Response with Patience and Peace

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to rethink and rework those situations in which we sense a negative response rising toward others with patience and peace.

Act with Peace and Patience 

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes Paul and Silas' Deliverance from Prison.

* [16:11–40] The church at Philippi became a flourishing community to which Paul addressed one of his letters (see Introduction to the Letter to the Philippians). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 138 is a thanksgiving to God, who came to the rescue of the psalmist.

* [Psalm 138] A thanksgiving to God, who came to the rescue of the psalmist. Divine rescue was not the result of the psalmist’s virtues but of God’s loving fidelity (Ps 138:1–3). The act is not a private transaction but a public act that stirs the surrounding nations to praise God’s greatness and care for the people (Ps 138:4–6). The psalmist, having experienced salvation, trusts that God will always be there in moments of danger (Ps 138:7–8). (Psalms, PSALM 138 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John proclaims Jesus’ Departure and the Coming of the Advocate.

* [16:5] Not one of you asks me: the difficulty of reconciling this with Simon Peter’s question in Jn 13:36 and Thomas’ words in Jn 14:5 strengthens the supposition that the last discourse has been made up of several collections of Johannine material.

* [16:8–11] These verses illustrate the forensic character of the Paraclete’s role: in the forum of the disciples’ conscience he prosecutes the world. He leads believers to see (a) that the basic sin was and is refusal to believe in Jesus; (b) that, although Jesus was found guilty and apparently died in disgrace, in reality righteousness has triumphed, for Jesus has returned to his Father; (c) finally, that it is the ruler of this world, Satan, who has been condemned through Jesus’ death (Jn 12:32). (John, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)

David Crawford asks if we did think of the jailer, would our first impulse be to save him or would we think, “Not my problem.” Or, “He had it coming. Payback!” Maybe we would lump him in with the larger group of Philippians who were responsible for the suffering and imprisonment: “This will teach them to mess with us and our God!” In other words, how many of us would adopt a “me first, them last” attitude?

Christ calls us to love our neighbors and our enemies, in times of crisis – such as Paul and Silas experienced – and in everyday life. As Christians, we often may not be aware of how easily we succumb to the temptation NOT to love those before us. Think of times when we are in a store, frustrated that staff won’t make an exception to a policy in our favor. When we think of those individuals first, we realize that they are not the ones who made the policy, that they would probably lose their job for making the exception, and that berating them makes us hateful and them miserable. The temptations to unlovingness pop up in the political arena, the workplace, at sporting events, in social media, even at church. The temptations may be greater when we are frightened or threatened. Yet it is in those moments that Paul and Silas prayed, praised God, and extended God’s love to others. In those moments of temptation, may the Holy Spirit move in us to color all we do with love and mercy so that others are drawn to Christ, so that God is glorified. 

They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love (Crawford, 2026)

 Don Schwager quotes “Whatever is not of faith is sin,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"When the Lord said of the Holy Spirit, 'He shall convict the world of sin,' he meant unbelief. For this is what he meant when he said, 'Of sin because they believed not on me.' And he means the same when he says, 'If I had not come and spoken to them, they should not have sin.' (John 15:22). He was not talking about [a time] before they had no sin. Rather, he wanted to indicate that very lack of faith by which they did not believe him even when he was present to them and speaking to them. These were the people who belonged to 'the prince of the power of the air, who now works in the children of unbelief' (Ephesians 2:2). Therefore those in whom there is no faith are the children of the devil because they have nothing in their inner being that would cause them to be forgiven for whatever is committed either by human infirmity, ignorance or any evil will whatever. But the children of God are those who certainly, if they should 'say that they have no sin, deceive themselves, and the truth is not in them,' but immediately (as it continues) 'when they confess their sins' (which the children of the devil do not do, or do not do according to the faith which is peculiar to the children of God), 'he is faithful and just to forgive them their sins and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness'" (1 John 1:9). (excerpt from AGAINST TWO LETTERS OF THE PELAGIANS 3.4) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 16:22-34 comments that today’s reading shows us that suffering can be redeemed, even in the hardest of times. It can become fertile ground where virtues like patience, hope, and even joy can grow. If we try to stay close to the Lord during these times, our sufferings won’t just strengthen our own faith; they’ll also draw other people to deepen their relationship with the Lord.

This is easier said than done, but every time we take just one step closer to Jesus in the midst of hardships, he takes a thousand steps closer to us. He not only comforts and strengthens us, but he finds a way to bring good from it. So never doubt the goodness of the Lord, even in the hardest times!

“Jesus, reach out to all who are suffering right now. Help them and their loved ones to find you today.” (Meditation on Acts 16:22-34, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in Acts, Paul and Silas made a mistake healing a slave who had been a source of income to an influential family. The next morning, Paul, as a Roman Citizen, had rights to be heard in court. Paul and Silas remain in the cell after the earthquake. The jailer takes them to his home and is received with baptism. God uses all circumstances for good. The discourse in the Gospel of John identifies the “world” as that part of reality that has rejected the Gospel message. The “sin” is to not believe in the Son of God, in John. Jesus shows His righteousness going to Father. Condemnation is by Jesus death of the ruler of this “world”. Friar Jude notes Satan has been convicted by an act of love not violence. This demonstrates how much Jesus loves us.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, recounts the work of Theologian Matthew Fox who describes Julian of Norwich as a mystic for our times. He highlighted her writings during the COVID-19 pandemic, living as she did through the Black Death (bubonic plague). He writes:

What is remarkable about her life and teaching is that instead of yielding to despair or blame, she sought out in depth the goodness of life and creation. Indeed, she established her entire worldview on this sense of goodness and the sacred marriage of grace and nature, a sense of God-in-nature. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

Julian’s teachings are encouragement for our time:

Our sister and ancestor Julian is eager not only to speak to us today but to shout at us—albeit in a gentle way—to wake up and to go deep, to face the darkness and to dig down and find goodness, joy and awe. And to go to work to defend Mother Earth and all her creatures, stripping ourselves of racism, sexism, nationalisms, anthropocentrism, sectarianism—anything that interferes with our greatness as human beings. And to connect anew to the sacredness of life. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the Spirit of Peace to guide our response from anger and dramatic overreaction to peace, understanding, and gratitude for the opportunity to transform relationships.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 12, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/16 

Crawford, D. (2026, May 12). Daily Reflection May 12, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved May 12, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-12-2026 

John, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 12, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16 

Meditation on Acts 16:22-34. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 12, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/12/1562666/ 

Psalms, PSALM 138 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 12, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/138 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Mystic Who Suffered. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 12, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-mystic-who-suffered/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Will Send the Counselor to You. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 12, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Deliverance and Rejoicing

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to recognize the times of desolation on our journey even as we celebrate the joy and love that we have experienced as disciples of Jesus.

Rejoicing in Community

The reading from the Prophet Baruch offers encouragement for Israel.

* [4:5–5:9] The poet addresses the exiles (vv. 5–9a), and then Zion personified is introduced, speaking to the nations and mourning the loss of her children (vv. 9b–16). She then addresses the exiles (vv. 17–29). Finally (4:30–5:9) the poet issues three calls to Jerusalem (4:30, 36; 5:5): she will see her children returning (4:22, 36–37; 5:5). (Baruch, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 69 is a prayer for Deliverance from Persecution.

* [Psalm 69] A lament complaining of suffering in language both metaphorical (Ps 69:2–3, 15–16, the waters of chaos) and literal (Ps 69:4, 5, 9, 11–13, exhaustion, alienation from family and community, false accusation). In the second part the psalmist prays with special emphasis that the enemies be punished for all to see (Ps 69:23–29). Despite the pain, the psalmist does not lose hope that all be set right, and promises public praise (Ps 69:30–36). The Psalm, which depicts the suffering of the innocent just person vividly, is cited often by the New Testament especially in the passion accounts, e.g., Ps 69:5 in Jn 15:25; Ps 69:22 in Mk 15:23, 36 and parallels and in Jn 19:29. The Psalm prays not so much for personal vengeance as for public vindication of God’s justice. There was, at this time, no belief in an afterlife where such vindication could take place. Redress had to take place now, in the sight of all. (Psalms, PSALM 69, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus rejoices at the Return of the Seventy. 

* [10:18] I have observed Satan fall like lightning: the effect of the mission of the seventy-two is characterized by the Lucan Jesus as a symbolic fall of Satan. As the kingdom of God is gradually being established, evil in all its forms is being defeated; the dominion of Satan over humanity is at an end.

* [10:21] Revealed them to the childlike: a restatement of the theme announced in Lk 8:10: the mysteries of the kingdom are revealed to the disciples. See also note on Mt 11:25–27. (Luke, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)

Nancy Shirley offers a reflection,on the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, about the rosary.  It reminds us how the rosary has been an intricate part of many lives. 

It causes me to think of how I can put it back into my life in some ways that I have let lapsed.  Perhaps this rambling will cause others to think back to their very first rosary or one that was from a special place (I have some from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Medjugorje that I have on display) and go find them, hold them, pray with them; look at them with new eyes and see the “jewels” that they are and the promise that they hold.

You may be as surprised as I was with who sings this beautiful song: Miracle of the Rosary .. (Shirley, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “The power of the Kingdom of God,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"He also gave the holy apostles power and might even to raise the dead, cleanse lepers, heal the sick, and by the laying on of hands to call down from heaven the Holy Spirit on anyone they wanted. He gave them power to bind and to loose people's sins. His words are 'I say to you, whatever you will bind on earth, will be bound in heaven (Matthew 18:18). Whatever you will loose on earth, will be loosed in heaven.' These are the things we see ourselves possessing. Blessed are our eyes and the eyes of those of all who love him. We have heard his wonderful teaching. He has given us the knowledge of God the Father, and he has shown him to us in his own nature. The things that were by Moses were only types and symbols. Christ has revealed the truth to us. He has taught us that not by blood and smoke, but rather by spiritual sacrifices, we must honor him who is spiritual, immaterial and above all understanding."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 67) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 10:17-24 comments about Francis of Assisi, Faustina Kowalska, and Teresa of Ávila, all October saints (October 4, 5, and 15). They are all admired for their deep faith and wisdom, yet none of them were known as a mighty healer of the sick. And like Thérèse, they all suffered from painful illnesses with little relief. Yet they knew that their names were written in heaven, and that knowledge gave them confidence, peace, and joy, regardless of their health.

So yes, pray for miracles, for yourself and others. But don’t base your faith on the outcome. Instead, rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Rejoice that Jesus wants to bring you to his side—right next to all the saints!

“Jesus, thank you for the greatest of all gifts: the gift of heaven!” (Meditation on Luke 10:17-24, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler shares how Baruch asserts to the Babylonian exiles that the mercy of God is greater than the sinfulness for which they have been punished. The Gospel of Luke urges us to rejoice in our attachment to Christ which is deeply experienced in childlike trust. Friar Jude declares that we live in a blessed age of forgiveness, charity, and acceptance of difference in our midst.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces CAC teacher James Finley who offers a prayer for wholeness and healing.

Lord God, we thank you for the gift of the desire to be ever more clear and intimate in our awareness of your intimacy with us that’s sustaining us breath by breath by breath. We thank you for this.… We thank you for the desire not to break the thread of that connectedness with you as we go through the day, facing what we need to face, walking what we need to walk through.… We’re interiorly moved by your grace to reach out and touch the hurting places with love, that the suffering might dissolve in love, and to continue touching the hurting places with love until only love is left, and to be patient with this, and to be childlike, and to be open and faithful to this mysterious process in which we incarnate your healing presence in the midst of our lives. And we ask for this through your Son, Jesus. Amen. (Rohr, 2023)

We are grateful for the times of reconciliation that have renewed joy on our journey as the Spirit prompts us to love, compassion, and generosity.

References

Baruch, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 7, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/baruch/4?5 

Luke, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 7, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?17 

Meditation on Luke 10:17-24. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 7, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/10/07/800336/ 

Psalms, PSALM 69. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 7, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/69?33 

Rohr, R. (2023, October 7). Wholeness and Healing: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 7, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/wholeness-and-healing-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 7, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=oct7 

Shirley, N. (2023, October 7). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 7, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/100723.html 

Mission of Power and Love

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to join in the Mission given by Jesus to His disciples and to support the leaders of our Christian communities in their vocation.

The Mission Interpreted

The reading from the Second Letter to Timothy offers thanksgiving and encouragement.

* [1:6] The gift of God: the grace resulting from the conferral of an ecclesiastical office. The imposition of my hands: see note on 1 Tm 4:14. * [1:8] Do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord: i.e., of preaching and suffering for the sake of the gospel.1

 

Psalm 96 gives praise to God, who Comes in Judgement.

* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33.2 

The Gospel from Luke (chosen by the CCCB) begins the Mission of the Seventy.

* [10:1–12] Only the Gospel of Luke contains two episodes in which Jesus sends out his followers on a mission: the first (Lk 9:1–6) is based on the mission in Mk 6:6b–13 and recounts the sending out of the Twelve; here in Lk 10:1–12 a similar report based on Q becomes the sending out of seventy-two in this gospel. The episode continues the theme of Jesus preparing witnesses to himself and his ministry. These witnesses include not only the Twelve but also the seventy-two who may represent the Christian mission in Luke’s own day. Note that the instructions given to the Twelve and to the seventy-two are similar and that what is said to the seventy-two in Lk 10:4 is directed to the Twelve in Lk 22:35.3

 

Chas Kestermeier, S.J. comments that the successors to Titus and Timothy and all the other early bishops spread the Good News and gave stability to the communities that formed around that hopeful message and to their celebration of that with a liturgy. They worked to support those communities by all sorts of means – orphanages and schools and medical care for all.

 But what united them was love of the Lord in loving his people, service to the Lord in their serving his people.  Each of us is sent in our own way, as a priestly people, to mediate Christ to those we live with, by who we are and what we do, by our sharing of the Good News, not only with our lives, but with an active sharing of the faith and belief and understanding that motivate and move us. How are we ourselves preachers of the Word and, in his name, how do we drive out demons, heal all sort of diseases, and find and care for the forgotten and discarded people?4 

Fr James Crampsey SJ, Parish Priest of the Church of the Sacred Heart, Edinburgh, comments that the mission is to be sent, to meet those we do not know with an openness of heart and to receive hospitality. We prepare together with those whom we meet, with those to whom our hearts go out and beat in tune, that common ground where Jesus himself will come to break the bread. And it will be more than enough.

At the beginning of chapter nine, where today’s gospel comes from, the twelve, whom Jesus has chosen, drawn near to his heart, receive a mission to proclaim the Kingdom of God. The twelve are told to rely on the hospitality of the people they go to, not to take the insurance of an extra cloak to sleep in if nobody takes you in, not to take extra money in case nobody takes you in. Rely on the hospitality offered to you, is Jesus’s instruction. Receive well what is given to you out of hospitality.5

 

The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Timothy 1:1-8 suggests let’s honor Timothy and Titus today by praying for all those who minister in the Church. Let’s pray that they strike a Spirit-inspired balance, building on the good and renovating the areas that might be wearing down. It’s not always easy, and their work often goes unnoticed. But they play a vital role in helping us deepen our faith.

Let’s also look at any renovations that our homes—the domestic church—might need. Let’s ask the Spirit to help us identify the cracks that might be forming in the foundation of our faith. And let’s ask him to give us the wisdom to know how to strengthen whatever may be weak, even as we celebrate what is already strong. “Thank you, Lord, for the examples of Timothy and Titus. Teach me how I can continue to build your Church on earth.”6

 

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the advanced ecclesiology contained in the Pastoral Letters. Timothy is a Jew who is circumcised and Titus is a pagan ministering in Crete. Friar Jude reflects on Mark 4:1-20 (USCCB choice for the Gospel) and the connection to the Great Commandment.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Jessica C. Williams, an activist with the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, who invites us to consider the practical implications of the poverty of Jesus.  What if we take seriously the proclamation of the Mule Train organizers—that “Jesus was a poor man”? [1] In the time and place in which Jesus ministered, most people lived under the subjugation of the Roman Empire and were considered expendable.

“Jesus was a poor man” is a theological statement. It is more than saying “Jesus cares about the poor,”—how Matthew 25:31–46 is often interpreted. In Matthew 25, what is usually translated as “the least of these” is the Greek word elachistoi, which literally means “the smallest or most insignificant ones”: in other words, the expendables. Jesus’s identity as one of the least of these is not a romantic, charitable notion; it is Jesus’s reality. He is saying that the social class of expendables are his people. The homeless, the poor, the incarcerated are Jesus’s friends, family, disciples, and followers, and Jesus himself.7

 

A mission of the Church, today, as expressed in Laudato Si by Pope Francis is to respond to the “cry of the poor” and the “cry of the earth.”

 

References

1	(n.d.). 2 Timothy, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/1
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96
3	(n.d.). Luke, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online Ministries. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/012622.html
5	(2010, June 7). Mission is the heartbeat of the Body of Christ | Thinking Faith. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20100607_1.htm
6	(n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/01/26/299827/
7	(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://cac.org/no-one-is-expendable-2022-01-26/