Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

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

Stephen almost taunts his enemies to kill him.  He sounds like a zealot seeking martyrdom for earthly fame more than heavenly glory.  Jesus had measured criticism for the Pharisees that opposed him. Stephen on the other hand pulls no punches.  But in the end Stephen does conform himself to Jesus quite admirably.

As Stephen is being stoned, like Jesus he prays for his enemies.  Also like Jesus, Stephen entrusts his spirit to God although in his case it is the eternal Son.  God provides a final favorable comparison between Stephen and Jesus.  As Jesus’ death and resurrection ends with his disciples receiving the Holy Spirit to carry on his work, Stephen’s death ends in St. Paul taking note and eventually preaching the Lord Jesus in the Greek world.

God does not want us to seek martyrdom.  That would be both unnatural and foolish.  But God does want us to imitate Jesus’ willingness to forgive.  That involves a dying to self that is not unlike a martyr’s witness.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Monday of the Third Week of Easter

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

A discount supermarket chain started selling milk for ninety-nine cents a gallon.  Of course, the chain lost money on the milk, but it could tolerate the red ink. Its purpose was to bring shoppers into the store where they would buy other commodities not so inexpensively priced.  It used the low priced milk as a sign of the savings customers could obtain by shopping in its stores.  Jesus explains in the gospel today that his feeding of the five thousand had a similar sign value.

He tells the people that the bread he provided was more than physical food.  Multiplied exponentially, the bread served as a sign of the spiritual food which he always provides.  In other words, the bread that fed five thousand points to love of God’s kingdom.  It, and not lobster or rib-eye, gives life to the full.

When we take Jesus’ body and blood at Mass, we should realize that we are opting for him and not the luxuries of this world.  It is to say that his love is what we most relish in life.

Friday, April 8, 2016

Friday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 5:34-42; John 6:1-15)

In television’s beginnings a popular program was a quiz show called “What’s My Line?” The show featured celebrities who questioned guests to determine their profession.  The gospels might be seen as doing something similar – raising questions of Jesus to determine who he is.

In today’s passage from John’s gospel Jesus feeds the multitude with five small loaves of bread.  He is seen by the people as the Prophet proclaimed by Moses who will come from the people and whose words the people will heed.  Jesus himself sees the possibility of their taking him away as their king.  Of course, he is not concerned about an earthly office.  He has a higher mission.  In the Gospel of John Jesus is the Word of God made flesh so that the world might find salvation from sin.

We may be tempted to continually raise the question of Jesus’ identity ourselves.  Certainly we hear others expressing doubt that he is the Second Person of the divine Trinity.  However, we must hold to the claim so that our following will lead us to eternal happiness in him.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Memorial of Saint John Baptist de La Salle

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

Saint John Baptist de La Salle inherited a large fortune from his nobleman father.  He also felt called to the priestly life at a young age.  But he used neither his money nor his vocation in traditional ways.  He gave away his fortune to feed the poor.  He did not pursue a curate’s life but founded an intentionally non-clerical religious institute to educate poor boys.  He was a man “born from above” as Jesus says in the long discourse from which today’s gospel is taken.

Throughout the passage Jesus’ language appears strange.  His mannerism also seems disengaged, even distant.  These effects were intended by John the Evangelist to help his readers appreciate the difference between Jesus and the world.  As Jesus says here, he is “’the one who comes from above (and) is above all.’” In reality Jesus was quite like other people.  He had outstanding characteristics, but he was not odd or eccentric.  He was sensible, thoughtful, and compatible. Yet he testified, as the fourth gospel makes evident, to a way of life that the world cannot comprehend.  Where the world seeks comfort, credit, and control, Jesus’ Spirit moved him and those to whom he has given it to self-denial for the sake of others.

By the grace of God, Jesus has shared his Spirit with us.  It is the greatest gift because it provides us with an infinitely open future.  But it entails dominance over our  distorted desires.  We are to re-channel our energies in love for others.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter

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

The gospel today begins with one of the most famous verses in the entire Bible.  In fact, John 3:16 has been called “the Gospel in miniature.”  It boldly proclaims God’s love and tells of the eternal destiny for all who care to be formed by it.

The passage reads that Jesus is not here to condemn humans but to offer them a choice.  They can accept him, the light of the world, as their guide.  Or they can remain in the darkness of sinful desires.  It is instructive that Nicodemus, whom Jesus is addressing here, first comes to Jesus “at night” indicating his complexity in sin.  However, he makes a final appearance in broad daylight after the crucifixion to bury Jesus.  This charitable act indicates that Nicodemus has opted for the light of the world.

We may ask if it is possible to accept Jesus while maintaining some sinful desire.  Perhaps we enjoy gossip or maybe a pornographic Internet site.  No, the light of the world will not admit any darkness although he does listen to our prayers for mercy.  If we sincerely petition him and duly follow his instructions, he will see us through to eternal life.