Friday, May 2, 2025

Sustained and Supported

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today nudge us to test situations for alignment with the Will of God even as we are open to responding with our talents to address the needs and hunger of those less fortunate.


Loaves and Love


The reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents a question if God is not the origin of this movement.


* [5:34] Gamaliel: in Acts 22:3, Paul identifies himself as a disciple of this Rabbi Gamaliel I who flourished in Jerusalem between A.D. 25 and 50.

* [5:3637] Gamaliel offers examples of unsuccessful contemporary movements to argue that if God is not the origin of this movement preached by the apostles it will perish by itself. The movement initiated by Theudas actually occurred when C. Cuspius Fadus was governor, A.D. 44–46. Luke’s placing of Judas the Galilean after Theudas and at the time of the census (see note on Lk 2:12) is an indication of the vagueness of his knowledge of these events. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)


Psalm 27 asserts boundless hope that God will bring rescue.


* [Psalm 27] Tradition has handed down the two sections of the Psalm (Ps 27:16; 714) as one Psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself. Asserting boundless hope that God will bring rescue (Ps 27:13), the psalmist longs for the presence of God in the Temple, protection from all enemies (Ps 27:46). In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Ps 27:712); the climax of the poem comes with “I believe” (Ps 27:13), echoing “I trust” (Ps 27:3). (Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB, n.d.)


The Gospel of John presents Jesus' Multiplication of the Loaves.


* [6:1] [Of Tiberias]: the awkward apposition represents a later name of the Sea of Galilee. It was probably originally a marginal gloss.

* [6:5] Jesus takes the initiative (in the synoptics, the disciples do), possibly pictured as (cf. Jn 6:14) the new Moses (cf. Nm 11:13).

* [6:6] Probably the evangelist’s comment; in this gospel Jesus is never portrayed as ignorant of anything.

* [6:7] Days’ wages: literally, “denarii”; a Roman denarius is a day’s wage in Mt 20:2.

* [6:9] Barley loaves: the food of the poor. There seems an allusion to the story of Elisha multiplying the barley bread in 2 Kgs 4:4244.

* [6:10] Grass: implies springtime, and therefore Passover. Five thousand: so Mk 6:39, 44 and parallels.

* [6:13] Baskets: the word describes the typically Palestinian wicker basket, as in Mk 6:43 and parallels.

* [6:14] The Prophet: probably the prophet like Moses (see note on Jn 1:21). The one who is to come into the world: probably Elijah; cf. Mal 3:1, 23. (John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)



Eileen Wirth comments that during Vietnam, peace activist Daniel Berrigan S.J., asked himself if he was drowning in bad news because he was failing to be good news. We should start our journey back to hope by asking how we can become “good news” to others. Since cruelty  seems to motivate  the treatment of migrants,  the poor, people of color and people with disabilities, how can we combat it?


Jesus told us to welcome the stranger and to care for the least of our brothers and sisters. If we believe this, we must actively obey these commands.  The possibilities are endless.  If you’re upset about the defunding of food banks, increase your donations or volunteer.  Support clinics serving people losing health care funding. Get involved with homeless shelters, services to children, schools and libraries – wherever you can make a difference. Get political if you choose but above all, don’t be a spectator while people suffer. (Wirth, 2025)



Don Schwager quotes “God enables us,” by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.


"In rendering service to the grace of God, we are not only made subject to our King through obedience but are even joined to him through the will. If we are of one mind with him (willing what he wills, disapproving of what he disapproves), he himself will bring us victory in all our battles. He who has given the 'will' will bestow also the ability. In this way can we 'cooperate' with his works, speaking that prophetic utterance in the exultation of faith: 'The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?'" (excerpt from Sermon 26,4,2) (Schwager, n.d.)




The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 5:34-42 asks how can we know if we are on the right track when it comes to understanding God’s will? We can follow Gamaliel’s example. We can acknowledge the limitations of our fallen, human ideas and approach puzzling situations with humility and caution. We can pray, “Lord, help me to know your heart and your will in this situation.


Whatever happens, be assured of this: the Lord is glad that you asked! He is glad that you are taking steps to understand him better. And he’s even more glad that you’re not trying to tell him what to do! He knows it means that you are growing in the way of wisdom—the same wisdom that Gamaliel had.


“Lord, show me how to listen patiently for your direction. Jesus, keep me from ever fighting against you!” (Meditation on Acts 5:34-42, n.d.)



Friar Jude Winkler comments on the advice of Gamaliel, a celebrated rabbi who was a teacher of Paul, that the Sanhedrin should not do anything in concern for the Will of God. The details of the feeding of the multiplication of the loaves is the fourth sign (cf. note on Jn 5:1–47). It is the only miracle story found in all four gospels (occurring twice in Mark and Matthew). Friar Jude reminds us of the resonance of the Gospel with Psalm 23, the Didache instruction on the celebration of Eucharist, and the response of Jesus to being misunderstood as a “problem solver”. The video series “Chosen” presents a thoughtful and human response presentation of this event in Jesus ministry. 



Brian McLaren considers Francis of Assisi’s celebrated affinity for nature. Saint Francis is probably best known for the “Canticle of the Sun,” the song of praise he wrote in 1225. Sister Joan Brown, former executive director of New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, responds to McLaren’s question: “What does it mean for a person to be a Franciscan and to feel themselves part of a Franciscan movement?”


One of the things that appealed to me about the Franciscan life is that it’s a life of prayer and action, action and prayer, back and forth, one feeding the other…. I started down the path of becoming a Secular Franciscan [2], and I thought, I’m going to do this prayer and then I’m going to take action. Then I realized there was … something far more basic, which was my simply being in the present moment and seeing the humanity of every person in front of me and seeing the living earth. I realized I’d gone my whole life sort of objectifying and categorizing, hardly seeing living things. I was seeing them as things. I was seeing people in categories. I had to develop a whole new awareness, an ability to respond and live in the present moment, so that I could be open to what is mine to do.  (McLaren, n.d.)


We are called to prayer and action that will make Present the love, compassion, and mercy of Christ in our response to be signs of Providence meeting the needs of the people.



References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/5?34 

John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?1 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). A Franciscan Perspective. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-franciscan-perspective/ 

Meditation on Acts 5:34-42. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/05/02/1265891/ 

Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/27?1 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Miraculous Sign of Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=may2 

Wirth, E. (2025, May 2). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/050225.html 


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