The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the action in our lives that involved giving and receiving love.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas spread the Good News to Antioch of Pisidia.
* [13:4–14:27] The key event in Luke’s account of the first missionary journey is the experience of Paul and Barnabas at Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:14–52). The Christian kerygma proclaimed by Paul in the synagogue was favorably received. Some Jews and “God-fearers” (see note on Acts 8:26–40) became interested and invited the missionaries to speak again on the following sabbath (Acts 13:42). By that time, however, the appearance of a large number of Gentiles from the city had so disconcerted the Jews that they became hostile toward the apostles (Acts 13:44–50). This hostility of theirs appears in all three accounts of Paul’s missionary journeys in Acts, the Jews of Iconium (Acts 14:1–2) and Beroea (Acts 17:11) being notable exceptions. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 13, n.d.)
Psalm 89 praises God’s Covenant with David.
* [Psalm 89] The community laments the defeat of the Davidic king, to whom God promised kingship as enduring as the heavens (Ps 89:2–5). The Psalm narrates how God became king of the divine beings (Ps 89:6–9) and how the Davidic king became king of earthly kings (Ps 89:20–38). Since the defeat of the king calls into question God’s promise, the community ardently prays God to be faithful to the original promise to David (Ps 89:39–52). (Psalms, PSALM 89, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares ‘whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.’
* [13:1–20] Washing of the disciples’ feet. This episode occurs in John at the place of the narration of the institution of the Eucharist in the synoptics. It may be a dramatization of Lk 22:27—“I am your servant.” It is presented as a “model” (“pattern”) of the crucifixion. It symbolizes cleansing from sin by sacrificial death. (John, CHAPTER 13, n.d.)
Tom Quinn comments that Paul told them that Jesus had, indeed, come among them as their Saviour. Paul’s message was startling and courageous. He was promoting profound change in Jewish theology and philosophy. He and his companions were guests, far from home and on foot. They truly were in God’s hands and preaching His message; The Saviour has come, believe and rejoice, alleluia.
The Gospel (Jn 13:16-20) underlines the message of God through the life and actions of Jesus, who washed the feet of his disciples to indicate that he has come among us as a servant, not as a ruler. St. Paul may have paraphrased and, in fact lived, the word of Jesus in today’s Gospel. “Amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me, receives the one who sent me.” I believe Jesus’ words “If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.” But, what are we to do? Receive the Lord; spread His message; love and serve others; be humble in doing these things. (Quinn, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The Master wants his servants to reach their potential,” by Origen, 185-254 A.D.
"The Savior, who is Lord, does something that surpasses all other lords, who have no desire to see their servants rise up to their level. He is such a Son of the Father's goodness and love that, although he was Lord, he produced servants who could become like him, their Lord, not having the spirit of bondage, which comes from fear, but the spirit of adoption in which they too cry, 'Abba, Father.' So then, before becoming like their teacher and lord, they need to have their feet washed because they are still deficient disciples who possess the spirit of bondage to fear. But when they attain the stature of master and lord... then they will be able to imitate their master and wash the disciple's feet as the teacher. (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 32.120-22) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 13:16-20 comments that we can also try to see ourselves and people we might consider our enemies through God’s eyes: both beloved, and both imperfect. So when people hurt us—even if we don’t understand why—we can choose to be led by compassion rather than retribution. By forgiving and blessing those who mistreat us, we open the door to allow God to work in our lives as well as in theirs.
Who are the “enemies” in your life, and how might you bless them? For starters, if you haven’t yet forgiven them, you can pray for the grace to do so. You can also bless them by deciding not to judge them or speak critically about them, or by lifting them up in prayer each day. In these ways and more, you will be washing their feet—and softening your own heart in the process. “Lord, help me to love and bless my enemies.” (Meditation on John 13:16-20, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that Paul and Barnabas share the kerygma in the synagogue in a very Jewish way. The matrimonial symbolism indicates that John the Baptist is not marrying the widow Israel, but Jesus is. Friar Jude notes God’s plan unfolds when people do good things serving Jesus and the Father.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, affirms love as the heart of all mystical experience.
Mystics experience a full-bodied embrace and acceptance by Divine Love, and then spend their lives trying to verbalize and embody it. They invariably find ways to give that love back through forms of service and worship, but it’s never earning the love—it’s always returning the love. Can you feel the difference? Returning God’s love is almost a different language. It’s not based in fear, but in ecstasy. God is always given, incarnate in every moment and present to those who know how to be present themselves. It is that simple and that difficult. To be present in prayer can be an experience of being loved at a deep level. I hope you have felt such intimacy alone with God; I promise it is available to you. Maybe we just need to be told that this divine intimacy is what we should expect. We’re afraid to ask for it; we’re afraid to seek it. It feels presumptuous. We don’t trust that such a love exists—and for us. But it does. (Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation, n.d.)
The Love of God is visible in our interaction with others when we attend to the prompting of the Spirit.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 13. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/13?13
Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. (n.d.). Richard Rohr. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/love-2022-05-12/
John, CHAPTER 13. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13?16
Meditation on John 13:16-20. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/05/12/380308/
Psalms, PSALM 89. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/89?2
Quinn, T. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/051222.html
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The One Who Receives Me. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=may12
No comments:
Post a Comment