War Against Peace and Love

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that the restriction of the truth of Jesus' Way continues to be practiced by political forces in their fear of loss of control.

Path for Peace and Love

In the Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Twelve immediately resumed public teaching

* [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.) The real significance of such an event, however, would be manifest only to people of faith, not to unbelievers; since the Sanhedrin already judged the Twelve to be inauthentic prophets, it could disregard reports of their miracles. When the Twelve immediately resumed public teaching, the Sanhedrin determined to invoke upon them the penalty of death (Acts 5:33) prescribed in Dt 13:6–10. Gamaliel’s advice against this course finally prevailed, but it did not save the Twelve from the punishment of scourging (Acts 5:40) in a last endeavor to shake their conviction of their prophetic mission.

* [5:30] Hanging him on a tree: that is, crucifying him (cf. also Gal 3:13).

* [5:31] At his right hand: see note on Acts 2:33. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 34 implores God to rescue and give them protection

* [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.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus is proclaimed as The One from Heaven.

* [3:31–36] It is uncertain whether these are words by the Baptist, Jesus, or the evangelist. They are reflections on the two preceding scenes.

* [3:34] His gift: of God or to Jesus, perhaps both. This verse echoes Jn 5:8. (John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Angela Maynard declares that If we believe in Jesus, we confirm that he is trustworthy. This is important! Not only do we affirm Jesus and his teachings, but we now have the responsibility to live our faith. We must walk the talk. That can be challenging. There are many barriers in our society that preclude us from living a Christ-centered life.

Take some time today to reflect on the responsibility that comes with the privilege of having a relationship with God. What or who get in the way of my ability to remain centered around Jesus and serving as my creator intended?

We are in the Easter season, a time of renewal. It’s never too late to make some adjustments and live our lives with intention just as Jesus taught us.

 

“Hence, to claim one’s rights and ignore one’s duties, or only half fulfill them, is like building a house with one hand and tearing it down with the other.” ---St. John XXIII (Maynard, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Always bless the Lord!” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"When are you to 'bless the Lord?' When he showers blessings on you? When earthly goods are plentiful? When you have a plethora of grain, oil, wine, gold, silver... - while your mortal body remains healthy, uninjured and free from disease; while everything that is born on your estate is growing well, and nothing is snatched away by untimely death; while every kind of happiness floods your home and you have all you want in profusion? Is it only then that you are to bless the Lord? No, but 'at all times.' So you are to bless him equally when from time to time, or because the Lord God wishes to discipline you, these good things let you down or are taken from you, when there are fewer births or the already-born slip away. These things happen, and their consequence is poverty, need, hardship, disappointment and temptation. But you sang, 'I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be in my mouth always,' so when the Lord gives you these good things, bless him, and when he takes them away, bless him. He it is who gives, and he it is who takes away, but he does not take himself away from anyone who blesses him. (excerpt from EXPOSITIONS OF THE PSALMS 34.3) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 5:27-33 comments that some believers are only discouraged from sharing their faith, but in other parts of the world, people are imprisoned or even put to death for preaching the good news of the risen Christ.

Pope Benedict XVI once said that even in the face of persecution, “all Christians in their own way can and must be witnesses of the Risen Lord”

Let’s keep all our brothers and sisters around the world in our prayers. Let’s remember that we all have the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us the courage to proclaim the risen Lord. Peter said that God has given his Holy Spirit to “those who obey him,” and today’s Gospel tells us that “he does not ration his gift of the Spirit” (Acts 5:32; John 3:34). So open your heart to the Holy Spirit and become a witness to the resurrection!

“Jesus, I want to be your witness.” (Meditation on Acts 5:27-33, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in Acts the members of the Sanhedrin ask why they were not obeyed. The apostles respond that they obey God rather than the chief priest. In Acts, the Holy Spirit guides the growth of the Church and makes them bold. In the Gospel, Jesus gives witness to what the Father has given Him and what God has sent Him to do. Jesus came to save the world. Friar Jude notes that Jesus' mission comes from the Father and He and the Father are One.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Brian McLaren who at the Fall 2025 ReVision Conference, highlighted the contemplative witness of the philosopher Boethius (d. 524), a contemporary of Benedict of Nursia who is imprisoned by King Theodoric for defending one of the king’s critics.

In prison, Boethius is removed from public life, like Benedict in his cave. And like Benedict, people come to see him. He uses his remaining months in prison to teach, and eventually to write a text, The Consolation of Philosophy, that is still studied today as the last great work of the Roman classical period and the first great work of medieval literature.

Sophia, the feminine figure of wisdom, offers him calm, helps him recenter, and guides him into contemplation you might say. The writing of this book becomes a contemplative practice for him that influences generations of people across the following centuries, through and beyond the decay and complete collapse of the Roman Empire.

Shortly after finishing The Consolation of Philosophy, Boethius is brutally tortured and executed. The government in which Boethius worked and strived to do good turns on him and executes him.

These two men, Benedict and Boethius, were called to two completely different paths to live out their Christian faith. [Read about Benedict here.] One stayed in the center of power and tried to influence it, holding fast to his faith. The other left the centers of power and went to the margins to build an alternative community where they could keep the way of Christ alive and maintain some sort of wisdom in a world that was obsessed not with truth, but with power and wealth, violence and weapons. (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit to guide our contemplation of the resonance of the political situation in the texts today to our experience of the restriction of the truth in our political discourse today and the action we need to take to proclaim Jesus Way. 

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 16, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/5?27 

John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 16, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?31 

Maynard, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved April 16, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-april-16-2026 

Meditation on Acts 5:27-33. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved April 16, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/04/16/1544749/ 

Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 16, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 16, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/taking-a-stand-in-government/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). He Who Believes in the Son Has Eternal Life. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 16, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Tradition and Teaching

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to explore our Spiritual Tradition as an opportunity to grow in appreciation of the Way in practice over time.

Celebrate Tradition

The Reading from the First Letter of Kings presents Solomon’s Prayer.

* [8:1–66] The account of the Temple’s dedication ceremony is organized concentrically: Solomon gathers the assembly (vv. 1–13), blesses it (vv. 14–21), utters a long dedicatory prayer (vv. 22–53), blesses the assembly again (vv. 54–61), and dismisses it (vv. 62–66). To this account is appended an appearance of the Lord to Solomon (9:2–9) that balances the divine word to Solomon in the account of the Temple’s construction (6:11–13). (1 Kings, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 84 expresses the sentiments of the pilgrims eager to enjoy the divine presence.

* [Psalm 84] Israelites celebrated three pilgrimage feasts in Jerusalem annually. The Psalm expresses the sentiments of the pilgrims eager to enjoy the divine presence. (Psalms, PSALM 84 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus reviews the Tradition of the Elders.

* [7:1–23] See note on Mt 15:1–20. Against the Pharisees’ narrow, legalistic, and external practices of piety in matters of purification (Mk 7:2–5), external worship (Mk 7:6–7), and observance of commandments, Jesus sets in opposition the true moral intent of the divine law (Mk 7:8–13). (Mark, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Angela Maynard asks “Why does one keep a tradition? Out of habit, or reverence?”

As we prepare to enter the season of Lent, it may be beneficial to reflect on our outward forms of godliness and where our hearts are as we practice these traditions.

If you have read my past reflections, you know I really like the saints. Today is the Memorial of St. Scholastica. My grandmother was a student at Mt. St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas, in the 1930’s. Although I never knew her (she died at the age of 38), I recently had the opportunity to get a glimpse of her as I read her journal from rhetoric class at Mt. St. Scholastica in the Fall of 1933. I took some time to learn a bit about St. Scholastica. I had no idea she was St. Benedict’s twin sister. She is the patron Saint of nuns, schools, tests, reading, and convulsive children. She is invoked against storms and rain. Like her twin brother, St. Scholastica was a very God-centered, holy woman. Perhaps this prayer can help us keep God’s word and example close so we can live our lives with the purpose for which we were genuinely created.

Saint Scholastica, you and your brother shared not only the same family, but you were also deeply united in a spiritual friendship centered on God. Please pray for me, that I may discover friends who assist me on my journey through this world and that I may be such a friend to others. Saint Scholastica and Saint Benedict, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. (Maynard, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Mammon refuses to provide for parents in old age”, by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).

"Christ says, 'Care for the poor' (Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 14:13); Mammon says, 'Take away even those things the poor possess.' Christ says, 'Empty yourself of what you have' (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23); Mammon says, 'Take also what they possess.' Do you see the opposition, the strife between them? See how it is that one cannot obey both, but must reject one?... Christ says, 'None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions' (Luke 14:33); Mammon says, 'Take the bread from the hungry.' Christ says, 'Cover the naked' (Matthew 25:34-40; Isaiah 58:7); the other says, 'Strip the naked.' Christ says, 'You shall not turn away from your own family (Isaiah 58:7), and those of your own house' (1 Timothy 5:8; Galatians 6:10); Mammon says, 'You shall not show mercy to those of your own family. Though you see your mother or your father in want, despise them' (Mark 7:11)." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON PHILIPPIANS 6.25) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 asks “Can it be that God dwells in my parish? We don’t have a lot of money. Our OCIA class is very small, and our faith formation program is always short of volunteers. Our pastoral council and other groups can seem like cliques at times. And yet faith tells me that God is here. He is present in the tabernacle, where heaven meets earth. He is present in the people when we celebrate Mass. He is present, not because we are the best parish, but because he loves us.

“Can it be that God dwells in my family? We don’t always get along. There’s usually someone who is caught up in some kind of trouble. Not every marriage is a stellar witness to divine love. And not everyone is faithful to the Church’s teachings. And yet I know that we all want to love one another, even if we don’t always show it. I believe that no matter what happens, the Lord is with us, ready to help anyone who turns to him.

“Can it be that God dwells with his people? With me? Yes! Not because we are saints, but because he is faithful. Simply because he loves us. And he will never stop loving us—any of us!”

“Jesus, I am in awe that you dwell with us. Lord, open my eyes to see your glory!” (Meditation on 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments how the Ark was brought into the Temple and Solomon prays over the Ark showing that the kings had priestly function. Solomon dedicates the Temple as a place to call upon God. In sacred places God is not “More” present but we have special places where we can appreciate the Presence of God. Jesus and the disciples seem to not follow the prescriptions of the Law in it’s widest interpretation, like making eating like praying to require washing. Maybe their interpretations were not from God but they may be hypocrites in their following of the Law as in deserting parents is improper interpretation of the Law which Friar Jude reminds us is to call us to the service of the Lord and each other.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Dr. Brian Bantum who reflects on the story of Adam and Eve as one that initiates us into the freedom of individuality and difference, for good and for ill.

In our disobedience a new world opened up. We could see. The serpent was not lying in some respects; we human beings continued to breathe and think and love. But something had changed…. With this new knowledge we could no longer see the blessed significance of our bodies, of our lives together. The knowledge we gained drove us into hiding, hiding our bodies from one another and hiding ourselves from God. We were terrified by a true knowledge of our incapacity. But this knowledge did not lead us to cry out, to see ourselves truthfully.…

Yet, Adam and Eve remained God’s children, unique creatures with whom God desired to dwell, to love and be loved by. In this moment we did not lose the image of God. God did not withhold God’s animating Spirit and love toward us, but something changed nonetheless. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the guidance of the Spirit as we wrestle with the challenges of appropriately representing tradition in teaching about our Faith.

References

Mark, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/7?1 

Maynard, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-february-10-2026 

Meditation on 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/02/10/1497280/ 

1 Kings, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1kings/8?22 

Psalms, PSALM 84 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/84?3 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Knowledge of Difference. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-knowledge-of-difference/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Rejecting the Commandments of God. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/