Seeing the Father in Joy

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invites us to contemplate the role of joy in being workers in the vineyard of Christ.

Harvest in the Vineyard

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents Paul’s Address to the Gentiles

* [13:46] The refusal to believe frustrates God’s plan for his chosen people; however, no adverse judgement is made here concerning their ultimate destiny. Again, Luke, in the words of Paul, speaks of the priority of Israel in the plan for salvation (see Acts 10:36). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 98 is extolling 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 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John presents the Last Supper Discourse on knowing the Father.

* [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.)

Rev. Kent Beausoleil, SJ, comments “I bring these burnt biscuit moments from the memories of my mind, for today we celebrate the life of Saint Athanasius. Athanasius was a man whose theological rigor ensured that his articulations of the faith included all the necessary and correct ingredients. He defended his faith with spiritual truth, paying close attention to theological matters that required careful oversight and defense, ensuring he was never burnt in his defense of the faith.  In the end, Athanasius was a man whose theological presuppositions were never half-baked, and always came out ‘quite right’.”

Jesus is, on this day where we celebrate Saint Athanasius, where Saint Paul and Barnabas stood in defense of God’s good news in the Acts of the apostles, where Jesus proclaims in the Gospel of John, ‘I and the Father are one”, that Jesus is the essential ingredient of our faith that can never be left out of the recipe. That with Saint Athanasius we, like him, know that our faith through prayer needs to be forever practiced and watched over despite persecution so that in the end our faith comes out ‘just right’ not underdone, and not overdone and dried out. 

Finally, in living out the truth of our faith, we—along with Saint Athanasius, Barnabas, Paul, and Philip—must temper our spirit with humility. We must never form a hard theological crust too quickly, remaining open to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit moves us away from half-baked understandings of our faith. This allows the Spirit to ‘rise’ ever more within us: this great and awesome mystery of God and us together in love. (Beausoleil, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The Father's portrait in the Son”, by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.

"By means of this image the Lord showed Philip the Father. Yes, he who looks on the Son sees, in portrait, the Father. Notice what kind of portrait is spoken of. It is truth, righteousness, the power of God. It is not silent, for it is the Word. It is not insensible, for it is Wisdom. It is not vain and foolish, for it is power. It is not soulless, for it is the life. It is not dead, for it is the resurrection." (excerpt from ON THE CHRISTIAN FAITH 1.7.50) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 14:7-14 comments on the way Jesus related to these crowds. He told relatable parables about prodigal sons, sowers and seeds, and goodhearted Samaritans. When he healed and drove out demons, he did it without any flashy demonstrations of force. He didn’t demand any sacrifices before acting, and he didn’t command those he healed to become his servants. He simply worked wonders and moved on.

Jesus was so humble and unassuming. And that’s the point: he came to reveal God’s true character. He came as One who calls, “Come, follow me,” not as a god who forces us to believe (Luke 18:22). He came to offer his life as an atoning sacrifice for us, not to overpower us or coerce us into becoming his disciples. In fact, he is not like any god that humans had imagined up to that point. He is so much better!

So fix your eyes on Jesus today and hear the Spirit say to you, “Behold, your God!” Simply worship him for his goodness, and that will be enough.

“Jesus, perfect image of the invisible God, help me to see you more clearly!” (Meditation on John 14:7-14, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in Acts we have a pattern in Paul’s ministry: first preach in the synagogue which is followed by jealousy and being expelled from the Synagogue and then to the Gentiles with eventual expulsion from the city. In all of this they are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. They are the way they should be with nothing to worry about. In the Last Supper discourses Jesus declares He is one with the Father. Seeing Jesus is seeing the Father and if we embrace Jesus we are already living with the Father. Friar Jude reminds us this is not a “get out of jail free card”. We can ask for what we really need, not our wants. We are assured of receiving the most loving answer from God.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Father William McNichols and Mirabai Starr who partnered to create a book of icons and prayers, Mother of God Similar to Fire, to honor the many representations of Mary found across the world and time. They invite us to pray with an image of Mary…

Walking on water,

You come carrying the light of the world, Blessed one.

You part the tempestuous tide of my life

and shine your candle into the dark corners of my mind,

banishing the shadows that have collected there.

I have lost my way, radiant Lady,

lured by the false lights of the mundane world.

I need to return to the garden of my soul.

You are the Morning Star, sweet Mother, 

and I welcome you.

I am ready to rise from the darkness

and greet this new day.

Help me to shed the burdens of my past

and begin again,

galvanized with faith,

cleansed with light.

 

 “Our Lady of the Lake.” (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the Wisdom of the Spirit to inform our journey with joy that comes from our relationship with Jesus who models our path to full life.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/13?44 

Beausoleil, K. (n.d.). Daily Refelections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved May 2, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-2-2026 

John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?7 

Meditation on John 14:7-14. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 2, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/02/1555842/ 

Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98? 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Do Not Be Afraid: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 2, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/do-not-be-afraid-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Lord, Show Us the Father. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 2, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Golden Heart for Help

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine our desires and hunger and how they align with the mission for Christians to address the real needs of our communities.

A Heart for Love

The Reading from the First Book of Kings proclaims that Jeroboam’s Cultic Innovations lead to Divine Disapproval.

* [12:26–31] At the center of the story of Jeroboam the narrator describes how the king went beyond the political separation of Israel from Judah to create a separatist religious system as well. Jeroboam feared that continued worship in the single Temple in Jerusalem would threaten the political independence of his kingdom. To prevent this he established sanctuaries with non-levitical clergy in his own territory. At two of the sanctuaries he set up golden calves, which the narrator depicts as idols. Thus begins what will later be called “the sin of Jeroboam” (13:34), a theme that will be echoed throughout 1–2 Kings in the condemnations of almost every king of the Northern Kingdom. Historically, Jeroboam’s innovations were not as heterodox as our narrative portrays them. Bethel was an ancient and traditional site for worship of the Lord; and the calves were probably intended to be a dais for the deity invisibly enthroned upon them, rather like the cherubim atop the ark of the covenant. (1 Kings, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)

* [13:11–34] The next major unit illustrates how Jeroboam’s cultic innovations begin to alienate prophetic figures of the two kingdoms. Nevertheless, the Lord’s word is stronger than any human attempt to thwart it. The two prophets also foreshadow the destinies of their respective kingdoms. Israel’s experiment with idolatry can tempt Judah to abandon its faithfulness to the Lord. If Judah succumbs, and no longer speaks the word that can call Israel back to the true God, then the only hope for reuniting the two kingdoms will be when they have both died the death of exile. (1 Kings, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 106 recites from Israel’s history eight instances of sin, judgment, and forgiveness including the golden calf episode (Ps 106:19–23; see Ex 32–34).

* [Psalm 106] Israel is invited to praise the God whose mercy has always tempered judgment of Israel (Ps 106:1–3). The speaker, on behalf of all, seeks solidarity with the people, who can always count on God’s fidelity despite their sin (Ps 106:4–5). Confident of God’s mercy, the speaker invites national repentance (Ps 106:6) by reciting from Israel’s history eight instances of sin, judgment, and forgiveness. The sins are the rebellion at the Red Sea (Ps 106:6–12; see Ex 14–15), the craving for meat in the desert (Ps 106:13–15; see Nm 11), the challenge to Moses’ authority (Ps 106:16–18; see Nm 16), the golden calf episode (Ps 106:19–23; see Ex 32–34), …

* [106:20] Their glory: meant as a reference to God. (Psalms, PSALM 106 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus presents The Feeding of the Four Thousand.

* [8:1–10] The two accounts of the multiplication of loaves and fishes (Mk 8:1–10; 6:31–44) have eucharistic significance. Their similarity of structure and themes but dissimilarity of detail are considered by many to refer to a single event that, however, developed in two distinct traditions, one Jewish Christian and the other Gentile Christian, since Jesus in Mark’s presentation (Mk 7:24–37) has extended his saving mission to the Gentiles.

* [8:6] See note on Mk 6:41. (Mark, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

Barbara Dilly asks how often do evil people strategize to replace our loyalty to our values and beliefs with meaningless and harmful substitutes that serve only their aims? We must ask ourselves, when have we followed the hollow promises of those who offer us material gains and a shallow sense of security at the cost of our spiritual well-being?

The Gospel message speaks clearly to me today. “One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Yes, Jesus did provide bread and fish to meet the material needs of the hungry crowd, but the manner in which he did so, with compassion and care, met their spiritual needs as well. These people had followed Jesus for days without food, hanging on every word that came out of his mouth. He fed them not only food, but hope. As I reflect on the troubled times of our nation and the world, I am drawn to not only the words but the works of Jesus. People need to have their daily bread. We most certainly should be about that. But they also need caring, compassion, hope, and respect. And we absolutely need to be about that at the same time. No one needs golden images to worship instead of the living God who will help us meet the material and spiritual needs of the world. I pray that we can clearly tell the difference. (Dilly, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Breaking the bread of God's Word,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"In expounding to you the Holy Scriptures, I as it were break bread for you. If you hunger to receive it, your heart will sing out with the fullness of praise (Psalm 138:1). If you are thus made rich in your banquet, be not meager in good works and deeds. What I am distributing to you is not my own. What you eat, I eat; what you live upon, I live upon. We have in heaven a common store-house - from it comes the Word of God." (excerpt from SERMONS ON NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS 45.1) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 8:1-10 comments that this crowd—most of whom do not even belong to his own Jewish people—traveled to a desolate place to hear him and spent three entire days listening to him. Their openness to him touched Jesus deeply, and he responded to their faithfulness. By multiplying bread and fish for them, he was showing that his message would also multiply beyond the Jewish community to reach everyone. He was showing that he cared for all people, even Gentiles, who were considered outside of God’s covenant love.

This is so important it bears repeating. It doesn’t matter what part of the world we’re from. It doesn’t matter how strong or weak we feel our faith is. Neither does it matter if someone is our closest friend or our worst enemy. Jesus’ heart “is moved” with compassion for every person (Mark 8:2). He wants to pour his love on everyone.

“Jesus, thank you for loving each of us so deeply! Teach me to love as you do!” (Meditation on Mark 8:1-10, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in the division of the kingdom, the king of the north was established and Jeroboam worried the people would continue to journey to Jerusalem so two he established shrines at Dan and Bethel. There were many shrines in Israel at that time. But the two calves of gold resonated with the pagan people around who worshiped an oxen image. Scholars comment that the golden calves were not a craven image but a platform where God could appear. It was perhaps a symbol that could be misunderstood in the henotheism of the land.  Friar Jude comments that, in the Gospel of Mark, the multiplication of the loaves for the pagan people results in seven loaves left over, the perfect number, to feed the world and satisfy the deepest hunger of our heart.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author and poet Mary Jo Leddy who offers this poem, reminding us that God is our point of origin for all creation.

You are the Point
of all Being.
Every tree stretches
up to You.
Each plant reaches
down to You.
All the roads go
on to You.
The many waters run
toward the vastness
of Your love.
The air breathes
in and unto You.
Every heart wants
to turn to You.
How unhappy we are
when we miss
the Point of all Being.
How blessed are we
when we follow our longing
and leaning into
Your direction.

Reference:
Mary Jo Leddy, Radical Gratitude (Orbis Books, 2002), 104. Used with permission. (Rohr, n.d.)

We contemplate the mission of Jesus to bring all people to receive the nourishment of His Word and seek the help of the Spirit to transform our attitudes and actions to be workers in His vineyard.

References

Dilly, B. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-february-14-2026 

Mark, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/8?1 

Meditation on Mark 8:1-10. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/02/14/1499247/ 

1 Kings, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1kings/12?26 

1 Kings, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 14, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1kings/13 

Psalms, PSALM 106 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/106? 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). After the Fall: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/after-the-fall-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Alone Can Satisfy Our Hunger for God. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/