Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 8:1b-8; John 6:35-40)

In a story taking place during World War II a Paris museum entrusts its locksmith with the richest diamond in the world.  The locksmith demonstrates great skill in his work.  He also takes impeccable care of his blind daughter.  More than anyone else he can keep the diamond away from the Nazi invaders.  In today’s gospel Jesus tells how the Father has entrusted him to take similar care of God’s people.

The Gospel of John tells of God’s love for the people of the world.  He sent his Son to bring the people out of darkness.  He intends to give them the fullness of life.  However, not everyone wants to follow the Son to eternal life.  But those who do will not be lured away by evil nor will they perish as they approach their goal.  Jesus gives himself as bread for the journey.  He will also raise to life any who die before the end is reached.

The first reading shows how Jesus’ followers embraced his promise.  Persecuted in Jerusalem, they go forth to preach salvation in Jesus to others.  We can have confidence then in both what Jesus says and in what his followers do.  Remaining a Christian may become more challenging as people around us give up practicing the faith.  But with such witnesses as these strengthen us rather than cause us to worry.

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.