Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter
(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)
The Philippines will remember Douglas MacArthur for the words he spoke at his forced departure from the country at the beginning of World War II. He promised the people, “I shall return,” and he did. No doubt, some Filipinos joined the resistance to the Japanese invaders on the strength of MacArthur’s promise. In the gospel today Jesus means to instill such confidence in his disciples with a similar promise.
The passage is taken from the beginning of the second part of John’s gospel, the so-called Book of Glory. Jesus is making a farewell speech to his disciples among whom we should see ourselves. He does not want us to think that he is leaving us behind. Rather, he wants us to trust in him. “Why?” we may ask with the same uncertainty as Thomas displays in the passage. He answers, because “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Jesus is the way that leads to God. He speaks the truth which shows us the way. And he conveys life in the Eucharist which provides us strength on the journey.
We sometimes find ourselves in bleak situations. Perhaps we face job termination, mortgage foreclosure, or an iffy diagnosis. We must not cower but be confident. Jesus sublimely demonstrates this trust on the cross. In John’s account of the crucifixion, Jesus is not perturbed in the least. He has completed the mission of his Father by his submission to death. Now he returns to Him in glory. We can and should face our trials by similarly trusting God.
Homilette for Thursday, May 7, 2009
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter
(Acts 13:13-25; John 13:16-20)
Biblical students count three distinct “missionary journeys” of St. Paul in the Acts of the Apostles. Although Paul himself did not likely divide his preaching so neatly, the three-journey arrangement helps us appreciate the apostle’s tremendous sacrifice. The section from Acts that we read today shows Paul shortly after commencing his first expedition.
Paul typically goes to the Jewish synagogue of the town he is visiting. There people would at least have perspective for understanding his message. He preaches salvation by faith in Jesus – what is frequently called the kerygma of the early Church. In today’s reading Paul’s kerygmatic message summarizes the story of salvation from the slavery of the Hebrews in Egypt to the preaching of John the Baptist. It continues tomorrow with his relating the role of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise.
As Paul proclaims the kerygma on his missionary journeys, the Church calls us to be missionaries. Two years ago the bishops of Latin America described Catholic Christians as “missionary disciples.” As disciples, we allow ourselves to be formed according to the word of God. As missionaries, we give testimony of that word to others. We should not shy away from speaking of how belief in Jesus has meant all the difference in the world to us. We should also proclaim the word by rendering loving service to family, neighbor, and community.
(Acts 13:13-25; John 13:16-20)
Biblical students count three distinct “missionary journeys” of St. Paul in the Acts of the Apostles. Although Paul himself did not likely divide his preaching so neatly, the three-journey arrangement helps us appreciate the apostle’s tremendous sacrifice. The section from Acts that we read today shows Paul shortly after commencing his first expedition.
Paul typically goes to the Jewish synagogue of the town he is visiting. There people would at least have perspective for understanding his message. He preaches salvation by faith in Jesus – what is frequently called the kerygma of the early Church. In today’s reading Paul’s kerygmatic message summarizes the story of salvation from the slavery of the Hebrews in Egypt to the preaching of John the Baptist. It continues tomorrow with his relating the role of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise.
As Paul proclaims the kerygma on his missionary journeys, the Church calls us to be missionaries. Two years ago the bishops of Latin America described Catholic Christians as “missionary disciples.” As disciples, we allow ourselves to be formed according to the word of God. As missionaries, we give testimony of that word to others. We should not shy away from speaking of how belief in Jesus has meant all the difference in the world to us. We should also proclaim the word by rendering loving service to family, neighbor, and community.
Homilette for Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
(Acts 11:19-26; John 12:44-50)
A few weeks ago President Obama gave a speech at Georgetown University. The address caused some consternation because the university covered up some of its explicitly Catholic images. However, a university spokesperson said that the images were concealed not because they were Catholic but because they were going to be only partly visible. In any case, the president’s speech described the nature of the economy in what may be called a media event. That is, the speech was staged not for the benefit of immediate listeners but to be broadcasted far and wide. In the gospel today Jesus’ address might be seen as a similar media event.
Jesus’ words conclude the first half of John’s gospel sometimes called by scholars the “Book of Signs.” They do not contain any new teaching but rather nicely summarize all that Jesus has revealed of himself so far. Of course, Jesus’ primary message has been that he is sent by God the Father to save the world. The signs or miracles, which punctuate the teachings in the first half of the gospel, testify to the legitimacy of Jesus’ mission.
As this passage marks the midpoint of the gospel so today we come to the midpoint of Easter time. The celebration so far should have been uplifting, but will anyone say that it is “awesome” or “exciting,” especially for those who have already lived through many Easter seasons? This latter group has learned that living Jesus’ resurrected life does not continually bring mountaintop experiences. Rather, it assures us of truth based on love. As much as anything else, this truth will sustain us to the eternity promised at the end of the journey.
(Acts 11:19-26; John 12:44-50)
A few weeks ago President Obama gave a speech at Georgetown University. The address caused some consternation because the university covered up some of its explicitly Catholic images. However, a university spokesperson said that the images were concealed not because they were Catholic but because they were going to be only partly visible. In any case, the president’s speech described the nature of the economy in what may be called a media event. That is, the speech was staged not for the benefit of immediate listeners but to be broadcasted far and wide. In the gospel today Jesus’ address might be seen as a similar media event.
Jesus’ words conclude the first half of John’s gospel sometimes called by scholars the “Book of Signs.” They do not contain any new teaching but rather nicely summarize all that Jesus has revealed of himself so far. Of course, Jesus’ primary message has been that he is sent by God the Father to save the world. The signs or miracles, which punctuate the teachings in the first half of the gospel, testify to the legitimacy of Jesus’ mission.
As this passage marks the midpoint of the gospel so today we come to the midpoint of Easter time. The celebration so far should have been uplifting, but will anyone say that it is “awesome” or “exciting,” especially for those who have already lived through many Easter seasons? This latter group has learned that living Jesus’ resurrected life does not continually bring mountaintop experiences. Rather, it assures us of truth based on love. As much as anything else, this truth will sustain us to the eternity promised at the end of the journey.
Homilette for Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time
(Acts 11:19-26; John 10:22-30)
Leonard Bernstein’s Mass makes a marvelous tribute to the word of the Lord. In a piece with that title Bernstein states that powers may lock up preachers but they cannot contain the message they preach. In Acts Luke also shows the word of God moving with similar dynamism.
Today’s first reading shows Hellenist Christians forming Christian communities elsewhere after being persecuted in Jerusalem. These communities do not consist solely of Jews who accept Jesus but also of gentiles who acknowledge Jesus as their savior as well. The new community makeup and the new practices it entails call for a new name for church members. They are now Christians.
If the word of God seems stymied today because of agnosticism in many Western countries, it has hardly lost its dynamism in Africa and Asia. Christians are continually being made. The Church still grows. For the old Christian world, we might say with Jesus, “Blessed is the one who takes no offense in (him).”
(Acts 11:19-26; John 10:22-30)
Leonard Bernstein’s Mass makes a marvelous tribute to the word of the Lord. In a piece with that title Bernstein states that powers may lock up preachers but they cannot contain the message they preach. In Acts Luke also shows the word of God moving with similar dynamism.
Today’s first reading shows Hellenist Christians forming Christian communities elsewhere after being persecuted in Jerusalem. These communities do not consist solely of Jews who accept Jesus but also of gentiles who acknowledge Jesus as their savior as well. The new community makeup and the new practices it entails call for a new name for church members. They are now Christians.
If the word of God seems stymied today because of agnosticism in many Western countries, it has hardly lost its dynamism in Africa and Asia. Christians are continually being made. The Church still grows. For the old Christian world, we might say with Jesus, “Blessed is the one who takes no offense in (him).”
Homilette for Monday, May 4, 2009
Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
(Acts 11:1-18; John 10:1-10)
“Growing pains” occasionally affect children in their sleep. They cause some to wake up in the night with discomfort in their legs. Since researchers have not found an underlying cause for these pains, they are named for growth, a phenomenon associated with children. In the first reading we find the early Church afflicted with its “growing pains.”
One of the great issues for the Church in its first decades is whether to accept non-Jews into its fold. Non-Jews are not gentiles who become Jews through circumcision and eating kosher but gentiles who refuse to accept Jewish customs. Since Jesus was a Jew, could gentiles follow him without living as he did? This is the critical question. In the reading from Acts today Peter defers to none other than the Holy Spirit for an answer. He explains to the Jerusalem inquisition that he baptized Cornelius’ household upon seeing that they manifested the gifts of the Spirit.
Today the Church has other issues to deal with. We can easily name a few – Church and politics, the morality of contraception, the proper roles of lay ministers. Too often differences on these questions create fragmentation and suspicion. Like Peter we should turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance. That is, we should recognize that what is authentically Christian is the primacy of charity in the lives of believers.
(Acts 11:1-18; John 10:1-10)
“Growing pains” occasionally affect children in their sleep. They cause some to wake up in the night with discomfort in their legs. Since researchers have not found an underlying cause for these pains, they are named for growth, a phenomenon associated with children. In the first reading we find the early Church afflicted with its “growing pains.”
One of the great issues for the Church in its first decades is whether to accept non-Jews into its fold. Non-Jews are not gentiles who become Jews through circumcision and eating kosher but gentiles who refuse to accept Jewish customs. Since Jesus was a Jew, could gentiles follow him without living as he did? This is the critical question. In the reading from Acts today Peter defers to none other than the Holy Spirit for an answer. He explains to the Jerusalem inquisition that he baptized Cornelius’ household upon seeing that they manifested the gifts of the Spirit.
Today the Church has other issues to deal with. We can easily name a few – Church and politics, the morality of contraception, the proper roles of lay ministers. Too often differences on these questions create fragmentation and suspicion. Like Peter we should turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance. That is, we should recognize that what is authentically Christian is the primacy of charity in the lives of believers.
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