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| “Paul's Farewell To The Ephesian Elders” by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1851-60 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Acts 20:28-38
Commentary on Acts 20:28-38
St. Paul 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, supporting the community through work, rather than accepting payment for their leadership (using himself as an example).
Commentary on Acts 20:28-38
St. Paul 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, supporting the community through work, rather than accepting payment for their leadership (using himself as an example).
CCC: Acts 20:32 798; Acts 20:36 2636
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab
R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Commentary on Ps 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab
Psalm 68 continues the psalmist's hymn of thanksgiving. It sings of the great favor the Lord has shown to his chosen people. It rejoices in God’s salvation. The psalmist exhorts the faithful to "Confess the power of God" which gives them strength.
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Gospel: John 17:11b-19
Commentary on Jn 17:11b-19
This passage is a continuation of the “High Priestly Prayer” started earlier in St. John’s Gospel (John 17:1-11a). This part of the prayer begins with a plea for unity between the Father and the 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 this 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). In this instance, “…but that you keep them from the Evil One,” appears to refer specifically to the devil as opposed to some generic evil.
Clear reference is given here about how the world will receive these friends he sends into the world (“I gave them your word, and the world hated them”). This is why he asks at the outset "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.”
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab
R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Commentary on Ps 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab
Psalm 68 continues the psalmist's hymn of thanksgiving. It sings of the great favor the Lord has shown to his chosen people. It rejoices in God’s salvation. The psalmist exhorts the faithful to "Confess the power of God" which gives them strength.
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Gospel: John 17:11b-19
Commentary on Jn 17:11b-19
This passage is a continuation of the “High Priestly Prayer” started earlier in St. John’s Gospel (John 17:1-11a). This part of the prayer begins with a plea for unity between the Father and the 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 this 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). In this instance, “…but that you keep them from the Evil One,” appears to refer specifically to the devil as opposed to some generic evil.
Clear reference is given here about how the world will receive these friends he sends into the world (“I gave them your word, and the world hated them”). This is why he asks at the outset "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.”
CCC: Jn 17:11 2747, 2749, 2750, 2750, 2815, 2849; Jn 17:12 2750, 2750; Jn 17:13 2747, 2749; Jn 17:15 2750, 2850; Jn 17:17-20 2821; Jn 17:17-19 2812; Jn 17:17 2466; Jn 17:18 858; Jn 17:19 611, 2747, 2749, 2812
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Reflection:
“They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.”
Think of what Jesus meant by this prayer to the Father! We do not belong to the world, yet, like the Lord when he was in the flesh, we walk in the world and must be part of it. But we do not belong to it. Is it any wonder that we sometimes feel out of place?
The Lord is fond of using parables. In his prayer; specifically in this part of his prayer, he implies that we are like seasoning in a dish to be placed in front of the king. Without the seasoning of the Good News, the dish that is the human race tastes wrong, something important is missing. It is the Good News the Lord brings that transforms the dish into something pleasant, into something delicious that the king will enjoy and savor.
We become that seasoning which is not part of the dish. However, it is necessary for the offering to be pleasing to our King. All parts of the dish are flavored by seasoning. Just so we reach out to all parts of the world, changing it by our presence but not being changed by it.
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Reflection:
“They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.”
Think of what Jesus meant by this prayer to the Father! We do not belong to the world, yet, like the Lord when he was in the flesh, we walk in the world and must be part of it. But we do not belong to it. Is it any wonder that we sometimes feel out of place?
The Lord is fond of using parables. In his prayer; specifically in this part of his prayer, he implies that we are like seasoning in a dish to be placed in front of the king. Without the seasoning of the Good News, the dish that is the human race tastes wrong, something important is missing. It is the Good News the Lord brings that transforms the dish into something pleasant, into something delicious that the king will enjoy and savor.
We become that seasoning which is not part of the dish. However, it is necessary for the offering to be pleasing to our King. All parts of the dish are flavored by seasoning. Just so we reach out to all parts of the world, changing it by our presence but not being changed by it.
In order for us to remain unchanged by the world, there must be something about us that keeps us effectively unchanged by the parts of the world we encounter. That is difficult; we must have at the core of our being an indelible character that can withstand the natural human tendency to adapt itself, to follow the path of least resistance. As we have been warned so many times, the world does not like what is not its own. And because we belong to Christ we do not belong to the world.
So how do we develop that indelible character, this non-negotiable set of values that makes us change what we encounter and not be changed by it? It is our faith in Christ. Our sure and certain knowledge that his will supersedes ours when it comes to our lives on earth. It is his love for us that transforms us, makes us seasoning for those we meet. They see in us the love of Christ, a love that shines out from us in the form of peace in the face of adversity, in compassion in the face of injustice or injury, and in our actions in support of those we meet, inviting them to share what we have been given.
We keep this core of faith alive and healthy with the sacraments, Eucharist, Reconciliation, and, when we are ill, Anointing of the Sick. We feed ourselves with prayer and allow prayer to guide us in our actions.
Today we hear Christ calling us to be in the world but not belong to it. We are to season those we meet with the attitude of Christ who is love. May we live up to that great call.
Pax
Today we hear Christ calling us to be in the world but not belong to it. We are to season those we meet with the attitude of Christ who is love. May we live up to that great call.
Pax
[2] The picture is “Paul's Farewell To The Ephesian Elders” by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1851-60
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