The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder the impact of a relationship with Christ on the action of apostles in Jesus time, and people in our community today.
The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians proclaims the Resurrection of Christ.
* [15:1–11] Paul recalls the tradition (1 Cor 15:3–7), which he can presuppose as common ground and which provides a starting point for his argument. This is the fundamental content of all Christian preaching and belief (1 Cor 15:1–2, 11).
* [15:3–7] The language by which Paul expresses the essence of the “gospel” (1 Cor 15:1) is not his own but is drawn from older credal formulas. This credo highlights Jesus’ death for our sins (confirmed by his burial) and Jesus’ resurrection (confirmed by his appearances) and presents both of them as fulfillment of prophecy. In accordance with the scriptures: conformity of Jesus’ passion with the scriptures is asserted in Mt 16:1; Lk 24:25–27, 32, 44–46. Application of some Old Testament texts (Ps 2:7; 16:8–11) to his resurrection is illustrated by Acts 2:27–31; 13:29–39; and Is 52:13–53:12 and Hos 6:2 may also have been envisaged. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 19 praises God’s Glory in Creation and the Law.
* [Psalm 19] The heavenly elements of the world, now beautifully arranged, bespeak the power and wisdom of their creator (Ps 19:2–7). The creator’s wisdom is available to human beings in the law (Ps 19:8–11), toward which the psalmist prays to be open (Ps 19:12–14). The themes of light and speech unify the poem.
* [19:4] No speech, no words: the regular functioning of the heavens and the alternation of day and night inform human beings without words of the creator’s power and wisdom. (Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares He is the Way Truth and Life.
* [14:6] The truth: in John, the divinely revealed reality of the Father manifested in the person and works of Jesus. The possession of truth confers knowledge and liberation from sin (Jn 8:32).
* [14:7] An alternative reading, “If you knew me, then you would have known my Father also,” would be a rebuke, as in Jn 8:19.
* [14:8] Show us the Father: Philip is pictured asking for a theophany like Ex 24:9–10; 33:18. (John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)
David Crawford urges us to take time to read the verses for today slowly, to interact with the Scriptures, and to recognize anew just how amazing and deep God’s love is for us. As we do, the Holy Spirit will bring to our attention any number of things we should remember.
For me, that happened with the Gospel of John, when Jesus tells Philip that “whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these.” I am embarrassed to admit that I all too often focus on my personal limitations and forget that with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27). We who believe in Christ have the capacity to do greater things than the miracles the disciples had seen Jesus do. (Crawford, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “All nature serves for our instruction,” by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.
"All nature serves the Word of God for our instruction. Through all the turning points of the year, as if through the four Gospels, we learn from the unceasing trumpet both what we should preach and what we should do... What is there through which the truth does not speak to us? Its voice is heard in the day, it is heard in the night, and the beauty of all things, established by the work of one God, does not cease to put into the ears of our hearts a ruling order, to let us see the 'invisible things of God through those which have been made intelligible to us,' and it is subject not to the creatures but to the Creator of all things." (excerpt from Sermon 19,2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Psalm 19:2-5 comments that both Sts. Philip and James died as martyrs for preaching the gospel, so their message did indeed go out “to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:5). That message still goes out today through the apostles’ successors and through every Christian who shares the good news of Jesus.
Like Philip and James, your encounters with Jesus can equip you to share the good news with someone in your path. So follow their example. Listen to Jesus in the words of Scripture and in the quiet of your prayer. Let him teach you about his Father and fill your heart with zeal to share his love. And don’t be afraid to say, “Come and see” (John 1:46). You might just lead someone to believe in Jesus.
“Lord, help me to share your good news wherever I go.” (Meditation on Psalm 19:2-5, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the kerygma shared by Paul with the Corinthians contains references to the Song of the Suffering Servant and the Jewish understanding of the intervention of God occuring on the third day. The large number of witnesses to the Resurrection cited by Paul is an expression of his deep belief. Friar Jude reminds us that Jesus offers us a life that is so meaningful that even if we die, we will live.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Episcopal priest and activist Adam Bucko who describes a simple prayer practice that sustains him.
One of the greatest lessons in my life about prayer came from a renegade rabbi who spent decades working on the streets of New York City rescuing kids from homelessness and prostitution—a holy man who dedicated his life to seeking God in the darkest shadows of Manhattan. He helped to make prayer real by giving me these simple instructions: “When you pray, talk to God just as if you were talking to your best friend. Tell the Holy One everything. Especially, dedicate specific times each day when you tell God about all your worries, all your hurts, all of your problems. Take off your mask and just speak. If you do that, if you really let your whole essence speak to God like that, some days there will be a lot of tears. But that’s a good thing. And when you are done telling God about your hurts, … just silently rest in God, letting God hold you. And then for the rest of the day practice joy and optimism knowing that you are God’s beloved child, knowing that you are loved, and knowing that you are carrying a great gift in your heart ....” (Rohr, n.d.)
We are witnesses today to Life that is sustained and fruitful through our acceptance of the Way as revealed by the Spirit to the Truth of the Love of God for all Creation.
References
Crawford, D. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/050324.html
John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?6
Meditation on Psalm 19:2-5. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/05/03/948023/
1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/15?1
Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/19?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Praying Simply. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/praying-simply/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Lord, Show Us the Father. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=may3a
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