A
Reflection on the
Readings for Sunday, June 1st.
By: Larry T
What is church?
Is it just a building with a steeple, a basilica, a cathedral, or simply a
place of worship? Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines church as a building that is
used for Christian religious services, or as a particular Christian group. Dr. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the outstanding
Lutheran theologian, said, “Where a people prays, there is the church, and where the church is, there is never loneliness!”
How badly did the disciples need church in the days between the Ascension
of the Lord and Pentecost? What an emotional roller coaster! Being with the
Lord during his earthly ministry – joy! The abomination of His scourging,
crucifixion and death – despair! His resurrection - jubilation! His ascension
into heaven – bewilderment! How abandoned, depressed, lonely, even hopeless
might they have been feeling? Instead of shrugging their shoulders, kicking at
the dirt and dejectedly returning to their pre-Jesus lives they clung together
in spiritual love and prayed to God. This Sunday’s first reading from the Acts
of the Apostles tells us that they became church.
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from
the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.
13 When they entered the city they went
to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew,
Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the
Zealot, and Judas son of James.
14 All these devoted themselves with one
accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and
his brothers. – Acts 1:12-14 N.A.B.
Jesus hand-picked and spiritually formed the
apostles for a special mission. They were going to be sent into the world to
make the Father known to the world just as the Father had sent Jesus into the
world to make the Father known. This group had listened to Jesus pray earnestly
to the Father for them during his last discourse. As they became church they might have been clinging to
the intercessory words of his prayer:
6 “I revealed your name to those whom
you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me,
and they have kept your word.
7 Now they know that everything you
gave me is from you,
8 because the words you gave to me I
have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came
from you, and they have believed that you sent me.
9 I pray for them. I do not pray for
the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours,
10 and everything of mine is yours and
everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them.
11 And now I will no longer be in the
world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. -
John 17:6-11a N.A.B.
Why did Jesus pray for them? Francis J.
Moloney S.D.B. (The Gospel of John, Sacra Pagina) writes, “Despite Jesus’ words
on the disciples in verses 6-8 they remain fragile in a hostile world and they
will not survive unless the Father keeps them in his name.” They had heard Jesus’
intercessory prayer to the Father for them, and they had church (prayer, fellowship, spiritual love for each other), but was
that enough? As time passed they were expelled from the synagogues, persecuted by
the Jews, and suffered Roman persecution and martyrdom. Was it all worth it? Understandably
they needed reassurance, and in 1 Peter they got some.
13 But rejoice to the extent that you
share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may
also rejoice exultantly.
14 If you are insulted for the name of
Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
15 But let no one among you be made to
suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer.
16 But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian
should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name. -
1 Peter 4:13-16 N.A.B.
The first Christians depended on church, clung to the memory Jesus’
prayer to the Father for them, and desperately needed assurance that their
faith was not in vain. How easy is it to be a faithful Christian in our society?
Does it seem as though our faith is under constant attack in our country, and
even in our own cities and towns, and sometimes even in our own families. Can
we sympathize with Jeremiah?
9 I say to myself, I will not mention
him, I will speak in his name no more.
But then it becomes like fire burning
in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones;
I grow weary holding it in,
I cannot endure it.
10 Yes, I hear the whisperings of many:
“Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!”
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of
mine.
“Perhaps he will be trapped; then we
can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him.”
-
Jeremiah 20:9-10 N.A.B
Jesus
prayed to the Father for his disciples. Did He also pray for us? Yes!
20 “I pray not only for them, but also
for those who will believe in me through their word,
21 so that they may all be one, as you,
Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may
believe that you sent me.
22 And I have given them the glory you
gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one,
23 I in them and you in me, that they
may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me.
24 Father, they are your gift to me. I
wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that
you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25 Righteous Father, the world also does
not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
26 I made known to them your name and I
will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I
in them.” – John 17:20-26 N.A.B.
How fragile are we (modern Christians) in an
increasing hostile society? There is wisdom in the ability to recognize when
something in unchangeable even when those around us are saying that it is. Abortion
is contrary to God’s law – that will never change. God’s chosen Holy Family
consisted of a man, a woman, and a child – that will never change. Jesus told
us that the second greatest commandment is to love one another – that will
never change. If we can’t recognize the principles of our faith that are
unchangeable, it won’t be long before we won’t be able to recognize our faith. To
remain steadfast we need to remember that Jesus prayed for us, we need the encouragement
of Scripture, guidance of the Holy Spirit through the Magisterium – and we need
to be church!
Thanks for your encouraging post Larry! Blessings!
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