The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to be ambassadors of Christ by living with the “peace” that comes from the Spirit and guides our efforts to build a society in the New Jerusalem.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles shares the development of the Letter of the Apostles in the Council of Jerusalem.
* [15:13–35] Some scholars think that this apostolic decree suggested by James, the immediate leader of the Jerusalem community, derives from another historical occasion than the meeting in question. This seems to be the case if the meeting is the same as the one related in Gal 2:1–10. According to that account, nothing was imposed upon Gentile Christians in respect to Mosaic law; whereas the decree instructs Gentile Christians of mixed communities to abstain from meats sacrificed to idols and from blood-meats, and to avoid marriage within forbidden degrees of consanguinity and affinity (Lv 18), all of which practices were especially abhorrent to Jews. Luke seems to have telescoped two originally independent incidents here: the first a Jerusalem “Council” that dealt with the question of circumcision, and the second a Jerusalem decree dealing mainly with Gentile observance of dietary laws (see Acts 21:25 where Paul seems to be learning of the decree for the first time). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 67 is a petition for a bountiful harvest.
* [Psalm 67] A petition for a bountiful harvest (Ps 67:7), made in the awareness that Israel’s prosperity will persuade the nations to worship its God.
* [67:2] May God be gracious to us: the people’s petition echoes the blessing pronounced upon them by the priests, cf. Nm 6:22–27. (Psalms, PSALM 67 | USCCB, n.d.)
The reading from the Book of Revelation presents a vision of God’s eternal kingdom in heaven under the symbols of a new heaven and a new earth.
* [21:9–22:5] Symbolic descriptions of the new Jerusalem, the church. Most of the images are borrowed from Ez 40–48.
* [21:9] The bride, the wife of the Lamb: the church (Rev 21:2), the new Jerusalem (Rev 21:10); cf. 2 Cor 11:2.
* [21:14] Courses of stones,apostles: literally, “twelve foundations”; cf. Eph 2:19–20. (Revelation, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus promises “shalom” as a blessing from The Advocate.
* [14:27] Peace: the traditional Hebrew salutation šālôm; but Jesus’ “Shalom” is a gift of salvation, connoting the bounty of messianic blessing.
* [14:28] The Father is greater than I: because he sent, gave, etc., and Jesus is “a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God” (Jn 8:40). (John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)
Larry Gillick, S.J. shares that what he worries most about in this area is how we can listen to any scripture, hear any homily, read any book and interpret something where we are challenged to do more, believe more, act more, be more. Always the “more” which then becomes the center of what we can easily call the Spiritual Life. He fears it can more easily become the center of our “Egoality”. The main result for our spirits is that we are not enough and so feel spiritually inadequate and inferior.
Jesus, the Incarnation of the Loving Creative God, does not challenge, but invites, encourages and sends the Advocate to continue God’s on-going creational love in our lives. God does the laboring within us and around us. If we are to feel better about ourselves, it will be as a result of our allowing ourselves to be poor enough to be enriched, met, encouraged and improved, by our having been met in the simplicity of our true selfs.
The result of all this then is listening to the words “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” “Peace I give to you; Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” God gives it, we do not earn it! This is an insult to our egos and good for God! As with the grass, flowers and trees, we grow interiorly first and then Easter all over the place. (Gillick, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “God is pleased to dwell in us,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"God is not too grand to come, he is not too fussy or shy, he is not too proud - on the contrary he is pleased to come if you do not displease him. Listen to the promise he makes. Listen to him indeed promising with pleasure, not threatening in displeasure, "We shall come to him," he says, "I and the Father." To the one he had earlier called his friend, the one who obeys his precepts, the keeper of his commandment, the lover of God, the lover of his neighbor, he says, "We shall come to him and make our abode with him." (excerpt from Sermon 23,6) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 14:23-29 comments that the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, . . . will teach you everything (John 14:26). Jesus taught his followers many things that the Gospels record, but he wants to continue speaking to our minds and hearts. That’s why he sent us the Holy Spirit. He will lead us and guide us in every situation we face.
“My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples will face persecution and even martyrdom. But despite these trials, Jesus’ peace will remain with them. They will know a wholeness and tranquility that can only come from the Lord. This is his gift to us as well.
How have you seen these promises fulfilled in your walk with the Lord? Think of all the times you have felt his presence in your heart. Recall when the Holy Spirit helped you understand more about the Lord or guided you in a specific way. Remember how God’s peace descended on you in a hectic or difficult time.
God always fulfills his promises. So wherever you find yourself today, believe what Jesus has “told you” (John 14:25, 29). Then look for how he is working in your life, just as he said he would!
“Jesus, help me to trust in your promises!” (Meditation on John 14:23-29, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that passage in Acts tells of Paul and Barnabas visit to Jerusalem and consultation with the apostles. The requirements placed on the Gentiles differ from the message in Galatians. The obligation on meat and refraining from sexual immorality is seen in 1 Corinthians in 80’s CE. It was written into Acts but was a later decision. The passage from Revelations describes the Holy city Jerusalem and heaven as a society not “you and me Jesus”. Friar Jude reminds us that the John 14 passage from Last Supper discourse describes the Paraclete as an ambiguous counselor, advocate, and teacher and reminds us the Spirit will continue the instruction. Jesus leaves the community with “shalom” indicating whatever happens will be the will of God and we should feel a sense of joy in the will of the Father.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, notes this week’s meditations focus on the shadow self, a recurring theme in his work. His understanding of the shadow comes primarily from Swiss psychotherapist Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961).
Our self-image is not substantial or lasting; it’s simply created out of our own mind, desire, and choice—and everybody else’s preferences for us! It’s not objective at all but entirely subjective (which does not mean that it doesn’t have real influence). The movement to second-half-of-life wisdom has much to do with necessary shadow work and the emergence of healthy self-critical thinking. These alone allow us to see beyond our own shadow and disguise and to find who we are, “hidden with Christ in God,” as Paul puts it (Colossians 3:3). The Zen masters call it “the face we had before we were born.” This self cannot die, lives forever and is our true self. Religion is always in some way about discovering our true self (or soul), which is also to discover God, who is our deepest truth. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)
We contemplate the meaning of “shalom” to our mission and sense of connection to Christ and the people in our environment.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/15?1
Gillick, L. (2025, May 25). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 25, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/052525.html
John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?23
Meditation on John 14:23-29. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 25, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/05/25/1283793/
Psalms, PSALM 67 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/67?2
Revelation, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/21?10
Rohr, R. (n.d.). What Is the Shadow? Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 25, 2025, fromhttps://cac.org/daily-meditations/what-is-the-shadow/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). My Peace I Give to You. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 25, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=may25
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