 |
| “Christ Blessing the Children” by Nicolaes Maes, 1652-53. |
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 12:24—13:5a
The word of God continued to spread
and grow.
After Barnabas and Saul completed
their relief mission,
they returned to Jerusalem,
taking with them John, who is
called Mark.
Now there were in the Church
at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was
called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of
Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord
and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
"Set apart for me Barnabas and
Saul
for the work to which I have called
them."
Then, completing their fasting and
prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent
them off.
So they, sent forth by the Holy
Spirit,
went down to Seleucia
and from there sailed
to Cyprus.
When they arrived in Salamis,
they proclaimed the word of God in
the Jewish synagogues.
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts
12:24—13:5a
In this story from Acts we hear of
St. Paul’s first missionary effort into Asia Minor. There is some discussion
about v. 24. Some translations say Barnabas and Saul returned "to
Jerusalem" while others say they returned "from
Jerusalem." Since, from this point forward, St. Luke focuses on the
Church at Antioch, we will assume they returned "from" Jerusalem.
The structure of the community at
Antioch is described in some detail. Not only did they have leadership
ordained to lead the assembly, they also had "prophets and teachers."
These individuals had special roles within the community. It is clear
that they were having liturgical celebrations, almost certainly eucharistic in
character. In the context of communal worship, the Holy Spirit influences
missionary action through prophets and teachers.
The members ordain a task for
Barnabas and Saul; "they laid hands on them," sending them on their journey. Note,
the effort begins in the synagogues on Cyprus. The word spreads.
-------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6 and
8
R. (4) O
God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May God have pity on us and bless
us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon
earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations
praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in
equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations
praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth
fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations
praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps
67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8
Psalm 67 is a blessing and has
elements of the ancient blessing of Aaron from Numbers 6:22ff. This
blessing has more of a plaintive tone (a group lament), or petition asking for
a bountiful harvest. This selection points to the universal salvation promised
by God to all the peoples.
-------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 12:44-50
Jesus cried out and said,
"Whoever believes in me
believes not only in me
but also in the one who sent me,
and whoever sees me sees the one
who sent me.
I came into the world as light,
so that everyone who believes in me
might not remain in darkness.
And if anyone hears my words and
does not observe them,
I do not condemn him,
for I did not come to condemn the
world but to save the world.
Whoever rejects me and does not
accept my words
has something to judge him: the
word that I spoke,
it will condemn him on the last
day,
because I did not speak on my own,
but the Father who sent me
commanded me what to say and speak.
And I know that his commandment is
eternal life.
So what I say, I say as the Father
told me."
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn
12:44-50
Setting the stage for this passage
from St. John’s Gospel, we find Jesus in the temple precincts again, this time
after his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. He has been teaching, and while many
believed that he was the Messiah, the Pharisees were intimidating many present
and most did not acknowledge this belief. Jesus expresses his frustration in
this passage as we hear: “Jesus cried out and said, 'Whoever believes in me
believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me.'”
Jesus goes on to explain that he
and the Father are one, and that, not only was he sent by God, but that all he
said was from God. We note also that Jesus says that those who do not believe
in him will not be condemned by the Lord; rather they condemn themselves
through their own actions, and will be so judged on the last day.
-------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Heavenly Father, we
humbly pray that those suffering from the coronavirus be returned quickly to
full health by the power of your Son’s healing presence, and those in fear be
calmed through the Holy Spirit.
In Christ’s name we
pray. – Amen.
We are still in Eastertide and St.
John’s Gospel continues to bring home the point that Jesus, who was crucified
and rose from the dead, is one with God, is of God and is both messenger and
message. That final part of the Lord’s example is what we need to focus
on in our own lives.
Christ came into the world and, in
his public ministry, gathered people about him that could emulate him.
That means people who could not just live the nomadic life of one sent to
spread the Good News throughout the land, but also those who could conform their minds and hearts
to his. What is in the mind and in the heart will be seen in actions that
unfold through that impulse.
That is what is meant when we say
that Jesus was both messenger and message. He not only told us what we
must do to follow the will of God, but showed us what that means through his
own example. Can we profess Christ Crucified, and act as though that
event had no bearing on what we do and how we react to the world?
How many times have we prayed:
“God, please show me what you want me to do. Show me the way to serve you
best.” In our listening silence do we hear the whisper: “I came into
the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in
darkness”? We must ask ourselves in those situations what is the
message and how should the messenger communicate it.
He didn’t say it would be easy.
In this strange year where many
of us will not be able to receive the Blessed Sacrament or celebrate as a
community in our houses of worship, we must be prepared to receive spiritual
communion in prayer:
My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most
Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all
things,
and I desire to receive
You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this
moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually
into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself
wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
Pax
[1]
The Picture is “Christ Blessing the Children” by
Nicolaes Maes, 1652-53.
[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.
No comments:
Post a Comment