The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder Providence and Jesus teaching on sin, righteousness, and judgement.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes imprisonment at Philippi and deliverance from prison and the jailer becomes a believer in God.
* [16:20] Magistrates: in Greek, stratēgoi, the popular designation of the duoviri, the highest officials of the Roman colony of Philippi.
* [16:35] The lictors: the equivalent of police officers, among whose duties were the apprehension and punishment of criminals. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)
Psalm 138 offers thanksgiving and Praise
* [Psalm 138] A thanksgiving to God, who came to the rescue of the psalmist. Divine rescue was not the result of the psalmist’s virtues but of God’s loving fidelity (Ps 138:1–3). The act is not a private transaction but a public act that stirs the surrounding nations to praise God’s greatness and care for the people (Ps 138:4–6). The psalmist, having experienced salvation, trusts that God will always be there in moments of danger (Ps 138:7–8). (Psalms, PSALM 138, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells of His departure and the coming of the Advocate and the truth about sin and righteousness and judgement.
* [16:5] Not one of you asks me: the difficulty of reconciling this with Simon Peter’s question in Jn 13:36 and Thomas’ words in Jn 14:5 strengthens the supposition that the last discourse has been made up of several collections of Johannine material.
* [16:8–11] These verses illustrate the forensic character of the Paraclete’s role: in the forum of the disciples’ conscience he prosecutes the world. He leads believers to see (a) that the basic sin was and is refusal to believe in Jesus; (b) that, although Jesus was found guilty and apparently died in disgrace, in reality righteousness has triumphed, for Jesus has returned to his Father; (c) finally, that it is the ruler of this world, Satan, who has been condemned through Jesus’ death (Jn 12:32). (John, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)
Angela Maynard comments that Jesus explains that he must leave so that he can send the Advocate. The Advocate is the Holy Spirit who will share the seven gifts with humanity.
Let’s go back to the preparation for Confirmation. Much time is spent memorizing and learning all about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I won’t go into definitions of each of the gifts today. I will tell you that I’ve leaned on those gifts a lot over the years. I’ve encouraged my children to do so as well—most recently, reminding my son to pray to the Holy Spirit as he prepared for final exams.
While the disciples were filled with sadness, once again, they are called to trust that Jesus must go so that he can send the Advocate. This will allow the disciples to experience the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit—just as Jesus was guided.
“The gifts provided by God as supernatural helps one in the process of perfection.” — St. Thomas Aquinas (Maynard, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Whatever is not of faith is sin”, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When the Lord said of the Holy Spirit, 'He shall convict the world of sin,' he meant unbelief. For this is what he meant when he said, 'Of sin because they believed not on me.' And he means the same when he says, 'If I had not come and spoken to them, they should not have sin.' (John 15:22). He was not talking about [a time] before they had no sin. Rather, he wanted to indicate that very lack of faith by which they did not believe him even when he was present to them and speaking to them. These were the people who belonged to 'the prince of the power of the air, who now works in the children of unbelief' (Ephesians 2:2). Therefore those in whom there is no faith are the children of the devil because they have nothing in their inner being that would cause them to be forgiven for whatever is committed either by human infirmity, ignorance or any evil will whatever. But the children of God are those who certainly, if they should 'say that they have no sin, deceive themselves, and the truth is not in them,' but immediately (as it continues) 'when they confess their sins' (which the children of the devil do not do, or do not do according to the faith which is peculiar to the children of God), 'he is faithful and just to forgive them their sins and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness'" (1 John 1:9). (excerpt from AGAINST TWO LETTERS OF THE PELAGIANS 3.4) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us website offers a commentary on a text for today.
Friar Jude Winkler shares some teaching on the texts.
Richard Rohr and teachers of the Centre for Action and Contemplation share on the theme: Evil Is a Social Reality.
We have the guidance of the Holy Spirit when in our piety, study and action we proclaim Jesus to the world.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/16?22
John, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16?
Maynard, A. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/051623.html
Psalms, PSALM 138. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/138?1
Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Will Send the Counselor to You. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=may16
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