May 18, 2019

May 18

May 18, 2019:  Saturday, 4th week, Easter

See 11 connections with today?
Legend below
Listen
For Psalm 98
Pope Francis

To European Food Banks Federation:  Thank you for providing food for the hungry and for reducing waste.  The food you distribute is a tangible gesture of accompaniment on the path towards liberation.  You insert what's thrown into the vicious cycle of waste into the ‘virtuous cycle’ of good use.  Waste reveals indifference towards things and towards those who go without.

 You call to mind how Jesus had the disciples gather up the leftovers “so nothing would go to waste.”  Throwing food away is throwing people away.  It's scandalous not to notice how so much good ends up so badly.  Wasting good food is a nasty habit, which can occur even in charities when bureaucracy gets in the way.  Integrated vision, logistical know-how, and continuity are needed.  Your work sends the message that everyone advances whenever we walk with those left behind.  The global economy needs such solidarity, lest it be a reckless machine that crushes people.

 How can we live comfortably when people are being reduced to numbers, statistics replace faces, and lives depend on stock markets?  Support those working to promote solidarity, and encourage growth based on social equality, the dignity of human persons, families, the future of young people, and respect for the environment, so that waste isn't what's bequeathed to posterity by the well-off few, while the majority remains silent.

 To journalists:  Work according to truth and justice, so that communication is an instrument for building, not destroying; meeting, not clashing; dialogue, not monologue; orienting, not disorienting; understanding, not misunderstanding; walking in peace, not sowing hatred; giving a voice to the voiceless, not being a megaphone to those who shout.

 Your work contributes to the search for the truth, and the truth frees us.  Searching for truth entails difficulties and humility.  Presuming you know everything blocks the search for truth.  An article, tweet, or report, can do good, but if you're not careful, it can do evil to others and sometimes entire communities.  Resist the temptation to publish unverified news; the humble journalist tries to know the facts before telling and commenting on them.


Violent and derogatory language hurts and sometimes destroys people.  As people badmouth and classify others, remember the dignity of each person.  As people spread fake news, humility invites you to offer truth.  Freedom of the press and of expression is a sign of a country's health.   

We need journalists on the side of victims, of those persecuted, excluded, discarded, discriminated against.  Recall the forgotten situations of suffering and war.  Thank you for helping the world not forget lives suffocated even before they're born; those extinguished by hunger, hardship, lack of care, war; child soldiers and violated children.

 Help the world not forget those persecuted and discriminated against for their faith or ethnicity and victims of violence and human trafficking.  Those forced to leave their homes because of disaster, war, terrorism, or hunger, are not numbers but faces, stories, and desires for happiness.  Make known the submerged ocean of goodness; it strengthens our hope.

Read
  • Acts 13:44-52  Paul and Barnabas:  “We had to speak God's word to the Jews first, but since you reject it, and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.  The Lord commanded us, I have made you a light to the Gentiles, an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.”  The Gentiles were delighted, and the word spread, but the Jews stirred up a persecution....
  • Ps 98:1-4  "All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God."  Sing joyfully to God who's done wonders.
  • Jn 14:7-14  “If you know me, you'll know my Father.  Whoever has seen me has seen him.  I am in the Father and he's in me.  Whoever believes will do the works I do and greater ones.  Whatever you ask in my name, I'll do.”
Reflect
  • Creighton:  In the 1st reading, people are united in one sense but divided in another.  They're all gathered to hear to the word of the Lord, but many contradicted it and used their positions of leadership to motivate others to expel Paul and Barnabas.  But even that conflict is used to spread the Gospel.  Sometimes conflict produces light and causes people to pay attention.  Indifference can be worse than conflict!  In the gospel, Philip, who doubtless had heard Jesus’ teachings and seen his deeds, wanted more:  "show me the Father"  Maybe he blurted that out without thinking first, like we sometimes do, or maybe it shows his indifference to his miracles.  Jesus seems to react with exasperation, then corrects him and clarifies his teaching. Jealousy and the quest for power often leads to conflict, away from dialogue and contemplation.  Social cohesion can be good when it leads to helping others, but it can also oppress.  Our desire to be “in” can make us do harmful things.  Lord, open our hearts to the truth and have courage to act on our convictions.
  • One Bread, One Body:  John uses 'believe' 82 times; its purpose is to lead readers to "believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, so that" they may have eternal life.  Repetition emphasizes a message.  Jesus refers to believing in him four times in today's gospel.  If we believe in Jesus and prove it by living in him, we'll have eternal life; or else we'll die in our sins, separated from Jesus.  People refuse to believe by not reading the gospel, ignoring it, not coming to Jesus for help, not loving, preferring human approval to God's, or not believing Jesus' witnesses.  "Believe."
  • Passionist:  "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father":  Jesus' farewell discourse focuses on who Jesus is and what he does in and through us.  He says "I AM in the Father” and “I AM going to the Father.”  Are we willing to let the Word of God we know transform us so we may see his presence in every situation, love others, and bring people to faith?
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Lord, show us the Father":  One of the great truths of Christian faith is that we can know God, personally.  Personal knowledge of God as our Father distinguishes Christianity from other religions.  To see Jesus is to see what God is like.  In Jesus we see God's perfect love, unconditional, unselfish, constant, for our sake.  God will hear our prayers when we pray in his name...."
Dress legend
  • 'Piano' pin:  "Sing to the Lord a new song" (psalm); "I've made you an 'instrument' of salvation..." (1st reading)
  • 'Olympics' tie pin:  "...to the ends of the earth" (1st reading); "All the ends of the earth have seen God's saving power" (psalm)
  • 'Street light' tie bar:  "I've made you a light to the Gentiles..." (1st reading)
  • 'Hand' pin:  "The Lord's right hand has won victory" (psalm)
  • 'Eyeball' pin:  "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." (gospel)
  • 'Dove' pin:  "The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit." (1st reading)
  • Dust-colored suspenders:  Paul and Barnabas, expelled, shook the dust from their feet in protest (1st reading)
  • 'I love my dad" tie:  "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (gospel)
  • White shirt and socks:  Easter season
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