The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today emphasize the leadership of Jesus, the Good Shepherd who supports us in times of persecution and need.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles is Gamaliel’s advice to the Sanhedrin.
* [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.) The real significance of such an event, however, would be manifest only to people of faith, not to unbelievers; since the Sanhedrin already judged the Twelve to be inauthentic prophets, it could disregard reports of their miracles. When the Twelve immediately resumed public teaching, the Sanhedrin determined to invoke upon them the penalty of death (Acts 5:33) prescribed in Dt 13:6–10. Gamaliel’s advice against this course finally prevailed, but it did not save the Twelve from the punishment of scourging (Acts 5:40) in a last endeavor to shake their conviction of their prophetic mission. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
Psalm 27 is a triumphant Song of Confidence.
* [Psalm 27] Tradition has handed down the two sections of the Psalm (Ps 27:1–6; 7–14) as one Psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself. Asserting boundless hope that God will bring rescue (Ps 27:1–3), the psalmist longs for the presence of God in the Temple, protection from all enemies (Ps 27:4–6). In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Ps 27:7–12); the climax of the poem comes with “I believe” (Ps 27:13), echoing “I trust” (Ps 27:3). (Psalms, PSALM 27, n.d.)
The Gospel of John, describes Jesus feeding the Five Thousand.
* [6:1–15] This story of the multiplication of the loaves is the fourth sign (cf. note on Jn 5:1–47). It is the only miracle story found in all four gospels (occurring twice in Mark and Matthew). See notes on Mt 14:13–21; 15:32–39. John differs on the roles of Philip and Andrew, the proximity of Passover (Jn 6:4), and the allusion to Elisha (see Jn 6:9). The story here symbolizes the food that is really available through Jesus. It connotes a new exodus and has eucharistic overtones. (John, CHAPTER 6, n.d.)
Maureen McCann Waldron (2002) comments on the special breakfast the apostles had in the first reading. It might have been nothing more than gathering together and praying in the morning, telling each other stories, remembering the time Jesus fed the crowd of five thousand and wanted us to trust him?
Jesus asks us to trust in him and I balk at it. I suspect that deep down, I think I could do better on my own, without having to trust in Jesus or anyone else. Such arrogance has me hiding in the upper room of my soul, afraid and unwilling to be fed by Jesus in the meal he so lavishly serves for me.
Help me, Jesus. Teach me to trust in you. Feed me with your words and let me believe in the trust and courage you offer me. Help me to stand on the front steps of the temple and proclaim the good news, side by side with your apostles. I know you love me and all of my fearful weaknesses, just as you loved the apostles as they shook with fear. Teach me as you taught them. Let me be aware and awake as you touch my life, my soul and heal me of my fears. (McCann, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “God enables us,” by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.
"In rendering service to the grace of God, we are not only made subject to our King through obedience but are even joined to him through the will. If we are of one mind with him (willing what he wills, disapproving of what he disapproves), he himself will bring us victory in all our battles. He who has given the 'will' will bestow also the ability. In this way can we 'cooperate' with his works, speaking that prophetic utterance in the exultation of faith: 'The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?'" (excerpt from Sermon 26,4,2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 6:1-15 comments that we might sometimes feel like Andrew or Philip as they looked out over that large crowd of hungry people. We fear that we don’t have enough. Our strength isn’t equal to the task before us. We face a situation that drains the hope right out of us. What could we possibly offer Jesus except our disappointment over the meager amount in our hands? But Jesus welcomes even that. As he did with the five loaves and two fish, he will take what is not enough and make it enough.
The important thing is for us to come to Jesus and offer him what we have. Even if it’s a broken heart, even if it’s the first stirrings of remorse after we sin, even if it’s the tiniest expression of gratitude, he is pleased to accept what we give him. He will show us the richness of God’s compassion as he takes our offerings and transforms them. He takes our hopelessness and shows us a way through our situation. He takes our contrition and pours out his mercy so that we can start again. He takes our meager gratitude and lovingly reminds us of all the ways he cares for us.
What do you have to offer Jesus today? Even if it’s only five loaves and two fish, bring it to the Lord and just watch what he does!
“Jesus, I offer myself to you.” (Meditation on John 6:1-15, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the power of the Spirit that gave courage to the Apostles before the famous rabbi Gamaliel to continue to proclaim Jesus. The Gospel of John tells of Jesus' mission in two and a half years of Passover events. Friar Jude underlines the eucharistic phrases and practices in this portion of John 6.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces ecologist and pastor Andi Lloyd, who writes of the Hebrew prophets’ understanding that the land itself grieves with its people. Walter Brueggemann writes that grief, spoken aloud, is “the counter to denial.” [1] Lament is prophetic speech. Lloyd describes our interconnectedness with God, each other, and the earth on which we dwell.
The land’s mourning speaks simultaneously of a vision of the world as it ought to be—that beautiful fabric—and the truth of the world as it is: too much injustice and too little love fraying the threads that hold us all. The land feels those fraying threads. The land grieves those fraying threads. The land mourns.
Now, as then, the fabric that connects all of creation is badly torn: torn by manifold injustices wrought and perpetuated by the exploitative systems in which we live, torn by ideologies of scarcity that teach us to love too narrowly and too little. To mourn is to speak that truth to the lies that prop up the denial on which the status quo depends.….
Mourning together, in true solidarity, we name the truth of what’s wrong. And in so doing, we begin to make it right. (Rohr, 2023)
We are invited to accept transformation by the Spirit to live in fullness of life as followers of Jesus Way.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/5?34
John, CHAPTER 6. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?1
McCann, M. (2023, April 21). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/042123.html
Meditation on John 6:1-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/04/21/661161/
Psalms, PSALM 27. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/27?1
Rohr, R. (2023, April 21). The Land's Lament — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-lands-lament-2023-04-21/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=apr21
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