Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 7:51-8:1a; John 6:30-35)

Stephen’s speech can be heard as incendiary.  He accuses the Jewish leaders of not observing the Law.  But so did Jesus!  Indeed, Stephen’s actions quite closely imitate those of Jesus.  He too at his execution asks forgiveness for its perpetrators.  Like Jesus he dies commending his spirit to God.

Stephen’s exemplary behavior will have immense effect.  One of its witnesses, Paul of Tarsus, will do an about turn in his stand toward Jesus.  Evidently at the moment he finds Stephen’s words contemptible.  But in short time he will, like Stephen, give testimony to Jesus’ righteousness.  He too will suffer death for proclaiming Jesus as Lord.

There is plenty for us to imitate in Stephen’s story.  We should proclaim the Lord Jesus by our willingness to suffer for the truth.  Most of all, we should pray for our enemies, especially those who may persecute us. Then our lives also will attract others to Jesus’ righteousness.

Monday, May 6, 2019

Monday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 6:8-15; Acts John 6:22-29)

Since Vatican II the Church has admonished Catholics who think of “the Jews” as guilty of Jesus’ death.  Nevertheless, the term is used especially in the Gospel of John to indicate the rivals of Jesus.  This reference reflects the time and place of Jesus’ life.  It is more correct to think of “the Jews” as those who do not understand his teaching.  Unfortunately, it would include many baptized Christians today.

For example, many Christians seek the satisfaction of their sense appetites more than freedom from sin.  These are precisely the people whom are labeled as “the Jews” in today’s gospel. They do not understand that Jesus fed the multitude to signify his fulfilling a deep-seated spiritual need.  He bestows the wherewithal to love one’s neighbor.

We do want to love our neighbor even if we do not express ourselves always in this way.  We want to live in peace with everyone.  We want justice to reign and every valid need met.  Following Jesus’ teaching, this hope may be better realized.  Remaining like “the Jews,” we will likely find continued rivalry.

Friday, May 3, 2019

Feast of Saint Philip and Saint James, apostles

(I Corinthians 15:1-8; John 14:6-14)

Try standing on one foot with your eyes closed. If you last fifteen seconds, consider your balance remarkable. Eyes open and focused make the same feat easy. As sight enhances balance, Jesus' disciples need a new source of vision to understand what he is talking about in today’s gospel.

The reading begins with Jesus responding to a remark made by Thomas.  The latter said that since the disciples do not know where Jesus is going, they cannot know the way.  Jesus tells him that to know him is to know the Father.   Now Philip, whose feast day we are celebrating, speaks up.  He obtusely asks Jesus to show the disciples the way to the Father.  It should have been obvious to him and the other disciples that the Father is in Jesus and he is in the Father.  They have only to look at him to find the Father.  But they have trouble seeing this truth because it requires the grace of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will come shortly with Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

The Spirit provides us with a new way of seeing. It is like a physician having a MRI when making a diagnosis or a soldier having a night vision device on midnight patrol. His presence allows us to accept Jesus' teaching as not so much demanding as life-giving.  From it we know that Jesus will assist us in our every need.

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Memorial of Saint Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the Church

(Acts 5:27-33; John 3:31-36)

The Church in its first few centuries had to come to a common understanding of its belief.  One of the most perplexing issues was exactly who is Jesus Christ.  From passages like today’s first reading he might be understood as a most virtuous man whom God raised from the dead.  He would be of the order of Elijah or Enoch, an ancient patriarch who is said to have been assumed into heaven.  But surely the Gospel of John has more in mind when it says in today’s passage: “The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to the Son.”

The debate about Jesus reached its climax in the early fourth century.  A priest named Arius took the lesser view of Jesus.  He thought that putting Jesus on the same level as God would be like calling a cat a lion because it has teeth and whiskers.  Today’s patron St. Athanasius opposed the minimal view.  He rightly saw that God cannot be compared to earthly things.  Both Jesus and the Father are of another order or substance.  The Council of Nicea affirmed his position: Jesus and the Father are the same along with the Holy Spirit.

All this may sound heady and impractical.  But belief in Jesus as God affects us significantly.  Because he and the Father are one, we can feel confident in following him.  As guide and end, his teaching cannot lead us astray.  We can also pray to him.  He has the power to help us in our every need. 

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

(Optional) Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker

(Acts 5:17-26; John 3:16-21)

American writer Marilynne Robinson has won fame for her novel Gilead.  As evidenced in the book, she can articulate profound thoughts.  In a separate essay entitled “Humanism” Ms. Robinson queries the seven dimensions to being that string theory physicists have added to the usual four.  She says that the concept, established in mathematics, changes how humans consider reality.  Like the Galilean revelation that the earth is not at the center of the universe, string theory makes even Einstein’s notion of relativity obsolete.  It might be said that today’s gospel anticipates string theory.

The passage has been called “the gospel in miniature” as it goes to the heart of the Christian message.  It speaks of “eternal life,” whose root meaning is outside of time.  The concept of eternity presents a new dimension of reality.  It cannot be experienced in its fullness, at least, under present circumstances.  It is peace, joy, and – most of all – love in all their wonder.  God, the Father, wills eternal life – the life He lives with the Son in the unity of the Holy Spirit -- for the world.  He has sent His Son, who is called Jesus the Christ, to deliver it.

Today we remember St. Joseph the Worker.  The feast day was established to support the faith of ordinary people.  Anyone who works should celebrate today.  But they should not be content to give thanks for a job or even for the role of being co-creator (perhaps, better, junior apprentice) with God.  No, we give thanks to God as well for the gift of eternal life.