The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today reinforce our understanding of the progress we make in our mission with Christ is in God’s time and Way.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes Paul’s Return to Antioch.
* [18:12] When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia: Gallio’s proconsulship in Achaia is dated to A.D. 51–52 from an inscription discovered at Delphi. This has become an important date in establishing a chronology of the life and missionary work of Paul.
* [18:13] Contrary to the law: Gallio (Acts 18:15) understands this to be a problem of Jewish, not Roman, law.
* [18:18] He had his hair cut because he had taken a vow: a reference to a Nazirite vow (see Nm 6:1–21, especially, 6:18) taken by Paul (see also Acts 21:23–27). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 18, n.d.)
Psalm 47 praises God’s Rule over the Nations.
* [Psalm 47] A hymn calling on the nations to acknowledge the universal rule of Israel’s God (Ps 47:2–5) who is enthroned as king over Israel and the nations (Ps 47:6–9).
* [47:5] Our heritage…the glory: the land of Israel (cf. Is 58:14), which God has given Israel in an act of sovereignty.
* [47:6] God has gone up: Christian liturgical tradition has applied the verse to the Ascension of Christ. (Psalms, PSALM 47, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares “you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.” (John, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)
Ed Morse (2009) comments that although it is uncommon for Christians in America to be beaten or attacked on account of speaking or believing, recent events have reminded him of repercussions from holding fast to the truth.
We seem to be in a time where Christians need courage to speak and not be silent. We may not receive a voice from the Lord himself, as Paul did, but we can also be strengthened through the scriptures as well as from the power of being in community with others who believe. Words of encouragement and assurance can be powerful in driving out fear, building faith, and embracing our role in the future that God is bringing forth. May God give each of us the reassurance we need, along with the wisdom and strength to go on bearing witness to the truth. (Morse, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Alleluia will be our whole joy,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"I trust I will not weary you if I mention what you know already: that we say ALLELUIA daily and that we take delight in it daily. For you know that ALLELUIA means "Praise God" and by this expression we, agreeing in speech and thought, exhort one another to praise God. Only the one who displeases God in no respect praises God in security. Furthermore, in this time of journeying we say ALLELUIA for solace on our way. ALLELUIA is the song of the traveler for us; but we are advancing through a laborious path to a peaceful country where all our activities will be laid aside and nothing will remain for us except the ALLELUIA. Let us sing now, not for the delights of peace, but for comfort in our labor. Sing as travelers are accustomed to sing; comfort your labor by singing; do not love inactivity; keep singing and keep progressing. ...If you are advancing; progress in well-doing, progress in good faith, progress in good deeds. Keep singing and keep advancing. While we are here let us sing ALLELUIA though we are still beset with cares, so that in the future we may sing it there (in heaven) in tranquility. After the labors of this world there will be unceasing repetition of ALLELUIA. ..There ALLELUIA will be our food; ALLELUIA will be our drink; ALLELUIA will be our peaceful action; ALLELUIA will be our whole joy." [excerpts from Sermon 255 (1); Sermon 256 (1 and 3); Sermon 252 (9)] (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 18:9-18 comments that the quieter seasons in our lives might also allow us to spend more time in prayer. It’s likely that these calmer periods gave Paul the opportunity to study, learn, and pray. He may have used these times to write some of the letters that have become treasured parts of Sacred Scripture.
Your life might seem quiet, busy, or downright turbulent right now. Wherever you find yourself, thank the Lord for where he has you. Then trust him to help you to live out your calling right here and right now.
“Jesus, help me to live as your disciple in the everyday moments of my life.” (Meditation on Acts 18:9-18, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the dream that had Paul remain in Corinth even as he was motivated by the end of time urging him to go to the ends of the earth with his message. The Nazarite vow resonates with an idea that hair is sacred and belongs to God. Friar Jude reminds us that “Abba” addresses the needs we have as we petition in our prayer.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that forgiveness is God’s way out of sin and evil. He describes it as nothing less than the “Divine Order” of things.
Let’s also remember that Jesus is shockingly not upset with sinners. This is a shock so total that most Christians still refuse to see it. He is only upset with people who do not think they are sinners: These denying, fearful, and illusory ones are the blockage. They are much more likely to hate and feel no compunction. We once thought the mission of religion was to expel sin and evil. Through Jesus, we learn that sin lies in the very act of expelling. There is no place to expel it to. We have met the enemy, and the enemy is us. We either carry and transform the evil of human history as our own problem, or we only increase its efficiency and power by hating and punishing it “over there.” [2] (Rohr, n.d.)
We strive with the prompting of the Spirit to attend to the piety, study and action that shapes our work in the vineyard in solidarity with others.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 19, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/18?9
John, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 19, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16?20
Meditation on Acts 18:9-18. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 19, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/05/19/685291/
Morse, E. (2023, May 19). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 19, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/051923.html
Psalms, PSALM 47. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 19, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/47?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Evil Is a Social Reality. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/one-stream-of-love-2023-05-19/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 19, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=may19
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