And Saint Christopher Magallanes and his Companions, Martyrs[1]
Biographical Information about St. Christobal Magallanes
Readings for Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 19:1-8
While Apollos stays in Corinth strengthening the Church there, Paul goes down to Ephesus. In this passage he describes the difference between the Baptism of John which was for repentance and the baptism of Jesus (for forgiveness). It is important to note that the gift of the Holy Spirit is given in the sacrament of Baptism demonstrated here.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
Psalm 68 continues the Easter praise and thanksgiving for God’s salvation. In the second strophe we relate back to the believers baptized by St. Paul in Ephesus.
Gospel Jn 16:29-33
Here, in St. John’s Gospel, we see the great solace of the disciples as Jesus essentially forgives them in advance for deserting him when he is confronted in the garden. Even as they confess that they believe in Him, Jesus knows they will flee when he is taken prisoner.
Reflection:
We see in Jesus' emotions as they are painted by St. John, a sense of sadness. He is sad because his closest friends, the disciples, have finally come to understand that he is the Messiah and that faith is about to be found wanting as it is tested in Gethsemane.
The Lord's feeling would be like a parent who hears his child boldly state that they will do well on a spelling test at school, but knows they have not studied enough and will be crushed when they fail. That parent would not tell the child, “You are going to fail.” They would know that their lack of confidence in the child would only make things worse. Rather they would say,”Do your best and I will be proud of you.”
Jesus tells the disciples they will be scattered (they are adults after all). Instead of telling them to do their best, he gives them a bigger gift. He tells them; “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.” He essentially stays he will not hold their fear against them.
We wonder today if the Lord had silently prayed to the Father, “Father, can’t you send the Holy Spirit just a little earlier so they won’t desert me in the garden? It would be a comfort not to be alone when I face my biggest test.” No, we suppose he did not even think that prayer (as we would have). Instead his concern, like a parent’s, was that the disciples not be crushed when they saw that they had run out on the Savior of the World. In this prediction Jesus said it was not just an acceptable reaction, but that it was a fate accompli, it was inevitable.
The gift of the Holy Spirit makes a huge difference. it did for the believers that St. Paul found in Ephesus. When he baptized them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, they came alive in the faith. It is witnessed in St. Christobal and his friends who were executed in Mexico for their unflagging faith.
Today let us follow their example. Let us reach out and grasp the indwelling Spirit and take it out for a spin, boldly proclaiming by our words and actions that we belong to one who sacrificed all he had so that we might live in Him.
Pax
Biographical Information about St. Christobal Magallanes
Readings for Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 19:1-8
While Apollos stays in Corinth strengthening the Church there, Paul goes down to Ephesus. In this passage he describes the difference between the Baptism of John which was for repentance and the baptism of Jesus (for forgiveness). It is important to note that the gift of the Holy Spirit is given in the sacrament of Baptism demonstrated here.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
Psalm 68 continues the Easter praise and thanksgiving for God’s salvation. In the second strophe we relate back to the believers baptized by St. Paul in Ephesus.
Gospel Jn 16:29-33
Here, in St. John’s Gospel, we see the great solace of the disciples as Jesus essentially forgives them in advance for deserting him when he is confronted in the garden. Even as they confess that they believe in Him, Jesus knows they will flee when he is taken prisoner.
Reflection:
We see in Jesus' emotions as they are painted by St. John, a sense of sadness. He is sad because his closest friends, the disciples, have finally come to understand that he is the Messiah and that faith is about to be found wanting as it is tested in Gethsemane.
The Lord's feeling would be like a parent who hears his child boldly state that they will do well on a spelling test at school, but knows they have not studied enough and will be crushed when they fail. That parent would not tell the child, “You are going to fail.” They would know that their lack of confidence in the child would only make things worse. Rather they would say,”Do your best and I will be proud of you.”
Jesus tells the disciples they will be scattered (they are adults after all). Instead of telling them to do their best, he gives them a bigger gift. He tells them; “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.” He essentially stays he will not hold their fear against them.
We wonder today if the Lord had silently prayed to the Father, “Father, can’t you send the Holy Spirit just a little earlier so they won’t desert me in the garden? It would be a comfort not to be alone when I face my biggest test.” No, we suppose he did not even think that prayer (as we would have). Instead his concern, like a parent’s, was that the disciples not be crushed when they saw that they had run out on the Savior of the World. In this prediction Jesus said it was not just an acceptable reaction, but that it was a fate accompli, it was inevitable.
The gift of the Holy Spirit makes a huge difference. it did for the believers that St. Paul found in Ephesus. When he baptized them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, they came alive in the faith. It is witnessed in St. Christobal and his friends who were executed in Mexico for their unflagging faith.
Today let us follow their example. Let us reach out and grasp the indwelling Spirit and take it out for a spin, boldly proclaiming by our words and actions that we belong to one who sacrificed all he had so that we might live in Him.
Pax
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