Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Priest, Martyr
Readings for Friday of the Second Week of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 5:34-42
A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel,
a teacher of the law, respected by all the people,
stood up, ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time,
and said to the Sanhedrin, "Fellow children of Israel,
be careful what you are about to do to these men.
Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important,
and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed,
and all those who were loyal to him
were disbanded and came to nothing.
After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census.
He also drew people after him,
but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered.
So now I tell you,
have nothing to do with these men, and let them go.
For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin,
it will destroy itself.
But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them;
you may even find yourselves fighting against God."
They were persuaded by him.
After recalling the Apostles, they had them flogged,
ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus,
and dismissed them.
So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing that they had been found worthy
to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes,
they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Christ, Jesus.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 5:34-42
Today we conclude the Apostles’ second confrontation of the Sanhedrin. Gamaliel (probably St. Paul’s mentor Acts 22:3), dissuades them from killing the Apostles to let them off with scourging (probably also at the hands of the same men who scourged the Lord). St. Luke records an enlightened view from the great Hebrew Teacher. Having witnessed a number of false prophets rise and fall, he tells the Sanhedrin that “... if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them”.
Gamaliel was indeed wise, recognizing that, even before it formally existed, the blood of martyrs is the seed for new members of the Church. Even persecution has a positive effect on the faith and fervor of the Apostles (“So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.”)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. (see 4abc) One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
One thing I ask of the LORD
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
The selection from Psalm 27 presents as an individual lament. David here longs for the Lord’s protection and the gift of life which flows from his salvation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 6:1-15
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
"Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little."
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people recline."
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
"Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted."
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
"This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 6:1-15
The Gospel from St. John today is the fourth sign from his Gospel, the multiplication of the loaves. It is the only miracle story carried in all four Gospels and closely follows the synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke) in most details.
Placed in Eastertide the Eucharistic symbolism is most striking. More subtle is the reference to feeding the poor. Barley loaves were traditionally the fare of the poor. It is also interesting to note that in the Jerusalem translation the Lord “escaped” into the hills at the end of the story, implying the people were immediately aware of the great sign he had facilitated.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
What is the worth of the most valuable object in the whole world if it is kept secret in the hands of a private collector? Let us say a huge diamond is discovered and cut in such a magnificent way that it is considered perfect. What is its value as it sits in a vault unseen by human eyes, unknown except to those who secreted it away? It may have value to its owner who occasionally opens the vault to gaze upon its beauty. But to the person who is starving for lack of food or cold for lack of fuel, its only value would be if that object could be sold (to one who would in turn sell it again) to purchase what they need. As in most things the world prizes, value is relative to ones situation and only realized when the asset is sold to another for something perceived to be of equal value.
Are there things of “intrinsic” value? That is, are there objects that have value in and of themselves without the need to be transferred to another? Nourishing food could be said to have intrinsic value. It feeds the body, provides what a person needs to retain health and continued life. Water could also said to have intrinsic value, perhaps even more so than food since, even after it is consumed, it is recycled in its original form to provide benefit to other things, plants, animals, and people. But if it were kept in a sealed jar on a table or in a locked cabinet, what is its value? The value of the water lies in the beneficial effects it produces when it is used.
In the Gospel today, we find something with intrinsic value, the Eucharist. Symbolized by the miraculous feeding of the multitudes, the “Bread from Heaven” feeds body and soul. The Lord blesses it (scripture says “he gave thanks”) and then all present ate of it. All were satisfied; all were nourished. What valued did those barley loaves have before they were transubstantiated? They were food, poor food at that. Yet after they were blessed they became much more. They became a sign of God’s love, a symbol of salvation, a gift of freedom.
Now we ask the same question about value as we asked above when talking about a diamond or other objects of value. What is the value of the Eucharist, the transubstantiated Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ if it stays locked in the tabernacle? We venerate that place of repose with genuflection. We adore the Body of Christ as it is exposed in the monstrance. Even the sight of it is efficacious, like being in the presence of some healing balm or invisible radiation that promotes health. The value of the Eucharist is most dramatically felt when we receive it, consume it; when it becomes part of us and we of it. That place deep within us that we call the spirit or soul reacts to that divine presence and we are strengthened and uplifted.
There are those who see the unremarkable bread and wine as simply reminders of an ancient story of self-sacrifice. They see the morsel as something having no physical value beyond the minimal nourishment it might provide. In those cases it would be better for that person to never receive the Eucharistic meal. It is like the farmer who while plowing his filed find a diamond in the rough and casts it aside as valueless.
Today we reflect upon the value of something beyond valuing. We discover the gift of salvation, freely given, the product of incredible sacrifice offered to us freely and we are awed by the purity of the gift.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used is “The Miracle of the Loaves” by Tintoretto, 1579-81
[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.
Readings for Friday of the Second Week of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 5:34-42
A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel,
a teacher of the law, respected by all the people,
stood up, ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time,
and said to the Sanhedrin, "Fellow children of Israel,
be careful what you are about to do to these men.
Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important,
and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed,
and all those who were loyal to him
were disbanded and came to nothing.
After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census.
He also drew people after him,
but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered.
So now I tell you,
have nothing to do with these men, and let them go.
For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin,
it will destroy itself.
But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them;
you may even find yourselves fighting against God."
They were persuaded by him.
After recalling the Apostles, they had them flogged,
ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus,
and dismissed them.
So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing that they had been found worthy
to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes,
they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Christ, Jesus.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 5:34-42
Today we conclude the Apostles’ second confrontation of the Sanhedrin. Gamaliel (probably St. Paul’s mentor Acts 22:3), dissuades them from killing the Apostles to let them off with scourging (probably also at the hands of the same men who scourged the Lord). St. Luke records an enlightened view from the great Hebrew Teacher. Having witnessed a number of false prophets rise and fall, he tells the Sanhedrin that “... if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them”.
Gamaliel was indeed wise, recognizing that, even before it formally existed, the blood of martyrs is the seed for new members of the Church. Even persecution has a positive effect on the faith and fervor of the Apostles (“So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.”)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. (see 4abc) One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
One thing I ask of the LORD
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
The selection from Psalm 27 presents as an individual lament. David here longs for the Lord’s protection and the gift of life which flows from his salvation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 6:1-15
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
"Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little."
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people recline."
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
"Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted."
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
"This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 6:1-15
The Gospel from St. John today is the fourth sign from his Gospel, the multiplication of the loaves. It is the only miracle story carried in all four Gospels and closely follows the synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke) in most details.
Placed in Eastertide the Eucharistic symbolism is most striking. More subtle is the reference to feeding the poor. Barley loaves were traditionally the fare of the poor. It is also interesting to note that in the Jerusalem translation the Lord “escaped” into the hills at the end of the story, implying the people were immediately aware of the great sign he had facilitated.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
What is the worth of the most valuable object in the whole world if it is kept secret in the hands of a private collector? Let us say a huge diamond is discovered and cut in such a magnificent way that it is considered perfect. What is its value as it sits in a vault unseen by human eyes, unknown except to those who secreted it away? It may have value to its owner who occasionally opens the vault to gaze upon its beauty. But to the person who is starving for lack of food or cold for lack of fuel, its only value would be if that object could be sold (to one who would in turn sell it again) to purchase what they need. As in most things the world prizes, value is relative to ones situation and only realized when the asset is sold to another for something perceived to be of equal value.
Are there things of “intrinsic” value? That is, are there objects that have value in and of themselves without the need to be transferred to another? Nourishing food could be said to have intrinsic value. It feeds the body, provides what a person needs to retain health and continued life. Water could also said to have intrinsic value, perhaps even more so than food since, even after it is consumed, it is recycled in its original form to provide benefit to other things, plants, animals, and people. But if it were kept in a sealed jar on a table or in a locked cabinet, what is its value? The value of the water lies in the beneficial effects it produces when it is used.
In the Gospel today, we find something with intrinsic value, the Eucharist. Symbolized by the miraculous feeding of the multitudes, the “Bread from Heaven” feeds body and soul. The Lord blesses it (scripture says “he gave thanks”) and then all present ate of it. All were satisfied; all were nourished. What valued did those barley loaves have before they were transubstantiated? They were food, poor food at that. Yet after they were blessed they became much more. They became a sign of God’s love, a symbol of salvation, a gift of freedom.
Now we ask the same question about value as we asked above when talking about a diamond or other objects of value. What is the value of the Eucharist, the transubstantiated Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ if it stays locked in the tabernacle? We venerate that place of repose with genuflection. We adore the Body of Christ as it is exposed in the monstrance. Even the sight of it is efficacious, like being in the presence of some healing balm or invisible radiation that promotes health. The value of the Eucharist is most dramatically felt when we receive it, consume it; when it becomes part of us and we of it. That place deep within us that we call the spirit or soul reacts to that divine presence and we are strengthened and uplifted.
There are those who see the unremarkable bread and wine as simply reminders of an ancient story of self-sacrifice. They see the morsel as something having no physical value beyond the minimal nourishment it might provide. In those cases it would be better for that person to never receive the Eucharistic meal. It is like the farmer who while plowing his filed find a diamond in the rough and casts it aside as valueless.
Today we reflect upon the value of something beyond valuing. We discover the gift of salvation, freely given, the product of incredible sacrifice offered to us freely and we are awed by the purity of the gift.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used is “The Miracle of the Loaves” by Tintoretto, 1579-81
[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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