April 22, 2015

April 22

April 22, 2015:  Wednesday, Third Week of Easter




  • 'Children around the world' tie:  The disciples were scattered (1st reading); "Let all the earth cry out to God with joy." (psalm)
  • 'Precious feet' tie pin:  "They passed through the river on foot" (psalm)
  • 'Wheat' pin:  Bread of Life discourse (gospel)
  • 'Eyeball' pin:  God wills that everyone who sees and believes in the Son may have eternal life (gospel)
  • White shirt and socks:  Easter season

Listen

Pope Francis
General audience:  The first man, Adam, is created “alone,”and God determined to make for him a suitable helper.  When the woman is presented to him, he recognizes her as “bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh.”  There's a mirroring, a reciprocity; the woman isn't a replica; she came directly from God's creative act.  The 'rib' image doesn't express inferiority or subordination but rather that man and woman are of the same substance and complementary.   God is generous to them, confiding the care of the earth to them, but the evil one introduced suspicion, disbelief, and mistrust in their minds, leading them into sin.  The sin generates distrust and division; their relationship will be undermined by oppression, violence, and exploitation. 
 Recently of the recent epidemic of distrust and skepticism has led our culture to disregard the marriage covenant between a man and a woman, that covenant which deepens communion and safeguards the dignity of their uniqueness.  When society devalues the stable and fruitful covenant between a man and a woman, it's a loss for everyone, especially the young.  We must recover the honor of marriage and family; the safekeeping of this covenant is a challenging and energizing vocation.
God's clothing of Adam and Eve after their sin is an image of tenderness that leaves us open-mouthed with wonder; it's an image of paternal safeguarding; God cures and protects His masterpiece.

On Earth Day:  See the world through the eyes of God the Creator:  the earth is an environment to be safeguarded, a garden to be cultivated.  The relationship of mankind with nature must not be conducted with greed, manipulation, or exploitation but rather must conserve the divine harmony that exists between creatures and Creation within the logic of respect and care, so it can be put to the service of others now and in the future.
Read
  • Acts 8:1b-8  A severe persecution of the Church broke out, and all were scattered, except the Apostles.  Saul tried to destroy the Church, imprisoning believers.  The scattered preached the word and worked wonders, crowds paid attention, and there was great joy.
  • Ps 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a  "Let all the earth cry out to God with joy."  Say to God, “How tremendous your deeds!”  Come see God's works.  He rules by his might forever.
  • Jn 6:35-40  Jesus:  “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me won't hunger, and whoever believes in me won't thirst.  I won't reject anyone who comes to me, because I came to do the Father's will, and the Father wants everyone who sees and believes in the Son to have eternal life and be raised up.”
Reflect
    • Creighton:  Wonderful things are possible with my life.  Eternal life has already begun; Jesus raises us up daily.  Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection gives us a fresh start.  If we live in the resurrection, we can live more fully with the gifts we're given, co-creating, working wonders.  Jesus came to save us from self-destructive sin; following him is letting our old selves die. 
    • Passionist:  Jerusalem violently rejected the disciples and the Word of God while the Samaritans listened, accepted, and believed with joy.  The Jews' traditions had become so hardened that even the fulfillment of those very traditions didn't change their faith life while the Samaritans were open to other possibilities.  The personal, saving relationship with the Risen Lord must be the starting point for our faith, prayer and discipleship; our rituals must be built upon that relationship....
    • DailyScripture.net:  The Jews understood God promised them manna to sustain them en route to the promised land.  The life Jesus referred to is connected with God:  it's a relationship of trust, love, obedience, peace, and joy.  Jesus offers himself as spiritual food producing God's life in us; he promises unbroken friendship and freedom from being cut off from God; and he offers us the hope of sharing in his resurrection....
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