Acts 19:1-8 / John 16:29-33
Jesus
speaks plainly: “You will have trouble, but take
courage.”
Jesus
probably noticed the fear on the faces of his disciples when he told them that
both they and he would have to suffer. But
this did not alarm him. Jesus knew that fear is not a bad thing. In fact, it’s
a good thing, if rightly accepted.
Chuck
Yaeger, the famous World War II fighter ace and great Air Force test pilot, put
it this way: “You feed off fear as if it’s a high-energy candy bar. It keeps
you focused and alert.” This
was also the reasoning behind Starbuck’s statement in Moby Dick, when he said that the only men he wanted
in his boat were those who were afraid of whales.
****
When
suffering and fear enter our own lives, how do we respond to them? Do we “take
courage,” as Jesus said to do? “Courage
is being scared to death— but saddling up anyway.’’ Actor John Wayne
****
We
have to admit that more often than not, we are attracted to the sensational and
the spectacular as well as the dramatic. We are more inclined to be mesmerized
by the fireworks than to know who invented pyrotechnics or how the development
of it came about. So as we read the 1st reading, we might be more inclined to
ask what speaking in tongues and prophesy are all about. Maybe that is because
we don't see these happening very often and also there is a mystery surrounding
it. And if we bother to do some research, we will come across loads of material
on that subject and yet we may not be any clearer about it. Yet to be caught up only in the
sensational and spectacular and dramatic, we may miss the whole point of the
1st reading.
The point is that when the
disciples were baptised the name of the Lord Jesus, and the moment Paul had
laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came down on them. Hence the speaking in tongues and
prophesying are just one of the many manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
It is not so much of the
"What?" but rather of the "Who?"
Today also marks the anniversary
of the first apparition of Our Lady to the three children at Fatima in 1917,
and there were six apparitions in all. In 1930, the Church declared that the
apparitions at Fatima were worthy of belief.
Again it was not so much of the
spectacle of the spinning sun and other dramatic happenings but the message
behind it and from "Who" those messages came from. May the Holy
Spirit enlighten us with the truth and lead us to a deeper understanding and
knowledge of the mysteries of God.
****
Easter 7th Week, Monday
THE CROSS AND
THE DISCIPLE
Introduction
As Christians
baptized in the name of Christ, we have received the Holy Spirit of fortitude.
With his help, we should be able to give a place to pain and suffering in our
lives. It is part anyway of all human life. But to Christians, it makes even
more sense: it was Christ’s way and the disciple can accept in peace and use it
for the sake of bringing peace to others. Christ will help us bear it, for he
has conquered the world.
Penitential
Rite:
-As the Psalmist
reminds us, God arises; his enemies are scattered, and those who hate him flee before
him., LHM
- As the Psalmist
reassures us, But the
just rejoice and exult before God; they are glad and rejoice., CHM
- As the Psalmist
consoles us, The
father of orphans and the defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling, LHM
Opening Prayer
Lord, our God, when
your Son Jesus had to pass through trials, he knew that you were with him and he committed himself into your hands. In this way, he brought peace to people. As people baptized into his name, let your
Spirit help us to be brave when
suffering and difficulties come our way,
that, like your Son and with him,
we may overcome evil in ourselves
and in the world. May our pains
give birth to love and peace and hope
for others. We ask you this through
Christ, our Lord.
Commentary
Today’s reading from Acts of the
Apostles offers us another example of delayed catechesis. It is hard to believe
that the company of twelve at Ephesus became Christian believers without
knowing either of the Holy Spirit or the necessity of Christian baptism. The
baptism of John, certainly widely respected, was evidently seen by some as
sufficient. After learning of this erroneous idea, Paul sees to their baptism
in the name of the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit becomes part of their lives.
There may be more to this issue than
meets the eye. It may well have been that there were disciples who saw John’s
mission as “parallel” to Jesus’ mission, with a certain level of equality
between the two. This may go some way in explaining something else. The Gospels
are at pains to honor John but also to emphasize his inferior status to that of
Jesus. Behind all of this may well have been champions of John who were
overstating his case.
In the Gospel today, Jesus tells his
disciples that they will too be scattered and be left to endure his passion
alone. But suffering will be their lot as well. Yet confidence and trust remain
the order of the day. The world is set against Jesus and his followers. But fear
not! He has overcome the world.
An incomplete understanding of the
truth of our faith is a serious concern today. Many of those people today whose
faith is firm and education complete learned their religion at an early age.
Today the majority of our children are not in Catholic schools. Their religious
instruction is limited to one hour a week, in afterschool hours. It is often
geared solely to their reception of the sacraments. It is seldom a high
priority. Parents and Catholic educators have to see this as a major
responsibility. The education and formation of the young is a matter of major
importance. It is essential to the transmission of the faith and must be a high
priority for parents and for all those who seek to positively shape the minds
and souls of children.
Points to Ponder
Belief in Jesus without a Spirit
baptism
Our problems today in religious
education
Belief in Jesus’ triumph over the
world
Intercessions
– That the Holy Spirit may breathe in
us the fervor to live consistently our baptismal faith, we pray:
– That the Holy Spirit may give us the
strength to carry with Jesus the crosses that come to us in life, we pray:
– That the Holy Spirit may warm up in
us our cold hearts, that at times we don’t know how to forgive and love, we
pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, our God,
in this sacrifice we celebrate,
how we have to pass through suffering
because it was the way of Jesus.
Make us aware
that this is also the way of the
disciple,
as the test of our faith,
the probation of our hope
and the measure of our love.
Give us the Spirit of strength to bear
difficulties
with peace and consolation in our
hearts
on account of the joy you have
promised
and the fruits they may bear for
others,
as an offering to you through Christ,
our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, our God,
you promise us what no eye has seen
and no ear has heard.
Give us the strength of the Spirit
to bear suffering in hope
and as a way to grow in the life of
Christ.
May it bring to others the courage
to hope in your promise
of a new heaven and a new earth
and to live in your friendship.
We ask you this through Christ, our
Lord.
Blessing
When Jesus died on the cross and rose
again, the world was changed, death and sin were defeated. But we have still to
make this true today. Justice and love must still triumph in us today. Let the
Spirit commit us to do this today, and may Almighty God bless you, the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
