April 23, 2015

April 23

April 23, 2015:  Thursday, Third Week of Easter



  • 'Horse' and 'chariot' tie pins:  Ethiopian eunuch was seated in his chariot (1st reading)
  • 'Angel' pin, 'Holy Spirit' chain:  Angel of the Lord and Holy Spirit spoke to Philip (1st reading)
  • Tie with book and reader (ironically, both obscured by Holy Spirit):   Eunuch reading Is 53:7-8... (1st reading)
    • 'Sheep' and 'lamb' tie bars:  ...about the Servant "like a sheep [led] to slaughter" and "lamb who didn't open his mouth," that Philip interprets for him (1st reading)
    • Blue shirt:  waters of baptism (1st reading)
    • 'Wheat' pin:  Bread of Life discourse (gospel)
    • White in suspenders (and socks):  Easter season
    Listen

    • Evangelize/ Alexander;  more about this "I will survive" parody (1st reading)
    Read


    • Acts 8:26-40  The Lord spoke to Philip:  “Head south,” so he did.  There was an Ethiopian eunuch returning home, reading Isaiah.  The Spirit told Philip, “Join with that chariot.” Philip:  “Do you understand?” / “How can I?”  He got in.  “About whom is the prophet saying Like a sheep he was led to slaughter...?”  Beginning there, Philip proclaimed Jesus to him.  When they came to water, the eunuch said, “What's to prevent my being baptized?”  They went into the water, and Philip baptized him.  When they came out, the Spirit snatched Philip.  The eunuch continued, rejoicing.  Philip continued going about proclaiming the good news.
    • Ps 66:8-9, 16-17, 20  "Let all the earth cry out to God with joy."  Bless God; He has given us life.  I appealed to him, and he didn't refuse his kindness!
    • Jn 6:44-51  Jesus:  “No one come to me unless the Father draw him, and I will raise him.  Everyone who learns from my Father comes to me.  I am the bread of life.  Your ancestors ate manna and died, but this bread comes from heaven so one may eat it and not die.  I am that living bread; whoever eats it will live forever.  The bread I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.”
      Reflect
          Philip talking with the Ethiopian eunuch
          (Chapin)
        • Creighton:  Why would the eunuch go to Jerusalem to worship, and study scripture on the way back, when apparently he understood little about Jesus; and why would Philip take the same route and join up with him?  “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him.... They shall all be taught by God” (gospel).  Journeys can provide new perspective and time to pay attention to deep desires we overlook in our daily rut.  We're hungry, like the eunuch, but how often do we “make a trip to Jerusalem” to search for the Bread of Life, instead of grabbing fast food?  May I notice God trying to get my attention—whether via friends, co-workers, strangers, or creation— inviting me to a deeper understanding of my calling, and stop.
        • One Bread One Body:  "Do you believe?"  Jesus: "The bread I'll give is My flesh, for the life of the world."  When many disciples left him because of such statements, Jesus didn't change his tune.  The early Church took his words literally, believing they received Jesus' body and blood at Communion, and the Church has continued to so believe.  Jesus is preoccupied with giving us his body and blood....
        • Passionist:  The 1st reading is a lesson in humility:  Philip explained the scriptures to the eunuch, baptized him, and was snatched away, and the eunuch, unfazed, rejoiced.  The Good News had spread beyond Judah and Samaria!  It's the news Jesus was trying to tell in the gospel:  God has again sent bread from heaven to feed his people.  May we share the “bread of life” we've been given....
        • DailyScripture.net:  God sustained the Israelites en route to the Promised Land with manna; that bread foreshadowed the true heavenly bread Jesus would offer his followers, God's life that sustains us forever.  The manna didn't give eternal life, but  Jesus is the true bread of heaven to satisfy our deepest hunger.  The bread Jesus offers is the "one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ" (Ignatius of Antioch).  When I receive the Eucharist, do I expect union with Christ, healing, pardon, comfort, rest, and more?  Do I expect to be strengthened in charity and enabled to break with disordered attachments and to be more firmly rooted in Christ's love?


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