The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer the example of Paul and his dedication to sharing the Way and the teaching of Jesus to meet opposition with Love.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Timothy joins Paul and Silas and Paul shares a vision of the man of Macedonia.
* [16:3] Paul had him circumcised: he did this in order that Timothy might be able to associate with the Jews and so perform a ministry among them. Paul did not object to the Jewish Christians’ adherence to the law. But he insisted that the law could not be imposed on the Gentiles. Paul himself lived in accordance with the law, or as exempt from the law, according to particular circumstances (see 1 Cor 9:19–23).
* [16:7] The Spirit of Jesus: this is an unusual formulation in Luke’s writings. The parallelism with Acts 16:6 indicates its meaning, the holy Spirit. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 100 declares all lands are summoned to Praise God.
* [Psalm 100] A hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts with thank offerings for the God who created them.
* [100:3] Although the people call on all the nations of the world to join in their hymn, they are conscious of being the chosen people of God. (Psalms, PSALM 100 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of John describes the World’s Hatred.
* [15:18–16:4] The hostile reaction of the world. There are synoptic parallels, predicting persecution, especially at Mt 10:17–25; 24:9–10.
* [15:20] The word I spoke to you: a reference to Jn 13:16.
* [15:21] On account of my name: the idea of persecution for Jesus’ name is frequent in the New Testament (Mt 10:22; 24:9; Acts 9:14). For John, association with Jesus’ name implies union with Jesus. (John, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)
Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries was not available at publication time.
Don Schwager quotes “Those who suffer with Christ reign with Christ,” by Cyril of Alexandria, 375-444 A.D.
"It is just as if Jesus said, 'I, the creator of the universe, who have everything under my hand, both in heaven and on earth, did not bridle their rage or restrain ... their inclinations. Rather, I let each one choose their own course and permitted all to do what they wanted. Therefore, when I was persecuted, I endured it even though I had the power of preventing it. When you too follow in my wake and pursue the same course I did, you also will be persecuted. You're going to have to momentarily endure the aversion of those who hate you without being overly troubled by the ingratitude of those whom you benefit. This is how you attain my glory, for those who suffer with me shall also reign with me.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 15:18-21 comments that like our Lord, we need to see our persecutors as men and women who are created in the image of God and are loved by the Father. We need to remember that God wants everyone to know him and be saved. If we can keep these truths in mind, we are more likely to follow Jesus’ example to love those who hate us. That loving response, in fact, can be a powerful witness. It might just help someone recognize that it is only Jesus and his life in us that makes such a response possible.
Does someone “hate” you for your Christian faith? Today, pray for that person. Then ask the Spirit to soften your heart so that you can love them with the love of your Savior.
“Holy Spirit, give me the grace to love even those who hate me.” (Meditation on John 15:18-21, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler explains that the seemingly odd circumcision of Timothy is based on his Jewish heritage being passed to him through his mother. Paul refrains from going to Asia because he saw his mission to preach where the Way had not already been shared, like Europe, through Macedonia. Friar Jude reminds us of the honour and trust that comes from following Jesus through giving witness on our cross.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Sophfronia Scott who, prompted by the life and writings of Thomas Merton, asks “What else might we see more clearly if we could hold our stuff more loosely?”
As Merton writes, we have to exercise this feeling of “enough.” But we also have to recognize a certain tension inherent in this sensibility—this isn’t about being stingy or coming always from a place of grasping and lack. He observes,
Knowing when you do not need any more. Acting just enough. Saying enough. Stopping when there is enough. Some may be wasted, nature is prodigal. Harmony is not bought with parsimoniousness. Yet stopping is “going on.”… [2]
For me, “going on” looks like holding something in love but being willing to let it go—not because I have to get rid of it in a flurry of decluttering but because it has to leave my life when a turn of events warrants it. And knowing that’s OK. (Rohr, n.d.)
We live in an environment where we may encounter opposition and persecution because of our faith from those forces named by John as the world. We invoke the Spirit to guide our action to encounter opposition with love.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/16?1
John, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?18
Meditation on John 15:18-21. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 4, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/05/04/948601/
Psalms, PSALM 100 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/100?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Path to Simplicity: Weekly Summary. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved May 4, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/simplicity-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). You Are Not of the World. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved May 4, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=may4
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