The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to live in solidarity with the pain and joy of people in the situations we experience on our journey.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the mission of Paul in Corinth.
* [18:2] Aquila…Priscilla: both may already have been Christians at the time of their arrival in Corinth (see Acts 18:26). According to 1 Cor 16:19, their home became a meeting place for Christians. Claudius: the Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome ca. A.D. 49. The Roman historian Suetonius gives as reason for the expulsion disturbances among the Jews “at the instigation of Chrestos,” probably meaning disputes about the messiahship of Jesus.
* [18:6] Shook out his garments: a gesture indicating Paul’s repudiation of his mission to the Jews there; cf. Acts 28:17–31.
* [18:7] A worshiper of God: see note on Acts 8:26–40.
* [18:8] Crispus: in 1 Cor 1:14 Paul mentions that Crispus was one of the few he himself baptized at Corinth. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 18, n.d.)
Psalm 98 praises the Judge of the World.
* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9). (Psalms, PSALM 98, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus reassures that our sorrow will turn into Joy.
Maureen McCann Waldron (2003) comments that when we are faced with pain, conflict and great loss, sometimes we can be blind to his presence in our lives.
Jesus also tells us, “You will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” These words can be both discouraging and puzzling. He speaks them at the Last Supper as he is preparing his disciples for his departure. They will no longer walk the dusty roads with him, sit down to dinner with him, feel his comforting hand rest on their shoulder or gaze into his loving and challenging eyes.
In the meantime, the world will be rejoicing. We shouldn't be scandalized or discouraged by that. No matter how much we grieve, our grief will be transformed - into joy brought on by our faith that we will see Jesus again with the Father.
This is the heart of the Good News Jesus speaks today. We can live in this world, free from fear, free from anxiety, knowing that Jesus is present to us in this life and that we will join him at the Father's side in the life after. (McCann, 2023)
The Daily Scripture net reflects on the texts for the Feast of the Ascension, celebrated in Canada on May 21, this year.
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 16:16-20 comments that this pattern of “seeing and not seeing Jesus” is a normal part of the Christian life. Even the saints experienced it! Ignatius of Loyola, for instance, called these states consolation and desolation. When we see Jesus in prayer and we’re aware of his presence and goodness, we experience consolation. When we don’t see him and our communion with him feels empty or even lost, we experience desolation. We may even alternate between a sense of peace and closeness and feelings of worry and dryness in the same day. But what can we do during a dry “season”?
First, keep showing up! It opens your heart to God’s grace. “Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part. It always presupposes effort” (Catechism, 2725). What’s more, God always pours out grace, whether you feel it or not. Second, remember why you are there. St. Alphonsus Liguori reminds us that whenever we feel tempted to stop praying because it seems to be a waste of time, we can tell ourselves, “I am here to please God.” Every prayer pleases him. Finally, cling to Jesus. He loves you and will never leave you.
So put your hope in Jesus’ faithfulness. It may take time, but he promises, “Your grief will become joy” (John 16:20).
“My soul waits for you, O Lord.” (Meditation on John 16:16-20, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the relationship between Paul and Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth where he left the synagogue and continued his mission to the Gentiles. In John, Jesus fulfills the plan of the Father in His death that is the fullest expression of love. Friar Jude reminds us of the need to mourn and be sad even as we seek to allow Christ to return us to joy.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, teaches that despite the presence of evil permeating our world, we are invited to commit ourselves to the common good. Both Jesus and Paul invite us to live a vulnerable human life in communal solidarity with both sin and salvation.
Neither sin nor salvation could ever be exclusively mine, but both of them are collectively ours!
Universal solidarity is the important lesson, not private salvation.
Human solidarity is the goal, not “my” moral superiority or perfection.
By giving ourselves to this primary human absurdity, which shows itself in patience, love, and forgiveness toward all things, we find a positive and faith-filled way through “the world, the flesh, and the devil.” This is not by resolving it or thinking we can ever fully change it, but by recognizing that we are all complicit in this mixed moral universe. This is perhaps the humility that Christians need in their campaigns for social reform. This is “carrying the cross” with Jesus.
Through this primal surrender and trust, God can use our own cruciform shape for healing and for immense good—and even victory. True healers are always wounded healers and not those who perfectly triumphed over all evil. (Rohr, 2023)
We are nudged by the Spirit to grow in love through all the contrasts and contradictions of our life in communion with Christ and people.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 18, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/18?1
McCann, M. (2023, May 18). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 18, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/051823.html
Meditation on John 16:16-20. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 18, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/05/18/680433/
Psalms, PSALM 98. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 18, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1
Rohr, R. (2023, May 18). Solidarity Is Our Goal — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/solidarity-is-our-goal-2023-05-18/
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