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| “Martyrdom of the Apostles” Altarpiece (interior left wing) by Stefan Lochner, 1435-40 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Acts 16:1-10
Commentary on Acts 16:1-10
In this passage from Acts, Paul finds Timothy to whom he later writes his great descriptions on the infrastructure of the Church. Together, they travel throughout the region and, as the reading says: “Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number.” Paul had Timothy circumcised so he could minister to the Jews as well as the Greeks in their travels. Paul personally held fast to Jewish Law. God calls them onward through visions of the work to be done in God’s service.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 100:1b-2, 3, 5
R. (2a) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Commentary on Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 5
Psalm 100 is a song of praise and thanksgiving. In this selection we praise God because he created us. We praise God because he continues to guide us. The psalm affirms God’s saving grace, given to his sons and daughters through all generations.
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Gospel: John 15:18-21
Commentary on John 15:18-21
Jesus gives the disciples a paradox in telling them that, while they are part of the world, they do not belong to the world. John gives us three different meanings of "the world." In this instance it probably refers to fallen Israel - the spear of the devil that opposes God and hates the truth. In other instances it refers to the universe created by God (John 1:10) and the fallen family of mankind in need of redemption (John 3:17). [4] The disciples are separated from that society through their association with Christ. He then reminds them that because they are his, they too will suffer persecution by those he came to save.
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Reflection:
During this Easter Season we do well to remember the legacy of the likes of St. Paul. The reading from Acts describes the great work he has undertaken because, as Christ says in the Gospel, “…I have chosen you out of the world.” We will venerate Saint Bernadine in a few weeks (May 20) on his feast day. He spoke to this very issue in one of his homilies, and we cannot do better than this saint. Here is an excerpt from his legacy:
When a fire is lit to clear a field, it burns off all the dry and useless weeds and thorns. When the sun rises and darkness is dispelled, robbers, night-prowlers and burglars hide away. So when Paul's voice was raised to preach the Gospel to the nations, like a great clap of thunder in the sky, his preaching was a blazing fire carrying all before it. It was the sun rising in full glory. Infidelity was consumed by it, false beliefs fled away, and the truth appeared like a great candle lighting the whole world with its brilliant flame.
By word of mouth, by letters, by miracles, and by the example of his own life, Saint Paul bore the name of Jesus wherever he went. He praised the name of Jesus "at all times," but never more than when "bearing witness to his faith."
Moreover, the Apostle did indeed carry this name "before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel" as a light to enlighten all nations. And this was his cry wherever he journeyed: "The night is passing away, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves honorably as in the day." Paul himself showed forth the burning and shining light set upon a candlestick, everywhere proclaiming "Jesus, and him crucified."
And so the Church, the bride of Christ strengthened by his testimony, rejoices with the psalmist, singing: "O God from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds." The psalmist exhorts her to do this, as he says: "Sing to the Lord, and bless his name, proclaim his salvation day after day." And this salvation is Jesus, her savior.
-from a sermon by Saint Bernadine of Siena
Pax
[1] The picture used is “Martyrdom of the Apostles” Altarpiece (interior left wing) by Stefan Lochner, 1435-40
[4] Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, © 2010, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA. p. 161
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