Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts 22:30.23:6-11; John 17:20-26)
“Suit the action to the word, the word to the action,” Prince Hamlet instructs a troupe of actors in Shakespeare’s famous drama. The mandate fittingly describes what is taking place in today’s gospel.
The passage concludes Jesus’ “priestly prayer” at the end of the long Last Supper discourse. He has prayed to the Father for his disciples to whom he has revealed the Father’s love. Now he will proceed to give the perfect demonstration of that love with his sacrificial death. It is the Father’s love because, as he says, he and the Father are one. The prayer includes the petition that his disciples may be one with him and the Father.
We are to consider ourselves among the beneficiaries of Jesus’ prayer. The word handed down to us has made us one with him. In giving testimony to him by our charity toward all, we have his support as well as his instruction. He will come to us as he does to Paul in the first reading saying, “Take courage….”
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts 20:28-38; John 17:11-19)
The world for the Gospel of John, as for most of us, is a den of iniquity. Although Jesus can say, “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son...,” it remains a place of darkness, the realm of Satan. For this reason, Jesus says in today’s reading, “I do not belong to the world.” The ambivalence goes back to the Genesis where God creates the world as good, but then it is compromised when the woman and her husband sow havoc by considering themselves as equal to God.
Now Jesus is reversing the trend. He will not allow the world’s mire to pollute his disciples. He has imparted to them the truth of God’s love. They will overcome the world’s tendencies to self-promotion by loving one another even at the expense of self. Jesus has shown them the way. Soon they will follow. Their love for him will take them to far away places to preach his name. They will not be ensnared by the world’s seamier side because Jesus prays for them in the gospel today.
His prayer protects us as well. There is no point in trying to flee the world. As long as we have bodies, the world will be part of us. In fact, we have a mission in the world as surely as the apostles in Acts. We too have to give witness to God’s love for the world by our charity.
(Acts 20:28-38; John 17:11-19)
The world for the Gospel of John, as for most of us, is a den of iniquity. Although Jesus can say, “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son...,” it remains a place of darkness, the realm of Satan. For this reason, Jesus says in today’s reading, “I do not belong to the world.” The ambivalence goes back to the Genesis where God creates the world as good, but then it is compromised when the woman and her husband sow havoc by considering themselves as equal to God.
Now Jesus is reversing the trend. He will not allow the world’s mire to pollute his disciples. He has imparted to them the truth of God’s love. They will overcome the world’s tendencies to self-promotion by loving one another even at the expense of self. Jesus has shown them the way. Soon they will follow. Their love for him will take them to far away places to preach his name. They will not be ensnared by the world’s seamier side because Jesus prays for them in the gospel today.
His prayer protects us as well. There is no point in trying to flee the world. As long as we have bodies, the world will be part of us. In fact, we have a mission in the world as surely as the apostles in Acts. We too have to give witness to God’s love for the world by our charity.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts 20:17-27; John 17:1-11a)
In the motion picture “Glory” a regiment of African-American Union soldiers give their lives in battle with a superior Confederate force. Their self-sacrifice for the well-being of the nation testifies to the appropriateness of the title. In the gospel today Jesus testifies to a similar claim for glory.
Jesus has entered his final hour. As if it were the prefatory prayer at Mass, he begins his prayer to the Father which will lead to his passion, death, and resurrection. He asks God for the grace to endure the ordeal that will end in his glory. He has already won glory for the Father by preaching His love for the world. Now he seeks to model that love by giving himself on behalf of the world.
We also can achieve glory by acts of self-sacrifice. Daily acts of self-denial give glory to God and redound to our own glory. We might also ask God for courage to accept death when it comes. We hope to die faithful to God by reconciling with our enemies and asking our loved ones to pray for us.
(Acts 20:17-27; John 17:1-11a)
In the motion picture “Glory” a regiment of African-American Union soldiers give their lives in battle with a superior Confederate force. Their self-sacrifice for the well-being of the nation testifies to the appropriateness of the title. In the gospel today Jesus testifies to a similar claim for glory.
Jesus has entered his final hour. As if it were the prefatory prayer at Mass, he begins his prayer to the Father which will lead to his passion, death, and resurrection. He asks God for the grace to endure the ordeal that will end in his glory. He has already won glory for the Father by preaching His love for the world. Now he seeks to model that love by giving himself on behalf of the world.
We also can achieve glory by acts of self-sacrifice. Daily acts of self-denial give glory to God and redound to our own glory. We might also ask God for courage to accept death when it comes. We hope to die faithful to God by reconciling with our enemies and asking our loved ones to pray for us.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts 19:1-8; John 16:29-33)
Garrison Keillor tells the story of preparations for snow storms in the Minnesota town where he grew up. He says that at the beginning of the school year children from the country were assigned “snow parents” at whose houses they would spend the night if the busses were unable to take them home. The little Keillor was shown the house where he was to stay which he remembered because of a statue of the Virgin on its front lawn. One day, wishing to meet his would-be benefactors, he went to their home and introduced himself to the woman who answered the door as her “snow child.” The woman invited him to come in and to sit down. Then she brought him milk and cookies while she called her husband.
In such a harmonious way Jesus invites us to be his friends. As today’s gospel puts it, he will be our peace amidst the storms of the world’s ceaseless tensions and troubles. Staying close to him, we need not worry about loss of prestige or even life. He will keep us safe for eternal happiness. All we must do is to believe in him.
(Acts 19:1-8; John 16:29-33)
Garrison Keillor tells the story of preparations for snow storms in the Minnesota town where he grew up. He says that at the beginning of the school year children from the country were assigned “snow parents” at whose houses they would spend the night if the busses were unable to take them home. The little Keillor was shown the house where he was to stay which he remembered because of a statue of the Virgin on its front lawn. One day, wishing to meet his would-be benefactors, he went to their home and introduced himself to the woman who answered the door as her “snow child.” The woman invited him to come in and to sit down. Then she brought him milk and cookies while she called her husband.
In such a harmonious way Jesus invites us to be his friends. As today’s gospel puts it, he will be our peace amidst the storms of the world’s ceaseless tensions and troubles. Staying close to him, we need not worry about loss of prestige or even life. He will keep us safe for eternal happiness. All we must do is to believe in him.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter
(Acts 18:9-18; John 16:20-23)
In the United States the word pioneer is associated with characters like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. In Ireland when one hears “pioneer,” she or he thinks of the pledge to give up drinking alcohol. In the nineteenth century when a similar pledge or promise was introduced by Fr. Theobald Matthew, it led to a movement which radically reduced crime. In today’s reading from Acts Paul shaves his head to fulfill a promise which likely included abstinence from alcohol.
The Nazarite vow or solemn promise has a long history in Israel. Curiously Samson is described as Nazarite in the Book of Judges, but he is required to refrain from using a razor. His mother, however, is to drink no alcoholic beverage nor eat unclean food during her pregnancy. Here we see the similarity to Paul’s vow. No motive is given for taking the vow, but it may be presumed that Paul takes it as a way of giving God thanks for the successful mission in Europe.
Besides religious sisters and brothers, ordinary people can make promises to God that they will perform some gratuitous action to honor Him. They should not be taken lightly although neither should they be held so rigidly that they cause harm. It is always wise to pray when making a promise, for example, when giving up some simple pleasure during Lent, that the Holy Spirit will provide the grace to fulfill it or to prudently forsake it when necessary.
(Acts 18:9-18; John 16:20-23)
In the United States the word pioneer is associated with characters like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. In Ireland when one hears “pioneer,” she or he thinks of the pledge to give up drinking alcohol. In the nineteenth century when a similar pledge or promise was introduced by Fr. Theobald Matthew, it led to a movement which radically reduced crime. In today’s reading from Acts Paul shaves his head to fulfill a promise which likely included abstinence from alcohol.
The Nazarite vow or solemn promise has a long history in Israel. Curiously Samson is described as Nazarite in the Book of Judges, but he is required to refrain from using a razor. His mother, however, is to drink no alcoholic beverage nor eat unclean food during her pregnancy. Here we see the similarity to Paul’s vow. No motive is given for taking the vow, but it may be presumed that Paul takes it as a way of giving God thanks for the successful mission in Europe.
Besides religious sisters and brothers, ordinary people can make promises to God that they will perform some gratuitous action to honor Him. They should not be taken lightly although neither should they be held so rigidly that they cause harm. It is always wise to pray when making a promise, for example, when giving up some simple pleasure during Lent, that the Holy Spirit will provide the grace to fulfill it or to prudently forsake it when necessary.
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