The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to continue to make Christ present as love of all, even in the face of rejection and persecution.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Saul persecutes the Church while Philip preaches in Samaria.
* [8:3] Saul…was trying to destroy the church: like Stephen, Saul was able to perceive that the Christian movement contained the seeds of doctrinal divergence from Judaism. A pupil of Gamaliel, according to Acts 22:3, and totally dedicated to the law as the way of salvation (Gal 1:13–14), Saul accepted the task of crushing the Christian movement, at least insofar as it detracted from the importance of the temple and the law. His vehement opposition to Christianity reveals how difficult it was for a Jew of his time to accept a messianism that differed so greatly from the general expectation. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 8, n.d.)
Psalm 66 is praise for God’s Goodness to Israel.
* [Psalm 66] In the first part (Ps 66:1–12), the community praises God for powerful acts for Israel, both in the past (the exodus from Egypt and the entry into the land [Ps 66:6]) and in the present (deliverance from a recent but unspecified calamity [Ps 66:8–12]). In the second part (Ps 66:13–20), an individual from the rescued community fulfills a vow to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. As often in thanksgivings, the rescued person steps forward to teach the community what God has done (Ps 66:16–20). (Psalms, PSALM 66, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares ‘I am the bread of life.’
* [6:35–59] Up to Jn 6:50 “bread of life” is a figure for God’s revelation in Jesus; in Jn 6:51–58, the eucharistic theme comes to the fore. There may thus be a break between Jn 6:50–51. (John, CHAPTER 6, n.d.)
Ann Mausbach shares that not surprisingly in the weeks following the end of WWII the orphans and dislocated children in refugee camps had difficulties sleeping. After trying several remedies, the adults finally discovered that if after the children were fed dinner, if they gave each of them a piece of bread to hold in their hand, they would drift off.
This is the message that we need to take away from today’s gospel. It is ok to feel uneasy with the goings on in the world around us, but the remedy is to keep Jesus close. Only He can provide a nourishment that satisfies our deepest hungers. He is the bread of life. We will rest easier when we surrender to his love and grace. This connects us to the great truth — life is better when we let God watch over us. Eternal salvation is ours when we allow ourselves to wake up and accept His unending love for us. (۔. Creighton University's Online Ministries, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Possessing the Scriptures,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When you understand anything in the Scriptures, it is love that is manifesting itself to you. When you fail to understand, it is love that is hiding itself from you. Those, therefore, who possess charity possess both what is manifest in the divine words and what is hidden in them." (excerpt from Sermon 350,2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 8:1-8 comments that we may face challenges to our faith as well. We are likely not subject to actual persecution, but perhaps we are in environments where conversations about our faith in Christ might not be very welcome. While we don’t want to invite hostility, neither should we feel compelled to hide our faith. At times this can feel like a balancing act: How much can I say?
This is not always an easy question to answer. Sometimes you may get it wrong and say too much—or too little. But always remember that the first disciples asked the same question. Remember too that you have the same Holy Spirit who helped them. He will help you know what to say if an opportunity to share your faith arises. He will also help you discern whether to say anything at all! And perhaps most important, he will give you the grace to remain peaceful no matter your situation. Remember, it’s the witness of your love, your joy, and your trust in the Lord that will have the greatest impact. The first Christians were everyday people just as we are. Whatever success they had came from the same source as it will for you: the Holy Spirit. So ask the Spirit to fill you every day. Ask him for the grace, the courage, and the humility to bring Christ to the people around you. “Holy Spirit, help me know how to share the good news of the gospel wherever I find myself.” (The Word Among Us, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that the persecution mentioned in the passage from Acts is against the Hellenist followers of the Way. Philip preached to the Samaritans who were considered heretics because of intermarriage. Friar Jude comments that the text from the Gospel of John connects with theological themes of predestination, realized eschatology, and future eschatology.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces activist theologian Robyn Henderson-Espinoza who affirms our collective capacity to build a world in which bodies do not suffer violence. They write about joining Christian leaders in opposition to racial hatred in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. Soon after they returned home [from Charlottesville], they began receiving Twitter messages and emails, and unmarked packages slowly began arriving at the doorstep.
Our world and our culture promote and accelerate violence against bodies. Our embodiment is threatened by policies and politics that don’t have regard for the felt sense of the body or for the ways our feelings and emotions are impacted by all that is happening in the world. So the question about reclaiming our bodies and leaning into the work of becoming embodied is also about how we care for ourselves and learn to care for another. With manifold violence occurring at our borders and with a global pandemic creating the violence of cascading grief, it is important to think through and feel through how to be as present with ourselves and with one another as best as we can, asking the following questions: What are our practices of being present? Are we breathing with our collective body, or is our collective body so broken and in pain that we cannot access the collective nature of our body? Presence first begins with us, with me. And after me, it begins with the I connected to the we . . . . [1] (Rohr, n.d.)
The Holy Spirit nudges us to respond faithfully to criticism and persecution that may come from our association with the Way.
References
۔. (n.d.). ۔ - Wiktionary. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/050422.html
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 8. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/8?1
John, CHAPTER 6. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?35
Psalms, PSALM 66. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/66?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives. Daily Meditations Archives — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://cac.org/the-wrong-kind-of-world-2022-05-04/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture net. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=may4
The Word Among Us. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/05/04/375391/
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