Scripture:
Reflection:
One of my favorite things about the Easter season is that we are treated daily to reading from the Acts of the Apostles. The rich history of Christianity’s early beginnings, the ups and downs, the challenges and the triumphs are all proclaimed as one seamless story whose common thread is the presence of the “hand of the Lord was with them” (v.21) and the people “full of the Spirit and of faith” (v.24). We see this especially in today’s reading which highlight the scattering out from Jerusalem into the Mediterranean—Greek speaking—world of the early Christians escaping the “affliction” (or persecution) following the martyrdom of Stephen. With the original intention to preach only to the Jews, we read about the good news proclaimed also to the Greeks.
In reading between the lines, one can intuit the spread of God’s word didn’t move exactly as they had planned. As believers, we know that no one can predict the movement of the Spirit, especially in the presence of openness of mind and heart. Our God of surprises, who ignites a flame of faith wherever it falls, makes this possible. We can all be grateful and celebrate the wisdom of the early Christian communities who, guided by the Spirit, wrestled with this notion of inclusion of the “Greeks”—a term applied to anyone outside the Jewish world. Today, that means us!
The text tells of a “considerable number of believers (who) turned to the Lord” (21b) and is juxtaposed against the Gospel where Jesus is challenged by unbelieving “Jews,” and has his good works called into question. Again, Jesus states that true believers hear his voice and are known by him. As believers, we follow and belong to him.
Another thing I love about this time of year is the considerable number of (young) believers preparing to receive their First Holy Communion. Last Saturday, our granddaughter was one of those excited children. She and her classmates were all smiles as they lined up to process into the Church. Their special day had finally arrived, and joy reigned supreme as the liturgy began. I offered a silent prayer of thanksgiving to those early Christians who, through the guidance of the Spirit, had brought us to this moment.
When the time came for Holy Communion, as Eucharistic Ministers, my husband and I were privileged to watch each child come up one-by-one to receive Jesus in the Eucharist from our pastor. The moment felt very sacred and personal, a new beginning in their young lives. Jesus’ words from today’s Gospel came to mind, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of my Father’s hands” (v29), and I prayed that these precious children would always be safe in the hands of the Father.
Jesus’ radical words, that almost had him stoned (in v.31 that follows today’s text), as he restates, “The Father and I are one” (v.30). Can we believe that we are swept up mystically in this unity! May we never doubt that we belong to the Good Shepherd. Amen. Alleluia!
Jean Bowler is a member of the Ministry Team at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California.