Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 2:32-37; John 3:7b-15)

The evangelist John often uses simple language to convey profound ideas.  This method has the advantage of universal understanding of words but suffers the distinct possibility of misunderstanding. Today’s gospel provides an example. 

Jesus is telling Nicodemus about “earthly things.”  He likely means the way people always seek their own advantage with the result that they cross the line of injustice.  “Heavenly things,” by contrast, are how God bestows life to the full, that is, eternal life.  He gives it freely when people recognizing their injustice seek forgiveness.  An example of “heavenly things” is found in the reading from Acts.  Barnabas disposes of his property to benefit those in need.

We shouldn’t think that we are somehow lax Christians if we don’t sell our properties to help others.  Nevertheless, as followers of Christ, we must be generous with what we have.  He sacrificed both heavenly existence and earthly peace to redeem us sinners.  We should make sacrifices on behalf of others in imitation of him.

Monday, April 17, 2023

 Monday of the Second Week of Easter

 (Acts 4:23-31; John 3:1-8)

 In Leonard Bernstein’s epic musical Mass, the epistle is sung as a tribute to the “Word of the Lord.”  Addressed to “men of power,” the song exalts what the Acts of the Apostles teaches about the efficacy of God’s message.  Over the long run, the song says, God’s message of love will conquer the pride, ambition, and contempt of the powerful.

In today’s passage from Acts, Peter and John have just returned from being told by the Jewish Sanhedrin never to speak the name of Jesus again.  The apostles, having openly defied the order, now pray with the Christian community for strength.  Their stance is confirmed as the room shakes with the approval of the people moved by the Holy Spirit.

 Although its contents are only words, the Word of God can threaten the interests of the powerful.  It speaks of God’s desire that humans worship Him, not the heads of armies.  We must study it, understand it, preach it, and live it as God’s servants. 

Sunday, April 16, 2023

 SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER – DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

(Acts 2:42-47; I Peter 1:3-9; John 20:1-9)

Today, the Second Sunday of Easter, has been called by various names. In some places it has been known as “Low Sunday”, with the First Sunday of Easter being the “High Feast of Easter”. In recent times it has been named “Divine Mercy Sunday”. It has been given this name because of the writings of the Polish mystic, St. Faustina Kowalska, and also because in the gospel passage for this Sunday Jesus initiates the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It can also be called "Doubting Thomas Sunday" for another part of the passage. In it the apostle Thomas expresses doubts that Jesus rose from the dead. The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles suggests yet another title. Always on the second Sunday of Easter the reading recounts how the community of believers in Jerusalem lived in harmony. So, "Sunday of the Primitive Church" would not be inappropriate. Today we are going to limit our reflection to this last theme.

The first reading says that the community "devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers." It has been the work of the Holy Spirit that the Church has mostly maintained these characteristics for twenty centuries. However, there have been deviations at different times. How well does the contemporary Church shape up to this list?

The teachings of the apostles were not ideas invented by the twelve but the revelations of Jesus Christ adapted for particular communities. They included both morals and doctrines of faith. Recently the bishops of Germany have approved resolutions that undermine some of the morals taught by the apostles. They want to bless homosexual unions, recognize genders other than male and female, and even admit the possibility of a woman claiming that she has changed her gender to be ordained to the priesthood. If these kinds of ideas take root, it seems that the Church would no longer conform to the teachings of the apostles.

The reading gives an example of “communal life” when it says that landowners sold their properties and offered the proceeds for distribution according to each person’s need. From time to time we hear claims that this practice amounts to communism. However, there is a big difference between the two systems. The practice of sharing in the apostolic community was voluntary. With communism sharing is forced. Interestingly, Acts later mentions a problem with the system, and no other New Testament book recommends it. Rather, most of the books insist that those with means, be they communities or individuals, help those without. Today the Church has organizations like Caritas International that distribute donations to peoples experiencing need.

The “breaking of bread” seems like code words for the Eucharist. According to the reading, the followers of Christ in the Jerusalem community joined their Jewish sisters and brothers in the Temple to pray daily. But when they returned home, they shared the Eucharist with each other. The sad situation today is that many Catholics do not see the need to attend Sunday Mass, nor do they recognize the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

No doubt the early Church in Jerusalem continued to pray Jewish prayers, particularly the psalms. Also, there is testimony in the New Testament that they introduced new prayers like "Maranatha" which means, "Come, Lord Jesus." Of course, they also prayed the "Lord's Prayer" with the same desire that the end of time may come soon. We continue to pray like this today, but with less awareness of the promised coming of the Lord in glory.

The Church has not changed in the essentials. As has been shown, for the most part it continues to display the characteristics of the early Church. Certainly there have been changes in the ways of expressing these characteristics since then. In the first century there were no newspapers, much less the mass media to propagate the teachings. It is urgent that we do not lose these characteristics. When Christ comes, we want him to recognize us as his own.

Friday, April 14, 2023

Friday within the Octave of Easter

(Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

Speaking truth to power often puts one in danger.  Martin Luther King, Jr., did it continually and died by an assassin’s bullet.  Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador also spoke up on behalf of the poor and likewise was martyred.  Both of these contemporary prophets were, no doubt, inspired by Peter’s speech in today’s first reading.

Jewish authorities are harassing Peter for having invoked the name of Jesus.  They cannot tolerate the invocation because they had Jesus executed.  Peter, however, cannot help but proclaim the resurrection for all that it means to humanity.  As he says, God raised Jesus from the dead and there is no salvation other than in him.  Peter publicly pronounces Jesus’ salvation four other times in the Acts of the Apostles.  Not surprisingly then, Peter suffers martyrdom for so boldly declaring the primary Christian message.

All of us will have an opportunity to speak truth to power.  Sometimes we cannot avoid doing it because a life may be at stake or because the truth has transcendent importance.  When we engage in the endeavor, we should prepare ourselves well.  Accuracy and conciseness about what we say are critical. We want to achieve our purpose.  This means leaving what is superfluous or unnecessarily polemical.  Then we must ready ourselves to endure repercussions.  However, if we know what we are talking about and say it with prudence, we may convince at least some of the powerful people who oppose us.  Finally, we want to pray for assistance.  Jesus promises his disciples his continued presence when they speak what he teaches.

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Thursday of the First Week of Easter

(Acts 3:11-26; Luke 24:35-48)

In today’s gospel Jesus tells his disciples that the Scriptures speak of him.  Of course, he is referring to the Old Testament, the only “Scriptures” at that moment.  The reference should be taken both in a general and a specific sense.  Certain passages of the Old Testament foretell of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death, and resurrection.  But all the texts together serve as background for a better understanding of who he is.

This gospel passage has been noted as a kind of outline of the Old Testament.  It names the three major parts of the Jewish Bible: the law, the prophets, and the psalms, which form the most read book of the third part, called “Writings”.  More than a code of precepts, the law describes human sin and God’s plan to rectify it.  The prophets relate the ongoing struggle as God prepares for the coming of His Son.  The writings, especially the psalms, provide a full picture of the Jewish spirituality in which Jesus was formed.

It would be wrong to think that Jesus revolted against his Jewish heritage and abandoned his people.  His death and resurrection serve as the impetus to bring a fuller understanding of Israel’s faith to the whole world.  We should read “the law, the prophets, and the psalms” with a curiosity for what Jesus had in mind for this project.