Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

  

“Paul's Farewell To The Ephesian Elders”
by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1851-60

Readings for Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary:[3]
 
Reading 1: Acts 20:28-38

At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus:
"Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock
of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,
in which you tend the Church of God
that he acquired with his own Blood.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you,
and they will not spare the flock.
And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth
to draw the disciples away after them.
So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day,
I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.
And now I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.
I have never wanted anyone's silver or gold or clothing.
You know well that these very hands
have served my needs and my companions.
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort
we must help the weak,
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

When he had finished speaking
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They were all weeping loudly
as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,
for they were deeply distressed that he had said
that they would never see his face again.
Then they escorted him to the ship.
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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.

Show forth, O God, your power,
the power, O God, with which you took our part;
For your temple in Jerusalem
let the kings bring you gifts.
R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
chant praise to the Lord
who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.
Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:
"Confess the power of God!"
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Over Israel is his majesty;
his power is in the skies.
Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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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

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:
"Holy Father, keep them in your name
that you have given me,
so that they may be one just as we are one.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,
and I guarded them, and none of them was lost
except the son of destruction,
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you.
I speak this in the world
so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
because they do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world
but that you keep them from the Evil One.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth.
Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them,
so that they also may be consecrated in truth."
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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.

This passage closes as Jesus refers to 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.” He claims the faithful for the kingdom of heaven.

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.
 
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 encounter with the attitude of Christ who is love. May we live up to that great call.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Cliff R. Miles, my father. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.

Pax

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[1] The picture is “Paul's Farewell To The Ephesian Elders” by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1851-60.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.