Our Lady of Fátima
Information about Our Lady of Fátima[1]
Readings for Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter[2][3]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[4]
Reading 1: Acts 15:1-6
Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
"Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved."
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters
about this question.
They were sent on their journey by the Church,
and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria
telling of the conversion of the Gentiles,
and brought great joy to all the brethren.
When they arrived in Jerusalem,
they were welcomed by the Church,
as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters,
and they reported what God had done with them.
But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers
stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them
and direct them to observe the Mosaic law."
The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 15:1-6
In this passage we see the issue being raised – should the Gentile Christians be required to follow ALL Hebrew Law (as Jesus and his disciples did). The practice they are debating today is circumcision and should the male Gentiles be required to be circumcised. It was a big enough deal to send Paul and Barnabas back to Jerusalem where we hear the debate continue.
This event helps us understand how teaching in the early Church was kept consistent. Peter and the Apostles were the authority. On important questions of the faith they were the ones who made decisions. Local Presbyters did not.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psallm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R. (see 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
Psalm 122 is a hymn of praise being used to echo the journey of Paul and Barnabas back to Jerusalem. The original singers would have been rejoicing at returning to the one temple.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 15:1-8
We begin the discourse on the vine and the branches – really a monologue on the union with Jesus. It is still part of Jesus’ farewell speech. The familiar image of the Vineyard and the Vines is used which has imagery in common with Isaiah 5:1-7; Matthew 21:33-46 and as a vine at Psalm 80:9-17; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:2; 17:5-10; 19:10; Hosea 10:1. The identification of the vine as the Son of Man in Psalm 80:15 and Wisdom's description of herself as a vine in Sirach 24:17. This monologue becomes a unifying tie that pulls everything together.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
It is ironic that the topic of unity be so clearly the emphasized in sacred scripture on this date. The news media is full of stories about the Holy Father, Pope Benedict’s visit to the Holy Land, the scene of some much violence centered upon differences of culture and religious beliefs. While the Pope does his level best to be conciliatory toward all sides, he is criticized for events that took place during the global conflict that ended over half a century ago. We pray that his presence may be seen as it is intended, to bring the peace of Christ to that war torn region.
On this same day, a day in which our Lord’s words recorded in St. John’s Gospel so clearly point to Christian unity, we are reminded once more of intolerance and arrogance that was present in the very early Church. We see in the Acts of the Apostles how converts to Christianity from Judea were telling the gentiles that unless they first accepted Judaism and were circumcised as required by Mosaic Law, they could not authentically follow Christ.
We look back at that event and say to ourselves “How could they have been so blind? Did they not see that Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets and in doing so he changed forever the way God must be seen?” The debate that was sparked by these differing views caused dissension among those who sought to unify all peoples as the Lord clearly stated his purpose to be. Those who required circumcision focused not on Christ’s teachings but on the traditions of the Law, missing the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.
We see that same attitude alive and well in the Christian community today. There are those who point to any Christian denomination that is not their own and say “They are not true Christians because the do not (blank, blank, blank)”. Fill in the blanks with almost any stated practice or belief.
We hear Jesus say “I am the vine, you are the branches.” He calls us to be unified in faith and belief in him. Yet we hear those within our own faith community who are arrogant and self righteous. They think that because they were taught to practice the faith in a certain way that their practice is the only correct form of worship. They belittle or criticize others for their differences or even worse, for merely questioning. They point to the rubrics or to their interpretation of the Church documents ignoring the working of the Holy Spirit that is living in all the Baptized.
If we are to remain in Christ and He in us, if we are to be the branches completely connected to the True Vine, we must above all value the humility and inclusiveness of our Savior. We are called to be united in Christ. There is no room among us for divisiveness. We work diligently for the Lord’s goal, that there may be one flock and one shepherd.
Pax
Information about Our Lady of Fátima[1]
Readings for Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter[2][3]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[4]
Reading 1: Acts 15:1-6
Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
"Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved."
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters
about this question.
They were sent on their journey by the Church,
and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria
telling of the conversion of the Gentiles,
and brought great joy to all the brethren.
When they arrived in Jerusalem,
they were welcomed by the Church,
as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters,
and they reported what God had done with them.
But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers
stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them
and direct them to observe the Mosaic law."
The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 15:1-6
In this passage we see the issue being raised – should the Gentile Christians be required to follow ALL Hebrew Law (as Jesus and his disciples did). The practice they are debating today is circumcision and should the male Gentiles be required to be circumcised. It was a big enough deal to send Paul and Barnabas back to Jerusalem where we hear the debate continue.
This event helps us understand how teaching in the early Church was kept consistent. Peter and the Apostles were the authority. On important questions of the faith they were the ones who made decisions. Local Presbyters did not.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psallm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R. (see 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
Psalm 122 is a hymn of praise being used to echo the journey of Paul and Barnabas back to Jerusalem. The original singers would have been rejoicing at returning to the one temple.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 15:1-8
We begin the discourse on the vine and the branches – really a monologue on the union with Jesus. It is still part of Jesus’ farewell speech. The familiar image of the Vineyard and the Vines is used which has imagery in common with Isaiah 5:1-7; Matthew 21:33-46 and as a vine at Psalm 80:9-17; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:2; 17:5-10; 19:10; Hosea 10:1. The identification of the vine as the Son of Man in Psalm 80:15 and Wisdom's description of herself as a vine in Sirach 24:17. This monologue becomes a unifying tie that pulls everything together.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
It is ironic that the topic of unity be so clearly the emphasized in sacred scripture on this date. The news media is full of stories about the Holy Father, Pope Benedict’s visit to the Holy Land, the scene of some much violence centered upon differences of culture and religious beliefs. While the Pope does his level best to be conciliatory toward all sides, he is criticized for events that took place during the global conflict that ended over half a century ago. We pray that his presence may be seen as it is intended, to bring the peace of Christ to that war torn region.
On this same day, a day in which our Lord’s words recorded in St. John’s Gospel so clearly point to Christian unity, we are reminded once more of intolerance and arrogance that was present in the very early Church. We see in the Acts of the Apostles how converts to Christianity from Judea were telling the gentiles that unless they first accepted Judaism and were circumcised as required by Mosaic Law, they could not authentically follow Christ.
We look back at that event and say to ourselves “How could they have been so blind? Did they not see that Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets and in doing so he changed forever the way God must be seen?” The debate that was sparked by these differing views caused dissension among those who sought to unify all peoples as the Lord clearly stated his purpose to be. Those who required circumcision focused not on Christ’s teachings but on the traditions of the Law, missing the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.
We see that same attitude alive and well in the Christian community today. There are those who point to any Christian denomination that is not their own and say “They are not true Christians because the do not (blank, blank, blank)”. Fill in the blanks with almost any stated practice or belief.
We hear Jesus say “I am the vine, you are the branches.” He calls us to be unified in faith and belief in him. Yet we hear those within our own faith community who are arrogant and self righteous. They think that because they were taught to practice the faith in a certain way that their practice is the only correct form of worship. They belittle or criticize others for their differences or even worse, for merely questioning. They point to the rubrics or to their interpretation of the Church documents ignoring the working of the Holy Spirit that is living in all the Baptized.
If we are to remain in Christ and He in us, if we are to be the branches completely connected to the True Vine, we must above all value the humility and inclusiveness of our Savior. We are called to be united in Christ. There is no room among us for divisiveness. We work diligently for the Lord’s goal, that there may be one flock and one shepherd.
Pax
[1] Note: While we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Fátima on this date, no alternate Mass readings are recommended (although options for the Blessed Virgin Mary are appropriate). The recommendation seems to be that a rosary be prayed specifically for sinners and to profound conversion of heart.
[2] ALTRE
[3] The picture used is “The Virgin of the Grapes” by Pierre Mignaro, 1640’s
[4] 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.
[2] ALTRE
[3] The picture used is “The Virgin of the Grapes” by Pierre Mignaro, 1640’s
[4] 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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