Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

“Handing Over the Keys”
by Raphael, 1515-16

 
Readings for Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary: [3]
 
Reading 1: Acts 25:13b-21
 
King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea
on a visit to Festus.
Since they spent several days there,
Festus referred Paul's case to the king, saying,
"There is a man here left in custody by Felix.
When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation.
I answered them that it was not Roman practice
to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers
and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.
So when they came together here, I made no delay;
the next day I took my seat on the tribunal
and ordered the man to be brought in.
His accusers stood around him,
but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected.
Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion
and about a certain Jesus who had died
but who Paul claimed was alive.
Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy,
I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem
and there stand trial on these charges.
And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody
for the Emperor's decision,
I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar." 
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Commentary on Acts 25:13b-21
 
Here we see the interesting secular response to the “Christian Controversy” from the perspective of St. Luke’s portrayal of the dialog between King Agrippa and Festus. This passage explains why St. Paul’s protective custody is about to be moved to Rome, fulfilling the apostle’s prophetic vision: "Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome” Acts 23:11. The Roman Procurator must respond under Roman law to a Roman citizen (which St. Paul claims to be).
 
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab
 
R. (19a) The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
The LORD has established his throne in heaven, 
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you his angels,
you mighty in strength, who do his bidding.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab
 
Psalm 103 is an individual hymn of praise. In this passage, the song acknowledges the blessings the Lord has given to those who believe in him, and then proclaims the universality of his reign.
 
CCC: Ps 103 304; Ps 103:20 329
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Gospel: John 21:15-19
 
After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
He said to him the third time,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
"Do you love me?" and he said to him,
"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go."
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."
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Commentary on Jn 21:15-19
 
This selection describes events following the passion and resurrection. Jesus has already revealed himself to the disciples in the “locked room.” He now addresses himself to St. Peter. St. Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times during the night of the Lord’s arrest. He now recants that betrayal with a threefold response to Jesus’ questions.
 
The First Vatican Council cited these verses in defining that Jesus, after his resurrection, gave St. Peter the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over the whole flock. It is interesting to note that this section of St. John’s Gospel is referred to by Scripture scholars as “Peter’s rehabilitation.”
 
CCC: Jn 21:13-15 645; Jn 21:15-17 553, 881, 1429, 1551; Jn 20:19 575, 643, 645, 659
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Reflection:
 
We have a mission, given to us by Jesus. If we believe that Jesus came into the world to save it, and if we believe his instructions to the disciples must be applied to us, his modern-day disciples, then we must accept the mission he gave to Sts. Peter and Paul as our own.
 
Sacred Scripture is instructive in helping us understand how we are to do his will in an interesting way. In the story about St. Paul’s ongoing journey of evangelization from the reading in the Acts of the Apostles, we see how the apostle uses the secular legal system to respond to his part of Christ’s mission. St. Paul must have been tempted to follow Jesus' footsteps and accept being put on trial in Jerusalem by the same people who condemned the Lord. Instead, having received instructions from Jesus (Acts 23:11), St. Paul uses his Roman citizenship as a means to bring the Word of God to Rome, the very heart of the western world at that time.
 
This example helps us understand that we are not to be completely meek like sheep in the face of the secular world. We are not simply to roll over and embrace suffering in the face of our detractors. No! We have a mission to fulfill. And if the world hates that mission (as we have seen so many times), then we take comfort that it also hated Jesus in his day, and the apostles in theirs. But like them, we do not simply accept the secular judgment of those who would have us embrace hedonism and greed. We use the system to take the Word of God where it must go.
 
This is the message of St. Paul. This is also the message of Jesus who tells St. Peter to feed the sheep of kingdom of God. This mission is passed on to us, his hands in the world. We pray this day that we may be strong in the faith, using all our skill and knowledge to bring the love of Christ to the world.

Pax
 

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[1] The picture used is “Handing Over the Keys” by Raphael, 1515-16.
[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.