Sorrow to Joy

First Reading: Acts 18:1-8
Psalm: Ps 98:1-4
Gospel: Jn 16:16-20

Friends,

Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. - John 16:20

We see a lot of weeping and mourning from those who long for justice and to see the fulfillment of the gospels. There are many who grow frustrated with the state of our world, and each new day seems to bring more bad news.

Our culture (or at least the media in our culture) rejoices over "gay marriage," while Christians grieve for the loss of the real meaning of marriage. Politicians try to portray contraception, abortion and euthanasia as rights due to a civilized society. Christians mourn for those who do not understand that they have turned their back on love. We watch in horror as good men and women are slandered, while criminals are allowed to walk free and are celebrated. So it is and has been in every century and we have no promise that it will get better in this age. Our journey through this world will always be littered with reasons to weep.

However, as Christians, we have hope. We know that the troubles of this world are passing and that we will rise again with joy when Jesus calls us. Our faith is not one of lamenting the difficulties of this life, nor our battles against the evil one, but rejoicing in the saving power of our Lord. In this, we can stand against all storms, if we can but recall that the storm is only fleeting and the dawn is fast approaching. And when the world around you is celebrating the destruction of all that you hold dear, recall that it was the same for the apostles on Good Friday. Our sorrow, like theirs, will be short-lived, and our joy will last forever.

Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. We thank you for the glorious gift of hope that you have given to us. We pray that you will remind us to make full use of this virtue in the times when the darkness seems powerful. Grant that we might share this hope with our brothers and sisters who have fallen into despair. We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Seek and Find

First Reading: Acts 17:15, 22--18:1
Psalm: Ps 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14
Gospel: John 16:12-15

Friends,

In today's reading, Paul is speaking to the Athenians. He begins his dialog with a very remarkable statement:

You Athenians, I see that in every respect you are very religious. For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, 'To an Unknown God.' What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you. - Acts 22b-23

There are at least three important themes in these opening statements that we must take note of.

First, Paul has spent time getting to know his audience. In his lifetime, Paul was fortunate enough to be able to preach to many different cities over three missions in multiple different cultures. However, he stays a time with them to understand their lives and style of thinking in order to speak to them well. This is an excellent example for those who are called (as we all are) to share the faith.

Second, Paul notes that the people of Athens are very thirsty for faith in something, but do not know exactly how to quench that thirst. They have multiple shrines and, presumably in an attempt to be fair to all, they even dedicate an altar to they know not who/what. In our own time, we can see something of this. Many people drop from a structured religion and go off to practice their own "spirituality." They don't want to abandon faith, but they don't want to be confined to any particular set of beliefs. Some even go so far as to say that Jesus' teachings are simply one set in a large pool and that all lead to salvation.

Third, Paul begins to explain to the Athenians the message of the gospels. He is not satisfied with them simply trying to be religious. It is not enough for them to worship "unknown gods." His later comments tie in some of the things he has learned during his time in Athens, but they do not soften at all the central points of Christianity. He does not try to win over people to Jesus by compromising, or mixing his teachings with those of the pagans so that the people are more likely to accept them. Indeed, many of the scholars to whom he is talking laugh him right out of the arena when he preaches the resurrection (Acts 17:22). Likewise, we must preach the Truth and take care that it not become tainted with softened teachings.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of this day. We thank you for the example of the apostles; a model to follow when sharing your word. Lord, we pray that, when we speak to our brethren who do not yet know you, it is your words that are upon our lips. Guide us to be charitable in our dialog and just in our teachings, but also firm. Protect us from watered-down teachings and lead us truly through the Holy Spirit. We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Compassion

First Reading: Acts 16:22-34
Psalm: Ps 138:1-3, 7c-8
Gospel: Jn 16:5-11

Friends,

When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, "Do no harm to yourself; we are all here." - Acts 16:27-28

In today's reading, Paul and Silas are publicly beaten and jailed. What was their crime? Healing a child possessed by a demon. In the night, an earthquake frees them from the prison, but they do not flee. Why? There are a few accounts in the book of Acts where the apostles are freed from prison by miraculous events. This one, however, is unique in that those freed do not immediately escape from the prison, but stay.

To understand why, we must remember what the laws and customs of the time demanded. At that time, a Roman official charged with watch over a prisoner was subject to death if their prisoner escaped. When Peter and the apostles were imprisoned in Jerusalem, they were confined by the temple guard, so they were not captives of the Romans. Thus, their captors were not subject to this punishment, only an embarrassment that their prisoners were not there in the morning. However, in this case, the jailer is an official within a Roman colony and is very much subject to Roman law. The seriousness of the case is seen when the guard thought it better to take his own life than to be publicly executed.

Paul, as a Roman citizen, knew what the penalty would be for the jailer if they were to leave the prison. It was certainly within his ability to make an exit and leave the guard to his fate, but he does not. His actions suggest to us a compassion toward those who had wrongly beaten and arrested him. Furthermore, we recognize the power of this two verses later: "Then he brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'" (Acts 16:30) If Paul had left, he would have missed the opportunity to bring this man and his family to Christ. As it happened, many more souls were saved, and who knows how greatly their descendants have benefited the Church since then?

In our own lives, do we seek vengeance for the wrongs done to us? Personally, I know that I must work on this in the little things sometimes. Another driver speeds past, cutting me off and nearly causing an accident. When I see them later, signaling to get back into my lane, with a mile of stopped traffic ahead of them, it is difficult not to feel smug that their getting their comeuppance. But the little voice in the back of my mind still asks me, "Are you feeling happy that they are suffering?", and I am forced to stop and ask for forgiveness myself. As Christians, we are not called to settle the score on our own. We are called to be compassionate, to turn the other cheek, and to forgive those who have wronged us.

If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions. - Matthew 6:14-15

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of this day. We are thankful that you are willing to forgive our transgressions against you. We pray that you help us, in turn, to forgive others who have done something to harm us, whether intentionally or not. Give us the gift of your charity, that we might leave justice in your capable hands, and humility, to recognize and apologize for our own sins against others. We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Testimony of the Spirit

First Reading: Acts 16:11-15
Psalm: Ps 149:1b-6a, 9b
Gospel: Jn 15:26-16:4a

Friends,

When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. - John 15:26

Tonight, our church had a confirmation ceremony. I attended at the request of a few friends, and was glad to see many more friends there as well (and made a new friend before too long). If you have the opportunity to attend a confirmation mass at your own parish, I highly recommend it. It helps emphasize that we are more than individuals in a pretty building; we are a community of believers, a family in Christ.

When speaking with converts, one can't help but feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. Many converts are people that, at one point, did not want to hear the truth of the gospel. Some saw it as too restrictive, others as old and out-dated. How in the world did they ever come to accept the teachings of our Lord?

The sh0rt answer is, something not of the world became present in their lives. Some see miracles. Some see visions. Some just see ordinary people doing their best to live as Christ bade us. In all cases, the Spirit is present, testifying to the love of God and the saving power of Jesus in our lives. It is this witness of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our Church, that gives us direction and strength.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of this day. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide us in our journey through this life. Lord, bless our newly catechized brothers and sisters, fill them with the gifts of the Spirit. Let them be a source of joy and strength for our Christian community and may your divine light shine in them. We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Counsel

First Reading: Acts 15:1-6
Psalm: Ps 122:1-5
Gospel: Jn 15:1-8

Feast day of Our Lady of Fatima

Friends,

Do you remember being a child and asking your parents questions? "Why is the sky blue?" was a favorite in our house. Now that we're older, where do we go for our answers to all of our questions? The library? The internet? Someone with experience? If we disagree with someone, how do we determine who is right?

Most often, we will seek out a wise counsel. Someone who is very learned in the subject that we are interested in at the moment. For instance, scientists when discussing the sciences. If a question or dispute arises in the area where a particular scientist is very reputable, they might be asked to give their opinion of the matter. They are consulted because they have a put a lot of time and thought into the problem, studied it from a number of angles, and presumably have the best current understanding of the issue.

In the reading for today, a dispute has arisen among the Christians between those of Jewish heritage and those of the Gentiles. The Jewish Christians want to continue observing the Mosaic law, including circumcision. The others feel that this is not necessary. Only one way to settle the dispute: go back to those who are the most knowledgeable on the subject, the apostles. This would be the first of many counsels that the Church would hold to settle differences within the body of Christ, according to his word (see Matthew 18:15-17).

Notice that the apostles do not give an answer immediately. They hear discussion and debate on the subject. They are willing to weigh the merits of both arguments. However, they also add in another element, the teachings with which they are so familiar. Just as a prominent scientist weighs theories against each other, he must also take into account everything else known about the subject before he endorses one theory or another.

We should take this as a lesson for ourselves and not be quick to take sides, but learn what each side has to say. Take the time to discover why people support one belief or another. Above all, discuss with respect. Remember, each side held strongly to their side of the argument, but all of them wanted to follow the teachings of Jesus.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of this day. We pray that we might be respectful in our discussions with those who do not believe what we do. Help us to keep patience and humility in our hearts when speaking to those who disagree, and ward off anger and pride. Give us the grace to see others that differ with us as brothers and sisters in our Lord and to treat them as such, correcting where we must, loving at all times. We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Getting Up

First Reading: Acts 14:19-28
Psalm: Ps 145:10-13ab, 21
Gospel: Jn 14:27-31a

Friends,

From the very first, we are taught that, if we fall down, the most important thing is that we get back up again. There are a number of phrases out there that emphasize the general idea: "Winners never quit, quitters never win", "No pain, no gain", et cetera... We are always encouraged to go just that little bit more when we think that we've got nothing left. If you embrace this mentality there are two things that are certain: first, you will fall short of the goal sometimes, and second, if you persist, you will excel.

One could say that it is a model of faith. A good friend likes to remind me that you should be careful when praying for patience, because you will be tested. I tried it a few times, and those were particularly trying weeks (though I was learning patience by the end). We do our best to avoid bad habits, but occasionally we slip up. We try to avoid temptations to sin, but somehow it just keeps happening. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans an all-too-familiar thought:

The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want. - Romans 7:18b-19

Fortunately, Paul also knew something about getting back up after a failure. In today's reading, he is stoned by a crowd that earlier was attempting to declare him a god. He is then dragged outside of the city and left for dead. When he is surrounded by his friends, he gets back up and re-enters the city. He even returns publicly later to encourage the faithful to persevere.

Jesus himself fell three times on his way to Calvary. He knows the walk and how difficult it is for us to get back up when everything seems too much. But he got up, both on the Via Dolorosa and from the grave. And, like an older brother helping his younger siblings in their trials, he has come to help us get up and carry on, so that when we finish our journey here, we will be honored for completing the race.

Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Thank you for sending your son, our Lord, to help us get back up in times of difficulty. We are grateful for his example, and that of the saints, to guide us and encourage us through our own trials. We pray that we might be an example for others, and that our perseverance in faith be a beacon to those who are in darkness. We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.