Friday, May 13, 2016

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 25:13b-21; John 21:15-19)

The retired fisherman explained to his guest what his life was like.  He said that he set out to sea in the middle of the night.  There he placed his nets and waited for them to fill up.  Then he hauled in his catch and brought the fish to market.  He was one with nature, close to God, feeling free and challenged to transcend human limitations.  In the gospel today Jesus tells Peter to give up this vigorous life for the more troubling task of serving his people.

Jesus calls Peter “’Simon, son of John’” to indicate the seriousness of his request.  Then he poses the question, “’…do you love me more than these?’” “These” likely refers to the boat and gear that Peter uses in fishing.  When Peter assures Jesus that he does, Jesus issues his order to feed his flock.  But he is demanding of Peter more than that he abandon a fulfilling livelihood.  Because he will be taking Jesus’ place, Jesus is preparing Peter to give up his life. 

“Mary, do you love me more than your job teaching?”  “Joseph, do you love me more than work programming computers?”  We should hear Jesus asking of each of us a similar question.  No, he is likely not going to tell us to give up our occupations.  But he does want us to prioritize.  We are to love him first – more than husband or wife, job or career, food or sport.  When we do so, we will find that we will be able to love everyone and everything, even ourselves, all the better.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 22:30.23:6-11; John 17:20-26)

Toward the end of the Gospel of Luke Jesus warns his disciples of the hardships to come.  He tells them that they will be hauled into prison and put on trial.  But he insists that they do not worry as he assures them, “’… I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.’”  Paul seems to have known about that promise as he faces the Jews in today’s first reading.

Having lived in Jerusalem, Paul is also aware of its politics.  The liberal Pharisees accept the relatively recent teaching of the resurrection of the dead while the conservative Sadducees reject it as foreign to Torah.  No doubt the question masked a much greater rivalry between the two groups.  In any case Paul exploits the ideological difference.  He raises the question of resurrection from the dead to distract both sides from prosecuting him.

We sometimes refrain from talking about our faith because we are afraid of being judged.  We don’t want to appear to others as weak.  This may stop us from pronouncing a blessing on someone or sharing with another a deep-seated conviction.  Such timidity is neither necessary nor helpful.  If we believe in God, we should call on Him to bless others (as long as we do not do it condescendingly).  Similarly, since we know that God is behind everything good thing we do, we should openly give Him credit for enabling our accomplishment.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 20:28-38; John 17:11-19)

Ideas have consequences.  Sometimes it seems that an evil act is worse than a distortion of the truth.  But distortions often cause multiple misdeeds that dwarf the effect of a single evil act.  An example of the destructive power of mistaken ideas can be seen in Situation Ethics which became fashionable midway through the last century.  This ethical theory allows any act as long as the actor intends to do something loving.  Many hearts are broken and much misery suffered because of loving intentions.  Both readings today warn of similarly dismal consequences on account of erroneous ideas.

St. Paul tells the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus that they must be mindful of false doctrine.  No doubt he has in mind the demand that pagans accept Jewish ceremonial precepts.  In the gospel Jesus prays to the Father to preserve his disciples from evil.  It is harder to pinpoint what he has in mind here.  From what Jesus did just before he began this “Last Discourse,” he may be referring to the idea that leaders deserve places of honor. 

Truth is essential to Christian belief.  We must assiduously pursue it and faithfully live it.  One truth, however, of which we should be mindful is the difficulty to perceive it.  For this reason we need to be tolerant of others in their search for it.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 20:17-27; John 17:1-11a)

The movie Philomena opens with the main character praying.  She obviously enjoys a close relationship with the Lord. She is a simple woman -- not well-off or socially enviable -- but happy.  The movie contrasts her life with that of the journalist who accompanies her in the quest of information about her lost son.  He is sophisticated, critical, and restless.  Most people would choose to be like him, but Philomena’s life is really more desirable.  Today’s gospel indicates why.

In the gospel Jesus gives a definition of eternal life.  It is having status or comforts or culinary delights.  It is merely to know God and His Son, Jesus.  The knowledge he speaks of is experiential not theoretical.  It is the love one feels from a friend who knows us thoroughly and chooses to remain with us forever.

We will gain experiential knowledge of both God the Father and the Son to the extent that we show love to others.  This entails acknowledging and rejoicing in the goodness of those whom we meet.  It can be challenging at times as most people have some irksome characteristics.  We may consider our recognition of the goodness of others as an investment.  Whatever effort we make to do it will reap great dividends in what God does for us.

Monday, May 9, 2016

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter

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

The paintings of Alice Dalton Brown often depict the Holy Spirit.  They do not show birds or fire but wind and water and sunlight.  They tell us that the Holy Spirit makes life delightful.  They indicate how needy we would be without the Spirit like the disciples whom St. Paul meets at Ephesus in today’s first reading.

Often people consider Christian faith as dreary.  They see some followers of Jesus as joyless.  They wonder if being a disciple of Jesus is just about making costly sacrifices.  Of course, they are wrong.  They need to see that Christians have the Holy Spirit who makes their lives eminently happy.  In the reading when Paul imparts the Spirit, the disciples’ joy is expressed in their becoming ecstatic.  They immediately speak in strange voices like mountain men yodeling.

We too have the Holy Spirit as our greatest gift.  He is God Himself singing, as it were, within us and radiating happiness.  We know that close to God, we are safe from all harm.  We will conquer even death itself.