The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek the guidance of the Spirit as we trust in Providence to provide the support we need to carry out our role in conquering the world.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes Paul in Ephesus.
* [19:1–6] Upon his arrival in Ephesus, Paul discovers other people at the same religious stage as Apollos, though they seem to have considered themselves followers of Christ, not of the Baptist. On the relation between baptism and the reception of the Spirit, see note on Acts 8:16. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 68 offers Praise and Thanksgiving.
* [Psalm 68] The Psalm is extremely difficult because the Hebrew text is badly preserved and the ceremony that it describes is uncertain. The translation assumes the Psalm accompanied the early autumn Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth), which included a procession of the tribes (Ps 68:25–28). Israel was being oppressed by a foreign power, perhaps Egypt (Ps 68:31–32)—unless Egypt stands for any oppressor. The Psalm may have been composed from segments of ancient poems, which would explain why the transitions are implied rather than explicitly stated. At any rate, Ps 68:2 is based on Nm 10:35–36, and Ps 68:8–9 are derived from Jgs 5:4–5. The argument develops in nine stanzas (each of three to five poetic lines): 1. confidence that God will destroy Israel’s enemies (Ps 68:2–4); 2. call to praise God as savior (Ps 68:5–7); (Psalms, PSALM 68 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus invites the disciples to Share in the Passion.
* [16:30] The reference is seemingly to the fact that Jesus could anticipate their question in Jn 16:19. The disciples naively think they have the full understanding that is the climax of “the hour” of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension (Jn 16:25), but the only part of the hour that is at hand for them is their share in the passion (Jn 16:32).
* [16:32] You will be scattered: cf. Mk 14:27 and Mt 26:31, where both cite Zec 13:7 about the sheep being dispersed. (John, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)
Suzanne Braddock comments on the Lord's final reassurance to eliminate the anxieties that plague us all: “In this world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”
So much meat in these readings! How often have I declared my profound faith in the Lord only to realize shortly after that I had failed? I forget to thank the Lord for favors granted in response to fervent prayer. What troubles in my life and in the lives of my loved ones and the world have I failed to give over in surrender and trust to Jesus who has conquered the world? Do I always remember I am not alone, but have the Father always? Jesus’ desire expressed so tenderly :
”I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.”
May we come back again and again in the midst of our troubles and of those we love to the realization that we are never alone and the Lord want us always to have peace in him.(Braddock, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “In Christ we have peace,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When [Jesus] says, 'These things have I spoken to you, that in me you might have peace,' he refers not only to what he has just said but also to what he had said all along, either from the time that he first had disciples, or since the supper, when he began this long and wonderful discourse... He declares this to be the object of his whole discourse, that is, that in him they might have peace. And this peace will have no end but is itself the end of every godly action and intention." (excerpt from TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 104.1.15) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 19:1-8 comments that while tongues and prophecy are two of the more obvious signs of the Holy Spirit, Scripture tells us about other gifts that we might experience (Isaiah 11:2-3):
When you pray for guidance and receive wisdom, that’s the Spirit.
When you are tempted to do or say something rash and you resist by saying a quick Hail Mary, God’s Spirit of counsel is giving you restraint.
When you are looking for credit for your accomplishments, fear of the Lord reminds you that all your talents come from God.
When you are confused about Church teaching on a moral issue and a homily gives you new insight, the Spirit is granting you knowledge and understanding.
When you are at the end of your rope but keep persevering in faith, you are being filled with fortitude.
When you are feeling restless at Mass but a hymn fills you with a sense of God’s love, the Spirit is giving you piety.
Pentecost is approaching, so let’s ask the Lord to fill us with even more of his gifts so that we can better serve him and his body.
Be sure to ask freely and expectantly. Remember, God “does not ration his gift of the Spirit” (John 3:34). Maybe in this season of your life, you are in special need of fortitude or wisdom. Maybe you’d like to experience one of the charismatic gifts. Whatever it is, don’t be shy about asking. God wants it for you even more than you do!
“Come upon me, Holy Spirit! Strengthen your gifts within me.” (Meditation on Acts 19:1-8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that Paul in Ephesus meets a disciple who has received the Baptism of John for forgiveness and who is baptized to enter the Life in the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues or glossolalia at Charismatic liturgies is referred to as the language of the angels. Friar Jude reminds us that like Jesus' declaration, we may be scattered but He has conquered the world of those who deny Him.
Brian McLaren offers the phrase “welcome to reality” as a helpful acknowledgment of the devastation and uncertainty that the increasing climate crisis brings. Father Richard describes how contemplation helps us meet and welcome reality.
Contemplation is meeting as much reality as we can handle in its most simple and immediate form, without filters, judgments, and commentaries. Contemplation allows us to recognize and relativize our own compulsive mental grids—our practiced ways of judging, critiquing, and computing everything—as well as blocking what we don’t want to see.
This is what we’re trying to do when we practice contemplative prayer, which is why people addicted to their own mind and opinions will find contemplation most difficult, if not impossible. No wonder it is so rare and, in fact, “the narrow road that few walk on” (Matthew 7:14).
When our judgmental grid and all its commentaries are placed aside, God finally has a chance to get through to us, because our narcissism and pettiness are at last out of the way. Then Truth stands revealed! [3] (Rohr, n.d.)
We may encounter frustration and even anger as the ways of the world so often seem to override the Way of Truth, Beauty, and Love. The Holy Spirit is our gift to build hope in God to bring peace to our journey.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 13, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/19?1
Braddock, S. (2024, May 13). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 13, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/051324.html
John, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 13, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16?
Meditation on Acts 19:1-8. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 13, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/05/13/964119/
Psalms, PSALM 68 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 13, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/68?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Welcoming Reality. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved May 13, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/welcoming-reality/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Peace in Overcoming the World. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 13, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=may13
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