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| “Triumph of Christ with Angels and Cherubs” by Bernardino Lanino, c. 1570s |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Acts 19:1-8
Commentary on 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.
CCC: Acts 19:5-6 1288; Acts 19:6 699
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab
R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Commentary on Ps 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab
Psalm 68 gives praise and thanksgiving for God’s salvation. It is from God alone that salvation comes, replacing the losses suffered by the poor (widows and orphans) with his justice and presence.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab
R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Commentary on Ps 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab
Psalm 68 gives praise and thanksgiving for God’s salvation. It is from God alone that salvation comes, replacing the losses suffered by the poor (widows and orphans) with his justice and presence.
CCC: Ps 68:6 238
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Gospel: John 16:29-33
Commentary on Jn 16:29-33
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Gospel: John 16:29-33
Commentary on Jn 16:29-33
Here, in St. John’s Gospel, we see the disciples already presume the hour the Lord predicted is upon them, and they are already prepared in fullness. Jesus must dissuade them from this notion. He tells them that they will fail in their faith but even in doing so he gives them great solace as he 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.
CCC: Jn 16:28 661, 2795; Jn 16:33 1808
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Reflection:
“I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world."
We have been given this interesting statement made by the Lord from the Gospel of St. John. He makes this statement almost as an afterthought. The disciples think they have finally understood Jesus. They think he is coming into his power, and that they are prepared to take up the tasks he has set before them. The Lord sees this as two-fold danger. First, his disciples have not seen what must come for Jesus to ascend to the throne of heaven. They still believe that he will defeat the forces that conspire to kill him. When they see this apparent defeat a short time later, as Jesus predicts, they will flee to their homes, afraid, and their faith tested and found wanting.
While they certainly would not want to hear this prediction, Jesus must tell them in advance so that when it happens they will understand that it is not the end of his mission, but their beginning.
The second danger the Lord sees is the disciples’ overconfidence in their own preparation. Jesus knows, and in fact has been trying to tell them, that they will not be ready to take on what he has asked of them until they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. They are asked to take the Word of God, the Good News, the Gospel of Christ into the world. How can they do this without having the counselor and guide indwelling? How can they know the mind of Christ without the Lord being in them?
All of this leads to that final verse: “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world." They will find peace when the Holy Spirit calms their fears, and they will finally understand the Resurrection. But what must the savior mean “…I have conquered the world”?
Many other translations of sacred scripture say “I have overcome the world.” There is a difference using these two similar words. But, rather than focus on the intent of the translators, let us ask what was meant by the phrase. The Vatican Council said of that statement: "The Lord Jesus who said 'Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world' (John 16:33), did not by these words promise complete victory to his Church in this world. This sacred Council rejoices that the earth which has been sown with the seed of the Gospel is now bringing forth fruit in many places under the guidance of the Spirit of the Lord, who is filling the world" (Presbyterorum ordinis, 22).[4]
By the Lord’s act of preparing and sending his Word into the world, he has already overcome, indeed has conquered, the physical world, replacing the desires of mankind for what is of the world with the promise of salvation and eternal life. The world cannot withstand what it cannot touch.
Today we pray that, like those early disciples, we will not be overcome with fear when it seems our efforts on the Lord’s behalf seem to be defeated. And we also pray that our dependence on the Holy Spirit will give us the humility and strength to accomplish the work God places before us.
Pax
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Reflection:
“I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world."
We have been given this interesting statement made by the Lord from the Gospel of St. John. He makes this statement almost as an afterthought. The disciples think they have finally understood Jesus. They think he is coming into his power, and that they are prepared to take up the tasks he has set before them. The Lord sees this as two-fold danger. First, his disciples have not seen what must come for Jesus to ascend to the throne of heaven. They still believe that he will defeat the forces that conspire to kill him. When they see this apparent defeat a short time later, as Jesus predicts, they will flee to their homes, afraid, and their faith tested and found wanting.
While they certainly would not want to hear this prediction, Jesus must tell them in advance so that when it happens they will understand that it is not the end of his mission, but their beginning.
The second danger the Lord sees is the disciples’ overconfidence in their own preparation. Jesus knows, and in fact has been trying to tell them, that they will not be ready to take on what he has asked of them until they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. They are asked to take the Word of God, the Good News, the Gospel of Christ into the world. How can they do this without having the counselor and guide indwelling? How can they know the mind of Christ without the Lord being in them?
All of this leads to that final verse: “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world." They will find peace when the Holy Spirit calms their fears, and they will finally understand the Resurrection. But what must the savior mean “…I have conquered the world”?
Many other translations of sacred scripture say “I have overcome the world.” There is a difference using these two similar words. But, rather than focus on the intent of the translators, let us ask what was meant by the phrase. The Vatican Council said of that statement: "The Lord Jesus who said 'Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world' (John 16:33), did not by these words promise complete victory to his Church in this world. This sacred Council rejoices that the earth which has been sown with the seed of the Gospel is now bringing forth fruit in many places under the guidance of the Spirit of the Lord, who is filling the world" (Presbyterorum ordinis, 22).[4]
By the Lord’s act of preparing and sending his Word into the world, he has already overcome, indeed has conquered, the physical world, replacing the desires of mankind for what is of the world with the promise of salvation and eternal life. The world cannot withstand what it cannot touch.
Today we pray that, like those early disciples, we will not be overcome with fear when it seems our efforts on the Lord’s behalf seem to be defeated. And we also pray that our dependence on the Holy Spirit will give us the humility and strength to accomplish the work God places before us.
Pax
[2] The picture today is “Triumph of Christ with Angels and Cherubs” by Bernardino Lanino, c. 1570s
[4] The Navarre Bible, Gospels and Acts, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2002, pp. 672
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