The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to navigate the slings and arrows of our journey with the hope and joy that comes from our relationships with God and the people on our journey.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Timothy Joins Paul and Silas and Paul has a vision of a man of Macedonia.
* [16:3] Paul had him circumcised: he did this in order that Timothy might be able to associate with the Jews and so perform a ministry among them. Paul did not object to the Jewish Christians’ adherence to the law. But he insisted that the law could not be imposed on the Gentiles. Paul himself lived in accordance with the law, or as exempt from the law, according to particular circumstances (see 1 Cor 9:19–23). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)
Psalm 100 praises all lands summoned to praise God.
* [Psalm 100] A hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts with thank offerings for the God who created them. * [100:3] Although the people call on all the nations of the world to join in their hymn, they are conscious of being the chosen people of God. (Psalms, PSALM 100, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus shares that the World’s hatred will be known to His followers.
* [15:21] On account of my name: the idea of persecution for Jesus’ name is frequent in the New Testament (Mt 10:22; 24:9; Acts 9:14). For John, association with Jesus’ name implies union with Jesus. (John, CHAPTER 15, n.d.)
Joan Blandin Howard comments that Jesus left us two extraordinary gifts with his resurrection: Hope and Joy.
Hope, such a little word without which all creation suffers and eventually dies. Hope is the living incentive to building the Kingdom. Hope is rooted in unwavering belief and trust in God – God’s majesty, God’s mercy and God’s love – for me and for all creation. Joy, an even smaller word, is what sustains us. Joy far surpasses excitement, pleasure and happiness which are transient. Joy is grounded, stable, reliable, unwavering. Joy is a way of being. Joy is God dwelling within me. I am God’s joy and hope. Joy binds me to God and God to me. They bind me to others. I can experience happiness or sadness and still live grounded in joy. Joy is not transient. Simply Profound yet Profoundly Simple (Howard, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Those who suffer with Christ reign with Christ,” by Cyril of Alexandria, 375-444 A.D.
"It is just as if Jesus said, 'I, the creator of the universe, who have everything under my hand, both in heaven and on earth, did not bridle their rage or restrain ... their inclinations. Rather, I let each one choose their own course and permitted all to do what they wanted. Therefore, when I was persecuted, I endured it even though I had the power of preventing it. When you too follow in my wake and pursue the same course I did, you also will be persecuted. You're going to have to momentarily endure the aversion of those who hate you without being overly troubled by the ingratitude of those whom you benefit. This is how you attain my glory, for those who suffer with me shall also reign with me.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 16:1-10 comments that, like Paul, we face decisions—both big and small—every day. Especially with major decisions, it can be difficult to know what to do. But the Spirit wants to help us discern our path forward.
If you can’t yet see a “best” choice, you might try Paul’s strategy of pursuing one option to its end. In his case, he got a sense from the Spirit not to continue. This may happen for you, but the Lord might just as easily use other means to guide you. Some doors may open while others may close. Or you may find that one option begins to stand out from the rest. Often, as you try to follow the Spirit’s lead, you will find peace. This too can be the Lord’s way of showing you where to go or what to do. Finally, throughout the process, take heart. You may not know the outcome yet, but the Lord does. Just as he guided Paul, he will guide you if you seek him. “Lord, guide me in the decisions I will face today.” (Meditation on Acts 16:1-10, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler explains the circumcision of Timothy and the connection to his Jewish mother. Paul is called to Macedonia in a dream and away from areas being evangelized by others from Jerusalem. Friar Jude reminds us that, In John, the “world” are those people who have chosen to reject Jesus and what the Father wants for us.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that in her book, Seeking the God Beyond, Anglican priest and author Janet P. Williams suggests poetry as a helpful way for individuals to move beyond ordinary patterns of thought and prayer. She writes, “Poems address mystery and reality sufficiently obliquely that in them we can, as Emily Dickinson demanded, ‘tell the truth [a]slant.’” [1] Here is an excerpt from a poem entitled “Grace” by Australian poet Judith Wright [1915–2000]. Through prayerful listening, the poem becomes an invitation to experience God beyond what we can know.
Living is dailiness, a simple bread
That’s worth the eating. But I have known a wine,
a drunkenness that can’t be spoken or sung . . .
It seems to have nothing to do with things at all . . .
[it] takes over the depth of flesh, the inward eye . . .
because it occurs beyond the here and now, positives, negatives, what we hope and are. [2] (Unknowing: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation, 2022)
The choices we face on our journey may call us to act in opposition to the way of the world as we attend to the prompting of the Spirit to live in Jesus' Way of hope and joy.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 21, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/16?1
Howard, J. B. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 21, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/052122.html
John, CHAPTER 15. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 21, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?18
Meditation on Acts 16:1-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 21, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/05/21/385712/
Psalms, PSALM 100. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 21, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/100?1
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 21, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=may21
Unknowing: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. (2022, May 21). Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 21, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/unknowing-weekly-summary-2022-05-21/
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