The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to consider our response to the opposition we may encounter to our proclamation of life in communion with Christ.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the stoning of Stephen precedes Saul persecuting the Church.
* [7:55] He…saw…Jesus standing at the right hand of God: Stephen affirms to the Sanhedrin that the prophecy Jesus made before them has been fulfilled (Mk 14:62).
* [7:57] Covered their ears: Stephen’s declaration, like that of Jesus, is a scandal to the court, which regards it as blasphemy.
* [7:59] Compare Lk 23:34, 46. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 31 is a prayer and Praise for Deliverance from Enemies.
* [Psalm 31] A lament (Ps 31:2–19) with a strong emphasis on trust (Ps 31:4, 6, 15–16), ending with an anticipatory thanksgiving (Ps 31:20–24). As is usual in laments, the affliction is couched in general terms. The psalmist feels overwhelmed by evil people but trusts in the “God of truth” (Ps 31:6).
* [31:6] Into your hands I commend my spirit: in Lk 23:46 Jesus breathes his last with this Psalm verse. Stephen in Acts 7:59 alludes to these words as he is attacked by enemies. The verse is used as an antiphon in the Divine Office at Compline, the last prayer of the day. (Psalms, PSALM 31 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of John continues the Bread of Life Discourse.
* [6:31] Bread from heaven: cf. Ex 16:4, 15, 32–34 and the notes there; Ps 78:24. The manna, thought to have been hidden by Jeremiah (2 Mc 2:5–8), was expected to reappear miraculously at Passover, in the last days. (John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Eileen Burke-Sullivan is reminded of the way so many folks in the reporting of “news” these days have shrieked in horror at the way that Pope Francis has challenged them. The very idea that we are called to welcome and embrace sinners at the same time we are called to challenge some bad choices they are making and the damage they are doing to themselves and others seems utterly foreign to so many folks, and yet it is writ large across the Gospel.
Easter is not about stuffed bunnies and plush ducklings – Easter is about seeing the hard truth of embracing the Gospel and living within God’s mercy AND WILL. For me this year it is an invitation to open my heart to far greater generosity and compassion, while still risking popularity or “coolness”. In the end it is giving up (again) being the sun in my own solar system and acting like everything revolves around me.
I invite you to pray for the grace of hearing and knowing God’s invitation to you today – to be open to seeing the challenges that the Gospel poses for ourselves and our very broken and distorted human family. (Burke-Sullivan, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Trusting in the Lord,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"If you put your trust in money, you are paying futile regard to vain things; if you put your trust in high office or some exalted rank in human government, you are paying futile regard to vain things... When you put your trust in all these, either you expire and leave them all behind, or they will crumble while you are still alive, and what you trusted will have let you down... For my part, I do not put my trust in empty things as they do or pay futile regard to them; I have put my trust in the Lord." (excerpt from Exposition on the Psalms 31,12) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 7:51–8:1 asks how did Stephen get to the point where he could pray like this? Surely it must have been his own experience of forgiveness. Imagine how his heart was flooded by the love of God when he encountered Jesus! His whole way of seeing the world changed. He learned that Jesus, who died for us while we were still sinners, doesn’t wait until we are perfect before he meets us with love. And that encounter, that realization, opened him to extend the same mercy toward the men who were stoning him.
So keep cultivating a heart open to God’s healing and transforming love. Keep seeking his forgiveness for you so that you can learn how to forgive even the unforgivable.
“Lord, I welcome your mercy into my life. Come and make my heart merciful like yours.” (Meditation on Acts 7:51–8:1, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the aggressive testimony of Stephen to the Sanhedrin who have no right to stone him as he becomes a martyr as Jesus suffers with him. Luke uses a favorite technique of introducing Saul (Paul) here to bring him back in a greater way later. Friar Jude uses the beginning of the Bread of Life Discourse to remind us of the vertical, horizontal, and missionary aspects of the Eucharist in John’s Gospel.
Barbara Holmes writes of the spirit of possibility that is present in those creating and listening to jazz.
Poet Ron Seitz has spoken about how, as a young man, he befriended writer and theologian Thomas Merton…. Seitz tells of the night he went with Merton to a jazz club in Louisville. [3] As the group began to play, Merton leaned over to whisper, “They’re going to start talking to each other now. Listen.” Then he moved closer to the bandstand to get a better look. Later, returning with his eyes wide, he said to Seitz, “Now that’s praying. That’s some kind of prayer! The new liturgy. Really, I’m not kidding.” [4] (Holmes, n.d.)
We seek the guidance of the Spirit to respond bravely and compassionately to challenges to our expression of the vertical, horizontal, and missionary aspects of our relationship with Jesus.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/7?51
Burke-Sullivan, E. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. DailCreighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/041624.html
Holmes, B. (n.d.). The Jazz Gospel. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-jazz-gospel/
John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?30
Meditation on Acts 7:51–8:1. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/04/16/937575/
Psalms, PSALM 31 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/31?3
Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Am the Bread of Life. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=apr16
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