Unity with Diversity.The Fifth Sunday of Easter 2020

Unity with Diversity.

The Fifth Sunday of Easter 2020

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May 10, 2020

Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12

The church presents three strong readings for our consideration this week. In Acts, the church’s ministry is expanded to deacons, who are set aside to take care of practical matters while the Apostles preach the good news that Jesus is risen. It shows the church’s concerns for its growth and its ministry to ordinary daily human relations. The church emphasizes the holiness and dignity of every member. In Peter’s letter, the leader of the church calls us a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people set apart because it is built upon living rocks with Christ as the cornerstone. Something organic and firm is happening as the church is being built. Then the Gospel tells us that God’s house is magnificent with enough room for everyone who believes in Jesus, who is our way, the truth, and the life.

The sky was the limit for the early church. It was pure in its desire to minister to the needs of the people and it was ready to try new concepts to settle and to satisfy ordinary conflicts and tensions. It saw possibilities in the capabilities of the people who were governed by the Spirit of God. The goodness and dignity of every person was being called forth as people learned to follow the teachings of Jesus. It was not free from conflict, but it sought to manage affairs through the merciful deliberations of each case that was presented to the community, and, through working together, the community of faith was built one living step at a time, and everyone was welcome.

In the midst of this COVID-19 crisis, our notion of church has been paused, which gives us some time for reflection, and reflection gives rise to new opportunities that were otherwise not visible earlier. Many people realize that we remain a community of faith even though most of us cannot receive the sacraments. People are praying in traditional ways and innovative ways and many are aware of their many blessings and sources of gratitude. Many people are watching masses online and are finding spiritually enlightening resources on the internet. When we do come back together, we have an opportunity to reshape our notion of church because it will take some time before we will assemble as a community in 2019. The financial viability of some churches may not be able to withstand the challenges this virus has presented. Perhaps some churches and schools close, but our mission remains. We still need to pass on the faith to others and we come together to worship. Can we be empowered and creative enough to make adjustments to our way of being church? This is a time for bold daydreaming.

For centuries, the church has been transmitted through a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all mold. Does it have to be that way? Does it serve all the people who want to come to know Jesus Christ? The religious leaders in Rome legislated how everyone is to worship and participate in church. Across the world, we have the same liturgy, cycle of readings, and liturgical seasons and songs, except for the possible translation into different languages. It is the only model of church that we know, but perhaps there are different ways forward. There can be many avenues to the one Christ, who is our way, the truth, and the life. As much as we need unity, we need to honor diversity. The Gospel reminds us there are many rooms in this mansion and that means there are numerous possibilities for us to find our way to Christ. The first reading reminds us there are many ways to get involved in ministry. Peter reminds us that we are a living organism that continues to grow from the foundation, which is Christ. Rooted and grounded in love, our ideas have to mature and be expressed individually. Perhaps this is a moment to reflect upon our opportunities to bring Christ to others in new ways, to worship while respecting various cultures and regional customs, to fling out the net more broadly while learning from each other how to build our lives around Christ. The possibilities are exciting.

Scripture for Daily Mass

First Reading:

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 10: Damien de Veuster of Moloka'i, priest (1840-1889), was a Belgian who entered the Congregation of the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He was sent on mission to the Hawaiian Islands and was a parish priest for nine years. He then volunteered as a chaplain to the remote leper colony of Moloka'i. He contracted leprosy and died at the colony. He is remembered for his brave choice to accept the mission and to bring respect and dignity to the lepers. He was canonized in 2009. A statue of him stands in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

May 12: Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs (early second century), were Roman Imperial soldiers who converted to Christianity. They left the army and were martyred when they refused to sacrifice to idols during Emperor Trajan's reign.

May 12: Pancras, martyr, (d. 304)was a Syrian orphan who was brought to Rome by his uncle. Both soon after converted to Christianity. Pancras was beheaded at age 14 during the Diocletian persecution and buried on the Via Aurelia. A cemetery was named after him, but his remains were sent to Northumbria in England where six churches are dedicated to him.

May 13: Our Lady of Fatima is a name given to Mary after she appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal between May 13 and October 13, 1917. During her appearances, Mary stressed the importance of repentance, ongoing conversion, and dedicated to the heart of Mary through praying the Rosary.

May 14: Matthias, Apostle (first century) was chosen after the resurrection to replace Judas who committed suicide. In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter, quoting a psalm, told 120 people who gathered that they were to choose a new apostle - someone who had been with them from the baptism of Jesus until the resurrection. Two names were put forward and the assembly cast lots. Matthias was chosen.

May 15: Isidore (1070-1130), was born in Madrid to a family of farm laborers. With his wife, he worked on an estate and became known for his piety and generosity. His remains are the cause of several miracles most notably the cure of King Philip III who became his sponsor for canonization.

May 16: Andrew Bobola, S.J., priest martyr (1591-1657), is called the Martyr of Poland because of his excruciatingly painful death. He worked during a plague to care for the sick, but he became "wanted" by the Cossacks during a time when anti-Catholic and anti-Jesuit sentiment was high. His preaching converted whole villages back to Catholicism and he was hunted down because he was termed a "soul-hunter."

This Week in Jesuit History

·      May 10, 1773. Empress Maria Teresa of Austria changed her friendship for the Society into hatred, because she had been led to believe that a written confession of hers (found and printed by Protestants) had been divulged by the Jesuits.

·      May 11, 1824. St Regis Seminary opens in Florissant, Missouri, by Fr. Van Quickenborne. It was the first Roman Catholic school in USA for the higher education of Native American Indians

·      May 12,1981. A letter of this date, from Secretary of State, Cardinal Casaroli, speaks positively of Teilhard de Chardin in celebration of the centenary of his birth (May 1,1881).

·      May 13, 1572. Election of Gregory XIII to succeed St Pius V. To him the Society owes the foundation of the Roman and German Colleges.

·      May 14, 1978. Letter of Pedro Arrupe to the whole Society on Inculturation.

·      May 15, 1815. Readmission of the Society into Spain by Ferdinand VII. The members of the Society were again exiled on July 31, 1820.

·      May 16, 1988. In Paraguay, Pope John Paul II canonizes Roque Gonzalez, Alfonso Rodriguez, and Juan del Castillo.