Chosen to lead in Love

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today on the Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle, invite us to consider the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding our journey as friends of Jesus.

The passage from the Acts of the Apostles describes the replacement of Judas by Matthias as one of the Twelve.

* [1:26] The need to replace Judas was probably dictated by the symbolism of the number twelve, recalling the twelve tribes of Israel. This symbolism also indicates that for Luke (see Lk 22:30) the Christian church is a reconstituted Israel.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus using the image of the vine and the branches directs us to a Covenant in Love described by a New Commandment that will be evident in the lives of His friends.

* [15:13] For one’s friends: or: “those whom one loves.” In Jn 15:9–13a, the words for love are related to the Greek agapaō. In Jn 15:13b–15, the words for love are related to the Greek phileō. For John, the two roots seem synonymous and mean “to love”; cf. also Jn 21:15–17. The word philos is used here.

Larry Hopp asks if God really does indeed have a plan for each of us.

In today’s first reading from the book of Acts, Peter reminds us that “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled.”  That would certainly lead us to believe that luck really has nothing to do with how our lives unfold. God has had a plan from the moment of creation.  That plan is not just a general plan for the universe, but it is a plan for each one of us individually. The disciples turned to the one who “knows the hearts of all” in their selection of Matthias.  They simply put their faith in God and trusted in His plan – the plan for that specific decision as well as ALL the daily decisions as their lives continued to unfold. Those decisions were unfolding in a world that definitely did not seem right or just, a world uncannily mirroring our world today

Why a New Commandment? This is the question of Jack Mahoney SJ, Emeritus Professor of Moral and Social Theology in the University of London.

John in his gospel and his letters (as their author or their source) writes so repeatedly of the need for mutual love and unity among the disciples of Jesus, that it seems likely that these virtues were notably lacking in John’s Church, and that the Last Supper discourse is a plea from their risen Lord to remedy this sad situation. Finally, a very attractive interpretation links the ‘new’ commandment with the new covenant. As Raymond Brown observes, the evangelist shows that in speaking of love as the new commandment, ‘he is thinking of this Last Supper scene in covenant terms’.

Don Schwager quotes Gregory the Great, 540-604 A.D., on the theme of love your enemy and make a friend.

"The unique, the highest proof of love is this, to love the person who is against us. This is why Truth himself bore the suffering of the cross and yet bestowed his love on his persecutors, saying, 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do' (Luke 23:34). Why should we wonder that his living disciples loved their enemies, when their dying master loved his? He expressed the depth of his love when he said, 'No one has greater love that this, than that he lay down his life for his friends' (John 15:13).' The Lord had come to die even for his enemies, and yet he said he would lay down his life for his friends to show us that when we are able to win over our enemies by loving them, even our persecutors are our friends." (excerpt from FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 27)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 15:9-17 reminds us that Matthias was chosen “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). God had chosen Matthias before he was even conceived!

You can probably guess where we are going with this. God has chosen each of us in the same way. He has chosen you. He had you in mind before you were born. He knew what your gifts and talents, strengths and challenges would be, and he shaped a plan for you that would lead you to his heavenly throne. Every day, he continues to choose you with the same love that he had from the beginning.

The Post by Franciscan Media is a reflection on the holiness of Matthias.

Obviously, he was suited for apostleship by the experience of being with Jesus from his baptism to his ascension. He must also have been suited personally, or he would not have been nominated for so great a responsibility. Must we not remind ourselves that the fundamental holiness of Matthias was his receiving gladly the relationship with the Father offered him by Jesus and completed by the Holy Spirit? If the apostles are the foundations of our faith by their witness, they must also be reminders, if only implicitly, that holiness is entirely a matter of God’s giving, and it is offered to all, in the everyday circumstances of life. We receive, and even for this God supplies the power of freedom.

Friar Jude Winkler connects the choosing of Matthias to the practice the Jewish High Priest to give choice to God. The Last Supper discourse has amalgamated many of Jesus sayings. The “Love God and do what you will” advice of Augustine is supplemented by the Commandment that helps us live as He did as His friends not alienated by sin. (“Love God, and do what you will.” -Sermon on 1 John 7:8.).

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that being made in the image and likeness of the Creator isn’t about “getting it right” or rationally understanding God. Jesus taught us that being “perfect even as our heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48) is more about loving than having correct beliefs or following the rules.

Each of us has our own unique imaginarium, an unconscious worldview constructed by our individual and group experiences, symbols, archetypes, and memories. For example, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, and Protestants live in quite different imaginaria. God comes to us in images that we can trust and believe, that have the inherent power to open our hearts. Spirituality tries to move beyond words to evoke our imaginaria at the unconscious level, where real change must first happen.

From the selection of Matthias to our desire to try and envision a society wherein love is the characteristic of our relationships, limiting our considerations to the modern rationalism may be blocking our surrender to the truth, beauty and goodness inspired the Spirit.
References


(n.d.). Acts, chapter 1 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 14, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/1

(n.d.). CHAPTER 15 The Vine and the Branches. 1 “I am the true vine, and .... Retrieved May 14, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/john15.htm

(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved May 14, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

(2012, July 13). Why a 'New' Commandment? | Thinking Faith: The online journal of .... Retrieved May 14, 2018, from https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20120713_1.htm

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 14, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved May 14, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/

(n.d.). Saint Matthias – Franciscan Media. Retrieved May 14, 2018, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-matthias/

(n.d.). St. Augustine - Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Retrieved May 14, 2018, from http://www.piercedhearts.org/theology_heart/life_saints/augustine.htm

(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 14, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/

Triumph and Kingdom Christianity

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the Feast of the Ascension use persuasive language to open our imagination to our mission as disciples of Jesus.

A Kingdom of the past

The prologue to the Acts of the Apostles sets the stage for change and leaves us with questions about acting in response to Jesus Ascension.

* [1:6] The question of the disciples implies that in believing Jesus to be the Christ (see note on Lk 2:11) they had expected him to be a political leader who would restore self-rule to Israel during his historical ministry. When this had not taken place, they ask if it is to take place at this time, the period of the church.

The Letter to the Ephesians identifies Jesus as the head of a mystical body of believers.

* [1:15–23] See note on Rom 1:8 for the thanksgiving form in a letter. Much of the content parallels thoughts in Col 1:3–20. The prayer moves from God and Christ (Eph 1:17, 20–21) to the Ephesians (Eph 1:17–19) and the church (Eph 1:22–23). Paul asks that the blessing imparted by God the Father (Eph 1:3) to the Ephesians will be strengthened in them through the message of the gospel (Eph 1:13, 17–19). Those blessings are seen in the context of God’s might in establishing the sovereignty of Christ over all other creatures (Eph 1:19–21) and in appointing him head of the church (Eph 1:22–23). For the allusion to angelic spirits in Eph 1:21, see Rom 8:38 and Col 1:16. Here, as in 1 Cor 15:24–25 and Col 2:15, every such principality and power is made subject to Christ.

In the Gospel from Mark, an amalgamation of endings from inspired texts gives a context for Jesus Ascension and our commission as His followers.

* [16:9–20] This passage, termed the Longer Ending to the Marcan gospel by comparison with a much briefer conclusion found in some less important manuscripts, has traditionally been accepted as a canonical part of the gospel and was defined as such by the Council of Trent. Early citations of it by the Fathers indicate that it was composed by the second century, although vocabulary and style indicate that it was written by someone other than Mark. It is a general resume of the material concerning the appearances of the risen Jesus, reflecting, in particular, traditions found in Lk 24 and Jn 20.

Andy Alexander, S.J. highlights two things we disciples of Jesus still tend to do and how they outline for us our Mission today.

The point of these moments of self awareness is not to make us feel guilty, ashamed or discouraged. They help us, in the same way the disciples were helped, to head up the road back to Jerusalem and await the coming of the Holy Spirit. "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." The Greek word Luke uses here is dunamis - which is translated "power." We get our words "dynamic" and "dynamite" from this word. The Spirit gives us something that can give a new dynamism to our lives, a new ability to do more than we could imagine, to be Jesus' witnesses.

Damian Howard SJ ascribes to this feast the utmost significance. He quotes the book Surprised by Hope by Tom Wright and relates it to the shape of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola.

A Christianity rooted in its original proclamation of the Kingdom of God is not in the first place about life after death, but very much about life in the here and now under the new conditions of God’s reign (which is also not in any way to deny life after death!). If it totally loses its anchor in the Kingdom proclamation, an exclusive concern with resurrection has been known to see this world as a decadent and evil place without hope; salvation begins to look like escape. This is a Gnostic tendency to which Christianity has long been vulnerable. For Wright, the time has come to get back to the original Kingdom-Christianity of the Bible with its confidence in the resurrection of the body, its utter Christ-centredness and its concern for the mission of Christians to help transform the world in accordance with the in-breaking Kingdom.

Don Schwager encourages our faithfulness in quoting Jesus ascends to heaven in his body - divine and human nature, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"You heard what came to our ears just now from the Gospel: 'Lifting up his hands, he blessed them. And it happened, while he was blessing them he withdrew from them, and was carried up to heaven.' Who was carried up to heaven? The Lord Christ was. Who is the Lord Christ? He is the Lord Jesus. What is this? Are you going to separate the human from the divine and make one person of God, another of the man, so that there is no longer a trinity of three but a quaternary of four? Just as you, a human being, are soul and body, so the Lord Christ is Word, soul and body. The Word did not depart from the Father. He both came to us and did not forsake the Father. He both took flesh in the womb and continued to govern the universe. What was lifted up into heaven, if not what had been taken from earth? That is to say, the very flesh, the very body, about which he was speaking when he said to the disciples, 'Feel, and see that a spirit does not have bones and flesh, as you can see that I have' (Luke 24:39).  Let us believe this, brothers and sisters, and if we have difficulty in meeting the arguments of the philosophers, let us hold on to what was demonstrated in the Lord's case without any difficulty of faith. Let them chatter, but let us believe." (excerpt from Sermon 242,6)

The Word Among Us meditation for today teaches that everything must submit to His gospel of mercy and redemption.

First, the ascended Lord took up his throne as King over all of creation. Paul tells us that Jesus is “far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21). Everything must submit to his gospel of mercy and redemption.

Friar Jude Winkler examines the sophisticated texts of the Feast and the audience to whom they are addressed.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, the comments that human longing for creative expression is an inherent part of our being through which we connect to the Divine.

In doing all this, God gave us art, music, sculpture, drama, and literature . . . as footpaths to lead us out of our hiding places and as signposts to lead us along in our search for what was lost. . . .
We must learn to look with more than just our eyes and listen with more than just our ears. . . . We must be aware, at all times and in all places, because windows are everywhere, and at any time we may find one. . . .
What do we see in those windows? What do we see of who we are, or once were, or one day might become? What do we see of our neighbor living down the street or our neighbor living on the street? What do we see about God? [2]

The messages of the Ascension show a way to get back to the original Kingdom-Christianity of the Bible.
References


(n.d.). Acts 1:1-11 Retrieved May 13, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/acts/1:1

(n.d.). Ephesians 1:17-23 Retrieved May 13, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/ephesians/1:17

(n.d.). The Longer Ending. Retrieved May 13, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/mark16.htm

(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved May 13, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

(2012, May 16). Reflections on the Feast of the Ascension | Thinking Faith: The online .... Retrieved May 13, 2018, from https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20120516_1.htm

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 13, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

Apprenticed in community and aware

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary invite contemplation of the work of the Spirit in community that draws us to the Life of Jesus in relationship with the Trinity.

The Acts of the Apostles tells of the development of Apollos as a preacher of the Good News.

* [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.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus underlines the intimacy of being in relationship with the Father, through Jesus gift of the Spirit to His disciples.

* [16:25] See note on Jn 10:6. Here, possibly a reference to Jn 15:1–16 or Jn 16:21.

In our spiritual development, John Shea, S.J. suggests that we all get it wrong sometimes.

When authority rests on a weak foundation, then it easily topples. Authority grounded in our own ego and power does not last long when we make mistakes. But our authority to spread the Good News, like Apollos’ authority, comes from God. In the Gospel, Jesus prays to the Father and tells us that whatever we ask in God’s name will be given to us. But the disciples do not pray in their own names, with their own power. They are praying with the power of Jesus, in his relationship to the Father. So long as we remain in Jesus and his words remain in us, then our prayers will conform with God’s will and commandments. Our authority to teach and preach is grounded in God, through Christ.

The Global Christian Centre reflects on Acts 18:24-28 and offers that the major point of the story about Apollos is that God will use our background, skill, eloquence, and even fervency in spirit (or Spirit). However, we must keep on learning the truths of the Gospel.

As evangelists, we must have knowledge and understanding of the gospel. Apollos knew much, was fervent in Spirit, and preached powerfully, but to some degree his knowledge was limited. That deficiency was corrected, and Apollos became an even more outstanding minister of the Gospel in the early church. Today, we would speak about "continuing education" or "continuing learning." This must be a vital part of what we do.

Don Schwager uses quotes from Paul’s Letter to the Romans to explain our connection to the Spirit.

The Lord Jesus unites us with the Father through the love and power of the Holy SpiritPaul the Apostle states that "All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Romans 8:14). Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus makes it possible for his disciples to have a new relationship as sons and daughters of God the Father (Romans 8:14-17). No one would have dared to call God his or her Father before this! Because of what Jesus has done for us in offering his life for our redemption we now can boldly and confidently pray to God as our Father in heaven. The presence and action of the Holy Spirit within us is living proof of this new relationship with the Father. Paul the Apostles says that "when we cry, ‘Abba! Father!' it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:15-16).

The Word Among Us meditation reminds us that to speak in a person’s name was to speak in his or her place, as an ambassador would speak for the president. It was as if that person were right there with you, lending his authority to your words. So when Jesus invites us to pray in his own name, he is giving us a high privilege indeed!

This is the kind of relationship Jesus wants you to have with him. He wants you to come to know him deeply and intimately. He wants to teach you to love the things he loves, to see the world through his eyes of mercy, and to treat each other with the same tenderness he treats you.

Friar Jude Winkler explains the additional aspects of Christian Baptism, that Apollo was initially lacking, over the baptism of repentance offered by John the Baptist. When Jesus speaks about asking in the name of the Father, He is inviting us into a relationship wherein we relate to God as addressing our every need. Friar Jude notes the conclusion of Martin Luther that Apollos is a likely candidate for authorship of the Letter to the Hebrews.

For these reasons, Apollos of Alexandria has been a leading contender for the authorship of Hebrews at least as far back as the great Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther, but he has not been the only contender.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, cites Henri Nouwen in teaching that God’s basic method of communicating God’s self is not the “saved” individual, the rightly informed believer, or even a person with a career in ministry, but the journey and bonding process that God initiates in community.

Henri Nouwen describes the essence of community from a spiritual perspective. He says, “the basis of the Christian community is not the family or social or economic equality, or shared oppression or complaint, or mutual attraction . . . but the divine call.” [2] This is an important aspect of community that is overlooked. According to Nouwen, the Christian community is a waiting community. But it is also a group of people who pray the reality of their sense of belonging into being.

Our apprenticeship as disciples of Jesus is lifelong and time in the Spirit makes us more aware of the depth of Love to which we are invited.

References


(n.d.). Acts, chapter 18 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 12, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/acts/18:23

(n.d.). John, chapter 16 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 12, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/john/16:23

(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved May 12, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 12, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved May 12, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/

(2017, April 17). Who Wrote the Book of Hebrews? - Zondervan Academic. Retrieved May 12, 2018, from https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/who-wrote-the-book-of-hebrews/

(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 12, 2018, from https://cac.org/richard-rohr/daily-meditations/daily-meditations-archive/

Working in hope

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today illuminate a path from our daily struggles to hope in visions of a much greater story of evolution of humanity through union with the will of God.

The Roman proconsul in Corinth refuses to deal with the Jewish authorities dispute with Paul described in the Acts of the Apostles by Luke.

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

In the Gospel from John, Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure as He invites them to live through the Spirit in harmony with the will of God.

Edward L. Bromfield suggests a political and economic motive for the decision of the proconsul in favour of Paul.

It seems Gallio was able to judge their real intent, showing (at least to me) that he was keenly aware of the Messianic movement and its disfavor among Jewish authorities. No doubt, Claudius’ recent expulsion of the Jews over similar circumstances at Rome held sway in his ruling. He was not about to involve himself in such inner religious struggles, and he probably wished to keep the same from happening in Corinth that occurred in Rome. How could any community escape severe economic reversals, if leading men in the community were forcibly removed from the cities commercial industries? Such things need to be avoided, if possible, by any responsible governor.

Julie Kalkowski challenges us not to be discouraged or dismayed over the hard work we have ahead of us to bring healing to our society.

We remember what Jesus said in today’s gospel: “Amen, amen I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give to you.”  So today I am going to ask God to bring racial healing to America and to all the other countries on our planet. I need God’s help in overcoming my fears based on race so it doesn’t prevent me from the sharing the joy of this Easter season with everyone.

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."

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 16:20-23 exhorts us to never forget that we are part of an epic story.

“Lord, teach me the wonderful story of your salvation. Help me to make it the story of my life.”Never forget that you are part of an epic story. You are one of the “great . . . cloud of witnesses” whose lives have been changed by the Lord (Hebrews 12:1). You aren’t just a passive observer; you’re an active participant. You have a role to play today in moving this story forward—and Jesus is right beside you, helping you every step of the way.

Friar Jude Winkler comments that knowing when Gallio was proconsul gives us a timeline for Paul in Corinth. Luke is probably sending a subtle message of an example of a Roman official who refuses to persecute Christians. Jesus invitation to die to our old world to live with Him in unity with the Trinity that is a loving parent that gives the most loving answer in delivering what we need.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the introduction by nonviolent activist and author John Dear to a mother of five, a lifelong peace activist, and secular Franciscan, Anne, along with her husband, Terry, who founded Canticle Farm.

Inspired by the life of St. Francis of Assisi, Canticle Farm is a community providing a platform for the Great Turning—one heart, one home, and one block at a time. The Great Turning—the planetary shift from an industrial-growth society to a life-sustaining society—is served by Canticle Farm through local work that fosters forgiveness in the human community and compassion for all beings. Canticle Farm primarily focuses on the poor and marginalized as those who most bear the burden of social and planetary degradation, as well as being those who are first able to perceive the need for the Great Turning. Rooted in spiritual practice, Canticle Farm manifests this commitment by engaging in the “Work That Reconnects,” [2] integral nonviolence, gift economy, restorative justice practices, urban permaculture, and other disciplines necessary for regenerating community in the 21st century. [3]

A Joanna Macy, Ph.D., a scholar of Buddhism and general systems theory, asks us to attend now to Symeon the Theologian (949-1022), who wrote poetry that resonates with the Great Turning knowing that where he said "Christ" and "God," we substituting "Earth" and "planet".

Just a thousand years ago a theologian wrote a poem.  Amidst the apocalyptic fears and hopes of the first millennium, he experienced and expressed a new vision of the holy -- not as a remote, justly angry judge, but as an immanent presence, creative and loving.  Now at the end of the second millennium, we can receive his poem and let it speak to our own inklings of that which presses within us to be born

Like proconsul Gallio our concern with the business and politics of today may be addressing temporary situations while we miss the opportunity to be agents of major changes to benefit society.

References


(n.d.). CHAPTER 18 Paul in Corinth. 1 After this he left Athens and went to .... Retrieved May 11, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/acts18.htm

(n.d.). John, chapter 16 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 11, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/jn/16:3333

(2013, March 20). Paul Appears Before Gallio | Things Paul & Luke. Retrieved May 11, 2018, from https://thingspaulandluke.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/paul-appears-before-gallio/

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 11, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved May 11, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/

(n.d.). The Great Turning - EarthLight. Retrieved May 11, 2018, from https://www.earthlight.org/jmacyessay.html

(2017, March 16). FMTV - Joanna Macy & The Great Turning (TRAILER) - YouTube. Retrieved May 11, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUkoXMff1Vw

Drawn to Love in Community

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today connect us with the joy of living and working in a community of support even as they call forth the grief of separation from loved ones.

Working in community

Paul is described in the Acts of the Apostles as finding fellowship and support in his work in Corinth that is fruitful in spreading the Word.

* [18:8] Crispus: in 1 Cor 1:14 Paul mentions that Crispus was one of the few he himself baptized at Corinth.

In the Gospel from John, Jesus recognizes the grief that His disciples will experience in His absence.

Jeanne Schuler recalls that being left behind leaves a sting that is hard to forget.

When Jesus died, his followers grieved.  They too died. But the story was not over.  What felt final was not the end. “In a little while,” something stirred within.  God’s presence filled them in a new way. Fear gave way to assurance and strength.  Jesus’ puzzling words became real: “I am in you and you are in me.” Aroused by the Spirit, they returned to life and their new journey began.

Don Schwager’s meditation today asks how "weeping" and "rejoicing" go together as he quotes a sermon on Christ our physician, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"God sent the human race a physician, a savior, One Who healed without charging a fee. Christ also came to reward those who would be healed by Him. Christ heals the sick, and He makes a gift to those whom He heals. And the gift that He makes is Himself!" (excerpt from Sermon 102,2)

The Word Among Us website reflects in a prayer “Father, I am grateful for every word of love you have inscribed in my heart.”

As you go about your day today, try to discover your inscription. Your Father’s love never fades, never changes, never weakens. His special words to you are just as clear today as they were a month, a year, even decades ago. The joy he gave you then, the hope he poured out on you before, is still fresh and new today. Your Father is capable of making everything new again, even his words for you. So feel free to recall these words whenever you face temptation or frustration. Their “newness” can go a long way in helping you gain victory. Nothing can stand against God’s promises. In the light of his love, all darkness will be scattered and overcome!

Friar Jude Winkler describes how Paul joined a community in Corinth and worked with the tent makers and Jews and Gentiles joined the faith. The disciples await when He rises and their grief will become joy. Friar Jude notes how some suffering has consequences of growing in love.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that our tradition suggests that it is very difficult to live a life of integrity apart from the support, encouragement, witness, challenge and celebration of a community.

I am interested to see many more forms of intentional community than what we see today. . . . I would like to see the equivalent of Jesuit Volunteer Corps communities connected to every parish, where young people might commit to live for a term of two or three years, committed to the work of justice and peacemaking. [2] I would like to see the parish encourage members to purchase homes in the vicinity of one another and in neighborhoods where there is greatest need, as an expression of the parish’s work. . . . I would like to see every parish have a version of a L’Arche community. [3] I am interested in the construction of simple homes, affordable and available for both poor and rich, to create neighborhoods where all can live and interact and be helpful to each other.

We need support from others to live in a way that supports others.

References


(n.d.). CHAPTER 18 Paul in Corinth. 1 After this he left Athens and went to .... Retrieved May 10, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/acts18.htm

(n.d.). CHAPTER 16 John.... Retrieved May 10, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/john/16:16

(n.d.). Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved May 10, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 10, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved May 10, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 10, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/

Guided to the Truth

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that we need the Holy Spirit as a guide to keep what we imagine, say and do resonate with Jesus.

Remains of an Empire guided by humans

The learned Stoics of Athens reject Paul speaking about resurrection in the passage from the Acts of the Apostles.

* [17:22–31] In Paul’s appearance at the Areopagus he preaches his climactic speech to Gentiles in the cultural center of the ancient world. The speech is more theological than christological. Paul’s discourse appeals to the Greek world’s belief in divinity as responsible for the origin and existence of the universe. It contests the common belief in a multiplicity of gods supposedly exerting their powers through their images. It acknowledges that the attempt to find God is a constant human endeavor. It declares, further, that God is the judge of the human race, that the time of the judgment has been determined, and that it will be executed through a man whom God raised from the dead. The speech reflects sympathy with pagan religiosity, handles the subject of idol worship gently, and appeals for a new examination of divinity, not from the standpoint of creation but from the standpoint of judgment.

In the Gospel from John, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will lead us to all truth.

* [16:13] Declare to you the things that are coming: not a reference to new predictions about the future, but interpretation of what has already occurred or been said.

Andy Alexander, S.J urges us to believe in the Resurrection and live in that freedom each day, and confidently hold onto the promise that the Holy Spirit will accompany us and guide us on our daily life.

Freedom is powerful. People with nothing to fear have great courage, are very bold and self-sacrificing. When I've decided to put down this or that bucket of sand or fear I carry around, I've experienced new energy, new life, a renewed courage. Ultimately, to take possession of the gift of life that has been given me - to acknowledge that all the "deaths" that "threaten" me are mere "scarecrows," - then I really do have a renewed life. Accepting grace - which is a gift - and living in it, really empowers the grace to be effective.

Don Schwager quotes Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) who explains the progressive work of the Spirit in guiding the disciples of Jesus in all the truth.

"Accordingly, when he says, 'He will teach you all truth' or 'will guide you into all truth,' I do not think the fulfillment is possible in anyone's mind in this present life. For who is there, while living in this corruptible and soul-oppressing body (Wisdom 9:15), that can know all truth when even the apostle says, 'We know in part'? But it is effected by the Holy Spirit, of whom we have now received the promise (2 Corinthians 1:21), that we shall attain also to the actual fullness of knowledge that the same apostle references when he says, 'But then face to face' and 'Now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known' (1 Corinthians 13:12). He is not talking about something he knows fully in this life but about something that would still be in the future when he would attain that perfection. This is what the Lord promised us through the love of the Spirit, when he said, 'He will teach you all truth' or 'will guide you unto all truth.'" (TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 96.4)

The meditation on Acts 17:15, 22–18:1 from the Word Among Us urges us to avoid the Athenian response of “some other time”. It’s not a good way to respond to God.

When God speaks, you don’t want to miss it. It’s important to listen and take hold of what he says. He has good things to say to you, to teach you, to encourage and guide you, to shower you with grace. He knows what you need, and it is his greatest desire that you hear and respond to his voice today, not some other time.
This is why prayer is so important: so that we don’t miss what the Spirit is trying to tell us. Setting aside time in the morning for prayer allows us to hear God’s voice and to let it shape our hearts.

Friar Jude Winkler explains that Paul proclaims kerygma to Athens in a way acceptable to these people that we are all offspring of God and one family. In the Gospel we hear that the Spirit of Truth would continue to reveal to limited humanity what we need to understand Spirit, Father, and Jesus are One. Messages from the Spirit are consistent with what Jesus proclaimed.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, notes that on the whole, we live in a society that’s built not on community and cooperation but on individuality, greed, and competition—often resulting in oppressive economic systems, unnecessary suffering, and environmental devastation.

Building such communities in contrast to the surrounding society of emperor-worship was precisely Paul’s missionary strategy. Small communities of Jesus’ followers would make the message believable: Jesus is Lord (rather than Caesar is Lord); sharing abundance and living in simplicity (rather than hoarding wealth); nonviolence and suffering (rather than aligning with power). Paul was not just a mystic, but also very practical.

From the experience of Paul in Athens and our inspiration from the Spirit we come to realize that Christian Community is supposed to be an Alternative Society.

References


(n.d.). CHAPTER 17 Paul in Thessalonica. 1When they took the road through .... Retrieved May 9, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/acts17.htm

(n.d.). CHAPTER 16 John Retrieved May 9, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/john/16:12

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 9, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). 6th Week of Easter - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations .... Retrieved May 9, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/

(2018, May 9). Church Was Supposed to Be an Alternative Society - Center for Action .... Retrieved May 9, 2018, from https://cac.org/church-was-supposed-to-be-an-alternative-society-2018-05-09/

Convicts and conviction

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today connect with convicts and convictions.

Opportunity for the Spirit

In the Acts of the Apostles, the false imprisonment of Paul and Silas leads to the conversion of their jailer and his family.

In the Gospel from John, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as coming to the apostles as a Paraclete who in a forensic way will convict those who have rejected Jesus.

* [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).

The meditation on Acts 16:22-34 from Word Among Us encourages our “unusual” acts of mercy and love.

Likewise, our “unusual” acts of mercy and love instead of revenge and bitterness can move people today. This is especially true when our acts are coupled with prayer. So go ahead and be unusual. Try your best to let your gifts of kindness, generosity, and mercy draw people, especially your loved ones, toward God.

Joe Zaborowski prays to be convicted by the Advocate and hopefully answers to his questions  will become apparent as he walks the journey of life and the path towards salvation.

The question that has been turning in my heart is where my spiritual journey will take me. With the freedom of extra time is the responsibility to grow spiritually and more importantly to give back to the world as Christ has asked. This can only happen with prayer, discernment and relying on the Holy Spirit. How the Spirit moves me can come in many forms: Reading scripture, a papal exhortation, working with a spiritual advisor, prayer or just walking in the street and seeing an injustice which needs to be remedied.

Don Schwager comments on the work of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus tells his disciples three very important things about the work of the Holy Spirit - to convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. The original word for convince also means convict. The Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier. He makes us holy as God is holy. He does this first by convicting us of our unbelief and sin and by bringing us humbly to the foot of the Cross. The Spirit convinces us of God's love and forgiveness and of our utter dependence on God for his mercy and grace. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us from the error of our unbelief and sinful ways and to show us the way of love and truth.

Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the situation described in Acts as turning a disaster into an opportunity of grace. The Paraclete, advocate, and counselor makes clear the one sin in the Gospel of John is the rejection of Jesus who has been proven righteous in His return to the Father. Satan has chosen to live outside of God.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, quotes William J. Barber II who recalls the conviction of Martin Luther King, Jr that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

It takes a contemplative, nondual mind to see foundational oneness—that we truly are “in the same boat.” The first philosophical problem of “the one and the many” is overcome in God as Trinity. The Trinity reveals that God is precisely diversity maintained (“Father,” “Son,” and “Holy Spirit”) and yet that same diversity overcome (God is One by reason of the infinite love shared between the Three). Each of the Three perfectly loves and is perfectly loved. And all is created in imitation of this divine shape of Reality. As of yet, we humans have neither done unity nor diversity very well. We have not solved the essential problem that was already resolved in God.

Paul teaches the Corinthians about the Gifts of the Spirit that we may invoke for our mission.

References


(n.d.). Acts CHAPTER 16 Retrieved May 8, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/acts/16:22

(n.d.). John CHAPTER 16 Retrieved May 8, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/john16.htm (n.d.). 6th Week of Easter - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations .... Retrieved May 8, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations

(n.d.). Creighton Online Ministries - Creighton University. Retrieved May 8, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 8, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 8, 2018, from https://cac.org/richard-rohr/daily-meditations/daily-meditations-archive/