The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on the path of our journey in life and the Truth, Beauty, and Love that we share in our environment.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes Paul’s Farewell Speech at Miletus.
* [20:16–35] Apparently aware of difficulties at Ephesus and neighboring areas, Paul calls the presbyters together at Miletus, about thirty miles from Ephesus. He reminds them of his dedication to the gospel (Acts 20:18–21), speaks of what he is about to suffer for the gospel (Acts 20:22–27), and admonishes them to guard the community against false prophets, sure to arise upon his departure (Acts 20:28–31). He concludes by citing a saying of Jesus (Acts 20:35) not recorded in the gospel tradition. Luke presents this farewell to the Ephesian presbyters as Paul’s last will and testament. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 20 | 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): …7. procession at the Feast of Tabernacles (Ps 68:25–28); 8. prayer that the defeated enemies bring tribute to the Temple (Ps 68:29–32); 9. invitation for all kingdoms to praise Israel’s God (Ps 68:33–35). (Psalms, PSALM 68 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, the Prayer of Jesus asserts not belonging to the world.
* [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). (John, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB, n.d.)
Eileen Burke-Sullivan comments that even though we are liturgically past Good Friday, every day is both Good Friday and Easter Sunday on this side of the Eternal Light.
Great joy at being called forward into deeper love means leaving loved ones behind and being left behind by those going to their eternal home. We are invited to live in both forms of consolation as they together guide us into the ultimate truth of Finding God in all things, including and especially, death and departures.
We pray today for those departing from schools as graduates, from those moving to new homes as brides and grooms, for those leaving home to begin new work, and for those going home to God, may the long Good-bye be a blessing that enables them to remain faithful in their call to unity and service. (Burke, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “The Bond of Christian Unity in Love,” by Cyril of Alexandria, 375-444 A.D.
"Christ wishes the disciples to be kept in a state of unity by maintaining a like-mindedness and an identity of will, being mingled together as it were in soul and spirit and in the law of peace and love for one another. He wishes them to be bound together tightly with an unbreakable bond of love, that they may advance to such a degree of unity that their freely chosen association might even become an image of the natural unity that is conceived to exist between the Father and the Son. That is to say, he wishes them to enjoy a unity that is inseparable and indestructible, which may not be enticed away into a dissimilarity of wills by anything at all that exists in the world or any pursuit of pleasure, but rather reserves the power of love in the unity of devotion and holiness. And this is what happened. For as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, 'the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul' (Acts 4:32), that is, in the unity of the Spirit. This is also what Paul himself meant when he said 'one body and one Spirit' (Ephesians 4:4). 'We who are many are one body in Christ for we all partake of the one bread' (1 Corinthians 10:17; Romans 12:5), and we have all been anointed in the one Spirit, the Spirit of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13)." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 11.9.18) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 17:11-19 comments that every time we stop and listen to God during the day, we can realign our hearts with his and find unity with the members of his family. Even in a moment of tension, we can pause and listen to him rather than reacting out of our fallen nature.
Of course, it’s not always easy. Because of our sinfulness, we are often “out of tune” with the Lord. But God desires unity for us, and Jesus himself is praying for us! With every effort we make to yield to him, he will bring us closer to one another.
“Thank you, Father, for knitting us together as one family.” (Meditation on John 17:11-19, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes how the large number of people Paul embraced in Ephesus forced him to bid farewell at Miletus. Acts mentions presbyters and episcopos in Ephesus though it is likely the two offices had the same responsibility. The ministry of Paul was not detached and intellectual but glorified God by falling in love. Friar Jude reminds us that, in the Last Supper Discourse, Jesus consecrates His followers to life and love for holy purposes.
Brian McLaren introduces Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis who writes of the solidarity necessary to transform our culture and our world. In order to live a moral life, a good life, an ubuntu life, we must commit to a life of love that means seeing all the things. See your neighbor suffering and do something about it.…
Friend, you are the only one standing where you stand, seeing what you see, with your vantage point, your story. You are right there for a reason: to have, as my dear friend Ruby Sales says, “hindsight, insight, and foresight.” I want us to learn to see, with our eyes wide open, how best to be healers and transformers. I want us to really see, to fully awaken to the hot-mess times we are in and to the incredible power we have to love ourselves into wellness….
I want us open to revelation, not afraid of it, and open to the ways that it will provoke us to believe assiduously in how lovable we each are, and in the love between us and among us because, actually, believing is seeing. [2] (McLaren, n.d.)
We ponder the purpose of the journey we are engaged in and seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit as we navigate the comings and goings that mark our path.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 15, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/20?28
Burke, E. (2024, May 15). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 15, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/051524.html
John, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 15, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/17?11
McLaren, B. (n.d.). A Heart-Centered Revolution. Wikipedia. Retrieved May 15, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-heart-centered-revolution/
Meditation on John 17:11-19. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 15, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/05/15/966234/
Psalms, PSALM 68 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 15, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/68?
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 15, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=may15
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