Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 16:22-34; John 16:5-11)

A man worked for a long time as a product inspector in a factory.  He said that he took such pride in his work that when he put the label of the company on the product, he was sure that it would do its job.  The jailer in today’s first reading seems to have this kind of self-respect.

The jailer becomes extremely upset when he thinks that his prisoners have escaped.  In fact, he is going to kill himself until Paul intervenes.  Then, convinced that Paul and Silas are holy men, the jailer begs to receive the gospel.  The remaining part of the story gives more evidence of the jailer’s decency.  He bathes the prisoners’ wounds and gives them something to eat.

Although the Church draws a few great sinners, the majority of people who come to her already exhibit goodness.  They are looking for something more, something solid to ground their inclination to do what is right.  We can give these people what they are looking for.  Our kindness of opinion and gentleness of words in Christ’s name will do it.  At least a few of these people will join our community of faith if they see it supporting our efforts. 

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 16:22-34; John 16:5-11)

A hospital patient had the fortune of being placed side by side with a charismatic priest.  The man was encouraged to speak about his life.  In the process, he discovered how God was directing him to make much needed changes.  Similarly, the jailer in today’s first reading is blessed to have had Paul and Silas for captives the night the earthquake shook the prison doors open.

The jailer then prepares to kill himself. It may be that he feels disgraced in losing prisoners.  It is also possible that he recognizes that the days of jailers from whom prisoners escape are numbered.  In any case Paul saves the sensitive man from suicide.  The act of graciousness impresses the man so much that he accepts Paul and Silas’ faith as well as their presence in his home.

Every once in a while we too meet a truly holy person.  He or she is not necessarily a priest or a sister; nevertheless, the holy one speaks about God with both simplicity and conviction.  We do well to heed what is said and to thank God for the sign of His presence.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 16:22-34; John 16:5-11)

A few years Pope Benedict commented in an interview on the use of condoms.  He said that those who use them to prevent the spread of the AIDS virus show the beginnings of evangelical concern.  He did not mean to condone the use of condoms, much less to endorse their dissemination to curtail AIDS.  He only wanted to indicate the goodwill of those who care enough about their sexual partners that they take measures to protect them from disease.  Of course, the best way to stop the spread of AIDS and to develop virtue is for the unmarried to practice sexual abstinence.  The pope’s estimation of goodwill may be drawn also from today’s first reading.

The jailer wants to kill himself believing that he has failed in his duty of guarding prisoners.  Paul’s and Silas’ chains were unhinged by the earthquake, yet the jailer feels responsible because it happened on his watch.  Perhaps he was charged to keep awake the entire night, but more likely he is just super-zealous in his work.  At least, he desires to fulfill to carefully discharge his duties.  Such a devotion to responsibility makes him a good candidate for entrance into the new Covenant God has established with his people through Jesus.  For this reason Paul and Silas show no hesitancy in baptizing them.

Everyone has some positive natural traits that we might notice and compliment in our evangelizing.  Grace is said to build upon nature and not to destroy it.  We make use of this maxim by finding the good in others and helping them to multiply it by coming to know Jesus.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Memorial of Saint Isidore (patron of farmers)

(Acts 16:22-34; John 16:5-11)

The way some people talk, farming in the United States is strictly big business. It is probably mostly so, but there are marvelous exceptions like Joel Salatin’s farm in Virginia. There crops are rotated, cows eat grass, and chickens feed on bugs. It is the kind of farming associated with St. Isidore, whose feast is celebrated today in rural areas around the world.

St. Isidore was a Spanish peasant of the twelfth century. He did not own his own land but diligently worked the manor of another. In his simplicity and devoutness he appears much like the jailer in the reading from Acts. The man is so bereaved by the thought of prisoners’ escaping on his watch that he wants to kill himself. Paul saves him from committing the terrible deed and introduces him to one worth dying for. The jailer, along with his family, embraces Jesus along.

We must remember that saints are not usually found among “world champions” or “the world’s richest.” Rather saints are people who live every moment of everyday trying to please the God who, they know, cherishes them as sons and daughters.

Homilette for Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 16:22-34; John 16:5-11)

The pious story of how Paul and Silas save the jailer from self-destruction almost misses the point that the jailer becomes Paul’s first convert in Europe. Philippi is Paul’s initial stop on the new continent. He has spoken with the women at the riverside but these are Jews with a definite belief in God. The jailer, however, is presumably a pagan who comes to know God through the testimony of the two missionaries. For this reason the passage ends by stating that the jailer and his household “come to faith in God.”

Still, most likely Paul is not the first missionary on European soil. We know that he will write to an established church in Rome only six to eight years later. Yet his work in Philippi is historic because it chronicles the inexorable movement of the Holy Spirit to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. We see this progress continuing today with the growth of the Church in Africa and Asia. We might also find the Spirit at work in ourselves converting all our thoughts and desires to what is truly good and holy.