The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to see the rescue in our relationship with Christ from the earthquakes on our journey.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles details Paul and Silas' deliverance from prison.
* [16:20] Magistrates: in Greek, stratēgoi, the popular designation of the duoviri, the highest officials of the Roman colony of Philippi. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 138 offers Thanksgiving and Praise.
* [Psalm 138] A thanksgiving to God, who came to the rescue of the psalmist. Divine rescue was not the result of the psalmist’s virtues but of God’s loving fidelity (Ps 138:1–3). The act is not a private transaction but a public act that stirs the surrounding nations to praise God’s greatness and care for the people (Ps 138:4–6). The psalmist, having experienced salvation, trusts that God will always be there in moments of danger (Ps 138:7–8). (Psalms, PSALM 138 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of John describes Jesus’ Departure and the coming of the Advocate.
* [16:5] Not one of you asks me: the difficulty of reconciling this with Simon Peter’s question in Jn 13:36 and Thomas’ words in Jn 14:5 strengthens the supposition that the last discourse has been made up of several collections of Johannine material.
* [16:8–11] These verses illustrate the forensic character of the Paraclete’s role: in the forum of the disciples’ conscience he prosecutes the world. He leads believers to see (a) that the basic sin was and is refusal to believe in Jesus; (b) that, although Jesus was found guilty and apparently died in disgrace, in reality righteousness has triumphed, for Jesus has returned to his Father; (c) finally, that it is the ruler of this world, Satan, who has been condemned through Jesus’ death (Jn 12:32). (John, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries today links to a May 8, 2023 article by Edward Morse.
Don Schwager quotes “Whatever is not of faith is sin,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When the Lord said of the Holy Spirit, 'He shall convict the world of sin,' he meant unbelief. For this is what he meant when he said, 'Of sin because they believed not on me.' And he means the same when he says, 'If I had not come and spoken to them, they should not have sin.' (John 15:22). He was not talking about [a time] before they had no sin. Rather, he wanted to indicate that very lack of faith by which they did not believe him even when he was present to them and speaking to them. These were the people who belonged to 'the prince of the power of the air, who now works in the children of unbelief' (Ephesians 2:2). Therefore those in whom there is no faith are the children of the devil because they have nothing in their inner being that would cause them to be forgiven for whatever is committed either by human infirmity, ignorance or any evil will whatever. But the children of God are those who certainly, if they should 'say that they have no sin, deceive themselves, and the truth is not in them,' but immediately (as it continues) 'when they confess their sins' (which the children of the devil do not do, or do not do according to the faith which is peculiar to the children of God), 'he is faithful and just to forgive them their sins and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness'" (1 John 1:9). (excerpt from AGAINST TWO LETTERS OF THE PELAGIANS 3.4) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 16:22-34 asks us to take a moment right now to think of someone who reflects the love of God. It may even be someone who, like the jailer, seems far from the Lord. But you can see evidence of the Spirit’s work in them as they care for a loved one in the hospital or as they show courage in adversity or dedication in serving.
Keep your eyes open for the Spirit’s quiet activity in people. And when you recognize it, point it out to them. Help them to see and rejoice in God’s creative love at work in their hearts. Then, one day, perhaps you will marvel at the way they have “come to faith in God” (Acts 16:34).
“Jesus, help me recognize and affirm the work that you are doing in those around me.” (Meditation on Acts 16:22-34, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the illegal nature of the beating of Paul as a Roman citizen and the conversion of the jailer, the baptism of his family, and presumably his children. Acts testifies that the Spirit guides the spread of the Gospel. Jesus declares the Advocate will convict of sin, proclaim righteousness, and condemn the evil one as we are reminded in John that we have to choose and live in the consequence of our choice.
Fr. Richard Rohr asks Why Contemplation?
A phrase I used a lot back when I first started teaching contemplation was the idea associated with Albert Einstein that no problem can be solved by the same consciousness that created it.
I don’t believe I’m overstating it when I say that only the contemplative mind can help bring forward the new consciousness needed to awaken a more loving, just, and sustainable world. We need a practice that touches our unconscious conditioning where all our wounds and defense mechanisms lie. That’s the only way we can be changed at any significant or lasting level.
Because we’ve got to be honest — the dualistic, calculating, and judging mind is almost exclusively the way most of us Western people think. This gives us false superiority, false security, and false righteousness. Is it any wonder why our culture, politics, and religion are in the state that they are in?
Nevertheless, I still have hope. I always will. More and more people are discovering contemplation as a way of being, reconciling, and bridge-building guided by their inner experience of God. We’re not throwing out our rational mind, but rather we’re adding nondual, contemplative consciousness. When we have both, we’re able to see more deeply, wisely, and justly. This creates humble people, loving people, and patient people. (Rohr, n.d.)
We reflect on the experience of being rescued from a distressing situation and express gratitude in the prompting of the Spirit that leads us to truth and acts of love for our neighbours.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/16?22
John, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16?
Meditation on Acts 16:22-34. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 7, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/05/07/950456/
Psalms, PSALM 138 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/138?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Why Contemplation? CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved May 7, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-special-note-from-fr-richard-why-contemplation/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Will Send the Counselor to You. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 7, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=may7
No comments:
Post a Comment