From The American Bible Society:
May 22, 2011
Fifth Sunday of Easter
DO NOT BE WORRIED
John 14:1-12 (Good News Translation)
1 “Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them. Believe in God and believe also in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. 3 And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am. 4 You know the way that leads to the place where I am going. ” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; so how can we know the way to get there?” 6 Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me. 7 Now that you have known me, ” he said to them, “you will know my Father also, and from now on you do know him and you have seen him. ” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father; that is all we need.” 9 Jesus answered, “For a long time I have been with you all; yet you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Why, then, do you say, “Show us the Father”? 10 Do you not believe, Philip, that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I have spoken to you, ” Jesus said to his disciples, “do not come from me. The Father, who remains in me, does his own work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. If not, believe because of the things I do. 12 I am telling you the truth: those who believe in me will do what I do—yes, they will do even greater things, because I am going to the Father.
Other Readings: Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; 1 Peter 2:4-9;
Lectio
The ‘first’ readings for the Sunday Mass in the Easter Season are all taken from the book of Acts. They present a glimpse of the growth and evolution of the small Christian community born in Jerusalem, and very soon moving throughout, and developing in, the whole Mediterranean. It is important to assess how two different approaches coexist in the New Testament when dealing with the Church: from the most ‘idealized’ view, to the most ‘realistic’ and down to earth. In today’s liturgy, the text from 1Peter is a good example of an ‘ideal’ Church: ‘a chosen race,’ ‘the holy nation,’ ‘God’s own people’… the Kingdom of God in the midst of a heathen, sinful world! In the same way, Paul speaks about the community as ‘Christ’s body’ (1Corinthians 13). John insists on our being not only ‘God’s children,’ … but also ‘when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is’ (1 John 3). Luke, in Acts (2:43-47; 4:32-37), describes the community of Jerusalem as a group of believers which, through their solidarity, piety and sanctity, filled everybody with awe. Of course, that ideal vision of the Church must be contrasted with other descriptions provided by the same writers. We could start with Luke himself. Even before the division created by the different way of dealing with the widows in function of their origin (Acts 6), in the beginning of chapter 5 we find greed and lies related to money, something which leads to Ananias’ and Sapphira’s death. In 1 Corinthians, Paul complains about and criticizes not only a number of cases of immorality in the community, but the fact that their divisions reach even the way in which they celebrate the Eucharist. James deplores the differences in the way of treating members of the community due to outward appearance and economical status (James 2:1-6). Paradox, if not contradiction, seems to be the best word to describe the Church, both then and now. The old phrase ‘a Church of sinners, a Church of saints’ was and is still valid. However, there is no point in despairing because of those contradictions between the ideal proposed by the gospel and the humble reality of our Christian life. We can find that gap even in the way the Apostles themselves struggled in their experience of following Christ. ‘For a long time I have been with you all; yet, you do not know me, Philip?’, complains Jesus when he sees they still do not understand him nor his mission, not even his words. We can find comfort in the fact of knowing that we are ‘on our way’ towards the Father and the Kingdom. Not only that, we know that Jesus himself is the Way; that he is the Truth which makes us able to understand our vocation to faith; that he is the Life which may enliven and vivify the dryness and sterility of our Christian life. Undoubtedly, we know quite well that, in spite of our failures and shortcomings, the Lord is faithful to his promises. That is why we must ‘not be worried’.
Meditatio
During the Last Supper, Jesus announces to the disciples his double departure (to be crucified and, after the resurrection, to return to his Father), and that announcement provokes in them feelings of sadness and abandonment. They feel lonely, for they do not understand in which way the Lord is going to accompany them. Do you experience the absence of the Lord in your life? Or are you able to find him close to you in your moments of joy or distress? Our lives are full of ‘crossroads’ in which we have to decide between a number of choices. If you are in any situation of that kind, see how Christ, the Way, can help you to find the right path. Open your eyes and try to see if someone close to you needs your help to discover his own way.
Oratio
Pray for those who feel disappointed (yourself, perhaps) because of the faults and sins of churchmen. Pray that we may not become judges of others but feel the Lord’s help and guidance beyond our human failures. Pray for yourself, that through your faith and fidelity you may also perform ‘greater things’ thanks to Christ’s intercession before the Father.
Contemplatio
‘Do not be worried’ says the Lord. Try to analyze which things ‘worry’ you; what makes you feel insecure, fearful. Your health or your family? Your economy or your job? Read peacefully and find comfort in Paul’s words: ‘Who can separate us from the love of Christ?’ (Romans 8:28-39).
© 2010 American Bible Society
May 22, 2011
Fifth Sunday of Easter
DO NOT BE WORRIED
John 14:1-12 (Good News Translation)
1 “Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them. Believe in God and believe also in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. 3 And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am. 4 You know the way that leads to the place where I am going. ” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; so how can we know the way to get there?” 6 Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me. 7 Now that you have known me, ” he said to them, “you will know my Father also, and from now on you do know him and you have seen him. ” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father; that is all we need.” 9 Jesus answered, “For a long time I have been with you all; yet you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Why, then, do you say, “Show us the Father”? 10 Do you not believe, Philip, that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I have spoken to you, ” Jesus said to his disciples, “do not come from me. The Father, who remains in me, does his own work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. If not, believe because of the things I do. 12 I am telling you the truth: those who believe in me will do what I do—yes, they will do even greater things, because I am going to the Father.
Other Readings: Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; 1 Peter 2:4-9;
Lectio
The ‘first’ readings for the Sunday Mass in the Easter Season are all taken from the book of Acts. They present a glimpse of the growth and evolution of the small Christian community born in Jerusalem, and very soon moving throughout, and developing in, the whole Mediterranean. It is important to assess how two different approaches coexist in the New Testament when dealing with the Church: from the most ‘idealized’ view, to the most ‘realistic’ and down to earth. In today’s liturgy, the text from 1Peter is a good example of an ‘ideal’ Church: ‘a chosen race,’ ‘the holy nation,’ ‘God’s own people’… the Kingdom of God in the midst of a heathen, sinful world! In the same way, Paul speaks about the community as ‘Christ’s body’ (1Corinthians 13). John insists on our being not only ‘God’s children,’ … but also ‘when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is’ (1 John 3). Luke, in Acts (2:43-47; 4:32-37), describes the community of Jerusalem as a group of believers which, through their solidarity, piety and sanctity, filled everybody with awe. Of course, that ideal vision of the Church must be contrasted with other descriptions provided by the same writers. We could start with Luke himself. Even before the division created by the different way of dealing with the widows in function of their origin (Acts 6), in the beginning of chapter 5 we find greed and lies related to money, something which leads to Ananias’ and Sapphira’s death. In 1 Corinthians, Paul complains about and criticizes not only a number of cases of immorality in the community, but the fact that their divisions reach even the way in which they celebrate the Eucharist. James deplores the differences in the way of treating members of the community due to outward appearance and economical status (James 2:1-6). Paradox, if not contradiction, seems to be the best word to describe the Church, both then and now. The old phrase ‘a Church of sinners, a Church of saints’ was and is still valid. However, there is no point in despairing because of those contradictions between the ideal proposed by the gospel and the humble reality of our Christian life. We can find that gap even in the way the Apostles themselves struggled in their experience of following Christ. ‘For a long time I have been with you all; yet, you do not know me, Philip?’, complains Jesus when he sees they still do not understand him nor his mission, not even his words. We can find comfort in the fact of knowing that we are ‘on our way’ towards the Father and the Kingdom. Not only that, we know that Jesus himself is the Way; that he is the Truth which makes us able to understand our vocation to faith; that he is the Life which may enliven and vivify the dryness and sterility of our Christian life. Undoubtedly, we know quite well that, in spite of our failures and shortcomings, the Lord is faithful to his promises. That is why we must ‘not be worried’.
Meditatio
During the Last Supper, Jesus announces to the disciples his double departure (to be crucified and, after the resurrection, to return to his Father), and that announcement provokes in them feelings of sadness and abandonment. They feel lonely, for they do not understand in which way the Lord is going to accompany them. Do you experience the absence of the Lord in your life? Or are you able to find him close to you in your moments of joy or distress? Our lives are full of ‘crossroads’ in which we have to decide between a number of choices. If you are in any situation of that kind, see how Christ, the Way, can help you to find the right path. Open your eyes and try to see if someone close to you needs your help to discover his own way.
Oratio
Pray for those who feel disappointed (yourself, perhaps) because of the faults and sins of churchmen. Pray that we may not become judges of others but feel the Lord’s help and guidance beyond our human failures. Pray for yourself, that through your faith and fidelity you may also perform ‘greater things’ thanks to Christ’s intercession before the Father.
Contemplatio
‘Do not be worried’ says the Lord. Try to analyze which things ‘worry’ you; what makes you feel insecure, fearful. Your health or your family? Your economy or your job? Read peacefully and find comfort in Paul’s words: ‘Who can separate us from the love of Christ?’ (Romans 8:28-39).
© 2010 American Bible Society
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