Sharing and Society

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today highlight the objections that we may encounter as we execute our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader.

Sharing and Society

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the accusations before Gallio and Paul’s return to Syrian Antioch.

* [18:12] When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia: Gallio’s proconsulship in Achaia is dated to A.D. 51–52 from an inscription discovered at Delphi. This has become an important date in establishing a chronology of the life and missionary work of Paul.

* [18:13] Contrary to the law: Gallio (Acts 18:15) understands this to be a problem of Jewish, not Roman, law.

* [18:18] He had his hair cut because he had taken a vow: a reference to a Nazirite vow (see Nm 6:1–21, especially, 6:18) taken by Paul (see also Acts 21:23–27). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 47 seeks to acknowledge the universal rule of Israel’s God.

* [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 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John invites us to ask the Father in Jesus' name.

j. [16:20] Ps 126:6.

k. [16:21] Is 26:17–18; Jer 31:13; Mi 4:9.

l. [16:22] 14:19; 15:11; 20:20.

m. [16:23] 14:13 (John, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)

Larry Hopp comments that legacy type questions are not new, today’s readings point out the truth that they are important to our Lord and Savior.

That visionary message is clearly not meant for Paul alone.  It is equally crucial to you and I as we face today’s evil world.  It is simply easier to keep quiet rather than to speak out against what we know is wrong.  Does anyone really care whether we are born-again followers of Jesus?  In fact we will often be chastised or humiliated for proclaiming our commitment to Jesus.  After all, the world’s vision is to selfishly seek our own needs rather than to seek to serve others as Jesus teaches. While today we may not be afraid of physical harm for our outspoken belief in Jesus, we definitely will often be under verbal & unspoken attack since we would be standing against what the world deems as acceptable. Those around us often view our commitment to Jesus as un-loving or intolerant. (Hopp, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “Alleluia will be our whole joy,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"I trust I will not weary you if I mention what you know already: that we say ALLELUIA daily and that we take delight in it daily. For you know that ALLELUIA means "Praise God" and by this expression we, agreeing in speech and thought, exhort one another to praise God. Only the one who displeases God in no respect praises God in security. Furthermore, in this time of journeying we say ALLELUIA for solace on our way. ALLELUIA is the song of the traveler for us; but we are advancing through a laborious path to a peaceful country where all our activities will be laid aside and nothing will remain for us except the ALLELUIA. Let us sing now, not for the delights of peace, but for comfort in our labor. Sing as travelers are accustomed to sing; comfort your labor by singing; do not love inactivity; keep singing and keep progressing. ...If you are advancing; progress in well-doing, progress in good faith, progress in good deeds. Keep singing and keep advancing. While we are here let us sing ALLELUIA though we are still beset with cares, so that in the future we may sing it there (in heaven) in tranquility. After the labors of this world there will be unceasing repetition of ALLELUIA. ..There ALLELUIA will be our food; ALLELUIA will be our drink; ALLELUIA will be our peaceful action; ALLELUIA will be our whole joy." [excerpts from Sermon 255 (1); Sermon 256 (1 and 3); Sermon 252 (9)] (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 18:9-18 comments that like Paul, we don’t need to be afraid. And we can’t remain silent! God calls each of us to “make disciples” even though we may feel anxious about witnessing (Matthew 28:19). We might fear rejection or saying the wrong thing or being misunderstood. We might even wonder where to begin. But Paul’s experience in Corinth shows that sharing the good news doesn’t have to be complicated. He lived there for eighteen months and built strong friendships. And that’s an excellent starting place.

Second, when the Holy Spirit prompts you to speak, do not be silent! Simply share how your faith has changed you. How has Jesus brought greater joy and peace into your life? You might even admit your doubts and how God helps you overcome them.

As you love, listen, and speak, the Spirit will bless you and your friend. And that’s really good news!

“Lord, help me to speak of your goodness!”

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the Acts passage concerning Paul in Corinth when the Jews take him to the procounsel around 52 CE.The brother of Seneca decides it is just questions of religion. All through Luke, Christians shown to be innocent in observing the law. Paul remains in Corinth and Ephesus for a time. He sails for Syria after taking a Nazarite vow. At the time of Paul this was a vow for a period of time expressing the concept of hair as sacred to God. Paul is trying to be a good Jew. In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks of labour pains as prior to his suffering and crucifixion. At the end the Father will give you whatever you ask, recalling Jesus as one with the Father. Friar Jude reminds us that our relational, not transactional, Loving Father gives what His children need.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that our success-driven culture scorns failure, powerlessness, and any form of poverty. Yet Jesus begins his Sermon on the Mount by praising “the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3)! Just that should tell us how thoroughly we have missed the point of the gospel. Nonviolence, weakness, and simplicity are also part of the Western shadow self. We avoid the very things that Jesus praises, and we try to project a strong, secure, successful image to ourselves and the world. We reject vulnerability and seek dominance instead, and we elect leaders who falsely promise us the same. 

I can see why my spiritual father St. Francis of Assisi made a revolutionary and pre-emptive move into the shadow self from which everyone else ran. In effect, Francis said through his lifestyle, “I will delight in powerlessness, humility, poverty, simplicity, and failure.” He lived so close to the bottom of things that there was no place to fall. Even when insulted, he did not take offence. Now that is freedom, or what he called “perfect joy”!   

Our shadow is often subconscious, hidden even from our own awareness. It takes effort and life-long practice to look for, find, and embrace what we dismiss, deny, and disdain. After spending so much energy avoiding the very appearance of failure, it will take a major paradigm shift in consciousness to integrate our shadow in Western upwardly mobile cultures. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

We contemplate the fullness of life that is possible in our relationship with Christ and implore the Spirit for fortitude and prudence in our mission.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/18?9 

Hopp, L. (2025, May 30). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/053025.html 

John, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/16? 

Meditation on Acts 18:9-18. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/05/30/1286367/ 

Psalms, PSALM 47 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/47?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Chasing Success, Creating Shadow. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/chasing-success-creating-shadow/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=may30 

Birth of Sampson and the Baptist

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to consider the special nature of the birth of each and every person in God’s plan for fullness of life.

Blessed Birth

The reading from the Book of Judges predicts the birth of Sampson.

* [13:5] A nazirite for God: according to the rules for nazirites set forth in Nm 6:2–8, Samson’s vows would have obliged him to abstain from wine and other products of the vine and to keep his hair uncut. As the story that follows shows, the last requirement proved especially fateful in Samson’s life. (Judges, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 71 is a prayer for Lifelong Protection and Help.

* [Psalm 71] A lament of an old person (Ps 71:9, 18) whose afflictions are interpreted by enemies as a divine judgment (Ps 71:11). The first part of the Psalm pleads for help (Ps 71:1–4) on the basis of a hope learned from a lifetime’s experience of God; the second part describes the menace (Ps 71:9–13) yet remains buoyant (Ps 71:14–16); the third develops the theme of hope and praise. (Psalms, PSALM 71 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, the Birth of John the Baptist is foretold.

* [1:7] They had no child: though childlessness was looked upon in contemporaneous Judaism as a curse or punishment for sin, it is intended here to present Elizabeth in a situation similar to that of some of the great mothers of important Old Testament figures: Sarah (Gn 15:3; 16:1); Rebekah (Gn 25:21); Rachel (Gn 29:31; 30:1); the mother of Samson and wife of Manoah (Jgs 13:2–3); Hannah (1 Sm 1:2).

* [1:13] Do not be afraid: a stereotyped Old Testament phrase spoken to reassure the recipient of a heavenly vision (Gn 15:1; Jos 1:9; Dn 10:12, 19 and elsewhere in Lk 1:30; 2:10). You shall name him John: the name means “Yahweh has shown favor,” an indication of John’s role in salvation history.

* [1:15] He will drink neither wine nor strong drink: like Samson (Jgs 13:4–5) and Samuel (1 Sm 1:11 LXX and 4QSama), John is to be consecrated by Nazirite vow and set apart for the Lord’s service.

* [1:17] He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah: John is to be the messenger sent before Yahweh, as described in Mal 3:1–2. He is cast, moreover, in the role of the Old Testament fiery reformer, the prophet Elijah, who according to Mal 3:23 (Mal 4:5) is sent before “the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.”

* [1:19] I am Gabriel: “the angel of the Lord” is identified as Gabriel, the angel who in Dn 9:20–25 announces the seventy weeks of years and the coming of an anointed one, a prince. By alluding to Old Testament themes in Lk 1:17, 19 such as the coming of the day of the Lord and the dawning of the messianic era, Luke is presenting his interpretation of the significance of the births of John and Jesus.

* [1:20] You will be speechless and unable to talk: Zechariah’s becoming mute is the sign given in response to his question in v. 18. When Mary asks a similar question in Lk 1:34, unlike Zechariah who was punished for his doubt, she, in spite of her doubt, is praised and reassured (Lk 1:35–37). (Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

David Crawford comments that Zechariah’s story raises some troubling questions in his mind.

Is the life I am living one of righteousness and faith, one that would cause God to decide I could be entrusted with a great, or even a small, responsibility?  How would I respond if God called me to upend my somewhat orderly and comfortable life, especially if I do not understand how or why?  And why am I asking “if” God would call me to change my life, when I should be asking “How is God calling me and how should I respond?" (Crawford, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “Born for prophecy - murdered for truth,” by Maximus of Turin (died between 408-423 AD).

"I do not know what is the most important thing that we should preach - that he [John the Baptist] was wonderfully born or more wonderfully slain - for he was born as a prophecy and murdered for truth. By his birth he announced the coming of the Savior, and by his death he condemned the incest of Herod (Matthew 14:3-12). This holy and righteous man, who was born in an uncommon way as the result of a promise, merited from God that he should depart this world by an uncommon death - that he should by confessing the Lord lay aside his body, which he had received as a gift from the Lord. Therefore John did everything by the will of God, since he was born and died for the sake of God's work." (excerpt from SERMON 5.1-.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:5-25 comments that speaking to God is wonderful. But it is equally important to listen in silence and accept what we hear. Silence is a way that you can confess that God’s plans and purposes far surpass your own—and that he will do what’s best for you! It’s a way of showing God that you trust him as a loving Father, even when life seems chaotic.

In your prayer today, try to put yourself in Zechariah’s shoes. Try not to “say” too much in prayer. Instead, silently offer yourself to God, silently surrender to his will, or sit in wordless, astonished gratitude for his love and mercy.

“Here I am, Lord.” (Meditation on Luke 1:5-25, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the promise of a child, Sampson, to a barren woman and the nazirite vow that treats hair as sacred resulting in Sampson not cutting his, and Paul shaving his head. The angel Gabriel appearing to Zechariah announces that Elizabeth’s child will be “John” that means “God is merciful” in Hebrew. Friar Jude notes that Zechariah is forced to “listen in silence” for his questioning of God in response to his prayers.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces twentieth-century English mystic Caryll Houselander (1901–1954) who describes how an ordinary underground train journey in London transformed into a powerful vision of Christ dwelling in all people.

I was in an underground train, a crowded train in which all sorts of people jostled together, sitting and strap-hanging—workers of every description going home at the end of the day. Quite suddenly I saw with my mind, but as vividly as a wonderful picture, Christ in them all. But I saw more than that; not only was Christ in every one of them, living in them, dying in them, rejoicing in them, sorrowing in them—but because He was in them, and because they were here, the whole world was here too … all those people who had lived in the past, and all those yet to come. (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the accounts of miraculous birth and contemplate the action that is part of the demonstration of our rebirth in the truth, love, and compassion of God.

References

Crawford, D. (2024, December 19). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/121924.html 

Judges, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/judges/13?2 

Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?5 

Meditation on Luke 1:5-25. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/12/19/1155474/ 

Psalms, PSALM 71 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/71?3 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Christ in All, All in Christ. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/christ-in-all-all-in-christ/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Many Will Rejoice at His Birth. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=dec19