Peace for Our Journey

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to accept the paradox of following Christ on a journey that is demanding and full and yet offers a peace that the world cannot give.

A Bridge to Peace

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the end of the First Mission and the return to Antioch in Syria.

* [14:23] They appointed presbyters: the communities are given their own religious leaders by the traveling missionaries. The structure in these churches is patterned on the model of the Jerusalem community (Acts 11:30; 15:2, 5, 22; 21:18). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 145 praises the Greatness and the Goodness of God

* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity. (Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus' Final Discourse proclaims “Peace I leave You.”

* [14:27] Peace: the traditional Hebrew salutation šālôm; but Jesus’ “Shalom” is a gift of salvation, connoting the bounty of messianic blessing.

* [14:28] The Father is greater than I: because he sent, gave, etc., and Jesus is “a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God” (Jn 8:40).

* [14:30] The ruler of the world: Satan; cf. Jn 12:31; 16:11. (John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)

Tom Lenz comments that the so-called conflict between science and religion never really made much sense to him.

This part of the gospel held my attention because it reminded me of the scientific Law of Conservation of Mass. This principle states that our world (and the entire cosmos – including us) is made up of matter. Further, it explains that matter is constantly changing into new forms. But with each change, nothing is ever lost – it just transforms into something new as it retains its core essence. A common example used to explain this principle is water, where it can exist as a liquid, gas, or solid. But no matter which state it exists in, the essence is always the same, and nothing is lost in the transformation.

I think this is what Jesus was saying to his disciples (and to us). Nothing was lost when he died on the cross – rather, he was transformed. And, nothing will be lost when his physical presence leaves from earth…”I am going away and I will come back to you.” There is a “conservation” of sorts. The essence of Jesus is still present – just transformed. Therefore, there is no need to worry or be anxious. (Lenz, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The Following of Christ,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Come, follow Me, says the Lord. Do you love? He has hastened on, He has flown on ahead. Look and see where. O Christian, don't you know where your Lord has gone? I ask you: Don't you wish to follow Him there? Through trials, insults, the cross, and death. Why do you hesitate? Look, the way has been shown you." (excerpt from Sermon 345,6) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 14:19-28 comments that we can’t go it alone. We need brothers and sisters in Christ who can cheer us on, pray for us, and care for us in difficult times. And they need us to do the same for them.

If you have brothers or sisters who help you live your faith, stay close to them. Make time to meet together, pray together, and help one another in practical ways. If you don’t, reach out by joining a Bible study or some other small group where you can get to know other Christians. Someone needs you, and you need that person. Trust the Lord to help you find them!

“Lord, thank you for the brothers and sisters you have put in my life.” (Meditation on Acts 14:19-28, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on both the acceptance and rejection that Paul experienced on his missionary journey and his willingness to carry his cross. Jesus' gift of “shalom” is a transforming peace that is more than an absence of war. Friar Jude reminds us of Jesus' commitment to the will of the Father that we live in a manner that destroys the concupiscence of the world with love. 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Franciscan sister José Hobday who encourages us to live simply, instead of simply thinking about it.

We can’t do it in our heads. Simplicity is not just an idea.  

That means it walks around our home with us. It gets in our car and goes to work with us. It shops with us. Our body is in on the act. Our body wears the clothes. Our body eats. Our body fasts. Our body is a sacramental presentation to all who accept that this is real, healthy, and whole. The visibility of simplicity makes it a witness and accounts for some of its influence on others. Simplicity is an inner harmony others can see….  

Thinking about simplicity can occupy us for centuries. Head trips never end. People can speculate forever about what can be done or what is possible and helpful. Jesus didn’t speculate. He walked the streets. He got dusty, dirty, and probably smelly. He was out in the sun. He appreciated a footwash so much that John records it. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the influences that disturb our peace and we accept the nudge of the Spirit to stop and take a breath and reestablish our connection with “Shalom” as Jesus offers.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/14?19 

John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?27 

Lenz, T. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved April 30, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/043024.html 

Meditation on Acts 14:19-28. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 30, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/04/30/945594/ 

Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/145?10 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Simple but Not Easy Task. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 30, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-simple-but-not-easy-task/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). My Peace I Give to You. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 30, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=apr30 

The Father’s Word

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, resonate with the difficulty encountered when living according to the Word of God is alien to the culture that surrounds us.

Church of Saint Catherine of Siena

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the experience of Paul and Barnabas in Lystra and Derbe.

* [14:8–18] In an effort to convince his hearers that the divine power works through his word, Paul cures the cripple. However, the pagan tradition of the occasional appearance of gods among human beings leads the people astray in interpreting the miracle. The incident reveals the cultural difficulties with which the church had to cope. Note the similarity of the miracle worked here by Paul to the one performed by Peter in Acts 3:2–10.

* [14:12] Zeus…Hermes: in Greek religion, Zeus was the chief of the Olympian gods, the “father of gods and men”; Hermes was a son of Zeus and was usually identified as the herald and messenger of the gods.

* [14:14] Tore their garments: a gesture of protest.

* [14:15–17] This is the first speech of Paul to Gentiles recorded by Luke in Acts (cf. Acts 17:22–31). Rather than showing how Christianity is the logical outgrowth of Judaism, as he does in speeches before Jews, Luke says that God excuses past Gentile ignorance and then presents a natural theology arguing for the recognition of God’s existence and presence through his activity in natural phenomena.

Psalm 115 praises the Impotence of Idols and the Greatness of God

* [Psalm 115] A response to the enemy taunt, “Where is your God?” This hymn to the glory of Israel’s God (Ps 115:1–3) ridicules the lifeless idols of the nations (Ps 115:4–8), expresses in a litany the trust of the various classes of the people in God (Ps 115:9–11), invokes God’s blessing on them as they invoke the divine name (Ps 115:12–15), and concludes as it began with praise of God. Ps 135:15–18 similarly mocks the Gentile gods and has a similar litany and hymn (Ps 135:19–21).

In the Gospel of John, Jesus promises the Advocate for the Word of the Father.

* [14:22] Judas, not the Iscariot: probably not the brother of Jesus in Mk 6:3 // Mt 13:55 or the apostle named Jude in Lk 6:16 but Thomas (see note on Jn 11:16), although other readings have “Judas the Cananean.”

Susan Naatz comments that today’s gospel is tucked squarely in the middle of the chapters in John’s gospel called the Farewell Discourse (chapters 13 – 17) because here Jesus…prepares his disciples for his departure from them and offers a vision for their life in his absence…. At the heart of this vision is the community’s love for one another.   And the soul of the vision is our loving relationship with God and Jesus.

Jesus used the most powerful word in any language, love. He defined, described, and passed it on to us.  He did not use it in a superficial, sentimental way.  He wanted people to love with depth and passion and not count the cost.  He instructed his disciples passionately explaining that if they followed his teachings and loved one another they would demonstrate their love for him and one another. Love for one another is to be the identifying mark of the Christian community in the world.   He expects the same from us now.

An incredible example of how to live God’s love comes from the witness of Saint Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church.  We are graced today to celebrate her Memorial.   She lived God’s love by becoming …the protagonist of an intense activity of spiritual guidance for people from every walk of life:  nobles and politicians, artists and ordinary people, consecrated men and women and religious, including Pope Gregory XI.  She was incredibly courageous while experiencing great hardship for her beliefs.

Say it.  Mean it. Live it.  That is our command.  Love one another.

Don Schwager quotes “God is pleased to dwell in us,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"God is not too grand to come, he is not too fussy or shy, he is not too proud - on the contrary he is pleased to come if you do not displease him. Listen to the promise he makes. Listen to him indeed promising with pleasure, not threatening in displeasure, "We shall come to him," he says, "I and the Father." To the one he had earlier called his friend, the one who obeys his precepts, the keeper of his commandment, the lover of God, the lover of his neighbor, he says, "We shall come to him and make our abode with him." (excerpt from Sermon 23,6)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 14:21-26  comments that  there is a vast difference between knowing about a person and getting to know him. You don’t get to know someone only by learning his age, his address, or where he works. Ultimately, it’s love that opens the way to the most important and intimate kind of knowledge. Just think about a couple who have been married for many years. Their love has given them a much deeper understanding of each other than when they were first married.

This is the kind of relationship that Jesus offers each of us. He is inviting us to come to know him and experience his love. He wants more than grand gestures; he wants to dwell in us, to bring us into friendship with him, and to teach us to abide in his love.

“Jesus, thank you for loving me. Lord, reveal yourself to me more and more!”

Friar Jude Winkler notes the confusion of the Greek audience, after a healing by Paul and Barnabas, of the apostles with Hermes and Zeus. The Gospel of John exhorts us to live an ordered life with the Commandments as guidelines to the right path. Friar Jude reminds us of the nuances of the Holy Spirit that help us avoid the “world” of our concupiscence that rejects the Word.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, names the tension created by Gospel teachings on simplicity and cultural expectations of abundance.

Franciscan spirituality asks us to let go, to recognize that there is enough to go around to meet everyone’s need but not everyone’s greed. A worldview of enoughness will predictably emerge in us as we realize our naked being in God instead of thinking that more of anything or more frenetic doing can fill up our infinite longing and restlessness. Francis did not just tolerate or endure simplicity; he loved it and called it poverty. Francis dove into simplicity and found his freedom there. This is hard for most of us to even comprehend.  

Francis knew that climbing ladders to nowhere would never make us happy nor create peace and justice on this earth. Too many have to stay at the bottom of the ladder so some can be at the top. Living simply helps level the playing field and offers abundance and enoughness to all, regardless of our status or state of belonging to religion or group. 

We call on the Holy Spirit to clarify our understanding and presentation of the Word of God to our community today that is in need of truth, charity, and compassion.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/14?5 

John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?21 

Meditation on John 14:21-26. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://www.one-tab.com/page/x2gXBoa5SlegM9_izR7uvg 

Naatz, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/042924.html 

Psalms, PSALM 115 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/115?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A System of Too Much. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-system-of-too-much/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). If You Love Me, Keep My Word. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=apr29