Monday, May 18, 2015

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 19:1-8; John 16:29-33)

Chinese Christians converted during the intense missionary activity one hundred years ago kept the faith despite decades of persecution.  They may have been baptized, but many of them at least were denied regular administration of the sacraments.  They are like the disciples of Jesus who meet Paul at Ephesus in today’s first reading.

It is surmised that these people knew the Lord before he was crucified and rose from the dead.  They might have been among the throngs who listened to his words or perhaps came to him individually for healing.  However, they did not receive the Holy Spirit, the gift of the resurrected Christ.  Their following of Jesus was persistent as now it is roughly twenty years after his mission was completed.  Nevertheless, these disciples lacked zest which the reading indicates is bestowed with baptism in the form of speaking in tongues and prophesying.

Despite difficulty in manifesting it, we have been given the Holy Spirit.  It moves us to care for others as it guides us to salvation.  We should not be reluctant to testify to its presence by proclaiming Christ as our model and goal.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 18:9-18; John 16:20-23)

Karl Barth, one of the twentieth century’s greatest theologians, thought that religion could be the enemy of faith.  Seeing how the needs of religious institutions often take priority over trust in God, Barth chastised the former in promotion of a God who demands human faithfulness.  Barth wrote cogently over the work of the apostle Paul, who is encountered in today’s first reading as taking a stand quite in line with Barth’s critique.

Paul’s experience of Jesus has led him to claim that only faith in Christ can save one from sin and death.  Trying to comply with the Jewish law as the way to salvation - he preaches - avails nothing because it inevitably falls short of its objective.  For such a claim the Jews of Corinth take Paul to the Roman administrator Gallio.  The statesman wisely stays out of the religious conflict and allows Paul to resume his mission.

We should not abandon our valid religious practices.  Properly pursued, they will take us closer to God.  Nevertheless, we need to realize that merely going through the motions of religious custom will get us nowhere.  We must hang on the words of Christ by imitating his ways and pleading his assistance.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Feast of Saint Matthias, apostle

(Acts 1:15-17.20-26; John 15:9-17)

A mother was concerned about the bad habits developing in her teenage daughter.  She saw as the source of the girl’s vices the friends with whom she was associating.  So the mother challenged the teenager to give up the friends – a move which was initially resented but in time came to be appreciated.  People are not only known by the friends they have but become like them.  For this reason we hear Jesus’ words in today’s gospel with great joy.

From the beginning of the Gospel of John Jesus speaks as the incarnate Son of God.  He lives on a completely different, what might be called a “higher,” plain than other humans.  Because of this divine nature, it seems that humans will always remain subservient to him.  However, in today’s passage Jesus tells his disciples that they have become his friends.  After years under his tutelage they now share deeply and completely Jesus’ own interests.  It is more wonderful than being born into the aristocracy or being made a CEO.

Just as surely as St. Matthias shared friendship with Jesus, so may we.  Of course, it entails keeping his commandment to love both God and neighbor.  It also assumes a continual dialogue with Jesus in prayer.  As his friends, we are to listen to Jesus’ words in the gospel and share with him are own joys and anxieties.  In due time we will find ourselves becoming just like him.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima

(Acts 17:15.22-18:1; John 16:12-15)

The story of the apparitions at Fatima sound like nonsense to some.  Sophisticated people cannot accept the testimony of three country children about their encounter with the mother of God.  To these people the details of the revelation are pure fantasy.  In the same way the men at the Areopagus hear the testimony of Paul in the first reading today.

The story is written with a dramatic flair.  One can imagine Paul clearing his throat as he prepares to engage the Athenians in a philosophical discussion of Jesus.  Then the preacher begins his discourse by reminding the Athenians of their religious tradition. When he concludes, the people for the most part walk away in apathy to his testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Still today many non-believers have little patience to hear stories of Jesus.  If they will entertain thoughts of him at all, it will be because of the witness of Christians to his love.  When we care for one another and extend such love to those outside our circle of concern, people will take notice.  They will ask why we love others and discover the living effect of the resurrection.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 16:22-34; John 16:5-11)

A hospital patient had the fortune of being placed side by side with a charismatic priest.  The man was encouraged to speak about his life.  In the process, he discovered how God was directing him to make much needed changes.  Similarly, the jailer in today’s first reading is blessed to have had Paul and Silas for captives the night the earthquake shook the prison doors open.

The jailer then prepares to kill himself. It may be that he feels disgraced in losing prisoners.  It is also possible that he recognizes that the days of jailers from whom prisoners escape are numbered.  In any case Paul saves the sensitive man from suicide.  The act of graciousness impresses the man so much that he accepts Paul and Silas’ faith as well as their presence in his home.

Every once in a while we too meet a truly holy person.  He or she is not necessarily a priest or a sister; nevertheless, the holy one speaks about God with both simplicity and conviction.  We do well to heed what is said and to thank God for the sign of His presence.