Love as Cornerstone

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, exhort us to act with love and compassion to include all people in the experience of the Love of God.

Christ, the Cornerstone

The reading from the Letter to the Ephesians declares we are One in Christ, the Cornerstone.

* [2:11–22] The Gentiles lacked Israel’s messianic expectation, lacked the various covenants God made with Israel, lacked hope of salvation and knowledge of the true God (Eph 2:11–12); but through Christ all these religious barriers between Jew and Gentile have been transcended (Eph 2:13–14) by the abolition of the Mosaic covenant-law (Eph 2:15) for the sake of uniting Jew and Gentile into a single religious community (Eph 2:15–16), imbued with the same holy Spirit and worshiping the same Father (Eph 2:18). The Gentiles are now included in God’s household (Eph 2:19) as it arises upon the foundation of apostles assisted by those endowed with the prophetic gift (Eph 3:5), the preachers of Christ (Eph 2:20; cf. 1 Cor 12:28). With Christ as the capstone (Eph 2:20; cf. Is 28:16; Mt 21:42), they are being built into the holy temple of God’s people where the divine presence dwells (Eph 2:21–22). (Ephesians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 19 praises God’s Glory in Creation and the Law

* [Psalm 19] The heavenly elements of the world, now beautifully arranged, bespeak the power and wisdom of their creator (Ps 19:2–7). The creator’s wisdom is available to human beings in the law (Ps 19:8–11), toward which the psalmist prays to be open (Ps 19:12–14). The themes of light and speech unify the poem. (Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles.

* [6:13] He chose Twelve: the identification of this group as the Twelve is a part of early Christian tradition (see 1 Cor 15:5), and in Matthew and Luke, the Twelve are associated with the twelve tribes of Israel (Lk 22:29–30; Mt 19:28). After the fall of Judas from his position among the Twelve, the need is felt on the part of the early community to reconstitute this group before the Christian mission begins at Pentecost (Acts 1:15–26). From Luke’s perspective, they are an important group who because of their association with Jesus from the time of his baptism to his ascension (Acts 1:21–22) provide the continuity between the historical Jesus and the church of Luke’s day and who as the original eyewitnesses guarantee the fidelity of the church’s beliefs and practices to the teachings of Jesus (Lk 1:1–4). Whom he also named apostles: only Luke among the gospel writers attributes to Jesus the bestowal of the name apostles upon the Twelve. See note on Mt 10:2–4. “Apostle” becomes a technical term in early Christianity for a missionary sent out to preach the word of God. Although Luke seems to want to restrict the title to the Twelve (only in Acts 4:4, 14 are Paul and Barnabas termed apostles), other places in the New Testament show an awareness that the term was more widely applied (1 Cor 15:5–7; Gal 1:19; 1 Cor 1:1; 9:1; Rom 16:7).

* [6:14] Simon, whom he named Peter: see note on Mk 3:16.

* [6:15] Simon who was called a Zealot: the Zealots were the instigators of the First Revolt of Palestinian Jews against Rome in A.D. 66–70. Because the existence of the Zealots as a distinct group during the lifetime of Jesus is the subject of debate, the meaning of the identification of Simon as a Zealot is unclear.

* [6:16] Judas Iscariot: the name Iscariot may mean “man from Kerioth.” (Luke, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Cynthia Schmersal offers a poetic prayer to mark the feast today. 

Lord, like Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James, whose feast we mark this day,
And like every one of Your disciples throughout history,
You claim us as Your own,
And You summon us.
You summon us to link heart, hand and aim with You and with one another to foster the inbreaking of your kin-dom here and now.

Make of us Your dwelling, built together as a communion of saints.
Make of us announcers of Your Good News and doers of Your good works.
Make of us harbingers of hope, bearers of Your Spirit in the particulars of our place and our time.

Moment by moment, free us.
Always and in all ways, free us ever more fully to proclaim – more in deed than in word – Your message to all the earth.
May all that we do and all that we are herald our identity as Your holy (and admittedly broken) people,
Members of the household of God and fellow citizens with the holy ones throughout all time.

May the ordinary and extraordinary of our lives be for Your greater Glory this day and all days. Amen. (Schmersal, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus chose fishermen and tax collectors to be apostles,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.

"It says, 'He called his disciples, and he chose twelve of them,' whom he appointed sowers of the faith, to spread the help of human salvation throughout the world. At the same time, observe the heavenly counsel. He chose not wise men, nor rich men, nor nobles, but fishermen and tax collectors, whom he would direct, lest they seem to have seduced some by wisdom, or bought them with riches, or attracted them to their own grace with the authority of power and nobility. He did this so that the reasoning of truth, not the grace of disputation, should prevail."(excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.44) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 6:12-16 comments that as “obscure” as Simon and Jude may be, their legacy lives on. Their witness and their intercession continue to affect the lives of countless believers—and in ways neither of them probably imagined.

What’s your legacy? It’s probably a lot more than you imagine. Every one of your prayers of intercession moves the Lord. When you share your faith with someone, his Spirit works through you to touch those with open hearts. When you forgive someone, he pours out grace on that person. He fills every one of your acts of generosity and kindness with his love.

You’ll never see your complete legacy in this life. But imagine how much more you’ll see when, like Simon and Jude, you go to the Lord! So imitate these two apostles’ persistence. Trust that everything you do in Jesus’ name has eternal consequences.

“Jesus, help me to persevere in serving you, just as Simon and Jude did!” (Meditation on Luke 6:12-16, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes that the passage from Ephesians declares that the Gentiles are now included in the household of God. In Luke, Jesus frequently prays to the Father (11 times) as He acts on the Will of the Father. Friar Jude reminds us of some of the alternate names for the Apostles.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Rev. Wes Granberg-Michaelson who reminds Christians deciding how we want to act in the public sphere to begin with the personal experience of God’s overflowing love for the world.

Transformative change in politics depends so much on having a clear view of the desired end. Where does that vision come from? Possibilities may be offered by various ideologies, or party platforms, or political candidates. But, for the person of faith, that vision finds its roots in God’s intended and preferred future for the world. It comes not as a dogmatic blueprint but as an experiential encounter with God’s love, flowing like a river from God’s throne, nourishing trees with leaves for the healing of the nations (see Revelation 22:1–2).… 

Such a vision strikes the political pragmatist as idyllic, unrealistic, and irrelevant. But the person of faith, whose inward journey opens [their] life to the explosive love of God, knows that this vision is the most real of all. It is a glimpse of creation’s purpose and a glimmering of the Spirit’s movement amid the world’s present pain, brokenness, and despair. This vision also recognizes the inevitable journey of inward and outward transformation—the simultaneous, continuing transformation of the inward hearts of people liberated by God’s astonishing grace and the outward transformation of social and economic structures liberated by God’s standards of justice. (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the paradox that arises from our experience of the power of love to make positive change in lives as we struggle against social and political changes that will reduce the well being of many.

References

Ephesians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/2? 

Luke, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/6?12 

Meditation on Luke 6:12-16. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 28, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/10/28/1114495/ 

Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/19?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Politics Rooted in God’s Love. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 28, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-politics-rooted-in-gods-love/ 

Schmersal, C. (2024, October 28). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 28, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/102824.html 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Chose Twelve Apostles. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 28, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=oct28a 

Cornerstone of Life

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to contemplate the keystone that supports our fullness of life and prepares us to respond to our role as fishers of people.

Keystone of  Life

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the testimony of Peter and John before the Council.

* [4:1] The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees: the priests performed the temple liturgy; the temple guard was composed of Levites, whose captain ranked next after the high priest. The Sadducees, a party within Judaism at this time, rejected those doctrines, including bodily resurrection, which they believed alien to the ancient Mosaic religion. The Sadducees were drawn from priestly families and from the lay aristocracy.

* [4:11] Early Christianity applied this citation from Ps 118:22 to Jesus; cf. Mk 12:10; 1 Pt 2:7. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 118 is a Song of Victory.

* [Psalm 118] A thanksgiving liturgy accompanying a procession of the king and the people into the Temple precincts. After an invocation in the form of a litany (Ps 118:1–4), the psalmist (very likely speaking in the name of the community) describes how the people confidently implored God’s help (Ps 118:5–9) when hostile peoples threatened its life (Ps 118:10–14); vividly God’s rescue is recounted (Ps 118:15–18). Then follows a possible dialogue at the Temple gates between the priests and the psalmist as the latter enters to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice (Ps 118:19–25). Finally, the priests impart their blessing (Ps 118:26–27), and the psalmist sings in gratitude (Ps 118:28–29).

* [118:22] The stone the builders rejected: a proverb: what is insignificant to human beings has become great through divine election. The “stone” may originally have meant the foundation stone or capstone of the Temple. The New Testament interpreted the verse as referring to the death and resurrection of Christ (Mt 21:42; Acts 4:11; cf. Is 28:16 and Rom 9:33; 1 Pt 2:7). (Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples. 

* [21:2] Zebedee’s sons: the only reference to James and John in this gospel (but see note on Jn 1:37). Perhaps the phrase was originally a gloss to identify, among the five, the two others of his disciples. The anonymity of the latter phrase is more Johannine (Jn 1:35). The total of seven may suggest the community of the disciples in its fullness.

* [21:3–6] This may be a variant of Luke’s account of the catch of fish; see note on Lk 5:1–11.

* [21:9, 12–13] It is strange that Jesus already has fish since none have yet been brought ashore. This meal may have had eucharistic significance for early Christians since Jn 21:13 recalls Jn 6:11 which uses the vocabulary of Jesus’ action at the Last Supper; but see also note on Mt 14:19.

* [21:11] The exact number 153 is probably meant to have a symbolic meaning in relation to the apostles’ universal mission; Jerome claims that Greek zoologists catalogued 153 species of fish. Or 153 is the sum of the numbers from 1 to 17. Others invoke Ez 47:10.

* [21:12] None…dared to ask him: is Jesus’ appearance strange to them? Cf. Lk 24:16; Mk 16:12; Jn 20:14. The disciples do, however, recognize Jesus before the breaking of the bread (opposed to Lk 24:35).

* [21:14] This verse connects Jn 20 and 21; cf. Jn 20:19, 26. (John, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries was not available at publication time.

Don Schwager quotes “Resurrected Bodies,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"The bodies of the righteous at the resurrection will need neither any fruit to preserve them from dying of disease or the wasting decay of old age nor any bodily nourishment to prevent hunger and thirst. For they will be endowed with such a sure and inviolable gift of immortality that they will not eat because they have to, but only if they want to. Not the power but the necessity of eating and drinking shall be taken away from them... just like our Savior after his resurrection took meat and drink with his disciples, with spiritual but still real flesh, not for the sake of nourishment, but in an exercise of his power." (excerpt from City of God 13.22) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 21:1-14 comments that when Peter looked at his past, he saw his failures and sins, and that made his hope waver. But Jesus saw a much bigger picture. He hadn’t forgotten Peter’s yes three years before. His call for Peter remained. That’s because he is the God who never gives up. And he won’t give up on us.

You may not have miraculous signposts pointing to pivotal moments in your relationship with the Lord. But even those small moments when Jesus called you, brought you into deeper relationship with him, or set you off on a new phase of life can be heavenly reminders of his love. Let him reassure you that, even if you have stumbled over the years, he hasn’t forgotten your yes to him. He is always ready to welcome you back. Let that assurance prepare and inspire you, like Peter, to reaffirm your love for Jesus and your willingness to follow him wherever he leads.

“Jesus, thank you that you never give up on me!” (Meditation on John 21:1-14, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes that in the passage from Acts, Peter and John are questioned by the Sadducees, who don’t believe in resurrection. Chapter 21 of John’s Gospel was a later addition to address the role of the hierarchy and fate of the Beloved Disciple. The contrast between “Dufus Peter” and the Beloved Disciple is continued. Friar Jude reminds us of the connection of “bread and fish” to the Eucharistic meal and our mission to share God’s love.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes how it’s possible to experience resurrection before we die. We don’t need to wait for death to experience resurrection. We can begin resurrection today by living connected to God. Resurrection happens every time we love someone even though they were not very loving to us. At that moment we have been brought to new life. Every time we decide to trust and begin again, even after repeated failures, at that moment we’ve been resurrected. Every time we refuse to become negative, cynical, hopeless, we have experienced the Risen Christ. We don’t have to wait for it later. Resurrection is always possible now. 

The resurrection is not a miracle story to prove the divinity of Christ, something that makes him the winner. It’s a storyline that allows us all to be winners. ALL! No exceptions! There’s no eternal death for anybody: ALL are invited to draw upon this infinite Source, this infinite Mystery, this infinite Love, this infinite Possibility. Spiritually speaking, we live in a world of abundance, of infinity. But most of us walk around as if it were not true, operating in a world of scarcity where there’s never enough. There’s not enough for me, there’s not enough for you, there’s not enough for everybody. (Rohr, n.d.)

We understand the impulse for Peter and the disciples to return to simpler familiar times and routine after their Easter experience and we seek the help of the Spirit to revitalize our mission as Jesus physical agents in our environment.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/4?1 

John, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/21?1 

Meditation on John 21:1-14. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/04/05/930714/ 

Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/118?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Resurrection through Connection. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/resurrection-through-connection/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Revealed Himself Again to the Disciples. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=apr5