The Fifth Sunday of Easter

The Fifth Sunday of Easter

predmore.blogspot.com

May 19, 2019

Acts 14:21-27; Psalm 145; Revelation 21:1-5; John 13:31-35

Studying the early days of the Apostles gives us important clues about the nature of the community we call church. In Acts, Paul and Barnabas were proclaiming that salvation is available to people through Jesus and many people were open to their message. People were willing to go through many hardships to enter into the Kingdom of God. Everywhere these missionaries went, the people were commended God for the work they had accomplished. Surprisingly, even the doors of faith were opened to the Gentiles.

What do these readings tell us about the nature of church? It was certainly a church that offered encouragement to one another. The leaders of the church were amazed at how well the people stayed faithful to the Gospel during difficult times when there was no Scriptural guidance or church laws. You can almost feel the warmth and delight that the church elders, the Apostles, and the people had for one another when they came together to share stories and to break bread. Further along in the Acts of the Apostles, we learn that the church shared a Love Feast, an Agape meal, which was along the lines of a potluck dinner before they gathered for the Eucharist. It was a time in which everyone joyfully contributed on an equal footing and shared stories of their relationship with Jesus. It was a like a warm, intimate family gathering, where no distinction between the classes, races, occupation, or nationality was evident. Anyone who called upon the name of the Lord was welcome to these meals.

Furthermore, the church was known for its hospitality and mercy. Christianity grew because people were kind to one another in astonishing ways. Kindness, goodness, and happiness are attractive. Notice that if you had a choice to approach a person who is frowning and sad or one who is smiling and cheerful, you gravitate towards the one who is happy. Happiness sells. The early Christians were happy because they came to know that Jesus had become the Messiah and they were happy to be counted among those who were saved. They wanted to bring this news of universal salvation to everyone and they were not fearful of the foreigner or the one who was different, because they were the ones who were different for so long, Gentiles that were once excluded from salvation. Christians were such a mysterious bunch that a high-ranking Roman soldier once remarked to a Christian elder, “See how much they love one another. By rights, they should be enemies, but they treat anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord with mercy. How unusual they are.”

Centuries have passed and the church needed to organize itself as it grew and set conditions for membership and exclusion. Its administration became hierarchical and it is understandable that it shaped itself as it responded to the signs of the times, but sometimes we cannot help but compare the church of today to the early church. From these readings, we see that this was a church of mercy, of hospitality, of openness to new ideas and possibilities, and of encouragement. How extensively does our church represent these qualities today? We are not to get discouraged. We should not dwell on where we are lacking these attributes, because they can serve as a roadmap for our future. We can see this as an invitation to return ourselves to our foundational virtues.  

The Gospel gives us the command to love one another. We may not ever return the church to a place of the Agape meal and the feeling of being in a warm family gathering, but there are places where we can increase our mercy, hospitality, and openness as we encourage one another. Each time we come together we define who we are and who we want to be. What type of church do you want? Be the change you want to see in your church. Return to your true selves, to your place of happiness, and you will find others will want to be where you are.

Scripture for Daily Mass

First Readings

Monday: (Acts 14) As Gentiles and Jews in Iconium were about to attack Paul and Barnabas, they fled to Lystra where Paul healed a lame man. 

Tuesday: (Acts 14) The crowds began to put their faith in Paul and Barnabas as gods, but the men protested and told the story of the Christ event. Opposition to Paul increased shortly afterwards and he was stoned. They left for Derbe to strengthen the disciples in those cities and encouraged them during their times of hardship.

Wednesday: (Acts 15) Some of Paul’s Jewish opposition raised the question of circumcision and adherence to the Mosaic laws. Along the way to Jerusalem to seek the advice of the Apostles, they told everyone of the conversion of the Gentiles.

Thursday: (Acts 15) After much debate, Peter and James decided that no further restrictions were to be made on the Gentiles.

Friday (Acts 15) The Apostles and presbyters chose representatives and sent them to Paul and Barnabas with word that the Gentiles were indeed welcomed into the faith with no extra hardships placed upon them. The people were delighted with the good news.

Saturday (Acts 13) In Derbe and Lystra, Paul heard of a man named Timothy who was well regarded by the believers. Paul had him circumcised and they travelled to Macedonia to proclaim the good news.

Gospel: 

Monday: (John 14) In the Farewell Discourse, Jesus reassures his disciples that he will remain with them if they keep his commandments to love one another.

Tuesday: (John 14) To punctuate his message of consolation, he tells them he will send an advocate to teach and remind them of all he told them.

Wednesday (John 15) Jesus leaves them with his lasting peace that will help them endure many difficult times. This peace will allow us people to remain close to him – organically as he is the vine and we are the branches.

Thursday (John 15) Remaining close to Jesus will allow us to share complete joy with one another.

Friday (John 15) Jesus once again proves his love to his friends by saying that the true friend, the Good Shepherd, will lay down his life for his friends. 

Saturday (John 14) However, even with the love of Jesus, his followers will experience hatred in this world, but as his friends and as God’s elect, their harm can never really harm the souls of a believer.

Saints of the Week

May 20: Bernardine of Siena, priest, (1380-1444) was from a family of nobles who cared for the sick during plagues. He entered the Franciscans and preached across northern and central Italy with homilies that understood the needs of the laity. He became vicar general and instituted reforms.

May 21: Christopher Magallanes, priest and companions, martyrs (1869-1927) was a Mexican priest who served the indigenous people by forming agrarian communities. He opened seminaries when the ant-Catholic government kept shutting them down. He was arrested and executed with 21 priests and 3 laymen.

May 22: Rita of Cascia, religious (1381-1457), always wanted to become a nun but her family married her off to an abusive man. He was murdered 18 years later. Rita urged forgiveness when her two sons wanted to avenge their father's murder. They soon died too. Rita wanted to enter a convent, but he marital status kept her out. Eventually, the Augustinians in Cascia admitted her. She became a mystic and counselor to lay visitors.

May 24: Our Lady of the Way or in Italian, Madonna della Strada, is a painting enshrined at the Church of the Gesu in Rome, the mother church of the Society of Jesus. The Madonna Della Strada is the patroness of the Society of Jesus. In 1568, Cardinal Farnese erected the Gesu in place of the former church of Santa Maria della Strada. 

May 25: Bede the Venerable, priest and doctor, (673-735), is the only English doctor of the church. As a child, he was sent to a Benedictine monastery where he studied theology and was ordained. He wrote thorough commentaries on scripture and history as well as poetry and biographies. His famous work is the "Ecclesiastical History of the English People," the source for much of Anglo-Saxon history.

May 25: Gregory VII, pope (1020-1085), was a Tuscan who was sent to a monastery to study under John Gratian, who became Gregory VI. He served the next few popes as chaplain, treasurer, chancellor and counselor before he became Gregory VII. He introduced strong reforms over civil authorities that caused much consternation. Eventually, the Romans turned against him when the Normans sacked Rome.

May 25: Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi (1566-1607), a Florentine, chose to become a Carmelite nun instead of getting married. Her biography, written by her confessor, gives accounts of intense bouts of desolation and joy. She is reputed to have gifts of prophecy and healing.

This Week in Jesuit History

·      May 19, 1652. Birth of Paul Hoste mathematician and expert on construction of ships and history of naval warfare.

·      May 20, 1521. Ignatius was seriously wounded at Pamplona, Spain, while defending its fortress against the French.

·      May 21, 1925. Pius XI canonizes Peter Canisius, with Teresa of the Child Jesus, Mary Madeleine Postal, Madeleine Sophie Barat, John Vianney, and John Eudes. Canisius is declared a Doctor of the Church.

·      May 22, 1965. Pedro Arrupe was elected the 28th general of the Society of Jesus.

·      May 23, 1873. The death of Peter de Smet, a famous missionary among Native Americans of the great plains and mountains of the United States. He served as a mediator and negotiator of several treaties.

·      May 24, 1834. Don Pedro IV expelled the Society from Brazil.

·      May 25, 1569. At Rome Pope St Pius V installed the Society in the College of Penitentiaries. Priests of various nationalities who were resident in Rome were required to act as confessors in St Peter's.