Monday

6th Week of Easter, Monday (2)

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In today’s First Reading Paul arrives in Philippi, his first missionary stop in Europe after spending time evangelizing Asia Minor. In Saturday‘s First Reading we saw the Spirit urging Paul to head to Macedonia, and Philippi is the biggest city in that district. The culture is no longer predominantly Jewish; in Paul’s time, when there weren’t enough Jewish families to found a synagogue, the Jews of the town would go to pray in a spot outside of it instead, which is why Paul goes to the most likely spot today where Jews would gather in order to share the Gospel with them.

Luke recalls this momentous occasion because Paul does find people there who believe and are baptized. We know that a thriving Christian community begins there, which is why Paul sends them a letter that we still have today in the canon of Scripture: the Letter to the Philippians.

The Holy Spirit sent Paul to Philippi, and also prepared those living there to welcome the Gospel preached by Paul. The Spirit was able to use Paul’s astuteness and Lydia’s faith to found a Christian community. Let’s ask the Spirit today how we can use our talents to help spread the Gospel.

Readings: Acts 16:11–15; Psalm 149:1b–6a, 9b; John 15:26–16:4a. See also 6th Week of Easter, Monday.

4th Week of Easter, Monday (2)

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In the Acts of the Apostles there is a gradual discovery of how big Our Lord’s plans are in regard to the world’s salvation. Some of the first Christians, since all of them were converts from Judaism, believed only the Jews would be saved. Others believed that all believers, whether Jewish or not, should be circumcised and follow Mosaic law. regarding diet, who they associate with, and so on. When the “circumcised believers” confront Peter in today’s First Reading for entering into non-Jewish homes, a source of ritual contamination, Peter explains that the Holy Spirit sent him to do so and the Spirit showed him that the Gentiles were to be saved as well.

Some people even today think that Christianity shouldn’t be imposed on people, and they’re right: proselytism, which means forcing your faith on someone against their will, is wrong, and it doesn’t work. You can’t force anyone to believe in Christ. However, evangelization is not proselytism; evangelization is sharing with others who Christ is and what we believe he means to us and to them. It’s extending an invitation, an invitation that the invitee is free to accept or decline. Sharing with others who Christ is necessarily involves sharing with others who we are, therefore every Christian should be free to do so and, sadly, in some countries that brings hatred and persecution.

Moreover, evangelization is not just fact-sharing, a public awareness campaign. It is also the work of the Spirit who moves believers to invite non-believers, non-believers who are also moved by the Spirit, as in today’s First Reading, to seek out others who’ll help them find the surest path to salvation: knowing and believing in Christ.

Let’s be open to what the Holy Spirit is inviting us to do, and also not be shy about extending the invitation to know and believe in Christ.

Readings: Acts 11:1–18; Psalm 42:2–3, 43:3–4; John 10:1–10. See also 4th Week of Easter, Monday.

3rd Week of Easter, Monday (2)

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On Saturday we were told by Luke that Stephen was one of the Seven chosen for being “filled with the Spirit and wisdom” and entrusted with a special ministry by the Apostles themselves. In today’s First Reading we see Stephen imitating the Lord: he is working signs and wonders, but also garnering a lot of opposition. That same Spirit and wisdom is what enabled him to refute his adversaries’ arguments and be strong in the face of opposition.

As his adversaries start to multiply they decide that if they can’t beat Stephen, they’ll smear his reputation and discredit him, a common tactic for people who can’t win or shouldn’t, resorting to dishonesty. They incite the people against Stephen and have him brought before the Sanhedrin. Stephen doesn’t seem worried; whether Luke was there or another Christian, someone witnessing the event said he had a face like an angel. An angel is a messenger, and Stephen had a message to bring. We don’t know what was going on inside Stephen in this moment, but it’s a safe guess that the irony didn’t escape him that he, like Our Lord, had been dragged before the Sanhedrin on false charges. Like Our Lord, Stephen wouldn’t shy away from proclaiming the truth.

When Jesus was brought to the Temple for the first time as a baby Simeon told Mary that he would be a sign of contradiction. In the Last Supper Our Lord warned the disciples that those who hate the master will hate his disciples too. This should not discourage us from spreading the Gospel. Let’s not be shy about stirring things up for the sake of truth.

Readings: Acts 6:8–15; Psalm 119:23–24, 26–27, 29–30; John 6:22–29. See also 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time,Cycle B and 3rd Week of Easter, Monday.

Holy Week, Monday (2)

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Only a few days away from Good Friday, knowing how the story ends, today’s Gospel foreshadows the closeness of Our Lord’s death . The raising of Lazarus is the last straw for the chief priests. Ironically Our Lord has shown power over death itself, yet they decide to kill him and Lazarus. In John’s Gospel the raising of Lazarus was the last sign to encourage people to believe in Jesus, but his death is on his mind: when Mary anoints his feet he speaks of his burial and departure.

Judas’ hypocrisy is evident, feigning moral outrage when he is actually lamenting that the funds for that aromatic nard could have been put in the common purse so that he could steal them. The stage is set for betrayal. Jews are believing in Our Lord despite the intrigue. Martha and Mary are celebrating the return of their brother, healthy and alive. It reminds us that while life can come under the shadow of the cross, life goes on and should always be our focus.

As we continue Holy Week let’s focus on life, not on death, knowing that is how this story truly ends. The darkness cannot stop the dawn.

Readings: Isaiah 42:1–7; Psalm 27:1–3, 13–14; John 12:1–11. See also Holy Week, Monday.

5th Week of Lent, Monday

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In today’s First Reading the people of Israel believed the corrupt old judges’ testimony, and the Lord intervened through young Daniel to prove that it was false. In today’s Gospel the religious authorities claim that Jesus’ testimony, from a legal perspective, doesn’t have enough witnesses to corroborate it. Jesus responds, independent of legal technicalities, that his testimony is true. In the First Reading the abuse of authority was so severe that the Lord himself intervened to save poor Susanna from her false accusers. Now, similar to yesterday, the religious authorities are putting Our Lord on trial, and he is telling them that his testimony is not something to be accepted through rigorous legal process, but something to accept in faith as true.

At this point in John’s Gospel Our Lord has performed various signs to show that he was sent on his mission from God, but, as he told the religious authorities a few days ago, they don’t know God and so they can’t believe or trust Jesus. The elders in today’s First Reading knew the game well, but they forget that the true Judge was always on watch to make sure the game was played fairly. In today’s Gospel the religious authorities want to draw Our Lord into their game, and he doesn’t play. Susanna was spared by a miraculous intervention by the Lord; Our Lord went down into the depths of injustice, dying on the Cross, and in his Resurrection showed that the games of evil conceited men are in vain, no matter how powerful or skillful they think they are.

Thanks to Jesus we know Our Father and we know Jesus’ testimony is true. Let’s be witnesses to it as well.

Readings: Daniel 13:1–9, 15–17, 19–30, 33–62 ; Psalm 23:1–6; John 8:12–20 (Year C).