Thursday, May 11, 2023

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Acts 15:7-21; John 15:9-11)

In today’s reading from Acts Jesus’ disciples resolve a crisis that could have split the Church.  James, the leader of the conservative Jewish Christians, declares that gentile converts need not eat only kosher foods.  Moved by the Holy Spirit, James accepted the rationale proposed by Peter and Paul that people are saved by faith in Christ.

The Church today faces challenges like the one featured in Acts.  Liberals keep clamoring for ordination of women and Communion to the divorced and remarried.  Conservatives want more access to the pre-1960 Latin mass.  These issues cannot be resolved by compromise but by careful discernment and prayer.  Synods may widen perspectives, but ultimately the Holy Spirit will make known the way to proceed.

We may find it hard to trust in the Spirit.  However, trust in the Spirit does not prohibit us from carefully considering the different arguments.  Doing so, we will be able to understand the reasons the pope and other bishops give for their determinations.

Wedneday, May 10, 2023

 Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

 (Acts 15:1-6; John 15:1-8)

One of the characteristics of the Gospel according to John is Jesus’ using the tetragramic “I am” in describing himself.  In today’s passage he says, “I am the true vine.”  In other places he says of himself as “I am the Good Shepherd,” “I am the Bread of Life,” “I am the light of the world,” etc.  It is not likely that Jesus made such gargantuan claims about himself.  Rather the evangelist John uses the images with which Jesus spoke of God’s Kingdom – vineyards, shepherds and lost sheep, bread feeding thousands – to indicate the Lordship of Jesus.

By having Jesus call himself the “true vine,” the evangelist means that he gives life.  As a branch would wither if it were disconnected from the vine, so would those who cut themselves off from the Church soon fail to live productive lives.  Productive lives are not necessarily those which generate a lot of money or children.  They are lives which work for the good of all and end in true happiness. 

We may have difficulty appreciating all the images the evangelist John uses to describe Jesus’ Lordship.  Most of us get our fruit from stores, not from trees.  Living in an age that prizes autonomy, we may think we are being underestimated when compared to sheep in need of a shepherd.  But if Jesus is all that we proclaim of him to be in the Creed, then we need him as much as we need air.

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Acts 14:19-28; John 14:27-31a)

Church historians speak of three “missionary journeys” of the apostle Paul.  The first is completed in today’s first reading.  The second will take Paul into Europe (modern Greece).  The third will take years to complete and end in his being taken captive in Jerusalem.

Throughout his missionary activity St. Paul experiences hardship.  Three times he is scourged and three times, shipwrecked.  Today’s reading mentions the stoning after which he was left for dead.  But the passage breathes satisfaction as well with the apostles’ having accomplished their objective.  Seeing the people both accept and keep the faith confirms Paul and Barnabas’ trust in the Holy Spirit.  

By contrast, a chief Church concern today is people passing through RCIA and then abandoning the faith.  We must ask why this happens.  One cause may be the lack of witness.  Catholics are often nonchalant about putting into practice what the Church teaches.  When converts see this, they may question their own commitment. 

Monday, May 8, 2023

Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Acts 14:5-18; John 14:21-26)

A geneticist studied fruit flies.  He got to know them well.  In fact, he came to appreciate individual characteristics.  He saw how one fly did things in ways others did not.  In this sense he came to love the fruit flies he studied.  This banal example of love can provide some clarity in what Jesus means in today’s obscure gospel passage.

Judas, the other Judas that Luke mentions in his list of apostles, asks Jesus why he reveals himself to them and not to everyone.  Jesus answers obliquely.  He tells how those who love him keep his word and he and his Father will dwell in those persons.  In this way they receive the revelation of both Jesus and the Father.  They have an affective knowledge based on their love for God.  They prove their love by keeping Jesus’ words, which are his commandments.

We may say we love God, but do we keep his commandments?  We’re not talking about eight or nine of the ten but all of them.  Do we sincerely and honestly help our neighbor?  Do we refrain from biting sarcasm and deception in our conversations.  To love as Jesus commands means forsaking the ways of the world.  However, it results in an assurance of his love for us.

Sunday, May 7, 2023

 

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, May 7, 2023

(Acts 6:1-7; I Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12)

Today’s gospel is one of the masterpieces of the New Testament.  It ranks with the Sermon on the Mount for profundity of message and for breadth of recognition. Jesus is giving his final discourse in the Gospel of John.  It deals with various topics such as his commandment of love, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and the need to stay connected to him.  In the section we just read, Jesus comforts his disciples because of the sorrow they will feel when he goes.  In the process he shares with us some of the keys to the spiritual life.

First, he shares a little about his destiny and, eventually, the destiny of his followers.  He compares it, that is eternal life, to a hotel with rooms for everyone.  When Thomas, here as elsewhere skeptical, asks him about this place, Jesus answers him with reference to himself.  He says he is "'the way, the truth, and the life.'"  Because this phrase is so dense, we have to unpack it a little.

When Jesus says he is "the life," he means that he is our destiny of eternal life.  Seeing God, the beatific vision, is the essence of eternal life.  Jesus will tell Philip, "'Whoever sees me, sees the Father.'" St. Paul indicates the wonder of this vision when he writes to the Corinthians: "Now we see as in a mirror, confused; then we will see face to face" (I Cor 13:12). Knowing Christ like this must be more tremendous than any natural sight, be it the summit of Mount Everest or the beach of Cancun.  It is experiencing and delighting in the glory of the Creator of the universe who deigned to become like us!

Jesus provides us with another key to the spiritual life by saying that he is the way.  We remember how the early Christians in the Acts of the Apostles were known as followers of the "Way."  The word "Way" here refers to Jesus as the model of moral conduct.  In the Sermon on the Mount he says to his disciples: "...how narrow the entrance and how narrow the road that leads to Life!'"  He is referring to his disciplined and principled life.  We see this quality of life also in the saints.  Puerto Rican Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez dedicated his life by teaching other laymen.  Because he had several health problems, he could not follow a priestly vocation.  But his condition did not stop him from teaching and animating groups on the liturgy of the Church. 

Jesus also claims to be the truth.  He is the truth of God the Father incarnate in a human being.  In other words he is self-sacrificing love that humbled himself to share our human lot.  Moreover, as our companion, he not only extended a hand to cure our infirmities but also suffered a horrific death to free us from sin.  When we follow him one hundred percent, we have to expect to suffer as well. Unfortunately, many do not want to suffer at all.  They don't want to walk a couple of blocks to conserve the environment, much less are they willing to sacrifice a couple of hours to visit the sick.  We might learn from those brave Ukrainians who are risking their lives to defend their homeland even though they could have fled the country as refugees.

There is some interest in the spiritual life today.  Bookstores have sections full of titles about spirituality from different sources.  All of these books – whether Christian, Jewish, or "new age" – will refer to the supreme spiritual guide of the ages, Jesus Christ.  He remains like no one else "the way, the truth, and the life."