Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter
Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Bishop, Doctor
Alternate Proper for the Memorial of Saint Anselm of Canterbury
Readings for Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter[i][ii]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[iii]
Reading 1: Acts 8:1b-8
There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,
and all were scattered
throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,
except the Apostles.
Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.
Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;
entering house after house and dragging out men and women,
he handed them over for imprisonment.
Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria
and proclaimed the Christ to them.
With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip
when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,
came out of many possessed people,
and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 8:1b-8
This selection describes the first concerted effort to eradicate Christianity. Following the death of St. Stephen, we are told that “all were scattered…except the Apostles.” This is pointed at by many scholars as implying that it was the Hellenists (Greek) Jews only who were scattered (recall that St. Stephen and the other deacons were appointed to minister to that community). It was he who had enraged the Sanhedrin and was buried in this passage.
As the main force in this persecution, Saul (later St. Paul) clearly sees the threat by Christianity to the Jewish tradition that has evolved. He leads the persecution of the Church which has the unintended effect of spreading the Good News outside of the Jewish community in Jerusalem as we see St. Philip taking it to Samaria with good results.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a
R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!"
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!"
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a
Psalm 66 is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving. In the first part presented here, the psalmist praises God for His salvation, recalling the exodus from Egypt and the great signs he gave the people.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 6:35-40
Jesus said to the crowds,
"I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 6:35-40
St. John’s “Bread of Life” discourse continues with the repetition of the great Eucharistic pronouncement – “I am the Bread of Life.” The Lord states that in spite of their lack of belief, his presence with them is part of God’s revelatory plan (“I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”) and that all who come to believe in the Son of God, the Bread of Life, will be welcome (“I will not reject anyone who comes to me”).
The selection concludes with the promise of eternal life for those who believe in Jesus, the Son of God; they will be raised with him in glory on the “last day.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We reflect today on how necessary it was for Christ to come into the world. We see the wisdom and marvel of God’s plan in the Sacred Word. The Hebrew peoples saw God’s fingerprints in their lives, just as many people today, if they are looking, see God’s involvement in their own lives.
But we must remember, before Christ took on mortal flesh and walked among us; God’s instruments of revelation were mere men, afflicted by the same limitations of us all. They saw the presence of God in creation and assigned to God human motives and human emotions. When events, either naturally occurring or out of the free will of some other individual or group conspired to cause injury or to exert their will over the Hebrew people, it was because they had sinned and God was punishing them. We see these tales recounted in the Old Testament. The story, however, was incomplete – flawed for the lack of the Incarnate Son of God.
God’s true nature was not revealed until Jesus came and demonstrated for us the very heart of God’s love. Is it any wonder that the Sanhedrin could not accept Christ as the Messiah? Is it any wonder they persecuted the early Church? God in Christ had sought to change their whole notion of God’s mission on earth. He was not the cruel and vindictive God of Justice, but rather the loving and patient adoptive Father. The Father who cares so much for his children that he offers the Bread of Life so they may find their way to him.
The world still struggles with the immensity of God’s gift. Many cannot understand the mercy of one who is omnipresent and omnipotent. Many still cling to the anthropomorphized God of superstition or the sterile logic of unenlightened science. Our brothers and sisters who share these attitudes and beliefs will find us odd and possibly even a threat. Persecution of the Church and its members did not stop with the fall of the Roman Empire. It is with us today; sometimes subtly and sometimes overtly (like the New York Times).
For ourselves we put our faith on the promise of Jesus who says “And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day.” We are his adopted children and may not deny that heritage.
Pax
[i] ALTRE
[ii] The picture is “St. Philip” by Albrecht Dürer, 1526
[iii] 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 re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Bishop, Doctor
Alternate Proper for the Memorial of Saint Anselm of Canterbury
Readings for Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter[i][ii]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[iii]
Reading 1: Acts 8:1b-8
There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,
and all were scattered
throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,
except the Apostles.
Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.
Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;
entering house after house and dragging out men and women,
he handed them over for imprisonment.
Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria
and proclaimed the Christ to them.
With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip
when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,
came out of many possessed people,
and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 8:1b-8
This selection describes the first concerted effort to eradicate Christianity. Following the death of St. Stephen, we are told that “all were scattered…except the Apostles.” This is pointed at by many scholars as implying that it was the Hellenists (Greek) Jews only who were scattered (recall that St. Stephen and the other deacons were appointed to minister to that community). It was he who had enraged the Sanhedrin and was buried in this passage.
As the main force in this persecution, Saul (later St. Paul) clearly sees the threat by Christianity to the Jewish tradition that has evolved. He leads the persecution of the Church which has the unintended effect of spreading the Good News outside of the Jewish community in Jerusalem as we see St. Philip taking it to Samaria with good results.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a
R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!"
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!"
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a
Psalm 66 is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving. In the first part presented here, the psalmist praises God for His salvation, recalling the exodus from Egypt and the great signs he gave the people.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 6:35-40
Jesus said to the crowds,
"I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 6:35-40
St. John’s “Bread of Life” discourse continues with the repetition of the great Eucharistic pronouncement – “I am the Bread of Life.” The Lord states that in spite of their lack of belief, his presence with them is part of God’s revelatory plan (“I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”) and that all who come to believe in the Son of God, the Bread of Life, will be welcome (“I will not reject anyone who comes to me”).
The selection concludes with the promise of eternal life for those who believe in Jesus, the Son of God; they will be raised with him in glory on the “last day.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We reflect today on how necessary it was for Christ to come into the world. We see the wisdom and marvel of God’s plan in the Sacred Word. The Hebrew peoples saw God’s fingerprints in their lives, just as many people today, if they are looking, see God’s involvement in their own lives.
But we must remember, before Christ took on mortal flesh and walked among us; God’s instruments of revelation were mere men, afflicted by the same limitations of us all. They saw the presence of God in creation and assigned to God human motives and human emotions. When events, either naturally occurring or out of the free will of some other individual or group conspired to cause injury or to exert their will over the Hebrew people, it was because they had sinned and God was punishing them. We see these tales recounted in the Old Testament. The story, however, was incomplete – flawed for the lack of the Incarnate Son of God.
God’s true nature was not revealed until Jesus came and demonstrated for us the very heart of God’s love. Is it any wonder that the Sanhedrin could not accept Christ as the Messiah? Is it any wonder they persecuted the early Church? God in Christ had sought to change their whole notion of God’s mission on earth. He was not the cruel and vindictive God of Justice, but rather the loving and patient adoptive Father. The Father who cares so much for his children that he offers the Bread of Life so they may find their way to him.
The world still struggles with the immensity of God’s gift. Many cannot understand the mercy of one who is omnipresent and omnipotent. Many still cling to the anthropomorphized God of superstition or the sterile logic of unenlightened science. Our brothers and sisters who share these attitudes and beliefs will find us odd and possibly even a threat. Persecution of the Church and its members did not stop with the fall of the Roman Empire. It is with us today; sometimes subtly and sometimes overtly (like the New York Times).
For ourselves we put our faith on the promise of Jesus who says “And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day.” We are his adopted children and may not deny that heritage.
Pax
[i] ALTRE
[ii] The picture is “St. Philip” by Albrecht Dürer, 1526
[iii] 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 re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
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