Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": April 26

The idyllic picture in Psalm 128 is not at odds with the family-breaking pain, evil, and violence found in Scripture. Christ’s teaching on marriage is inside a dispute about divorce. God's word testifies to the somber dimension present at the beginning, when sin turns the love and purity between man and woman into domination: “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

Suffering and bloodshed run through much of the Bible: Cain’s murder of his brother; disputes between the sons and the wives of the Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; tragedies and violence marking David's family, family problems in the story of Tobias; and Job's complaint: “He put my brethren far from me… my kinsfolk and close friends have failed me… I am repulsive to my wife, loathsome to the sons of my own mother.”

Jesus was born into a modest family that had to flee. He visits the home of Peter, whose mother-in-law is ill and shows sympathy at the homes of Jairus and Lazarus. He hears the wailing of the widow of Nain and heeds the plea of the father of an epileptic child. He goes to the homes of tax collectors like Matthew and Zacchaeus and speaks to sinners. He knows family anxiety and tension and weaves it into his parables: children who leave home to seek adventure, prove troublesome, or fall prey to violence. He's sensitive to the embarrassment caused by the lack of wine at a feast, the failure of guests to come to a banquet, and the anxiety of a poor family over the loss of a coin.

God's word gives comfort and companionship to every family experiencing difficulties or suffering; it shows them the goal, when God “will wipe away every tear, and death, mourning, crying, and pain shall be no more.”

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Peace I bequeath to you
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Acts 14:19-28 Some Jews stoned Paul and assumed him dead, but when disciples gathered around him, he got up and left to proclaim the good news elsewhere. They returned and exhorted the disciples to persevere in the faith: “It is necessary to undergo hardships to enter the Kingdom.” They appointed presbyters, commended them to God, proclaimed the word on the road, then called the Church together to spend time with the disciples and report on what God had done and how he opened faith's door to the Gentiles.

Ps 145:10-13ab, 21 "Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom." Let your works give you thanks and your faithful ones bless you.

Jn 14:27-31a “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you, not as the world gives. Don't let your hearts be troubled or afraid. Rejoice that I'm going to the Father. The ruler of the world is coming, but he has no power over me. The world must know I love the Father and do as he has commanded.”

Reflect

Creighton: In his farewell discourse, Jesus provides us with two comforting about the present and future: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you, not as the world gives”: It's the peace that passes understanding, not just peace of mind, peace and quiet, or keeping the peace. His peace allows us to conquer all fear because we know God’s love is with us, helping, guiding, and supporting us. “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. I'm going away and will come back to you.” Jesus reassured his disciples he'd return. We're enveloped in God's constant love and peace!

One Bread, One Body: "Opening the door of faith": As we share in Christ's sufferings, hard hearts and bolted doors are opened to the Lord's mercy. Paul and Barnabas "gave their disciples reassurances, and encouraged them to persevere in the faith: 'We must undergo many trials if we're to enter God's kingdom.'" If we accept God's love, we rejoice to share Christ's sufferings, for the cross is the key to the door of faith.

Passionist: We're still in the Easter Season, considering what Jesus' Resurrection means for us today. I can ask myself as the angel did at the empty tomb, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” Why do I hang out at the empty tombs of my life? Where is the new life? What do I read? What do I watch? With whom do I spend time? How do I use my time? As the angel told the women to look for Jesus in Galilee, I need to look for Jesus: in life, work, family, not lifeless places....

DailyScripture.net: "My peace I give to you": The peace of Christ is more than the absence of trouble; it includes everything that makes for our highest good. The world wants to avoid conflict and facing unpleasant things, but Jesus offers peace that conquers our fear and anxiety. We can receive the peace the Lord offers through, inspired by the Spirit dwelling in us, yielding our anger, fear, and pride to God. The Spirit helps us in our weakness and strengthens us so we can live as Christ's disciples.

"Peace is serenity of mind, tranquility of soul, simplicity of heart, the bond of love, the fellowship of charity. It removes hatred, settles wars, restrains wrath, tramples on pride, loves the humble, pacifies the discordant, and makes enemies agree.... It doesn't seek what belongs to another or consider anything as its own. It teaches people to love because it doesn't know how to get angry, extol itself, or become inflated with pride. It's meek and humble to everyone, possessing rest and tranquility. When a Christian exercises Christ's peace, Christ brings it to perfection. All who love it will be God's heirs, while anyone who despises it rebels against Christ. When our Lord was returning to the Father, he left his followers peace as their inherited good.... If you've received this peace, keep it; if you've destroyed it, look for it; if you've lost it, seek it...." (Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 174.1)

Universalis: Bl. Robert Anderton and William Marsden, priests and martyrs

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Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress"

April 26, 2016

April 26

April 26, 2016: Tuesday, 5th week, Easter

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