The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today reinforce our understanding that God has our back as we trust in Love to carry out the mission of our journey.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul appears before the Council.
* [23:5] Luke portrays Paul as a model of one who is obedient to the Mosaic law. Paul, because of his reverence for the law (Ex 22:27), withdraws his accusation of hypocrisy, “whitewashed wall” (cf. Mt 23:27), when he is told Ananias is the high priest.
* [23:11] The occurrence of the vision of Christ consoling Paul and assuring him that he will be his witness in Rome prepares the reader for the final section of Acts: the journey of Paul and the word he preaches to Rome under the protection of the Romans. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 23, n.d.)
Psalm 16 is a song of Trust and Security in God.
* [Psalm 16] In the first section, the psalmist rejects the futile worship of false gods (Ps 16:2–5), preferring Israel’s God (Ps 16:1), the giver of the land (Ps 16:6). The second section reflects on the wise and life-giving presence of God (Ps 16:7–11).
* [16:1] Miktam: a term occurring six times in Psalm superscriptions, always with “David.” Its meaning is unknown.
* [16:10] Nor let your devout one see the pit: Hebrew shahath means here the pit, a synonym for Sheol, the underworld. The Greek translation derives the word here and elsewhere from the verb shahath, “to be corrupt.” On the basis of the Greek, Acts 2:25–32; 13:35–37 apply the verse to Christ’s resurrection, “Nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.” (Psalms, PSALM 16, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, the Prayer of Jesus concludes.
* [17:1–26] Climax of the last discourse(s). Since the sixteenth century, this chapter has been called the “high priestly prayer” of Jesus. He speaks as intercessor, with words addressed directly to the Father and not to the disciples, who supposedly only overhear. Yet the prayer is one of petition, for immediate (Jn 17:6–19) and future (Jn 17:20–21) disciples. Many phrases reminiscent of the Lord’s Prayer occur. Although still in the world (Jn 17:13), Jesus looks on his earthly ministry as a thing of the past (Jn 17:4, 12). Whereas Jesus has up to this time stated that the disciples could follow him (Jn 13:33, 36), now he wishes them to be with him in union with the Father (Jn 17:12–14).
* [17:24] Where I am: Jesus prays for the believers ultimately to join him in heaven. Then they will not see his glory as in a mirror but clearly (2 Cor 3:18; 1 Jn 3:2).
* [17:26] I will make it known: through the Advocate. (John, CHAPTER 17, n.d.)
Tom Quinn asks “What was it that motivated Paul so intensely that he would lay down his life?”
We have been told that Jesus loves us. We are the Father’s gift to Jesus, and he wants us to share in the peace, love, and glory of God. Paul’s writing and encouragement, sometimes from prison, shows that he was willing to give his life for his faith. I hope that I (we) will never have to face this test of faith. “Keep us safe, O God,” the alleluia prayer comes to my mind again. What can we do, Lord? Guide us on our way. Stand at our shoulder and give us the courage, literally the heart, to persist. Give us strength.
This gospel makes me glad, and I rejoice in it. I pray for this: I try to imagine what Jesus is offering us. Eternal love, peace, union with God, Freedom from the fetters of humanness? Who can comprehend being one with God? No one living can answer this. The ultimate gift of God may be that someday we will be worthy, open-minded, and ready to experience true union with God. We will then certainly receive the answer. (Quinn, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Prayer of unity for all who believe,” by Cyprian of Carthage - first martyr bishop of Africa, 200-258 A.D.
"The Lord's loving-kindness, no less than his mercy, is great in respect of our salvation in that, not content to redeem us with his blood, he in addition prayed for us. See now what the desire of his petition was, that just as the Father and Son are one, so also we should abide in absolute unity. From this, it may be evident how greatly someone sins who divides unity and peace, since even the Lord himself petitioned for this same thing. He no doubt desired that his people should in this way be saved and live in peace since he knew that discord cannot come into the kingdom of God." (excerpt from THE LORD'S PRAYER 30.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 17:20-26 comments that in those final moments, Jesus prayed to his Father—not just for his disciples, but for the entire Church. Each person who would come to believe in him was on his mind and in his heart.
That they may see my glory that you gave me (John 17:24). Jesus wanted you to know who he is: the Son of God seated in glory with the Father. Every time you experience his presence in prayer or at Mass, you taste that glory. Every time you understand the Scriptures better, you sense his glory. And every time you forgive or reach out to your neighbor, you are showing his glory to the world around you.
Just as he did over two thousand years ago, Jesus is still praying for you today.
“Jesus, thank you for praying for me. I know that your Father hears every word.” (Meditation on John 17:20-26, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the arrest of Paul in Jerusalem by the Romans who wanted to know what was going on. Paul uses his preaching of the Resurrection to divide Sadducees and Pharisees in the Council. Friar Jude reminds us of Jesus' prayer that we be one in Him, lifted up to the Father in the Love between Father and Son, the Trinity.
James Finley notes that therapeutic work can help us trust in the divine depth dimension of our lives. He presents a model offered by psychologist Carl Rogers (1902–1987). The clinician’s unconditional positive regard for you incarnates the abyss-like infinite positive regard of God for you as the beloved. The presence of the clinician then becomes an incarnate manifestation of the welling up of this depth dimension, letting you know that you’re invincibly precious in all your wayward ways. To summarize Thomas Merton, there is something within you that is not subject to the brutalities of your own will, for it is that in you that belongs entirely to God. [2]
The truth is that God is infinitely in love with you and infinitely aware of who you are. With infinite wisdom, God lovingly understands you through and through forever. Congruence is truthfulness, compassionately stated. You can be truthful with yourself. What is the truthfulness with yourself? It’s that you’re an infinitely precious, broken person. This infinite love for you permeates your brokenness through and through. It’s with you unexplainably forever. (Finley, 2023)
We pause and contemplate the events of our life and come to better appreciate the Presence of God in ups and downs of our journey.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 23. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/23
Finley, J. (2023, May 25). Infinite Love in Our Brokenness — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/infinite-love-in-our-brokenness-2023-05-25/
John, CHAPTER 17. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/17?20
Meditation on John 17:20-26. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 25, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/05/25/688810/
Psalms, PSALM 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/16?1
Quinn, T. (2023, May 25). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 25, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/052523.html
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 25, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=may25
No comments:
Post a Comment