Readings for Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 12:24—13:5a
In this story from Acts we hear of the first missionary effort into Asia Minor. The Holy Spirit influences this action through Prophets among the members the missionary church at Antioch to send Barnabas and Saul. Note, the effort begins on Cyprus in the Synagogues. The word spreads.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
While Psalm 67 is a group lament or petition asking for a bountiful harvest, this selection points to the universal salvation promised by God to all the peoples.
Gospel John 12:44-50
Setting the stage for this passage from St. John’s Gospel, we find Jesus in the Temple precincts again, this time after his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. He has been teaching and while many believed that he was the Messiah, the Pharisees were intimidating and most did not acknowledge this belief. Jesus expresses his frustration in this passage as we hear; “Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me”.
Jesus goes on to explain that he and the Father are one and that not only was he sent by God, but that all he said, is saying, is from God. We note also that Jesus says that those who do not believe in him, He will not condemn; rather they condemn themselves through their own actions and will be so judged on the last day.
Reflection:
There are some intriguing words in the Gospel today. Jesus says “And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.” What a remarkable difference he expresses between the God of Justice seen by the Jews of his time and the God of Love he reveals.
We cannot help but think about the analogues relationship between parent and child. The parent sets up rules to keep the child from harming itself or others. As the child grows, it sees these rules as boundaries, a fence, a cage, a line past which they must not pass. If they do, and get caught, they will be punished. It is in this way that parents teach their children to stay safe and to integrate with society as a whole.
Some children are more rebellious than others. They see the rules as too restrictive – not meant for them, and, as soon as they are able, they flee the rules thinking that the rules themselves were a punishment when their intent was to keep the child safe. Like the fish in an aquarium that jumps out of the tank seeking freedom, too many of these find death instead of freedom. The rules intended to keep them safe have failed and the parents of these children suffer that loss.
Some children obey the rules but still do not recognize them for what they are, a safety net. They think of their parents as prison guards whose only purpose is to see that the rules are followed. In most cases, as these children get older, they think of their parents as pretty dull witted, out of step with the modern age – backwards because of their restrictive regulations. It is not until these children get much older that they realize the purpose of the rules and the intelligence of the parents.
It was the same with God and the Jews. They saw God as the keeper of the Law. If someone broke the law they were punished, by God. If someone was apparently punished, that is if something bad happened to them, the community assumed that God had seen them sin and the visible proof was the punishment.
Jesus changed all that. It was like a child who for the first time understands that the rules they grew up with were not meant as a burden or a punishment from their parents, but were an expression of love. Jesus said in no uncertain terms for the first time, “I love you!” to the people of the world. This is the message handed to us. This is why he did not come to condemn the world. We, in turn, are asked to make sure we pass this message on. We also see that, like parents who want to keep their children from harm, sometimes we must deliver an unpopular message. Today we pray for the strength to be that message.
Pax
Please pray for Esther.
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The Picture today is “Ruins with St. Paul Preaching” by Giovanni Paolo Pannini, 1735
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 12:24—13:5a
In this story from Acts we hear of the first missionary effort into Asia Minor. The Holy Spirit influences this action through Prophets among the members the missionary church at Antioch to send Barnabas and Saul. Note, the effort begins on Cyprus in the Synagogues. The word spreads.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
While Psalm 67 is a group lament or petition asking for a bountiful harvest, this selection points to the universal salvation promised by God to all the peoples.
Gospel John 12:44-50
Setting the stage for this passage from St. John’s Gospel, we find Jesus in the Temple precincts again, this time after his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. He has been teaching and while many believed that he was the Messiah, the Pharisees were intimidating and most did not acknowledge this belief. Jesus expresses his frustration in this passage as we hear; “Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me”.
Jesus goes on to explain that he and the Father are one and that not only was he sent by God, but that all he said, is saying, is from God. We note also that Jesus says that those who do not believe in him, He will not condemn; rather they condemn themselves through their own actions and will be so judged on the last day.
Reflection:
There are some intriguing words in the Gospel today. Jesus says “And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.” What a remarkable difference he expresses between the God of Justice seen by the Jews of his time and the God of Love he reveals.
We cannot help but think about the analogues relationship between parent and child. The parent sets up rules to keep the child from harming itself or others. As the child grows, it sees these rules as boundaries, a fence, a cage, a line past which they must not pass. If they do, and get caught, they will be punished. It is in this way that parents teach their children to stay safe and to integrate with society as a whole.
Some children are more rebellious than others. They see the rules as too restrictive – not meant for them, and, as soon as they are able, they flee the rules thinking that the rules themselves were a punishment when their intent was to keep the child safe. Like the fish in an aquarium that jumps out of the tank seeking freedom, too many of these find death instead of freedom. The rules intended to keep them safe have failed and the parents of these children suffer that loss.
Some children obey the rules but still do not recognize them for what they are, a safety net. They think of their parents as prison guards whose only purpose is to see that the rules are followed. In most cases, as these children get older, they think of their parents as pretty dull witted, out of step with the modern age – backwards because of their restrictive regulations. It is not until these children get much older that they realize the purpose of the rules and the intelligence of the parents.
It was the same with God and the Jews. They saw God as the keeper of the Law. If someone broke the law they were punished, by God. If someone was apparently punished, that is if something bad happened to them, the community assumed that God had seen them sin and the visible proof was the punishment.
Jesus changed all that. It was like a child who for the first time understands that the rules they grew up with were not meant as a burden or a punishment from their parents, but were an expression of love. Jesus said in no uncertain terms for the first time, “I love you!” to the people of the world. This is the message handed to us. This is why he did not come to condemn the world. We, in turn, are asked to make sure we pass this message on. We also see that, like parents who want to keep their children from harm, sometimes we must deliver an unpopular message. Today we pray for the strength to be that message.
Pax
Please pray for Esther.
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The Picture today is “Ruins with St. Paul Preaching” by Giovanni Paolo Pannini, 1735
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