Friday, May 29, 2009

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter


Readings for Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:
[3]

Reading 1:
Acts 25:13b-21

King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea
on a visit to Festus.
Since they spent several days there,
Festus referred Paul's case to the king, saying,
"There is a man here left in custody by Felix.
When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation.
I answered them that it was not Roman practice
to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers
and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.
So when they came together here, I made no delay;
the next day I took my seat on the tribunal
and ordered the man to be brought in.
His accusers stood around him,
but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected.
Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion
and about a certain Jesus who had died
but who Paul claimed was alive.
Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy,
I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem
and there stand trial on these charges.
And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody
for the Emperor's decision,
I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar."
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Commentary on
Acts 25:13b-21

Here we see the interesting secular response to the “Christian Controversy” from the perspective of St. Luke’s portrayal of the dialog between King Agrippa and Festus. St. Paul’s protective custody is about to be moved to Rome fulfilling the Apostle’s prophetic vision, "Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome” from
Acts 23:11.

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Responsorial Psalm:
Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab

R. (19a) The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you his angels,
you mighty in strength, who do his bidding.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.

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Commentary on
Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab

Psalm 103 is an individual hymn of praise. In this passage, the song acknowledges the blessings the Lord has given to those who believe in him and then proclaims the universality of his reign.

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Gospel:
John 21:15-19

After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
He said to him the third time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
"Do you love me?" and he said to him,
"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go."
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."
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Commentary on
Jn 21:15-19

This selection describes events following the passion and resurrection. Jesus has already revealed himself to the disciples in the “locked room”. He now addresses himself to St. Peter. Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times during the night of the Lord’s arrest. He now recants that betrayal with a three fold response to Jesus questions.

The First Vatican Council cited these verses in defining that Jesus, after his resurrection gave St. Peter the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over the whole flock. It is interesting to note that this section of St. John’s Gospel is referred to by scripture scholars as “Peter’s rehabilitation”.

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Reflection:

We can only imagine the remorse St. Peter felt after the Lord’s prediction, that he would reject him three times before the crowing of the cock, came to pass. Peter would have been virtually crippled by guilt; having first pledged his undying loyalty to Jesus at the Last Supper, and then publicly rejecting the Lord three times that same night out of fear. How many times between that night and the event described in the Gospel from St. John on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias had St. Peter despaired that he had committed a treason that rivaled that of Judas?

It is in St. Peter’s equally public oath and profession there at the Sea of Tiberias that he was able to atone for his failure and reaffirm his love of Jesus. Scripture scholars have long recognized this important event and even label it “Peter’s rehabilitation”. The Church sees this moment as one in which Jesus confirms his choice of St. Peter as the leader of the disciples and the one upon whom the primacy of the Church falls as first Pontiff. We, the Lord’s disciples these two thousand years later see another lesson in the story.

Imagining ourselves walking in St. Peters shoes, we feel ourselves responding the Jesus as he asks us “Do you love me?” We feel the unworthiness of our own actions behind us as we struggle to answer him. We recognize that beyond sacramental reconciliation and the penance we have done in atonement for the times we have failed him, we must prove our love for him by taking his message to the whole world. “Feed my Sheep.” He calls us to do that, one hungry soul at a time.

It is our own rehabilitation that we find in responding to Jesus. In a very real way, we find ourselves reinvigorated; our lives gain purpose, and our inmost being rejoices in the knowledge that Jesus loves us still and that we can respond to that love in a way that magnifies it. As we stand at the very edge of the great Pentecost celebration this reminder brings us great peace. It also brings us resolve that we might not fail again, but move forward in his love.

Pax

[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used is “Handing Over the Keys” by Raphael, 1515-16
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.

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