The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today underline the role of the faithful in building relationships with Christ in the time before His return.
The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes Paul in Corinth.
* [18:2] Aquila…Priscilla: both may already have been Christians at the time of their arrival in Corinth (see Acts 18:26). According to 1 Cor 16:19, their home became a meeting place for Christians. Claudius: the Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome ca. A.D. 49. The Roman historian Suetonius gives as reason for the expulsion disturbances among the Jews “at the instigation of Chrestos,” probably meaning disputes about the messiahship of Jesus.
* [18:6] Shook out his garments: a gesture indicating Paul’s repudiation of his mission to the Jews there; cf. Acts 28:17–31.
* [18:7] A worshiper of God: see note on Acts 8:26–40.
* [18:8] Crispus: in 1 Cor 1:14 Paul mentions that Crispus was one of the few he himself baptized at Corinth. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 18, n.d.)
Psalm 98 extolls God for Israel’s victory.
* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9). (Psalms, PSALM 98, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus reveals His departure and return.
* [16:4b–33] A duplicate of Jn 14:1–31 on departure and return. (John, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)
Maureen McCann Waldron comments that when we are faced with pain, conflict and great loss, sometimes we can be blind to His presence in our lives. But today Jesus tells us that we will see him again.
In the meantime, the world will be rejoicing. We shouldn't be scandalized or discouraged by that. No matter how much we grieve, our grief will be transformed - into joy brought on by our faith that we will see Jesus again with the Father.
This is the heart of the Good News Jesus speaks today. We can live in this world, free from fear, free from anxiety, knowing that Jesus is present to us in this life and that we will join him at the Father's side in the life after. (McCann Waldron, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus ascends to heaven in his body - divine and human nature,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"You heard what came to our ears just now from the Gospel: 'Lifting up his hands, he blessed them. And it happened, while he was blessing them he withdrew from them, and was carried up to heaven.' Who was carried up to heaven? The Lord Christ was. Who is the Lord Christ? He is the Lord Jesus. What is this? Are you going to separate the human from the divine and make one person of God, another of the man, so that there is no longer a trinity of three but a quaternary of four? Just as you, a human being, are soul and body, so the Lord Christ is Word, soul and body. The Word did not depart from the Father. He both came to us and did not forsake the Father. He both took flesh in the womb and continued to govern the universe. What was lifted up into heaven, if not what had been taken from earth? That is to say, the very flesh, the very body, about which he was speaking when he said to the disciples, 'Feel, and see that a spirit does not have bones and flesh, as you can see that I have' (Luke 24:39). Let us believe this, brothers and sisters, and if we have difficulty in meeting the arguments of the philosophers, let us hold on to what was demonstrated in the Lord's case without any difficulty of faith. Let them chatter, but let us believe." (excerpt from Sermon 242,6) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 18:1-8 comments that Acts introduces so many names! SRicao many people! And so many stories that are unknown to us! But here’s the most important point: each one of them was essential to the growth of the Church.
The same is true for you! There is no such thing as nonessential support staff in the kingdom of God. There are no second-tier builders of the Church—at least not in God’s eyes. You can make a real difference in the world as you embrace the calling God has for you. Whether you are in the spotlight or working “behind the scenes,” know that the Lord sees your faithfulness—and he rejoices in you!
“Holy Spirit, thank you for all the heroes of the faith! And thank you for calling me to be a hero, too.” (Meditation on Acts 18:1-8, n.d.)
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Omid Safi, a poet and Islamic scholar. CAC staff member and poet Drew asks: How might poetry support our efforts for peace, particularly in the conflicted space between religious identities?
I want us to really sit with that question: Is there actually religious conflict in this world with what we find our religious traditions teaching us? At the heart of the Jewish faith, that beautiful noble tradition: Be kind to the stranger for you yourselves were once strangers in Egypt. (Deuteronomy 10:19). Our beloved Christ: Be kind to the poor, the orphan, the needy, the widow; that which you do to the least of these, you do unto me (Matthew 25:40). Our beloved Prophet Muhammad: That the cry of the orphan rises all the way up to the throne of God and shakes it to its mighty foundation. [3] These folks are drinking from the same fountain. They’re bathed in the same light.(Rohr, n.d.)
We ask the Spirit to guide our piety, study, and action as witnesses to our relationship with Christ in seeking fullness of life.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/18?1
John, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16?16
McCann Waldron, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/052925.html
Meditation on Acts 18:1-8. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/05/29/1286368/
Psalms, PSALM 98. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Collective Shadow: Hate Disguised as Love. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/collective-shadow-hate-disguised-as-love/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Lord Jesus Was Taken up into Heaven. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=may29
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