Friday

8th Week of Ordinary Time, Friday, Year II

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Peter in today’s First Reading invites us to consider how we would live if we knew the world was ending soon. With the coming of Christ, as many of the writers of Sacred Scripture attest, we’re in the last days, and age of fulfillment when he comes again. We await the Lord’s return in glory and a fundamental change in things for the better. If we are prepared and vigilant we will rejoice in that better world. Some people prepare for the end of the world as survivalists, digging in, closing themselves off, prepared to eke out an existence in a world that they foresee as even less forgiving than the world in which they live. Others simply follow the daily routine, hoping to not make waves or be caught up in anyone else’s. Some prefer to burn out rather than fade away, in Spirit of Mardi Gras debauchery before oblivion.

Peter invites us today to not face that thought with paranoia, denial, or superficiality, but with dedication and service. We don’t know the day or the hour, so it is as much as question of attitude as it is one of preparation. It will not be easy; there will be trials, and we will feel tested, but the results will make it all worthwhile. Christians live striving to outdo one another in charity and service, identifying and using the unique gifts God has given them to help edify their brothers and sisters, knowing that helps pave the way to the better world inaugurated by Christ.

Let’s ask the Lord today to help leave the old world of sin and futility behind us, and strain toward the new world of justice and love that will continue to unfold with the help of our dedication and service.

Readings: 1 Peter 4:7–13; Psalm 96:10–13; Mark 11:11–26. See also 8th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday, Year I.

7th Week of Easter, Friday (2)

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In today’s First Reading we see how Paul (later in the Acts of the Apostles) will get to Rome. Roman citizens had the right to appeal directly to Caesar. Providence many times is the way Our Lord arranges various situations in order to achieve some greater good. In this case, a new Roman prefect in Palestine, Festus, inherits Paul’s case from his predecessor. Felix either didn’t want to resolve Paul’s case or didn’t have time to do it. Festus, apparently not knowing the local situation, sizes it up in Roman style: assess the situation, respect the rights (of Roman citizens), and don’t do anything rash.

Paul knows his rights and knows his work in Jerusalem is finished, so he makes an appeal to Caesar, knowing that means he’ll be taken in custody to Rome, the center of the known world and the best place to spread the Gospel far and wide, since so many roads lead there (and, therefore, lead back). The Lord told him in yesterday‘s First Reading that he would give witness there as well, so Paul, even while imprisoned, works toward that goal trusting in God’s Providence to help him along the way.

Even today God’s Providence is at work to help us and others to know and follow the Gospel. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit in these last couple of days before Pentecost to help us see God’s hand in the situations and circumstances we’re facing in order to better live and give witness to the Gospel.

Readings: Acts 25:13b–21; Psalm 103:1–2, 11–12, 19–20b; John 21:15–19. See also 7th Week of Easter, Friday.

6th Week of Easter, Friday (2)

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In today’s Gospel Our Lord describes what will happen after his Ascension, which is our situation right now. He will return. When he returns, what will happen? It’s his Last Supper with his most loved disciples, away from the crowds. He’s taught them about the Last Judgement, about his return in glory, about the end of history. Today he describes what it’ll be like for those who have persevered as his friends: a joy without end, and all questions answered.

He does not promise joy or understanding from the beginning; throughout the Last Supper discourse in John’s Gospel, which we’ve considered during the weekday readings of the Easter season, the disciples still don’t entirely understand what he is trying to tell them, because they have not been sent the Holy Spirit yet to help them, a moment we remember liturgically in these days between Ascension and Pentecost. Even today we struggle and don’t understand all the designs of God, but Our Lord has promised us that when he returns those struggles and those questions will end.

Take a moment today to imagine when Our Lord returns. What difficulties do you want to end? What burning questions do you want answered? He doesn’t tell us to wait until his return to ask for what we need to remain his friends. Ask.

Readings: Acts 18:9–18; Psalm 47:2–7; John 16:20–23. See also 6th Week of Easter, Friday.

5th Week of Easter, Friday (2)

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In today’s First Reading the Council of Jerusalem concludes by sending a letter and envoys to Christians from a Gentile background, as well as the converts from Judaism who were telling them they had to be circumcised and follows Mosaic Law for salvation. Nothing more would be expected of them than had been expected of Gentiles living among Jews in the past (the norms mentioned in the letter come in part from Leviticus 17, which had norms for non-Jews living among Jews). Paul and Barnabas return to their Church to share the good news, and Judas and Silas come with them to show that the decision is legitimate.

When the letter is read to the Christians assembled in Antioch we can only imagine their relief. Jewish strictures were very demanding and would have involved a dramatic change of lifestyle for the Gentiles who were already trying to bring their lives into conformity with the Gospel. Here we see the birth pangs of the Church as she goes beyond the cultural confines of Judaism. Even today the faith goes beyond any one culture, while reflecting the culture of the believers who comprise the Church. The Gospel seeks to enrich every culture while not being enslaved to them, and that sense it will at times be counter-cultural.

Let’s not be shy about being counter-cultural if it means conforming our lives to the Gospel. If a decision comes between my culture and the Gospel, the Gospel should win.

Readings: Acts 15:22–31; Psalm 57:8–10, 12; John 15:12–17. See also 5th Week of Easter, Friday.

4th Week of Easter, Friday (2)

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In yesterday‘s First Reading Paul began his sermon in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch explaining that Jesus was the Messiah for whom the Lord had been preparing and announcing throughout salvation history in deeds, events, and prophecies. Today he explains to them the evil events that had taken place in their days, but how they paled in comparison to the good news of Christ’s victory over sin and death through the Resurrection. That is the good news we have rejoiced in ever since.

At the start of today’s Gospel Our Lord invites his apostles, not long before his Passion, to not be troubled, to believe in his Father and in him and not be afraid. The days just after that encouragement were the darkest ones the apostles ever experienced in their lives, but that darkness faded in the light of the Resurrection to become a joy they spent their whole lives spreading, even to martyrdom.

Our Lord doesn’t want us to be troubled or afraid. The key is to believe in him. His victory has shown there is nothing to fear.

Readings: Acts 13:26–33; Psalm 2:6–11b; John 14:1–6. See also 4th Week of Easter, Friday.