Readings from Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 20:28-38
The discourse St. Paul began yesterday is concluded today. He is speaking to the presbyters that have been appointed over the various communities around Ephesus (a very large city at the time). He has already explained that he is returning to Jerusalem and does not believe he will see them again. Now he tells them to be on guard against false prophets and teachers and against members of their own communities who will spread dissension. He reminds them, finally, to keep focused on the Lord’s commands and to remain charitable.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab
R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.
We continue in Psalm 68 for a third day. Our hymn of thanksgiving sings of the great favor the Lord has show to his chosen people. It rejoices in God’s salvation.
Gospel John 17:11b-19
We continue the “High Priestly Prayer” started in St. John’s Gospel yesterday. This part of the prayer begins with a plea for unity between the Father and disciples (note the reference here to Judas Iscariot as the “son of destruction). Still speaking directly to God, Jesus again says he is going to the Father and that the disciples should share his joy at prospect. He then asks the father to keep them safe from the poison of sin (similar here to the petition in the Lord’s Prayer) and to consecrate them in truth (defining truth as the Word).
Reflection:
There is a real life situation that is instructive as we consider St. Paul’s reading. Here is the background. There is in a certain parish a woman who is a tremendous force for charity, especially to an overseas mission. She has truly put the love of Christ in front of her own wants or needs. She is a voice constantly crying out for social justice, pointing to the poorest of the poor, reminding all who will listen how great God is and how good he has been to those of us who have more.
Recently she put on a charity event at her parish. It was a fund raiser for the poor children of her overseas mission. Now before we get to the issue here, it is necessary to point out for those not familiar with conditions in this southeaster corner of the state of Michigan, that economic conditions in this region are very difficult for many people. In the group that attended this event were some who came and contributed out of their own need rather than their excess. One lady in particular was there who spent the last winter without heat and whose house will be taken from her in foreclosure shortly.
Following the usual plea for funds for the poor children of the mission country and the generous outpouring of gifts by the ladies who attended, our charitable activist offered a prayer. The prayer, of all things, was were the situation became difficult. It seems that the prayer offered was composed by a religious sister who is considered to be “liberal”, outspoken on the subject of inclusive spirituality. We concede she is not mainstream and staunch supporters would be considered to have fallen into what St; Paul speaks about today as “And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them. “
The prayer itself pointed fingers at those who have much in the world and implied that being given such gifts was somehow an affront to the Lord. A comment was made about the nature of the prayer at one of the tables and an individual who professes to have an outspoken and voluminous nature took issue with the use of the prayer, more because of who had authored it than what it said. She called the prayer a “political statement” and the person who authored it “Anti-Christ”. She then quite publicly used that same brush to paint the person who organized the event and the person who invited her to it, all the time calling them both “her sisters in Christ”. As charitable as her actions had been in attending the event, her lack of charity toward her friends belied those noble impulses.
So, I put this to you, my fellow travelers on this path to the Lord.
Who should shoulder the responsibility for the schism in the Body of Christ? There are deep hurts on both sides at this point. The person who is attempting to show the love of Christ to the poor children in another country is hurt by the words of the outspoken conservative. The outspoken conservative is hurt by the thought that her attempted charity was not accepted with grace. And those in the middle were embarrassed by the outbursts and may not come to another similar event.
What should be done?
The Lord will guide us but we have to listen. Christ prays for us but we are called to do our part. St. Paul pleads for unity, an important call still.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used is “The Body of Christ with Two Angels” by Alessandro Allori, c. 1600
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 20:28-38
The discourse St. Paul began yesterday is concluded today. He is speaking to the presbyters that have been appointed over the various communities around Ephesus (a very large city at the time). He has already explained that he is returning to Jerusalem and does not believe he will see them again. Now he tells them to be on guard against false prophets and teachers and against members of their own communities who will spread dissension. He reminds them, finally, to keep focused on the Lord’s commands and to remain charitable.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab
R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.
We continue in Psalm 68 for a third day. Our hymn of thanksgiving sings of the great favor the Lord has show to his chosen people. It rejoices in God’s salvation.
Gospel John 17:11b-19
We continue the “High Priestly Prayer” started in St. John’s Gospel yesterday. This part of the prayer begins with a plea for unity between the Father and disciples (note the reference here to Judas Iscariot as the “son of destruction). Still speaking directly to God, Jesus again says he is going to the Father and that the disciples should share his joy at prospect. He then asks the father to keep them safe from the poison of sin (similar here to the petition in the Lord’s Prayer) and to consecrate them in truth (defining truth as the Word).
Reflection:
There is a real life situation that is instructive as we consider St. Paul’s reading. Here is the background. There is in a certain parish a woman who is a tremendous force for charity, especially to an overseas mission. She has truly put the love of Christ in front of her own wants or needs. She is a voice constantly crying out for social justice, pointing to the poorest of the poor, reminding all who will listen how great God is and how good he has been to those of us who have more.
Recently she put on a charity event at her parish. It was a fund raiser for the poor children of her overseas mission. Now before we get to the issue here, it is necessary to point out for those not familiar with conditions in this southeaster corner of the state of Michigan, that economic conditions in this region are very difficult for many people. In the group that attended this event were some who came and contributed out of their own need rather than their excess. One lady in particular was there who spent the last winter without heat and whose house will be taken from her in foreclosure shortly.
Following the usual plea for funds for the poor children of the mission country and the generous outpouring of gifts by the ladies who attended, our charitable activist offered a prayer. The prayer, of all things, was were the situation became difficult. It seems that the prayer offered was composed by a religious sister who is considered to be “liberal”, outspoken on the subject of inclusive spirituality. We concede she is not mainstream and staunch supporters would be considered to have fallen into what St; Paul speaks about today as “And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them. “
The prayer itself pointed fingers at those who have much in the world and implied that being given such gifts was somehow an affront to the Lord. A comment was made about the nature of the prayer at one of the tables and an individual who professes to have an outspoken and voluminous nature took issue with the use of the prayer, more because of who had authored it than what it said. She called the prayer a “political statement” and the person who authored it “Anti-Christ”. She then quite publicly used that same brush to paint the person who organized the event and the person who invited her to it, all the time calling them both “her sisters in Christ”. As charitable as her actions had been in attending the event, her lack of charity toward her friends belied those noble impulses.
So, I put this to you, my fellow travelers on this path to the Lord.
Who should shoulder the responsibility for the schism in the Body of Christ? There are deep hurts on both sides at this point. The person who is attempting to show the love of Christ to the poor children in another country is hurt by the words of the outspoken conservative. The outspoken conservative is hurt by the thought that her attempted charity was not accepted with grace. And those in the middle were embarrassed by the outbursts and may not come to another similar event.
What should be done?
The Lord will guide us but we have to listen. Christ prays for us but we are called to do our part. St. Paul pleads for unity, an important call still.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used is “The Body of Christ with Two Angels” by Alessandro Allori, c. 1600
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