The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that we can depend on the Spirit to highlight our relationship with Christ to help us focus on love as we journey through times of challenge and difficulty.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Apostles Are Persecuted.
* [5:17–42] A second action against the community is taken by the Sanhedrin in the arrest and trial of the Twelve; cf. Acts 4:1–3. The motive is the jealousy of the religious authorities over the popularity of the apostles (Acts 5:17) who are now charged with the defiance of the Sanhedrin’s previous order to them to abandon their prophetic role (Acts 5:28; cf. Acts 4:18). In this crisis the apostles are favored by a miraculous release from prison (Acts 5:18–24). (For similar incidents involving Peter and Paul, see Acts 12:6–11; 16:25–29.) (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
Psalm 34 offers praise for Deliverance from Trouble
* [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 34, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells Nicodemus how God so loved the world.
* [3:16] Gave: as a gift in the incarnation, and also “over to death” in the crucifixion; cf. Rom 8:32.
* [3:17–19] Condemn: the Greek root means both judgment and condemnation. Jesus’ purpose is to save, but his coming provokes judgment; some condemn themselves by turning from the light.
* [3:19] Judgment is not only future but is partially realized here and now. (John, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
Edward Morse, from 2014, reflects on the comments of one man that “courage is only fear that has said its prayers.”
The Gospel reading for today illustrates that same tension of living in light. Jesus tells Nicodemus about the way of salvation, which was rooted in God’s act of love in sending his Son. The act of love reflected in the incarnation of our Lord, his life, death, and resurrection, is a witness of light. We judge ourselves, in a sense, by our reaction to that light. Will we suppress the light because of fear? Or come to live in the light in spite of our weaknesses and fears? Alas, we hold onto many false comforts because of our sins, which we think we cannot bear to give up. May God grant us faith and courage so that we can draw near to him and live in the light. Thanks be to God. (Morse, 2014)
Don Schwager quotes “The Intensity of God's Love and Our Response,” by John Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D.
"The text, 'God so loved the world,' shows such an intensity of love. For great indeed and infinite is the distance between the two. The immortal, the infinite majesty without beginning or end loved those who were but dust and ashes, who were loaded with ten thousand sins but remained ungrateful even as they constantly offended him. This is who he 'loved.' For God did not give a servant, or an angel or even an archangel 'but his only begotten Son.' And yet no one would show such anxiety even for his own child as God did for his ungrateful servants..."
"He laid down his life for us and poured forth his precious blood for our sake - even though there is nothing good in us - while we do not even pour out our money for our own sake and neglect him who died for us when he is naked and a stranger... We put gold necklaces on ourselves and even on our pets but neglect our Lord who goes about naked and passes from door to door... He gladly goes hungry so that you may be fed; naked so that he may provide you with the materials for a garment of incorruption, yet we will not even give up any of our own food or clothing for him... These things I say continually, and I will not cease to say them, not so much because I care for the poor but because I care for your souls." (HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 27.2-3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 5:17-26 comments that Luke tells us that “about one hundred and twenty persons” made up the nucleus of the early Church—even before the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:15)! All these people, and many others, formed a spiritual network that supported the apostles and gave them the strength to keep testifying to the Lord.
The apostles’ experience of community tells us that we need each other! We cannot live this life on our own. As the articles at the front of this magazine explain, God has given us as gifts to one another. Let’s open ourselves to receiving—and offering—the gift of Christ’s love whenever we can.
“Thank you, Jesus, for giving me brothers and sisters to help me on my journey with you.” (Meditation on Acts 5:17-26, n.d.)
Peter Edmonds SJ, a member of the Jesuit community in Stamford Hill, North London, comments that the gospels offer us more than the story they tell. Their story is at the service of the theology they contain, as they teach us about God, Christ, the Church and the demands of discipleship. The evangelists write as pastors to deepen the faith of their communities. We must also investigate the literary means through which they tell the story, the drama of the plot and the characters that are portrayed.
From these signs and encounters, we build up our vision of the theology of John. Here are some examples. God is one who so loved the world that he gave his only Son (3:16). Jesus is Saviour of the world (4:42), the light of the world (8:12), the resurrection and the life (11:25), the bread come down from heaven (6:51), the gate of the sheepfold (10:7) and the shepherd (10:11). At times he simply describes himself as the ‘I am’ (8:58), which puts us in mind of the name that God gave himself in the presence of Moses (Exodus 3:6). A major point of difference with other gospels is the claim of Jesus to a previous existence. Not only is he destined to ascend to heaven, as Moses and Elijah were believed to have done in the past (2 Kings 2:11), but as Son of Man, he has come down from heaven (1:51; 3:13). He asks no questions in this gospel, because he knows about people and is in control of events (2:24, 6:6). (Edmonds, 2014)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the authorities could not overcome the power of God as they released the apostles to preach again. The title “Son of God”, often applied to heroes in the Hebrew Testament, is claimed by Jesus as the only begotten Son of God. Friar Jude reminds us of the realized eschatology of John’s Gospel in that we begin living “eternal life” as soon as Jesus is part of our life.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Ugandan theologian Emmanuel Katongole and peacemaker Chris Rice. Lamentation is a profound cry to God. It echoes through the Bible and generations of all who suffer and ask, “How long, O Lord?” The prophet Jeremiah writes of Rachel’s lamenting “voice in Ramah” that can only weep at the world’s suffering.
A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more. (Jeremiah 31:15)
The voice from Ramah refuses to be consoled. These are profound words in a world full of easy ways of consoling ourselves. Rachel’s cry refuses to spiritualize, explain away, ignore or deny the depth and truth of suffering in this world. She rejects soothing words and “can’t we all just get along” sentiments. Her refusal takes seriously the rupture and wounds of the world as well as the deep cost of seeking healing. It is a protest against the world as it is and the brokenness that seems so inevitable. Rachel allows the truth to shake her to the very core. And she is remembered for this. (Rohr, 2023)
We trust that the path of love will deliver us from the darkness we may encounter as we work to share full life with others.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/5?17
Edmonds, P. (2014, March 21). Story, theology and drama in the Gospel of John. Thinking Faith. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/story-theology-and-drama-gospel-john
John, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?16
Meditation on Acts 5:17-26. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/04/19/660098/
Morse, E. (2014, April 19). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/041923.html
Psalms, PSALM 34. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34?2
Rohr, R. (2023, April 19). A Cry to God — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-cry-to-god-2023-04-19/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). God so Loved the World That He Gave Us His Only Son. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=apr19
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