The Security Of GOD's Friends: A Psalm Of Confidence

"YAHWEH is in HIS holy place--

our GOD whose throne is in heaven.

HE looks down to earth

to observe the race of Adam.

YAHWEH searches both righteous and wicked.

HE hates those who delight in violence.

For YAHWEH is righteous;

HE loves justice.

The upright will see HIS face."

- Psalm 11:4, 5 and 7

(This is another picturesque variation of the theme of trust in GOD.  The psalmist is confident that the righteous will meet GOD face to face and chooses not to let the wicked trouble him instead.  The hunters are out again, but the psalmist is already away to the refuge he knows so well, every cranny of it, the mountains, which is GOD.  What else can he do, when all the rest that seemed dependable, has collapsed?  Perhaps the attitude is as grudging as Peter's 'To whom shall we go?'  Doubtless, our own motives are never unmixed: something creative has disappointed us and we turn to the Creator.  Strangely enough, HE seems to be satisfied with this: HE runs to us, undignified like the Prodigal's father.  Shall we ever understand how humble GOD's love is?  Even the form of a servant was not enough, unless it hung on a cross!)

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Do You Love ME More Than These Do?

"After they had finished breakfast, JESUS said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love ME more than these do?'  He answered, 'Yes, LORD, YOU know that I love YOU.'  And JESUS said, 'Feed MY lambs.'

A second time JESUS said to him, 'Simon, son of John, do you love ME?'  And Peter answered, 'Yes, LORD, YOU know that I love YOU.'  JESUS said to him, 'Look after MY sheep.'  And a third time HE said to him, 'Simon, son of John, do you love ME?'

Peter was saddened because JESUS asked him a third time.  'Do you love ME?' and he said, 'LORD, YOU know everything; YOU know that I love YOU.'

JESUS then said, 'Feed MY sheep!  Truly, I say to you, when you were young, you put on your belt and walked where you liked.  But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will put a belt around you, and lead you where you do not wish to go,'

JESUS said this to make known the kind of death by which Peter was to glorify GOD.  And HE added, 'Follow ME!'" - John 21:15-19  

(The triple questioning of Peter by JESUS may be thought of as the undoing of the triple denial during JESUS' passion.  Peter, too, being the shepherd of the shepherds, is a forgiven sinner.  JESUS entrusts the whole Church to him: the same as in Matthew 16:18. Do you love ME?  This is the first condition to be fulfilled by a shepherd in the Church.

This dialogue between JESUS and Peter expresses what being a Christian is all about.  JESUS asks us every day if we love HIM in a special and exclusive way: Do you love ME more than these do?  We answer, "Yes," despite our miseries, as Peter did; JESUS then invites us to follow HIM anew, out of love, and to share with HIM the responsibility of caring for the people of GOD.  There is no better way of following JESUS than by giving up our lives for HIS mission. 

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Ecumenism

"'I pray not only for these, but also for those who through their word will believe in ME.  May they all be one, as YOU FATHER are in ME and I AM in YOU.  May they be one in US, so that the world may believe that you have sent ME.

I have given them the glory YOU have given ME, that they may be one as WE are one: I in them and YOU in ME.  Thus, they shall reach perfection in unity; and the world shall know that YOU have sent ME, and that I have loved them, just as YOU loved ME.

FATHER, since YOU have given them to ME, I want them to be with ME where I AM, and see the glory YOU gave ME, for YOU loved ME before the foundation of the world.

Righteous FATHER, the world has not known YOU, but I have known YOU, and these have known that YOU have sent ME.  As I revealed YOUR name to them, so will I continue to reveal it, so that the love with which YOU loved ME may be in them, and I also may be in them.'" - John 17:20-26  

 

(In our times, we have a better understanding of these past difficulties.  Many Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants are attempting to unite as believers.  At the same time, however, new problems have arisen within each Church.  Today Christians disagree and are split, not only in their political options, but also in their understanding of CHRIST and their views on how HIS message is best delivered in our time.

Ecumenism, that is, efforts to reconcile in truth and bring the Churches together, demands that we overcome the new dissensions that threaten the internal unity of the Church.  All of us must work so that the unity of all Christians may be realized as CHRIST desires, and by the means HE wants.  In any case, nothing can be done without obeying the truth and doing the truth.  In no way can we disregard Peter's charism of unity that is granted to Peter's successors.)

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'Happiness Lies More In Giving Than In Receiving.'

"Keep watch over yourselves, and over the whole flock the Holy Spirit has placed into your care.  Shepherd the Church of the LORD that HE has won, at the price of HIS own blood.  I know that, after I leave, ruthless wolves will come among you and not spare the flock.  And, from among you, some will arise, corrupting the truth, and inducing the disciples to follow them. 

Be on the watch, therefore, remembering that, for three years, night and day, I did not cease to warn everyone, even with tears.  Now, I commend you to GOD, and to HIS grace-filled word, which is able to make you grow and gain the inheritance that you shall share with all the saints.

I have not looked for anyone's silver, gold or clothing.  You, yourselves, know, that these hands of mine have provided for both my needs and the needs of those who were with me.  In every way, I have shown you that by working hard one must help the weak, remembering the words that the LORD JESUS HIMSELF said, 'Happiness lies more in giving than in receiving.'

After this discourse, Paul knelt down with them and prayed.  Then, they all began to weep and threw their arms around him and kissed him.  They were deeply distressed because he had said that they would never see him again.  And they went with him even to the ship." - Acts 20:28-38  

(We have the warning of divisions and heresies in the Church: the same message will reappear in the Pastoral Letters [2 Timothy 3:1-9].  We are used to seeing Christians divided.  For Paul, it was unthinkable.  When he speaks of "the Churches of CHRIST" [Romans 16:4 and 16; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 11:16], he is only thinking of the local communities who communicate among themselves, and all accept without discussion the same faith and tradition of the apostles.  Paul alludes to what awaits him: all that we can do is to follow CHRIST, who has won HIS Church at the price of HIS own blood.  Only in heaven will a leader of the Church find rest and retirement.

Paul takes up the resignation discourse of Samuel [1 Samuel 12:3].  How quickly can a person be self-serving and look after self in any apostolic work.)

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Prayer Of JESUS For The New Holy People

"After saying this, JESUS lifted up HIS eyes to heaven and said, 'FATHER. the hour has come!  Give glory to YOUR Son, that the Son may give glory to YOU.  YOU have given HIM power over all humanity, so that HE may give eternal life to all those YOU entrusted to HIM.  For this is eternal life: to know YOU, the only true GOD, and the One YOU sent, JESUS CHRIST.

I have glorified YOU on earth and finished the work that YOU gave ME to do.  Now, FATHER, give ME, in YOUR presence, the same glory I had with YOU before the world began.

I had made YOUR name known to those YOU gave ME from the world.  They were YOURS, and YOU gave them to ME, and they kept YOUR word.  And now they know that whatever YOU entrusted to ME, is indeed from YOU.  I have given them the teaching I received from YOU, and they accepted it, and know in truth that I came from YOU; and they believe that YOU sent ME.

I pray for them.  I do not pray for the world, but for those who belong to YOU, and whom YOU have given to ME.  Indeed all I have is YOURS, and all YOU have is MINE; and now they are MY glory.  I AM no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I come to YOU.  Holy FATHER, keep those YOU have given ME in YOUR name, so that they may be one, as WE also are.'" - John 17:1-11  

(Keep those YOU have given ME in YOUR name.  In other words: keep them in the radiance of YOUR own sanctity, with which YOU embrace YOUR Son.  At that moment JESUS prayed for HIS Church, to whom HE entrusted HIS own mission.  The principal duty of the Church is to know GOD.  Whatever the situation of the Church might be, its proper and indispensable mission will be to keep and proclaim the true knowledge of GOD and the commandment of HIS Son.

JESUS wants each of his own to know GOD.  This knowledge comes to us when we interiorize the word of GOD, persevere in prayer and join community celebrations.  In this we will have the help of the Holy Spirit, from whom come the gifts of knowledge and wisdom [Colossians 1:9].  From knowledge will spring good works and love; this is the beginning of eternal life in which we will see GOD as HE is [1 John 2:3].

JESUS prayed that HIS Church might be one, that is to say, that it might be the sign of unity in a divided world.  It is not enough that CHRIST is preached; it is also necessary for the world to see in its midst the Church, one and united.

Catholic Church, means, universal.  In the Church no one is a stranger.  One Church, through one same spirit, and through the visible unity of its members.)

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Paul In Ephesus

"While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and came to Ephesus.  There he found some disciples whom he asked, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?'  They answered, 'We have not even heard that anyone may receive the Holy Spirit.'  Paul then asked, 'What kind of baptism have you received?'  And they answered, 'The baptism of John.'

Paul then explained, 'John's baptism was for conversion, but he himself said they should believe in the one who was to come, and that one is JESUS.'  Upon hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the LORD JESUS.  Then Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came down upon them; and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.  There were about twelve of them in all.

Paul went into the synagogue and for three months he preached and discussed there boldly, trying to convince them about the Kingdom of GOD." - Acts 19:1-8 

(For three years, Paul wanted to evangelize Ephesus.  Ephesus was one of the most beautiful and largest cities in the empire.

Luke wanted to relate the baptism of these twelve disciples of John the Baptist. As we have just said they knew something of JESUS' teaching, but as for being his disciples, they lacked what was most important: they had not received the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit came down upon them.  We must not forget that in the beginning, the Christian language was limited.  We know that the Holy Spirit is much more than the manifestations that follow the laying on of hands.  So, we have such statements as: we have not heard that there is the Holy Spirit, while other texts state: that the Holy Spirit be received.  The laying on of hands is meant to confirm the change worked at baptism through the experience of the gifts of the Spirit [1 Corinthians 12:7].  Many Christians would be surprised today if they have never had this tangible experience of GOD.  Let us not say that these gifts are no longer useful or that such things do not happen today.  What is important, surely, is to believe and live one's faith rather than to feel it.  Such an experience, however, is often the shock that gives rise to a re-blossoming of our faith: it shows us that GOD is near, and HE is master of our inner self.   Perhaps our rationalist temperament and our Church life, mistrustful of all that is a personal expression, serves as a dampener of the gifts of the Spirit; perhaps it is rather the poverty of our commitment to JESUS.

They were baptized in the name of the LORD JESUS.  Are we to presume that in the beginning baptism was in the name of JESUS and not in the name of the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT?  It is not certain.

In the name of signifies: by the power of; maybe the baptism in the name of the FATHER and of the SON and of the Holy Spirit was called the baptism in the name of JESUS to distinguish it from the baptism of John and the baptisms of other religions.  It is also possible that at the moment of receiving the water in the name of the Holy Trinity, the person baptized had to make a personal invocation in the Name of JESUS.  Possibly also in early times, baptism was given "in the Name of JESUS" and later the Church modified the formula in order to distinguish itself from groups that believed in JESUS but without recognizing HIM as Son of GOD, born of the FATHER.  There would be nothing to astonish us in such a change: the Church of the apostles had given the first formula; the same Church gave the second formula attributed to JESUS in Matthew 28:19.)

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GOD Has Put All Things Under The Feet Of CHRIST

"May the GOD of CHRIST JESUS our LORD, the FATHER of glory, reveal HIMSELF to you, and give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation, that you may know HIM.

May HE enlighten your inner vision, that you may appreciate the things we hope for, since we were called by GOD.

May you know how great the inheritance is, the glory, GOD sets apart for HIS saints; may you understand, with what extraordinary power, HE acts in favor of us who believe.

HE revealed HIS almighty power in CHRIST when HE raised HIM from the dead, and had HIM sit at HIS right hand in heaven, far above all rule, power, authority, dominion, or any other supernatural force that could be named, not only in this world, but in the world to come as well.

Thus has GOD put all things under the feet of CHRIST and set HIM above all things, as head of the church, which is HIS body, the fullness of HIM, who fills all in all." - Ephesians 1:17-23  

(Far above all power.  In Paul's days, neither Jews nor Christians doubted that the world was governed by supernatural powers, "angels."  They called them: Rulers, Powers, Authorities, Dominion, and Paul was saying to them: all these Powers are inferior to CHRIST.  In our days we express ourselves differently.  Nevertheless, we see the universe subject to the laws of nature, to the forces of matter and of life.  It is also subject to obscure forces: collective prejudices, vice and fanaticism.  These ruled the world, preventing the emergence of humanity, until the coming of CHRIST: see Galatians 3:23.

GOD has put all things under the feet of CHRIST.  This means the same as the words of our creed: "JESUS is seated at the right hand of GOD."  It means that in rising, CHRIST, the GOD-Human became the First in the universe.  All things under HIS feet except humankind.

Paul adds: "HE made HIM head of the Church".  CHRIST acts differently in two areas: in the world, where HE is the invisible center in charge; in the Church, of which HE is the head, where HE can show the riches of HIS Spirit.)

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You Will Ask In MY Name

"When that day comes to you will not ask ME anything.  Truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the FATHER in MY name, HE will give you.  So far you have not asked for anything in MY name; ask, and receive, that your joy may be full.

I have taught you all these things in veiled language, but the time is coming when I shall no longer speak in veiled language, but will speak to you plainly about the FATHER.

When that day comes, you will ask in MY name; and it will not be necessary for ME to ask the FATHER for you, for the FATHER HIMSELF loves you, because you have loved ME, and you believed that I came from the FATHER.  As I came from the FATHER, and have come into the world, so I AM leaving the world, and going to the FATHER." - John 16:23-28  

(I will speak to you plainly...  The naïve response of the apostles in verse 29 underlines by contrast what JESUS expressed in verse 25.  JESUS did not mean that HE would return in visible form to teach, not in parables, but more clearly; JESUS referred rather to the spiritual knowledge of HIMSELF and HIS words that the disciples were to receive from the Spirit.

You will ask in MY name.  Through a spiritual knowledge of JESUS, the believers will know what they should ask of HIM and HE will give it to them.  In the same manner, they will know the things that GOD does not want to give, and because of that they will neither desire nor ask for them.)

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Paul Had Made A Vow

"One night, in a vision, the LORD said to Paul, 'Do not be afraid, but continue speaking and do not be silent, for many people in this city are MINE.  I AM with you, so no one will harm you.'  So, Paul stayed a year and a half in that place, teaching the word of GOD among them.

When Gallio was governor of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the court.  And they accused him, 'This man tries to persuade us to worship GOD in ways that are against the Law.'

Paul was about to speak in his own defense when Gallio said to the Jews, 'If it were a matter of a misdeed or vicious crime, I would have to consider your complaint.  But since this is a quarrel about teachings and divine names that are proper to your own law, see to it yourselves: I refuse to judge such matters.'  And he sent them out of the court.

Then the people seized Sosthenes, a leading man of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal; but Gallio paid no attention to it.

Paul stayed on with the disciples in Corinth for many days; he then left them and sailed off with Priscilla and Aquila for Syria.  And as he was no longer under a vow he had taken; he shaved his head before sailing from Cenchreae." - Acts 18:9-18  

(A vision: there are not many in this book.  Perhaps Paul was wondering whether it would not be better for him to retire for a time as he had already done and as JESUS had advised in case of persecution [Matthew 10:23].   The devil increases the opposition when someone sets foot on his field: in this center of corruption, grace would triumph.

The Jews brought him before the court.  Here we have a new example of the problems Paul met in the great Roman centers.  Different peoples co-exist, and many conflicts are settled within communities according to their proper laws and customs.  Gallio, the Roman governor, has no wish to be dragged into the jungle of traditions and disputes, especially with the Jews who enjoyed religious privileges within the Roman Empire.

The Jews are furious in seeing the success of Paul that relies on the Word of GOD, that is, on their own sacred books.  They fear that the boldness of the Christians might stir a reaction from the pagans, in which case they, too, would be the victims.

They seized Sosthenes - and beat him.  A sure bet would be that this Sosthenes, a Jew, is the one mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:1.  Even if he already acted as a prominent member of the Christian group, it is doubtful whether the Jews would have attacked him before the authorities: most probably it was a group of bystanders falling on a well-known Jew.

Paul had made a vow.  He shaved his head as it was said in Numbers 6:5. All that Paul had written to turn converted pagans away from the Jewish Law did not prevent him, a Jew, from feeling at ease with the traditional forms of Jewish piety.  He knew that faith alone saves, but it was his wish to mark with a vow some secret agreement he had made with the LORD.)

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"This Is MY Commandment: Love One Another As I Have Loved You!"

"As the FATHER has loved ME, so I have loved you.  Remain in MY love!  You will remain in MY love if you keep MY commandments, just as I have kept MY FATHER's commandments and remain in HIS love.

I have told you all this, that MY own joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.  This is MY commandment: Love one another as I have loved you!  There is no greater love than this, to give one's life for one's friends; and you are MY friends, if you do what I command you.

I shall not call you servants anymore, because servants do not know what their master is about.  Instead, I have called you friends, since I have made known to you everything I learned from MY FATHER.

You did not choose ME; it was I who chose you and sent you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.  And everything you ask the FATHER in MY name, HE will give you.

This is MY command, that you love one another." - John 15:9-17 

(After making it clear that we depend totally on HIM, JESUS repeats HIS commandment of love.  There is a necessary order in building the Christian life.

If from the start we say: We should love our neighbor because this is the only commandment, we will achieve nothing; because each one understands love in his own way, while not having as yet interiorized the thinking of CHRIST.  Moreover, we need to receive from the source of all love the ability to love selflessly.  CHRIST asks us to first share HIS thinking: that is what the expression, keep MY commandments means.  Thus, we become HIS friends, knowing HIM as a person who loves us and acts in us.  Later we will produce the authentic fruit of love, whose source is CHRIST.)

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