Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15)

Jesus explains to Nicodemus the movement of the Spirit in today’s gospel.  He says that it moves the reborn person to act in new ways.  She no longer lives for herself but for others.  She loves without expecting anything in return.  She also takes delight in seeing others growing free, loving, and wise.  The Spirit has assured her of God’s infinite love.  This kind of person makes up the community of disciples described in the reading from Acts.  Each member supports one another.  The result is that everyone has all that is necessary to live in peace.

Communal experiences of mutual love are frequently tried and sometimes they last for years.  Usually they end as members are drawn away by different personal needs.  However, monasteries have been able to preserve communal harmony for centuries.  They often draw high-minded people who respond well to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. 

We may not live in communities as mutually supportive as that of the Christians in Jerusalem after the resurrection. Nor are we likely to join a monastery.  Nevertheless, we are being moved by the Holy Spirit to live less individualistically, more communally.  We feel the urge to share time and material possessions with those in need.  We also are prompted to move beyond our fears and desires to assist others.  In these ways we show ourselves to be born from above with heaven as likewise our destiny.

Monday, April 29, 2019

Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the Church

(Acts 4:23-31; John 3:1-8)

The Internet has enabled hundreds of millions of people to stay in touch.  People see the faces of loved ones through Skype and follow their thoughts on Facebook.  Fifty years ago no one dreamed of such immediacy.  However, those who have developed a deep spirituality may have always been more closer to the Lord.

In today’s first reading Peter and John have returned from their confrontation with Jewish leadership.  They pray to God who is intimately present to them because of the Holy Spirit.  They do not ask for protection but for boldness to proclaim Jesus.  The Spirit confirms that God hears their prayers by causing the ground to shake.

The same Spirit enabled Catherine of Siena to feel intimately Christ’s love for her.  She described her relationship with him as a marriage.  She and Christ were bride and bridegroom.  As a wife considers her husband’s body her own, Catherine worked tirelessly for Christ’s body, the Church.  In times of political intrigue and ravishing plague, Catherine strove to keep that body from falling apart.  Her success has resulted in her being named the patron saint of both Italy and all Europe.

Friday, April 26, 2019

Friday within the Octave of Easter

(Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

In every mass this week – actually from Monday to Sunday – the gospel tells of an appearance of the risen Jesus.  Although the accounts bear marks of editorial expansion, they assure readers of the resurrection as a fact of history.  The resurrection is a trans-historical event.  This means that it has never been duplicated in history.  But reliable witnesses testify that Jesus appeared to them in the flesh.  Their stories, especially when considered in total, explain the empty tomb.  Thus the stories go beyond circumstantial evidence for the resurrection.

Today’s gospel appearance takes place on the Sea of Tiberius.  It may seem strange that Jesus’ disciples would return to their former occupations after seeing Jesus.  After all, he equipped them with the Holy Spirit to forgive sins.  Yet many people who have had profound religious experiences begin to question their beliefs.  Sometimes they become almost indifferent to what happened to them.  Jesus, true to his promise, does not abandon his disciples in their questioning.  Rather, he appears to them again and reissues the mandate to go forth and preach forgiveness.  This is expressed symbolically in today’s passage when he says, “’Cast your net over the right side…’”

Many people dismiss the gospel accounts of the resurrection appearances.  They see them as fishing stories; that is, exaggerations of wonderful experiences.  These skeptics challenge us believers to explain the possibility of the stories’ ever taking place.  We should respond to the challenge in at least two ways.  First, we need to study the gospel accounts with the help of faithful commentators so that we may provide explanation of their reasonableness.  Second, we want to testify to their veracity by living truly changed and holy lives.

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Thursday within the Octave of Easter

(Acts 3:11-26; Luke 24:35-48)

 “What’s in a name?” Juliet asks, “that which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.”  She will learn that a name contains more than commonly imagined.  Names identify people both as individuals and as members of an association.  Invoking a name in a situation can bring the power of the person or association to bear on it.  In today’s first reading Peter tells the Jews that the paralytic was healed by faith in the name of Jesus. 

Peter and John have just healed the man begging near the Temple gate. Now Peter launches into one of the sermons in Acts that is considered paradigmatic of Christian preaching.  In other words, all Christian preachers should not only imitate its conviction but also its claims.  Peter has no reservations that Jesus’ death and resurrection are the source of new life.  People have only to repent of their sins and call upon his name to inherit eternal life.

More and more people today are searching for their identities in their DNA. They want to know who they are by associating themselves with particular real estates.  Of course, it is interesting but it is hardly conclusive and holds little prospect for the future.  We are far better off to associate ourselves with the name of our Redeemer.  In Jesus we are adopted daughters and sons of God.  He bestows on us the destiny of eternal life.  Like the paralytic in his name we are made whole.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Wednesday of the First Week of Easter

(Acts 3:1-10; Lucas 24:13-35)

Today’s gospel is different from other accounts of Christ appearances after his resurrection.  Its length and its motion distinguish it from his appearances near his tomb, in the locked room, and even by the seashore.  Perhaps it is because of these differences that it has become the favorite appearance account among Christians.

In many ways the narrative resembles the Christian experience of the Eucharist.  It takes place on the first day of the week.  Jesus is present but cannot be seen by the travelers.  The Old Testament is explained in homiletic fashion.  Most of all, it ends with a blessing of bread and recognition of Christ’s physical presence.

Once in a while during Sunday mass we feel like the disciples on the road to Emmaus.  “Our hearts burn(ing) within us” perhaps because the homily is especially insightful or a hymn resonates with our lives.  Or maybe it is the presence of other people who have been nurtured by faith to a particular greatness.  In any case, we find in this gospel passage valuable instruction.  It teaches us how to experience the risen Lord every time we gather for Mass.