May 9, 2017
The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.
Both readings today reveal occasions that call out for reconciliation. Acts shows the situation in Antioch where Jews who have accepted the word show antipathy to the Gentiles, the non-Jews, who are accepting it as well. The Gospel presents the nonbelieving sheep and the believers. The non-believers demand that Jesus “tell them plainly” if he is the Messiah or not. Jesus tells them he has already told them and they do not believe. How to bring these two differing sides together? Through the example of love. Seeing can become believing. In Acts, Barnabas, sent to Antioch by the Jerusalem Jews to check things out, sees the grace of God in the behavior of the newly named Christians. He rejoices, and encourages them all – both Jews and Gentiles – to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart – in loving. In the Gospel, Jesus says, “Look at the works I do” – look at the love I show – and listen to me. Follow me and no one can take you from my hand or the Father’s hand. We are one, and you can be one. Today, let us allow God to use us as instruments of his love especially in those situations where enmity and fear divide us.
Sr. Barbara Schlatter, C.PP.S.
O’Fallon
May 8, 2017
What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.
In Peter’s time, who you ate with and what you ate were matters of faith. Observant Jews were careful not to break the Kosher laws, as Peter refers to. The vision breaks that model apart, saying everything is clean. But the vision isn’t about food, it’s about who belongs to God and who should belong in our hearts.
God has created all of us and claimed us as his own. He has called us all “clean.” The line above calls us to respect everyone’s dignity, and accept them at our tables as they are. Peter and the disciples worked that out at the first council of the Church: I’m not sure we have. We aren’t just talking about building a wall today, we’ve been doing it for years. Being Christian is about sharing Christ with all, not about conforming to a particular rule or regulation about who’s welcome and who’s not. When we consider who we are, and who belongs to us, Christ has a simple answer: everyone belongs to Him.
Rev. Keith Branson, C.PP.S.
Kansas City Province
May 7, 2017
World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: “Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?”
As I sat with the readings for this Sunday, the usual thoughts, those related to sheep and the “Good Shepherd,” did not come to mind. Instead I was struck by the phrase; “they were cut to the heart.” Other common phrases regarding the heart came to mind; the heart of the matter, her heart wasn’t in it, you touched my heart, heart and soul, give from the heart, with heartfelt gratitude. The heart or “cor” in Latin, is the core of our being. When we speak phrases such as those above, we express thoughts, opinions, and sentiments from the deepest recesses of our being.
Peter, finding himself in an emotional freefall of grief, fear, guilt and after days of laying low with the other disciples, has found his voice! There was nowhere Peter could hide that the Spirit of God could not find him. Peter, along with the others were found and touched to the very core of their being by the God they had come to know so intimately. Peter, filled with the transforming love of God, knew in the depths of his heart what he had to do. He stood up boldly and announced the truth about Jesus, the Lord! Jesus, the Christ! This was a truth, which all who heard him, knew deep in their hearts, and thus Peter’s words cut them like an arrow to their core.
With all this said, what about those sheep in our Gospel today? They, like Peter and the other disciples have a very keen understanding that their lives depend on their shepherd. Not any shepherd, but the Shepherd whose voice they have come to know and trust in the core, the heart of their being. We, like Peter and those sheep are also called to be keenly familiar with the voice of our Shepherd. May we always recognize this voice, this presence and open ourselves to continual transformation so that we too can stand boldly and proclaim the truth we know in our heart.
Sr. Patty Kremer, C.PP.S.
Dayton
May 6, 2017
Jesus then said to the Twelve, ‘Do you also want to leave?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Master, to whom shall we go? We are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.’
Jesus addresses this same question to us: “Do you also want to leave? If we should choose to leave, to whom would we turn? To whom could we possibly turn, if not to the Lord?
It is Christ alone whose words, forgiveness, and unconditional love are eternal. The Lord’s love for is so great that He chose to suffer the indescribable pain of the Passion and to die a callously cruel death on the Cross. Not only did He suffer and die to save us, He is, as Scripture tells us, the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the Bread of life; the Good Shepherd; the Light of the world; the Door; the true Vine; and the Resurrection and the Life; in short, He is the center and joy of our lives. He is our ALL; leaving Him is unthinkable. Since we were made for Him, there is no happiness without Him, as expressed so beautifully in the words of St. Augustine: “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”
Let us pray for the grace to respond daily with abundant love to the question, “Do you also want to leave?” by keeping our eyes intently fixed on Him, Who is our ALL.
Sr. M. John Therese, SSMO
Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon
May 4, 2017
Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life.
Today’s readings remind me of the need for both, openness to the Spirit and adherence to the ‘KISS’ rule (Keep It Simple, S…..), in order to minister most effectively, especially to those who are ‘outside society’s gates’. Philip’s own willingness to leave Jerusalem makes his meeting with the Ethiopian possible. He appreciates the journey, physical and spiritual that this foreigner is already on. Philip doesn’t try to qualify the desire of his fellow traveller or have preconditions for accepting his invitation to join him. He listens before he speaks. Even though the Ethiopian in the story may not have been able even to worship with the Jewish community, Philip recognizes in him what is most important, his hunger for Jesus. So, Philip sees fit to baptize him without delay. How does Philip’s approach to evangelization compare with ours? Certainly, there is always a need for catechesis, for forming disciples, for preparation to receive the sacraments and for programs that advance these goals. But when was the last time we examined a barrier that arose when engaged in a ministry and considered whether there was a bigger picture, something of larger importance to that person or God? Are there opportunities for us to be more open to the Spirit of simplicity? Can we accept that it is the Father who is leading all who are seeking Jesus, no matter who they are or how they’re doing it.
Rev. Patrick Gilmurray, C.PP.S.
Atlantic Province
May 3, 2017
Sts. Phillip & James
I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
The gospel passage from John 14: 6-14 on this feast of Saints Philip and James led me to focus on the one verse, “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” That in turn, led me to read and meditate on Isaiah chapters 51-65. These chapters present the suffering servant, the non-violent one, “Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth.” (Is.53:7) Precious Blood Spirituality is personified in Jesus, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” (Jn. 14:6) His Way to glorify the Father was in His non-violent rejection of evil so that Truth would triumph in the Life of His resurrection. Reconciliation through the Blood of Christ is the New Covenant of peace. Now He lives in us to glorify the Father. So in His name we ask, “Christ Jesus, help us be the living, nonviolent peace loving sons and daughters who give glory to the Father.”
Sr. Joan Schnorbus, C.PP. S.
O’Fallon
