In the Name of the Father

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, invite us to contemplate the witness we can share with the world as a result of our experience on the journey with Christ and the grace of the Spirit that opens the lessons of Life as occasions of intimate connection with God.

Connections on the Way

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the ministry of Apollos.

* [18:24, 25] Apollos appears as a preacher who knows the teaching of Jesus in the context of John’s baptism of repentance. Aquila and Priscilla instruct him more fully. He is referred to in 1 Cor 1:12; 3:5–6, 22. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 18, n.d.)

Psalm 47 praises God’s Rule over the Nations

* [Psalm 47] A hymn calling on the nations to acknowledge the universal rule of Israel’s God (Ps 47:2–5) who is enthroned as king over Israel and the nations (Ps 47:6–9). (Psalms, PSALM 47, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus' return to the Father offers peace for the disciples.

* [16:4b–33] A duplicate of Jn 14:1–31 on departure and return. (John, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)

Tamora Whitney comments that Jesus wants his disciples to know that even though he won’t be here on earth with them, even though he won’t be here to teach and explain, that he is not abandoning them. He wants them to know that when they need something they can ask in his name, and he will be with God and can answer them.

He wants us to know that even though he isn’t here on earth with us, he is still available to us. Like Apollos in Ephesus from the first reading, we now have the latest information about who Jesus is and how he will help us. And if we ask in Jesus’ name, we will receive. (Whitney, 2022)

Don Schwager quotes “Offer prayers in Christ's name,” by Cyril of Alexandria, 376-444 A.D.

"He urges the disciples to seek for spiritual gifts and at the same time gives them confidence that, if they ask for them, they will not fail to obtain them. He adds the word Amen, that he might confirm their belief that if they ask the Father for anything they would receive it from him. He would act as their mediator and make known their request and, being one with the Father, grant it. For this is what he means by 'in my name'. For we cannot draw near to God the Father in any other way than through the Son. For it is by him that we have access in the one Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:8). It was because of this that he said, 'I am the door. I am the way. No one comes to the Father but by me' (John 10:7; 14:6). For as the Son is God, he being one with the Father provides good things for his sanctified people and is found to be generous of his wealth to us... Let us then offer our prayers in Christ's name. For in this way, the Father will most readily consent to them and grant his graces to those who seek them, that receiving them we may rejoice." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 11.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 18:23-28 comments that we can learn from Apollos—and Einstein—that God always has more that he wants to teach us. His mercy, his love, and his generosity are limitless. We can never get to the bottom of them. But God has given us his Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, and he will provide opportunities every day for us to know him more fully (John 16:13).

So be sure to keep your heart open, however God wants to speak to you. Be sure also to ask the Lord to help you stay humble as you listen to other people or as you study his word. Like Apollos, try always to cultivate a thirst to know more about the Lord. “Lord Jesus, I want to know you more and more. Come and teach me.”(Meditation on Acts 18:23-28, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the intelligence of Apollos as he preached the Word and the Baptism of John, which was one of repentance. Christian Baptism takes us into the life of the Trinity. Martin Luther proposed that Apollos may be the author of Hebrews. Friar Jude notes that Jesus repeats the idea to ask in the name of the Father as we recognize our dependence and gratitude for the generosity of God.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, offers a contemplative practice of embracing “and.”

“And” teaches us to say yes

“And” allows us to be both-and

“And” keeps us from either-or

“And” teaches us to be patient and long suffering

“And” is willing to wait for insight and integration

“And” keeps us from dualistic thinking

“And” does not divide the field of the moment

“And” helps us to live in the always imperfect now

“And” keeps us inclusive and compassionate toward everything

“And” insists that our action is also contemplative

“And” heals our racism, sexism, heterosexism, and classism

“And” allows us to critique both sides of things

“And” allows us to enjoy both sides of things

“And” is far beyond any one nation or political party

“And” helps us face and accept our own shadow side

“And” allows us to ask for forgiveness and to apologize

“And” is the mystery of the paradox in all things

“And” is the way of mercy

“And” makes daily, practical love possible

“And” does not trust love if it is not also justice

“And” does not trust justice if it is not also love

“And” is far beyond my religion versus your religion

“And” allows us to be both distinct and yet united “And” is the very Mystery of Trinity (Rohr, 2022)

And we are aware that being open to the Spirit will guide our understanding and witness to the Way of Jesus.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/18?23 

John, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16?23 

Meditation on Acts 18:23-28. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/05/28/395308/ 

Psalms, PSALM 47. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/47?2 

Rohr, R. (2022, May 28). Struggling with Christianity: Weekly Summary. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/struggling-with-christianity-weekly-summary-2022-05-28/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=may28 

Whitney, T. (2022, May 28). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/052822.html 

Penance and Humility

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to learn from “either/or '' characterizations how God’s mercy operates in the “both/and” of our lives.

Life choices

The reading from the Prophet Hosea is a call to repentance in the face of the impenitence of Israel and Judah.

* [6:2] After two days; on the third day: presumptuous Israel expects that soon God will renew them (cf. Ez 37). * [6:5] The word of God proclaimed by the prophets is effective, it accomplished what it promised: punishment.1

 

Psalm 51 is a prayer for cleansing and pardon.

* [Psalm 51] A lament, the most famous of the seven Penitential Psalms, prays for the removal of the personal and social disorders that sin has brought. The poem has two parts of approximately equal length: Ps 51:3–10 and Ps 51:11–19, and a conclusion in Ps 51:20–21. The two parts interlock by repetition of “blot out” in the first verse of each section (Ps 51:3, 11), of “wash (away)” just after the first verse of each section (Ps 51:4) and just before the last verse (Ps 51:9) of the first section, and of “heart,” “God,” and “spirit” in Ps 51:12, 19. The first part (Ps 51:3–10) asks deliverance from sin, not just a past act but its emotional, physical, and social consequences. The second part (Ps 51:11–19) seeks something more profound than wiping the slate clean: nearness to God, living by the spirit of God (Ps 51:12–13), like the relation between God and people described in Jer 31:33–34. Nearness to God brings joy and the authority to teach sinners (Ps 51:15–16). Such proclamation is better than offering sacrifice (Ps 51:17–19). The last two verses express the hope that God’s good will toward those who are cleansed and contrite will prompt him to look favorably on the acts of worship offered in the Jerusalem Temple (Ps 51:19 [20–21]).2

 

In the Gospel of Luke, the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-Collector contrasts religiosity and humility.

* [18:1–14] The particularly Lucan material in the travel narrative concludes with two parables on prayer. The first (Lk 18:1–8) teaches the disciples the need of persistent prayer so that they not fall victims to apostasy (Lk 18:8). The second (Lk 18:9–14) condemns the self-righteous, critical attitude of the Pharisee and teaches that the fundamental attitude of the Christian disciple must be the recognition of sinfulness and complete dependence on God’s graciousness. The second parable recalls the story of the pardoning of the sinful woman (Lk 7:36–50) where a similar contrast is presented between the critical attitude of the Pharisee Simon and the love shown by the pardoned sinner.3

 

Chas Kestermeier, S.J. comments that Jesus gives the example of two men who are seemingly polar opposites, and yet each of them exists to some extent in each of us – and Jesus encourages us to choose the self-admitted sinner to be more of a model for us than the self-satisfied Pharisee.

This Gospel reading’s final verse, “Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled while the one who humbles himself shall be exalted,” generalizes this taking the road less traveled.  Jesus draws the conclusion for the parable, but that last verse invites us to be dissatisfied with the obvious and logical in every aspect of our lives, especially our religious lives, and to go beyond our past under the direction and in the strength of the Spirit whom Jesus gives us. And the Spirit is lovingly imaginative about where it craves to take us, dreaming dreams for our lives that we could never conceive of for ourselves.4 

Don Schwager quotes “God's mercy is our only hope,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Driven out of paradise by You and exiled in a distant land, I cannot return by myself unless You, O Lord, come to meet me in my wandering. My return is based on hope in your mercy during all of my earthly life. My only hope, the only source of confidence, and the only solid promise is your mercy." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 24,5)5

 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 18:9-14 shares that Jesus offers an antidote to the various pitfalls of comparing ourselves to other people (Luke 18:9). While the Pharisee focused on congratulating himself, the tax collector focused on asking for mercy. This, according to Jesus, is the remedy to unhealthy comparison. God’s mercy is greater than our neighbor’s sin, so we should love him as Jesus does. God’s mercy is also greater than our weakness. Remember our dignity in Christ and the love with which Jesus always looks at us.

So when you are tempted to put other people down or put yourself down, turn your heart toward God instead. Speak to him with openness and simplicity about your struggles, and place your hope in his endless mercy. That mercy is greater than any sin ever committed. And it’s always available. As St. Faustina wrote, “One thing alone is necessary; that the sinner set ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, to let in a ray of God’s merciful grace.” “Jesus, teach me to be as merciful as you are, both toward other people and toward myself.”6 

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the connection of the sinner in Hosea to Jesus. The religious pride of the Pharisee is contrasted with the humble pursuit of mercy by the despised tax collector. Friar Jude reminds us of the great generosity of God who offers us mercy.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, offers a description of contemplation and “the mind of Christ” as an entry into prayer.

In contemplative practice, we refuse to identify with any one side, while still maintaining our intelligence. We hold the creative tension of every seeming conflict and go beyond words to pure, open-ended experience, which has the potential to unify many seeming contradictions. We cannot know God the way we know anything else; we only know God subject to subject, by a process of mirroring. This is the “mind of Christ” (see 1 Corinthians 2:16). It really is a different way of knowing, and you can tell it by its gratuity, its open-endedness, its compassion, and by the way it is so creative and energizing in those who allow it.7

 

Even as the environment of our time seems to continually attempt to corral us into opposing tribes, we are informed by the Spirit of the role both pride and humility play in our relationships with God and others.

 

References

1	(n.d.). Hosea, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hosea/6
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 51 | USCCB. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/51
3	(n.d.). Luke, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/18
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online Ministries. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/032622.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=mar26
6	(n.d.). Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations for March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/03/26/338281/
7	(n.d.). Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://cac.org/paul-the-misunderstood-mystic-weekly-summary-2022-03-26/