For The FATHER Is Greater Than I

"Peace be with you!  MY peace I give to you; not as the world gives peace do I give it to you.  Do not be troubled!  Do not be afraid!  You heard ME say, 'I AM going away, but I AM coming to you.'  If you loved ME, you would be glad that I go to the FATHER, for the FATHER is greater than I.

I have told you this now before it takes place, so that when it does happen you may believe.  There is very little left for ME to tell you, for the prince of this world is at hand, although there is nothing in ME that he can claim.  But see, the world must know that I love the FATHER, and that I do what the FATHER has taught me to do.  Come now, let us go." - John 14:27-31 

(For the FATHER is greater than I.  This does not contradict what John teaches throughout the whole Gospel about JESUS' divinity.  This is to be read together with 5:18; 10:30; 16:15, if we want to know something of the mystery of CHRIST, "true GOD," as spoken of in Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; and 1 John 5:20.

As early as the fourth century Saint Hilary, the great bishop and defender of the faith, wrote: "The FARTHER is greater because of being the one who gives.  As HE gives the Son all that HE HIMSELF is, yet the Son is not inferior to the FATHER."

Moreover, it is characteristic of the Son to deny HIMSELF so that HE may give glory to the FATHER, until the FATHER gives HIM back "the glory HE had before" as said in 17:5 and 6:62.

Because of this the apostles, who have seen HIM as a man among humans in the time of HIS humiliation, should now rejoice.)

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The Helper Will Teach You

"'Whoever keeps MY commandments is the one who loves ME.  If he loves ME, he will also be loved by MY FATHER; I too shall love HIM and show MYSELF clearly to him.'

Judas--not Judas Iscariot--asked JESUS, 'LORD, how can it be that YOU will show YOURSELF clearly to us and not to the world?'  JESUS answered him, 'If anyone loves ME, he will keep MY word and MY FATHER will love him; and WE will come to him and live with him.  But if anyone does not love ME, he will not keep MY words; and these words that you hear are not MINE, but the FATHER's who sent ME.

I told you all this while I AM still with you.  From now on the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the FATHER will send in MY name, will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I have told you.'" - John 14:21-26 

(The Helper [or Interpreter] will teach you.  The Spirit enables us to understand and interpret JESUS' words throughout all time.  Compare with 15:26.  The Holy Spirit proceeds as much from the FATHER as from the Son being, with them, only one GOD.

LORD how can it be that YOU will show YOURSELF clearly to us and not to the world?  Judas thought that JESUS meant HE would summon them for secret meetings, but JESUS really meant HE would make HIMSELF known to them through interior teaching and by letting them experience peace.)

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Praise Of GOD's Grandeur

"Compassionate and gracious is YAHWEH, slow to anger and abounding in love.

YAHWEH is good to everyone; HIS mercy embraces all HIS creation.

All YOUR works will give YOU thanks; all YOUR saints, O YAHWEH, will praise YOU.

They will tell of the glory of YOUR kingdom; and speak of YOUR power, that all may know of YOUR mighty deeds, YOUR reign, and its glorious splendor.

YOUR reign is from age to age; YOUR dominion endures, from generation to generation.

YAHWEH is true to HIS promises and lets HIS mercy show in all HE does."

- Psalm 145:8-13

(When we reflect on what GOD has done for us, we remember that this is what GOD has always done; our lives are borne along on the unending stream of divine love.  To the eternal GOD, eternal praise be given.)

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All Those Destined For Everlasting Life

"The following Sabbath almost the entire city gathered to listen to Paul, who spoke a fairly long time about the LORD.  But the presence of such a crowd made the Jews jealous.  So they began to oppose, with insults, whatever Paul said.

Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out firmly, saying, 'It was necessary, that GOD's word be first proclaimed to you, but since you now reject it, and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we turn to non-Jewish people.  For thus we were commanded by the LORD: I have set you as a light to the pagan nations, so that you may bring MY salvation to the ends of the earth.'

Those who were not Jews rejoiced, when they heard this, and praised the message of the LORD; and all those, destined for everlasting life, believed in it.  Thus the word spread, throughout the whole region.

Some of the Jews, however, incited GOD-fearing women of the upper class, and the leading men of the city, as well, and stirred up an intense persecution against Paul and Barnabas.  Finally, they had them expelled from their region.  The apostles shook the dust from their feet, in protest against this people, and went to Iconium, leaving; the disciples, filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. - Acts 13:44-52 

(All those destined for everlasting life.  This expression does not condemn those who have not believed.  It simply states that the coming to faith was a gift for those believers: GOD entered their life and made them bearers of a current of divine life that would transform the world [John 17:3].)

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I Give You A New Commandment

"MY children, I AM with you for only a while; you will look for ME, but as I already told the Jews, now I tell you: where I AM going you cannot come.  I give you a new commandment: Love one another!  Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are MY disciples, if you have love for one another.'" - John 13:33-35 

(I give you a new commandment.  That is to say, a commandment appropriate for the advent of a new era.  The Old Testament spoke of interior fidelity to GOD and love of neighbor, but this message often remained hidden among the complexities of the law.  Besides, there are many ways of loving: even a fanatically religious person can claim to be loving GOD.  In the New Testament JESUS says that love of GOD is the highest law.  The example given by the LORD during HIS earthly life reminds us of the way to love.

Love that is like GOD's aims at liberating our neighbor and enabling her to fully develop her God-given gifts.  Love like the LORD's helps the neighbor become what GOD wishes her to be, by passing trough death to resurrection.

Moreover, when we go deeper into the mystery of divine love revealed to us through JESUS, our love becomes merged with the eternal love of GOD that alone, in the end, shall permeate all we do.  True love comes from GOD and makes us return to unity within GOD.)

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Paul In The Capital Of Pisidia

"From Paphos, Paul and his companions set sail and came to Perga in Pamphylia.  There, John left them and returned to Jerusalem, while they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia.  On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue and set down.  After the reading of the law and the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent this message to them, 'Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the assembly, please speak up.'

So Paul arose, motioned to them for silence and began, 'Fellow Israelites and, also, all you who fear GOD, listen.  The GOD of our people Israel chose our ancestors; and after HE had made them increase during their stay in Egypt, HE led them out by powerful deeds.  For forty years HE fed them in the desert; and after HE had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, HE gave them their land as an inheritance.  All this took four hundred and fifty years.  After that, HE gave them Judges, until Samuel the prophet.  Then they asked for a king; and GOD gave them Saul, son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin; and he was king for forty years.  After that time, GOD removed him and raised up David  as king, to whom HE bore witness saying: I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after MY own heart, who will do all I want him to do.

It is from the descendants of David that GOD has now raised up the promised Savior of Israel, JESUS.  Before HE appeared, John proclaimed a baptism of repentance for all the people of Israel.  As John was ending his life's work, he said: 'I am not what you think I am, for, after me, another one is coming, whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.'" - Acts 13:13-25 

(Once the mission began, Paul becomes the obvious leader.  They do not stay in Cyprus; they leave behind groups of believers who have been hastily instructed.

When they arrive on the continent, at the inhospitable area of Perga, John Mark leaves them.  Paul's daring plans may have scared him.  They go through the mountain range of modern Turkey and reach the heart of the province of Pisidia--Antioch [which must not be confused with the other Antioch].

Luke gives all the details of the events at Antioch in Pisidia, because they were typical of the situations Paul was going to face in various parts of the Roman empire.

Paul speaks at the Sabbath gathering in the "synagogue" [house of prayer of the Jews].  The worship involves psalms and biblical readings [obviously, from the Old Testament].  Then, one or several of the leaders make comments.  Since Paul is a visitor, out of deference, they ask him to speak.

Paul's discourse, this return to the history of Israel may seem to us to hold little interest, as was the case for Peter's [Chapter 2] and Stephen's [Chapter 7].  But it was Jewish way of preaching, and for all these emigrants, there was nothing more interesting than being reminded of this history that they knew by heart and which gave them their identity in the midst of other people.  So Paul presents this history, highlighting a series of facts that gives it meaning and clearly leads to CHRIST.  Paul shows that GOD's promises to Israel have been fulfilled in the resurrection of CHRIST.)

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The Triumph Of A Good Harvest

"May GOD be gracious and bless us;

may HE let HIS face shine upon us;

that YOUR way be known on earth

and YOUR salvation, among the nations.

May the peoples praise YOU, O GOD;

may all the peoples praise YOU!

May the countries be glad and sing for joy,

for YOU rule the peoples with justice;

and guide the nations of the world.

May the peoples praise YOU, O GOD,

may all the peoples praise YOU!

The land has given its harvest;

GOD, our GOD, has blessed us.

May GOD bless us and be revered,

to the very ends of the earth."

- Psalm 67:2-8

(The occasion of this happy song is a successful harvest, but the psalmist can rise above selfish considerations.  The triumph of a good harvest--or industrial prosperity--should make one think of places, where the harvest fails.  GOD is the same GOD there, and man no less HIS image.  If GOD rules the whole world with justice, man must try to imitate HIM.  Ecumenism and economics are sometimes the same thing.  The blessing of the psalm takes us to the Ephesians [Ephesians 1:3].  We can pray with this psalm, to give thanks to GOD for the goods of the earth.)

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To The GOD Of Glory And Compassion

"Alleluia!

Praise, O servants of YAHWEH,

praise the name of YAHWEH!

Blessed be the name of YAHWEH

now and forever!

From eastern lands to the western islands,

may the name of YAHWEH be praised!

YAHWEH is exalted over the nations;

HIS glory above the heavens.

Who is like YAHWEH our GOD,

who sits enthroned on high,

but also bends down to see

on earth as in heaven?

HE lifts up the poor from the dust

and the needy from the ash heap.

HE makes them sit with princes, 

with rulers of HIS people."

- Psalm 113:1-8

(The psalmist urges the people to offer praise to the Almighty LORD of heaven and earth.  GOD calls them HIS friends, raising them up to HIS own height.

What distinguishes GOD from humans is not the infinity of HIS creation, but HIS way of being with us, HIS preference for what many despise.  GOD likes to choose poor instruments, to achieve HIS great deeds of grace.

Our GOD does not remain isolated in heaven.  HE has come down to earth.  HE has become one of us, identified with those who are helpless.  With the present psalm, let us exalt the Name of the LORD, great and sublime.)

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The Exile's Nostalgia For GOD's Temple

"As a deer longs for flowing streams,

so my soul longs for YOU, O GOD.

My soul thirsts for GOD, for the living GOD.

When shall I go and see the face of GOD?

Day and night, my tears have been my food,

as people ask me, day after day,

'Where is your GOD?'"

- Psalm 42:2-4

(Long for GOD, as a deer longs for flowing streams, and our happiness will last forever and not just for long.)

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I And The FATHER Are ONE

"MY sheep hear MY voice and I know them; they follow ME and I give them eternal life.  They shall never perish, and no one will ever steal them from ME.  What MY FATHER has given ME, is greater than all things else.  To snatch it out of the FATHER's hand, no one is able!  I and the FATHER are One.'" - John 10:27-30 

(When Scripture speaks of the Shepherd, it usually refers to GOD HIMSELF, the only king of Israel, but sometimes means the King-Messiah sent by GOD.  JESUS spoke of only one shepherd.  Though distinct from the FATHER, HE is one with HIM.)

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