The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to focus on the relationship we have with those close to us as we trust in Love to bring us together as one.
 |
| Our relationship |
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles, describes the clever assertion of Paul before the Council in Jerusalem.
* [23:11] The occurrence of the vision of Christ consoling Paul and assuring him that he will be his witness in Rome prepares the reader for the final section of Acts: the journey of Paul and the word he preaches to Rome under the protection of the Romans.1
David M. Neuhaus SJ has written about getting to know Saint Paul today.
Psalm 16 is a song of Trust and Security in God.
* [Psalm 16] In the first section, the psalmist rejects the futile worship of false gods (Ps 16:2–5), preferring Israel’s God (Ps 16:1), the giver of the land (Ps 16:6). The second section reflects on the wise and life-giving presence of God (Ps 16:7–11).2
In the Gospel of John, Jesus prays that ‘‘the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’
* [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
Steve Scholer wonders if death were imminent for us, what would our own personal High Priestly Prayers be like? Would they be about the praise and glory we offered up to God during our lives and how we shared our faith with others so they, too, could know God and experience his endless love? Or would they more likely be focused on our shortcomings?
Unlike Jesus, we were born sinners and sinners we will die. But wouldn’t it be nice if our final prayers were less about our faults and regrets and more about the humble pride that comes from living the life Christ taught us to live?
Maybe each of us should set aside some time and write our own High Priestly Prayer and focus on the good we are doing for those we love and for those we don’t even know, so that we may all be one. Note how we are spreading the Gospel, so that others might find the joy and love we have found in knowing Christ.4
Don Schwager quotes “Prayer of unity for all who believe,” by Cyprian of Carthage - first martyr bishop of Africa, 200-258 A.D.
"The Lord's loving-kindness, no less than his mercy, is great in respect of our salvation in that, not content to redeem us with his blood, he in addition prayed for us. See now what the desire of his petition was, that just as the Father and Son are one, so also we should abide in absolute unity. From this, it may be evident how greatly someone sins who divides unity and peace, since even the Lord himself petitioned for this same thing. He no doubt desired that his people should in this way be saved and live in peace since he knew that discord cannot come into the kingdom of God." (excerpt from THE LORD'S PRAYER 30.1)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 17:20-26 comments that the quest for unity is not limited to theological dialogues or occasional joint prayer services. It starts with Jesus helping you love the people right in front of you. Even if you don’t agree with them, you can still perceive the grace of God in their lives. Because unity on a grand scale starts with everyday unity with the people you know.
Think about Jesus looking at the faces of each of his disciples. Now place yourself there too. But not just you—imagine someone you are not at peace with. Maybe you and your spouse see things differently on a sensitive issue. Whenever the topic arises, a wall seems to cut you off from one another.
Jesus is gazing into your eyes. He is praying that you be united. Can you come to agreement? Can you exchange views and understand each other’s position? What might Jesus pray for you—and for the other person? How might he encourage you to be one?
Don’t give in to discouragement. Remember, Jesus himself is praying for you!
“Lord, make us one!”6
Friar Jude Winkler describes how Roman soldiers rescue Paul from a dispute he provoked in the Sanhedrin. Jesus Priestly Prayer is for disciples who will believe in the future. Friar Jude reminds us to give witness to our relationship of Love in the Trinity by our speaking and doing.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, teaches the Fifth Conversion to solidarity is a choice to walk with the poor and oppressed, to be taught by them, and to love them as equals, each of us bearing the Divine Indwelling Spirit within.
I hope you can see how living out the Gospel is always a process of what Paulo Freire calls humanization, [3] a movement toward greater freedom, dignity, inclusivity, and possibility. We are one, and through solidarity we more clearly identify and name the systems that separate us. We find in ourselves and in the other the true “image of God” in which we are created and connected.
The dialogue that leads to solidarity is a way that oppressors and oppressed begin to recognize each other as subjects in their full humanity, as both learn and teach in this active encounter of faith and love. Here is Freire, in his own words:
Dialogue cannot exist without humility.How can I dialogue if I regard myself as a case apart from others—mere “its” in whom I cannot recognize other “I”s?How can I dialogue if I consider myself . . . the owner of truth and knowledge . . .?How can I dialogue if I am closed to—and even offended by—the contributions of others?Self-sufficiency is incompatible with dialogue.At the point of encounter [in dialogue] there are neither utter ignoramuses nor perfect sages; there are only people who are attempting, together, to learn more than they now know. [4]7
Our relationship with people can be an experience of the Love of the Trinity as we are challenged to practice meaningful dialogue in humble respect of the other.
References
No comments:
Post a Comment