Chosen for Love

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate our mission of Love as it is presented to us through the action of the Spirit.

Invited to Love

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the choice of Judas’s Successor, Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

* [1:26] The need to replace Judas was probably dictated by the symbolism of the number twelve, recalling the twelve tribes of Israel. This symbolism also indicates that for Luke (see Lk 22:30) the Christian church is a reconstituted Israel. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)

Psalm 113 praises God as the Helper of the needy.

* [Psalm 113] A hymn exhorting the congregation to praise God’s name, i.e., the way in which God is present in the world; the name is mentioned three times in Ps 113:1–3. The divine name is especially honored in the Temple (Ps 113:1) but its recognition is not limited by time (Ps 113:2) and space (Ps 113:3), for God is everywhere active (Ps 113:4–5) especially in rescuing the lowly faithful (Ps 113:7–9). (Psalms, PSALM 113, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus proclaims “I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

* [15:13] For one’s friends: or: “those whom one loves.” In Jn 15:9–13a, the words for love are related to the Greek agapaō. In Jn 15:13b–15, the words for love are related to the Greek phileō. For John, the two roots seem synonymous and mean “to love”; cf. also Jn 21:15–17. The word philos is used here. (John, CHAPTER 15, n.d.)

Edward Morse comments that today’s gospel reflects the concept of choosing in a discourse of Jesus with his disciples, which also extends to our own lives as well.  He chose us; we do not choose Him.  But at the same time, we demonstrate our choice to follow Him by keeping His commandments, which include the new commandment of loving one another.

Lord, help us to come to your seat of mercy and to seek out your forgiveness when we fail to love others and when we fail to love you through keeping your commandments.  Remind us of your choosing and your persistent love, which draws us always back to you.  Grant us the mercy and forgiveness we need, so that it overflows from our hearts to share with others who need it, too.  Thanks be to God. (Morse, n.d.)

Living Space comments there is only one mention of Matthias in the whole of the New Testament and that is in the Acts of the Apostles, whose author is always understood to have been Luke, the author of the gospel bearing his name.

The main qualification for the candidate to replace Judas was that he would be someone “who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us.” Two possible candidates were then chosen – Joseph, called Bar-Sabbas, and Matthias. The gathering prayed that God would indicate which of the two was his choice. They then cast lots, leaving the outcome to God, and the choice was Matthias who was now included among the Twelve Apostles. (Living Space Saint Matthias Apostle | Sacred Space, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 15:9-17 asks how could Matthias live up to such an important calling? By doing no more—and no less—than what every Christian is called and empowered to do: love as Christ loves. It’s extremely simple. But of course, it’s also extremely difficult.

Matthias found the courage to take up his calling and preach the gospel because he knew that Jesus didn’t love only him; he loved everyone, especially those who hadn’t heard about him yet. And so he longed to make Jesus and his resurrection known to anyone who would listen. It’s that desire that led him to lay down his own life, in imitation of Jesus, by preaching and by serving the early believers. (Meditation on John 15:9-17, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the structure of the apostles in the early Church to reflect the twelve patriarchs in the twelve apostles for the new Israel. The choice of Justus or Mattiasis by drawing lots connects to the role of the High Priest to seek the guidance of God by a similar invocation of the Holy Spirit who guides all the acts of the Church. Friar Jude reminds us that our faith is a response to the Gift of God calling us to share that Love with others.

James Finley and Mirabai Starr present “Song of the Soul” or “Noche Oscura” by John of the Cross.

Mirabai Starr: Y en mi pecho florido, que entero para el solo se guardaua, alli quedo dormido, y yo le regalaua, y el ventalle de cedros ayre daua.

Jim Finley: Wind blew down from the tower, parting the locks of his hair. With his gentle hand he wounded my neck, and all my senses were suspended. 

Mirabai Starr: El ayre de la almena, cuando ya sus cabellos esparzia, con su mano serena en mi cuello heria, y todos mis sentidos suspendia. 

Jim Finley: I lost myself, forgot myself. I lay my face against the beloved’s face. Everything fell away. And I left myself behind, abandoning my cares among the lilies, forgotten. 

Mirabai Starr: Quedeme y oluideme, el rostro recline sobre el amado, ceso todo, y dexeme, dexando mi cuidado entre las açucenas olvidado. (Luminous Darkness, Deepening Love: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation, 2022)

Our encounters with the guidance of the Holy Spirit are invitations to increase the Love we show for God and others on our journey.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/1?15 

John, CHAPTER 15. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?9 

Living Space Saint Matthias Apostle | Sacred Space. (n.d.). Living Space Sacred Space. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/f0514s/ 

Luminous Darkness, Deepening Love: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. (2022, May 14). Richard Rohr. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/luminous-darkness-deepening-love-weekly-summary-2022-05-14/ 

Meditation on John 15:9-17. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/05/14/381482/ 

Morse, E. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/051422.html 

Psalms, PSALM 113. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/113?1 

Confirmation and Contempt

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today contrast the disappointment resulting from unfettered speech with the joy of the luminous moments of experience of the Presence of God.

Speaking of Experience

The reading from the Book of James reveals our need to practice taming the tongue.

* [3:1–12] The use and abuse of the important role of teaching in the church (Jas 3:1) are here related to the good and bad use of the tongue (Jas 3:9–12), the instrument through which teaching was chiefly conveyed (see Sir 5:11–6:1; 28:12–26).1

 

Psalm 12 is a plea for help in evil times.

* [Psalm 12] A lament. The psalmist, thrown into a world where lying and violent people persecute the just (Ps 12:2–3), prays that the wicked be punished (Ps 12:4–5). The prayer is not simply for vengeance but arises from a desire to see God’s justice appear on earth. Ps 12:6 preserves the word of assurance spoken by the priest to the lamenter; it is not usually transmitted in such Psalms. In Ps 12:7–8 the psalmist affirms the intention to live by the word of assurance.2

 

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is revealed in the Transfiguration and He explains the coming of Elijah.

* [9:2–8] Mark and Mt 17:1 place the transfiguration of Jesus six days after the first prediction of his passion and death and his instruction to the disciples on the doctrine of the cross; Lk 9:28 has “about eight days.” Thus the transfiguration counterbalances the prediction of the passion by affording certain of the disciples insight into the divine glory that Jesus possessed. His glory will overcome his death and that of his disciples; cf. 2 Cor 3:18; 2 Pt 1:16–19. The heavenly voice (Mk 9:7) prepares the disciples to understand that in the divine plan Jesus must die ignominiously before his messianic glory is made manifest; cf. Lk 24:25–27. See further the note on Mt 17:1–8.3

 

Scott McClure comments that today's readings, at first, seem to be about speaking; more specifically, humanity's misuse of speech. We have a knack for taking extraordinary gifts and misusing them, don't we? As James tells us, this need not be so.

As it turns out, today's readings are not about speaking at all. At least, not about our speaking. After seeing Jesus transfigured, Peter speaks although He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then comes the Father's voice from the clouds: This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.4

 

Don Schwager quotes “The transfiguration of Jesus,” by Saint Jerome (347-420 AD).

"Do you wish to see the transfiguration of Jesus? Behold with me the Jesus of the Gospels. Let him be simply apprehended. There he is beheld both 'according to the flesh' and at the same time in his true divinity. He is beheld in the form of God according to our capacity for knowledge. This is how he was beheld by those who went up upon the lofty mountain to be apart with him. Meanwhile those who do not go up the mountain can still behold his works and hear his words, which are uplifting. It is before those who go up that Jesus is transfigured, and not to those below. When he is transfigured, his face shines as the sun, that he may be manifested to the children of light, who have put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12). They are no longer the children of darkness or night but have become the children of day. They walk honestly as in the day. Being manifested, he will shine to them not simply as the sun but as he is demonstrated to be, the sun of righteousness." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 12.37.10)5

 

The Word Among Us Meditation on James 3:1-10 asks us to remember God, who is all-good, created us in his image and likeness with a tongue. That little member is meant to tell of God’s goodness and to nurture the life of those around us. He gave it to us to help us express joy as we recall his goodness (Psalm 126:1-3).

Every time you praise and thank God, you are training your tongue. And every time you speak kind words to someone, you also are training your tongue. So when fear, bitterness, or criticism boils up in you, stop briefly and thank God for his power to work in the very situation that is causing such thoughts. Then ask the Holy Spirit to inspire you with heartening words to share. Even when you’re not facing a tough situation, you can offer someone a word of encouragement, such as, “You’re doing a great job.”6

 

Friar Jude Winkler underlines the caution urged by James in the use of our tongue. Moses and Elijah are among the persons recognized in apocalyptic books as having unusual understanding of the afterlife. Friar Jude reminds us of the power of the luminous experiences of the Divine in our lives that reveal another level of reality.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Minister Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, who suggests a form of breath prayer that allows us to bring our heart’s deepest longing into our intimate relationship with God.

 Examples of breath prayers are

• breathe in “Abba,” breathe out “I belong to you.”

• breathe in “Healer,” breathe out “speak the word and I shall be healed.”

• breathe in “Shepherd,” breathe out “bring home my lost [ones].”

• breathe in “Holy One,” breathe out “keep me true.”

• breathe in “Lord,” breathe out “here I am.”

• breathe in “Jesus,” breathe out “have mercy on me.”

 

As Peter, James, and John were made breathless by Jesus, we may live more fully by attending to the Spirit urging us to a breathing pause before we use our tongue in a destructive way.

 

References

1	(n.d.). James, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/james/3
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 12 | USCCB. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/12
3	(n.d.). Mark, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/9
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online Ministries. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/021922.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=feb19
6	(n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/02/19/316231/
7	(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.companionsofstanthony.org/pray/reflections/