The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to act on our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader to continue to reach out to people in our environment guided by the Holy Spirit.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles introduces Paul in Lycaonia and Timothy.
* [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 is a hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts.
* [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.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus explains 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.)
Eileen Wirth comments that Like Jesus, Pope Francis was more than willing to endure criticism (persecution, if you will) from the modern equivalent of the Pharisees if that was the price for loving people as radically as he believed God does.
Just as Jesus embraced the lepers and social outcasts of his day including sinners, tax collectors and women adulterers, Francis constantly reached out to their modern equivalents. Believing in God’s unconditional love for all people, he never confused himself with God. Instead of casting out those who did not strictly conform to church rules, he blessed them and asked, “who am I to judge?”
Today I am thanking God for the gift of Pope Francis and recalling how his example inspired my own feeble attempts at emulation, like the year I decided to make a weekly donation to a good cause in his honor. Then I started fudging and wondering if a larger monthly donation would be better etc But at least I gave more and thought more about sharing more of my good fortune. I hope that Pope Francis will continue to goad my conscience when meeting the demands of Jesus to be in solidarity with people on the margins seems too hard, (Wirth, 2025)
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 any kind of “persecution” can make us feel bitter or resentful. If we allow ourselves to dwell on the wrongs done to us, we risk losing the kindness and patience that our friends, neighbors, and coworkers need to see from us. It can leave us less open to sharing the joy of the Lord with the people we run into throughout our day.
Jesus, our Master, endured so much, yet he never let it deter him from doing his Father’s will. So when someone misunderstands or mistreats you because of your faith, don’t let it deter you, either. Instead, ask the Lord to soften your heart and help you forgive the one who has hurt you. Recall how blessed you are to be counted among his servants. And ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with joy and show you how you can share his love and mercy even with those who oppose you.
“Jesus, give me the grace to continue to follow you without hesitation, even when I’m treated unfairly.” (Meditation on John 15:18-21, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Timothy is circumcised to follow Jewish customs, because his mother is Jewish. While travelling in the south of Turkey, the Holy Spirit calls Paul to Macedonia. Friar Jude reminds us that Jesus, in the Last Supper Discourse, invited His disciples to love but the “world”, that rejects Jesus and His reality will cause us to suffer as Jesus suffered perhaps in a martyrdom of pinpricks trying to live our Christian faith and sometimes we need to carry the Cross with joy, the sense of being where God has called us to be.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces spiritual teacher Mirabai Starr who encourages us to know and honor our lives and experiences more fully.
Try this: Sit in a comfortable position with your back straight, allow your eyes to close, take a couple of deep, slow breaths, and ask yourself the question “Who am I?” Rather than responding in the negative, say yes to whatever arises. I am a mother and a daughter, a sister and a lover: yes. I am a cabinet-maker, a gardener, an activist: yes. I am a sensitive person, a drama queen, a tortured artist: yes. I am someone others can come to when their hearts are broken because I listen with love: yes. I am a part of the vast universe, no more or less important than an aspen tree: yes. Now, get creative: I am sunlight on water, a breeze that lifts my hair, the stillness of midnight, a symphony: yes.
You are all of these and beyond them all. You get to be both vast and particular, formless and gloriously made. By accepting all the scruffy and magnificent details of your human condition, and allowing seemingly contradictory things to be equally true, you banish the conditioned voice that designates some things as holy and others as profane. Set your intention to welcome everything you are and watch your life open like a fist, like a flower, like a gate. (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek the gifts of wisdom, prudence, and patience from the Spirit as we encounter both the desire to bring the Good News and rejection by the “world” of our outreach.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/16?1
John, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?
Meditation on John 15:18-21. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/05/24/1283331/
Psalms, PSALM 100 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/100?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Tricycle of Faith: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/tricycle-of-faith-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). You Are Not of the World. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=may24
Wirth, E. (2025, May 24). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/052425.html
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