Category Archives: Musings

Joy

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From time to time, Sacred Scripture contains verses that give us pause: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials” (Jame 1:2) I will admit that while encountering tests and trials, joy is not my instinctual response. Of course, that verse continues: “for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:3) It is a good thing that through trials and testing we gain experience and come to an understanding of our ability to persevere, endure and hope. But I can’t say joy is in the mix. But then perhaps I am a bit confused about what joy truly is, at least in the Biblical sense and am more given to equate joy with the way I am feeling or responding to something in my life. Continue reading →

Talking in Circles

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If you are following the daily gospels for Mass, you will have noticed that we are relying on Jesus’ Farewell Discourse presented in Chapters 13 through 17. The context is the eve of the crucifixion, and Jesus knows he will be leaving his disciples shortly. In that context, he offers them departing instructions and words of farewell – four chapters and more. It is in John 13:33 he says, “My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.” Immediately the protests against their abandonment begin and they continue in different ways and forms – right into today’s reading (John 16; the Diocese of Arlington celebrates Ascension on Sunday). As you continue to read through the Discourse people often comment: (a) these apostles and disciples are not the brightest bulbs in the box because (b) Jesus keeps repeating the same things and they don’t get it. Continue reading →

The Culture

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Today’s first reading is the well known account of St. Paul at the Areopagus, the academic meeting place in Athens. While Athens was no longer a center for political power, it remained the center of the very wide-spread Hellenistic culture. Paul’s speech sounds quite different from speeches he gave in synagogues which argued from Hebrew Scripture. In this different setting Paul’s remarks are addressed to Greek philosophers, nevertheless, it too is steeped in Scripture, but sticks to the parts that sound like philosophy and natural theology, that is, evidence from nature pointing to the God who created it. Continue reading →

The Paraclete

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“But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.” (John 16:5-11) Continue reading →

Spirit and Persecution

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The readings for today continue the account of the early Church as told in the Acts of the Apostles and continues the Farewell Discourse from the Gospel of John in which Jesus, on Holy Thursday, after the Last Supper, is still working to encourage and prepare his Apostles and disciples for what will come in the mission to the end of the earth. Jesus tells them that their mission will be powered by the Holy Spirit. He also notes that the Holy Spirit will fuel their commitment and perseverance to the mission – despite all the trials, persecutions, tribulations, and challenges they will face. Continue reading →

The Commission as Friends

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This coming Sunday is the 6th Sunday of Easter. The language of friendship is immediately contextualized by language of election in v.16: It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” As Fr. Raymond Brown points out [683], this language of election does not speak of the election of the Twelve because there is no indication anywhere in the Farewell Discourse of the number and composition of the circle that is present with Jesus on this last evening. Rather, Jesus reminds the disciples (including the readers) that their place with him is the result of his initiative, not theirs; relationship with Jesus is ultimately a result of God’s grace. Continue reading →

The Greatest Love

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This coming Sunday is the 6th Sunday of Easter. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends – in v.13 we come to the greatest love. This verse is perhaps the most explicit statement in the Gospels of what it means to love as Jesus loves. While some might argue this is simply a restatement of the ideal of Plato and Aristotle, that classical idea is given new gravitas of Jesus’ conventional mission by which the world is redeemed. Continue reading →