Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter


Readings for Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Acts 15:1-6

We will hear this debate again on this coming Sunday were the first two verses will again be used. In this passage we see the issue being raised – should the Gentile Christians be required to follow ALL Hebrew Law (as Jesus and his disciples did). The practice they are debating today is circumcision and should the male Gentiles be required to be circumcised. It was a big enough deal to send Paul and Barnabas back to Jerusalem where we hear the debate continue.

This event helps us understand how teaching in the early Church was kept consistent. Peter and the Apostles were the authority. On important questions of the faith they were the ones who made decisions. Local Presbyters did not.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Psalm 122 is a hymn of praise being used to echo the journey of Paul and Barnabas back to Jerusalem. The original singers would have been rejoicing at returning to the one temple.

Gospel Jn 15:1-8

We begin the discourse on the vine and the branches – really a monologue on the union with Jesus. It is still part of Jesus’ farewell speech. The familiar image of the Vineyard and the Vines is used which has imagery in common with
Isaiah 5:1-7; Matthew 21:33-46 and as a vine at Psalm 80:9-17; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:2; 17:5-10; 19:10; Hosea 10:1. The identification of the vine as the Son of Man in Psalm 80:15 and Wisdom's description of herself as a vine in Sirach 24:17. This monologue becomes a unifying tie that pulls everything together.

Reflection:

The theme of unification of Christians is strongly portrayed today. First we hear of Paul and Barnabas returning to Jerusalem to resolve and important issue within the infant Church. Rather than making an authoritative statement and thereby risking dividing the community (remember, this debate was started because other Jews from Judea had come to join their brethren. While they did not have the authority of Paul and Barnabas who were sent by Peter and the other disciples, they had undoubtedly been instructed by them and may have even been eye witnesses to the Lord’s Passion. It is, then, critical that Paul and Barnabas act as they did – get a consensus from the common authority. It also gives them a chance to reinforce the message they had seeded along the way. In this case, the vine had grown rapidly and sent off many branches.

In the second instance, the Lord’s own monologue in his farewell speech to the disciples is also speaking of the unity they must foster. He tells them in clear words “Remain in me, as I remain in you.” Here we leap to understanding of the presence of the Eucharist. From the vine’s fruit comes wine and the wine becomes the blood and the blood remains is us as we remain in him.

The picture painted is of concentric circles with the outer circle being the unity of the Church and the inner circle being our individual unity with Christ. Like rays shinning out from a central light, the inner circle that is the individual members support the outer against all forces. Imagery aside, our personal relationship with the Lord is bound up with his universal relationship with the Church. With her we remain in Him.

Pax

[1] After Links Expire
[2] The image today is the “Blessing Christ” by Giovanni Bellini, 1460

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