Persecution and Eternal Life

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek the gift of fullness of life even as the journey may involve persecution and rejection.

So Loved the World

In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Apostles are persecuted.

* [5:17–42] A second action against the community is taken by the Sanhedrin in the arrest and trial of the Twelve; cf. Acts 4:1–3. The motive is the jealousy of the religious authorities over the popularity of the apostles (Acts 5:17) who are now charged with the defiance of the Sanhedrin’s previous order to them to abandon their prophetic role (Acts 5:28; cf. Acts 4:18). In this crisis the apostles are favored by a miraculous release from prison (Acts 5:18–24). (For similar incidents involving Peter and Paul, see Acts 12:6–11; 16:25–29.) (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 34 offers praise for deliverance from trouble.

* [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John declares how God so loved the world.

* [3:16] Gave: as a gift in the incarnation, and also “over to death” in the crucifixion; cf. Rom 8:32.

* [3:17–19] Condemn: the Greek root means both judgment and condemnation. Jesus’ purpose is to save, but his coming provokes judgment; some condemn themselves by turning from the light.

* [3:19] Judgment is not only future but is partially realized here and now. (John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Suzanne Braddock asks What is my prison? What keeps me locked up, away from the amazing reality that is the Christian life? Of course, my fears are their most strong in the darkness of night, both literally and figuratively. What is my song in the night?

The Gospel crowns all the readings with the ultimate promise of our loving God: "God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the

world, but that the world might be saved through him.

There it is - the Very Good News! (Braddock, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “The Intensity of God's Love and Our Response,” by John Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D.

"The text, 'God so loved the world,' shows such an intensity of love. For great indeed and infinite is the distance between the two. The immortal, the infinite majesty without beginning or end loved those who were but dust and ashes, who were loaded with ten thousand sins but remained ungrateful even as they constantly offended him. This is who he 'loved.' For God did not give a servant, or an angel or even an archangel 'but his only begotten Son.' And yet no one would show such anxiety even for his own child as God did for his ungrateful servants..."

"He laid down his life for us and poured forth his precious blood for our sake - even though there is nothing good in us - while we do not even pour out our money for our own sake and neglect him who died for us when he is naked and a stranger... We put gold necklaces on ourselves and even on our pets but neglect our Lord who goes about naked and passes from door to door... He gladly goes hungry so that you may be fed; naked so that he may provide you with the materials for a garment of incorruption, yet we will not even give up any of our own food or clothing for him... These things I say continually, and I will not cease to say them, not so much because I care for the poor but because I care for your souls." (HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 27.2-3) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 5:17-26 comments that as amazing as the miracle of the apostles’ release from prison is, they didn’t always experience such wondrous deliverances. In fact, each of them was either martyred or died in prison.

God’s ways will always be a mystery to us. But there is one thing we can always count on: no matter what our situation, he will always call us to “tell the people . . . about this life” (Acts 5:20). And he will always provide the opportunities—and the grace—to fulfill that call. Whether we are speaking with our lips, through our actions, or in our prayers, we can proclaim the good news wherever we go.

“Jesus, help me to tell everyone about the life of freedom and joy you are offering them!” (Meditation on Acts 5:17-26, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler reflects that we cannot imprison the Word of God as the passage from Acts confirms in the conflict between the Apostles and the Sadducees. The “Son of God” as hero in the Hebrew Testament becomes high Christology in John as the “Only Begotten Son of God.” Friar Jude reminds us of the dualism in the Gospel of John that declares our need to choose between Christ and our worldliness or concupiscence.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, teaches that the inner flame of contemplation is cultivated through regular spiritual practice.

Mindless repetition of any practice, with no clear goal or clarity of intention, can in fact keep us quite unconscious—unless the practices keep breaking us into new insight, desire, compassion, and an ever-larger notion of God and ourselves. Automatic repetition of anything is a recipe for unconsciousness, the opposite of any genuine consciousness, intentionality, or spiritual maturity. If spirituality does not support real growth in both inner and outer freedom, it is not authentic spirituality. It is such basic unfreedom that makes so many people dislike and mistrust religious people.  

Any fear-based “rattling of beads” reflects the “magical” consciousness that dominated much of the world until it began to widely erode in the 1960s. Yet each of these practices can also be understood in a very mature way. 

It’s a paradox that God’s gifts are totally free and unearned, and yet God does not give them except to people who really want them, choose them, and say “yes” to them. This is the fully symbiotic nature of grace. Divine Loving is so pure that it never manipulates, shames, or forces itself on anyone. Love waits to be invited and desired, and only then rushes in. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the gift of understanding from the Spirit as we contemplate our action in response to the Love of the Father and Son for humanity and the World.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 10, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/5?17 

Braddock, S. (2024, April 10). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 10, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/041024.html 

John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 10, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?16 

Meditation on Acts 5:17-26. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 10, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/04/10/934017/ 

Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 10, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Cultivating a New Heart. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved April 10, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/cultivating-a-new-heart/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). God so Loved the World That He Gave Us His Only Son. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 10, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=apr10 

Shepherd of peace and justice

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary are a guide to the culture of the Kingdom where Jesus, her Son, is the Shepherd.

Shepherd the community

The Prophet Ezekiel declares that God will shepherd the exiles of Jerusalem in the wake of the failure of the leaders of the people to be their shepherd.

* [34:2] Shepherds: the leaders of the people. A frequent title for kings and deities in the ancient Near East; the ideal ruler took care of his subjects and anticipated their needs. Ezekiel’s oracle broadens the reference to include the whole class of Jerusalem’s leaders (v. 17). The prophet assures his audience, the exiles in Babylon, that God holds these leaders responsible for what has happened to Jerusalem and will give Israel a new shepherd worthy of the title

Psalm 23 paints a concentrated picture of how the True Shepherd leads, comforts and protects His people.

* [Psalm 23] God’s loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Ps 23:1–4) and a host’s generosity toward a guest (Ps 23:5–6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Is 40:11; 49:10; Jer 31:10).

The Gospel from Matthew describes the concern of the true shepherd for the welfare of all and alerts us to our difficulty with envy.

* [20:14–15] The owner’s conduct involves no violation of justice (Mt 20:4, 13), and that all the workers receive the same wage is due only to his generosity to the latest arrivals; the resentment of the first comes from envy.

Luis Rodriguez, S.J. characterizes Christ’s reign as a two-dimensional concept.

Objectively, it refers to Christ’s dignity and power. Subjectively, it refers to acceptance on our side, to our recognition of his values and priorities as the rule of our lives. Without our acceptance Christ’s kingdom remains incomplete in us.
Mary’s queenship shares in this two-dimensional nature. Objectively, it refers to Mary’s dignity as Mother of Christ King. Subjectively, it refers to acceptance on our side, to our recognition of her life as exemplar for our own lives. Without such acceptance Mary’s queenship remains incomplete in us and we would be making Mary Queen for a Day, for this one day.

Don Schwager asks “What can work and wages, welfare and the unemployed tell us about the kingdom of God”?

In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard we see the extraordinary generosity and compassion of God (Matthew 20:1-16). There is great tragedy in unemployment, the loss of work, and the inability to earn enough to live and support oneself or one's family. In Jesus' times laborers had to wait each day in the marketplace until someone hired them for a day's job. No work that day usually meant no food on the family table. The laborers who worked all day and received their payment complain that the master pays the late afternoon laborers the same wage. The master, undoubtedly, hired them in the late afternoon so they wouldn't go home payless and hungry.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 20:1-16 comments that today’s parable presents a situation involving an impossibly generous landowner.

we know that God cannot be outmatched in generosity. He even gave us his only Son, and that is a gift we could never earn. No matter what any of us do for the Lord, whether we follow him perfectly, make huge charitable donations, or sacrifice our lives as martyrs, it still wouldn’t be enough to merit such a priceless gift. The love behind such generosity can be hard to grasp, but that only makes it all the more appealing.

Friar Jude Winkler provides background to the actions of religious and civil leaders who are condemned by the Prophet Ezekiel and the link to Jesus and Feast of Dedication. At the last judgement the reward is the same; Life with God. Matthew uses this parable as one that points to the end time.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, guides us to teaching by Paul Knitter, who explains that Buddhism can help Christians to be mystical Christians, and James Finley who shares thoughts of Catholic priest, Romano Guardini (1885-1968) and Christian mystic Thomas Merton who realized that people of different religions are not other.

“Although I am not God, I am not other than God either.” [4] He says the direct intuitive realization that although I am not God, I am not other than God either, fans out in all directions. Although I am not you, I am not other than you either. Although I am not the earth, I am not other than the earth, either. As this soaks into me, what are the implications of this in the way I act in the world, in relationships with other people?

One of passages today leads to contemplation of ideas that contradict some common notions about the relationship of God and work and how Unitive Consciousness may resolve issues of difference and the duality of winners and losers.

References

(n.d.). Ezekiel chapter 34 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 22, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/34
(n.d.). Psalms chapter 23 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 22, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/23:1
(n.d.). Matthew chapter 20 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 22, 2018, from http://usccb.org/bible/matthew/20
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved August 22, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 22, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memorial) - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved August 22, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 22, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/