Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, priest

(Acts 20:17-27; John 17:1-11a)

Today’s patron saint, Philip Neri, characterizes the joy of the Holy Spirit.  Philip enjoyed talking with regular people about the Lord.  His natural good humor made him attractive to others.  But he was not just a chatterbox.  It is said that he had the Socratic gift of leading others to a deeper awareness of truth.  When his listeners made new insights about how to improve their ways of living, Philip would pose the question.  “Well, brothers,” he asked, when shall we begin to do good?”

But the Spirit is not only about living together happily.  It also calls people to hard truths and even to suffering.  In today’s first reading St. Paul relates how the Holy Spirit is compelling him to go to Jerusalem.  Paul is aware that imprisonment awaits him there.  He knows how he has stirred up Jewish enmity.  First, he converted to Christianity and then he has disputed Jewish doctrine.  Is the Spirit leading him to execution in likeness to Christ?

We are now preparing for Pentecost, the great feast of the Holy Spirit.   Since the Spirit comes as a rich and varied gift, we should want to witness its arrival.  We pray that it will set fast on us.  We ask the Father that through the Son, the Spirit may lift us up in joy.  We also ask that it confirm us with patience and peace.  Most of all, we beg that it set us on fire with its love.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 20:17-27; John 17:1-11a)

The old priest died the other day.  After being last seen resting, he was found on the floor without life signs.  Some say that he had the best death possible – without suffering or myriad hospital procedures.  But this point is debatable. Both readings today show another way to die.

Paul feels compelled by the Spirit to return to Jerusalem.  He senses that his end is near.  On the journey he stops at the port of Miletus and sends for the church workers in Ephesus to meet him.  Then he begins his farewell address.  In today’s reading he reviews his ministry on behalf of Christ.  In tomorrow’s he will give the ministers advice regarding how to care for the people.  In both readings his care for them is evident.

In the gospel Jesus has been proclaiming his love and instructing for his disciples throughout the long final discourse.  Today he begins the conclusion of his remarks with a prayer to God the Father. He calls the disciples “the ones…given me” as a way of indicating his affection.  He also directly prays for them.

No one can enjoy suffering.  But we should not always run from it.  Through suffering we can draw closer to Jesus on the cross.  It even allows us to share in his work of redemption.  Suffering in the dying process may also afford us opportunity to confirm our love for those who mean the most to us.  Like both Paul and Jesus we want to take full advantage of it.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 20:17-27; John 17:1-11a)

In a lay minister formation class recently a student asked, “What does ‘euthanasia’ mean?” The term is usually associated with taking a dying person’s life so that s/he does not suffer pain; however, its literal meaning is not outrageous. Euthanasia combines two Greek words: eu meaning good (think of euphemism or eugenics) and thanasia meaning death. Many limit their concept of a good death to not having to suffer, but certainly Christians hope for more than that when they are dying.

Because we desire to die in God’s grace, we consider having the sacraments of Penance, Anointing, and the Eucharist as part of a happy death. We also make wills to avoid disputes among relatives over our belongings. More importantly, we plan to assure those close to us of our love. Since an ideal Christian death includes reconciliation with one’s enemies, we will address as well those who have caused us difficulty. We still may lack one item on our agenda.

In the reading from Acts Paul has death on his mind as he speaks to the leadership of the Ephesian church. He intimates his affection for them by saying that he never held back in what is most important – telling them about the Lord Jesus. In this way he models the faith that we also hope to convey as we depart.