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“The Ascension”
by Tintoretto, 1579-81 |
Readings for Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter [2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
Readings and Commentary: [4]
Reading 1: Acts 18:1-8
Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus,
who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla
because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.
He went to visit them and, because he practiced the same trade,
stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
Every sabbath, he entered into discussions in the synagogue,
attempting to convince both Jews and Greeks.
When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia,
Paul began to occupy himself totally with preaching the word,
testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
When they opposed him and reviled him,
he shook out his garments and said to them,
“Your blood be on your heads!
I am clear of responsibility.
From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
So he left there and went to a house
belonging to a man named Titus Justus, a worshiper of God;
his house was next to a synagogue.
Crispus, the synagogue official, came to believe in the Lord
along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians
who heard believed and were baptized.
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Commentary on Acts 18:1-8
This passage contains the threads from several different stories converging in Corinth. First, Aquila and Priscilla were probably already Christians since their home, according to 1 Corinthians 16:19, became a meeting place for the local community. They were probably expelled from Rome because of infighting among the Jews about the identity of the Messiah.
It is clear from this account that the church in Corinth was not established without significant resistance from the local Jewish community. Paul went after that group and was successful in forming the nucleus of membership among the Corinthians.
CCC: Acts 18:6 597; Acts 18:8 1252, 1655
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
R. (see 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
Psalm 98 is a song of praise and thanksgiving. We see in this selection how God is praised for the strength he lends his people, and the salvation he brings to those who are faithful. The psalm rejoices in God’s salvation. The Lord has revealed his compassion toward the people, and they sing his praises in response. The Hebrews saw this as salvation for the people of Israel from its enemies. Christians see the deeper expression of God’s love, as he sent his Son for salvation and justice for the whole world.
This is an excellent example of how Christians, heirs to the Judeo-Christian truth, can see clearly in these ancient texts the references to the Christ: “The Lord has made his salvation known.” It is this event about which we “sing joyfully to the Lord.”
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Gospel: John 16:16-20
Jesus said to his disciples:
“A little while and you will no longer see me,
and again a little while later and you will see me.”
So some of his disciples said to one another,
“What does this mean that he is saying to us,
'A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me,’
and 'Because I am going to the Father’?”
So they said, “What is this 'little while’ of which he speaks?
We do not know what he means.”
Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them,
“Are you discussing with one another what I said,
'A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me’?
Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”
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Commentary on Jn 16:16-20
In spite of Jesus’ repeated attempts, the disciples are still uncertain about his departure and how long he will be gone. Since they have already heard what the prophets had predicted about the length of time he would be in the tomb and had heard the Lord himself give the number of three days, they are concerned here about when he will return to them after the resurrection. The Lord, in characteristic form, does not give them a specific time frame, but instead paints a picture of the events surrounding his return.
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Reflection:
The message of St. John’s Gospel is one of hope. That short statement, “you will grieve, but your grief will become joy,” sums up the Christian experience and expectation. Have we not all questioned at times why life seemed so unfair? Haven’t there been times when we have all wondered at God’s purpose in giving us the life, he has so graciously bestowed upon us? In these times of doubt and pain, we grieve for the hurts of life, hurts we receive, and hurts visited upon others.
Out of these questions, in answer to them, comes Jesus, who is the Christ (as St. Paul reminds us in his evangelization of the Corinthians). Jesus, in no uncertain terms, tells us that while we may mourn and grieve in this life, wait but a time, and we will rejoin him in his heavenly kingdom. He tells us that while we may be parted for a time, we will be joined to him eternally in the life of heaven.
It is this message of hope, communicated in our time on earth by the Advocate he left for us, that we must recall in times of strife or grief. We look within to find the strength of the Holy Spirit to buoy us up and bring us knowledge of his great consolation. This great prize is what we have received. This interior hope (peace) is what allows us to continue against all the trials that are put into our lives.
What must we do to tap into this indwelling strength, this pillar of hope? We listen to his word and find in Sacred Scripture that which feeds our spirit of holiness. We speak to God in prayer, and he opens our core of strength. We receive the sacraments of the Church, which provide graces specific to each that sing in harmony with the voice of Scripture, and the warmth of prayers answered. All these things are open to us, gifts left by him who is parted from us only for a short while. All we need to do is ask and believe, and we will be given the great prize of eternal life.
Pax
[1] In all but six ecclesiastical provinces in the United States (Boston, Hartford, New York,
Newark, Omaha, and Philadelphia), the Solemnity of the Ascension is celebrated on the Seventh
Sunday of Easter.
[2] The picture used today is “The Ascension” by Tintoretto, 1579-81.[3] S.S. Commemoratio[4] 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.
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