fussy or shy, he is not too proud - on the contrary he is pleased to come if you do not displease him. Listen to the promise he makes. Listen to him indeed promising with pleasure, not threatening in displeasure, "We shall come to him," he says, "I and the Father." To the one he had earlier called his friend, the one who obeys his precepts, the keeper of his commandment, the lover of God, the lover of his neighbor, he says, "We shall come to him and make our abode with him." (excerpt from Sermon 23,6)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 14:21-26 comments that during his public ministry, Jesus taught his disciples quite a lot about his heavenly Father and about the kind of life he wants us to live. But he didn’t expect them to grasp it all at once—nor does he expect that we do either. He knows it’s a life’s work. And that’s why the Holy Spirit is so important. He comes to us to help us remember all that Jesus taught and to guide us into a life that is most pleasing to the Lord.
What does it look like for the Holy Spirit to remind us? Maybe a few examples will help. When we are faced with a difficult situation, he reminds us of how trustworthy God is—maybe by bringing a Scripture passage to mind or by using a friend’s words to prompt us. When we doubt his love, he helps us to remember that Christ lives in us—maybe through a hymn at Mass or by calling to mind a past event that was filled with his grace. He reminds us to call a friend or family member who is hurting. He prods us to be generous when we’re feeling stretched. And he helps us to recall Jesus’ own example of mercy when we struggle to forgive.
What’s even better, the Spirit acts not only as our reminder, but he also empowers us to do what Jesus taught!6
Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the almost comical scene in Acts where Paul and Barnabas are mistaken for Greek gods. Pagan practice allowed the addition of gods as the needs for favour or repeal of punishment arose in life. Friar Jude reminds us that the world of lies and evil in the Gospel of John consists of those who have chosen to reject Jesus.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that although Julian of Norwich is an anonymous woman who lived over 600 years ago, seekers and scholars return to her “showings” again and again. Author Veronica Mary Rolf describes why Julian’s wisdom is perennial, valuable, and needed whenever there is confusion and suffering, which is to say, in every time and place.
Moreover, across six centuries, Julian’s voice speaks to us about love. She communicates personally, as if she were very much with us here and now. Even more than theological explanations, we all hunger for love. Our hearts yearn for someone we can trust absolutely—divine love that can never fail. Julian reveals this love because, like Mary Magdalene, she experienced it firsthand. . . .
Precisely because she had the courage of her convictions, Julian of Norwich became the first woman ever to write a book in the English language. . . . Even more, this “unlettered” woman developed a mystical theology that was second to none during the fourteenth century and that continues to break barriers in our own time. . . .
Julian is also emotionally raw, often tempted by self-doubt and discouragement, yet constantly renewed in hope. She does something extremely dangerous for a layperson living in the fourteenth century: she discloses her conflict between the predominant medieval idea of a judgmental and wrathful God and her direct experience of the unconditional love of Christ on the cross. . . .7
Our lives provide the opportunity where we encounter events that reveal our connection to the Love of Jesus and the Father. The Spirit provides the nudge to align our experience with our desire to live Jesus Word.
References
No comments:
Post a Comment