Thursday May 28, 2009 of the 7th week of Easter

Readings: ACTS 22: 30; 23: 6-11 Psalm 16: 1-2a, 5, 7-11 John 17: 20-26
Psalm Response: " Keep me safe O God, You are my hope"

The daily readings from ACTS, skip two(2) chapters of Paul's journey to Jerusalem.
In the custody of the Roman protector who couldn't understanmd what all the hullaballu was all about, decided to ascertain the truth by having Paul, accused by the Sanhedrin, appear before the body to defend himself.
Sadducees were the Temple religious leaders and were intent on having Paul respond to their accusations they thought were in line with theri belief. The Sadducees didn't believe in the resurrection of the dead nor in angels or spirits.
The Pharisees, on the other hand, were lay religious leaders and they professed belief in both the resurrection and angels and spirits.
Paul, a Pharisee from birth, had preached the resurrection. So, he proclaimed he was on trial because of his belief in the resurrection of the dead.
The opposite views on the matter exploded into a melee, where the Captain of the Guard feared Paul would have been torn to shreads. So, he extricated Paul from their grasp into a Guarded compound for his own safety.
That night, in a dream, Jesus appeared to Paul and encouraged him to remain faithful, as Jesus wanted to have Paul in Rome, as His envoy, along with Peter to help establish His name among the pagan world.
Have you ever proposed Catholic truth to nay-sayers? Their reaction, at times may also be violent.
Nevertheless, we are enjoined by God through our Church to remain faithful to their teachings in throes of possible injury or even death. To Catholics and some Orthodox Christians, the Church is the voice of God especially when all the world has turned away from Him.

The Psalm and response is solace for a troubled world. We may not encounter Christ in a dream or reality. However, He has established His Church with Divine authority to be our help in times of misunderstanding and outright error. Listen to Her as She issues warnings against heresy and misinformation; the Church is our safeguard!

In this passage from John's Gospel, Jesus prays for Unity. Not just among ourselves, which may be nice, but with Him, an action unifying Him and us with the Father as He said.
Jesus is the Word through Whom creation occured. We must listen only to Him through His Church and do as He did. He proclaimed His unity with the Father and through His Word, puts us on a par with Himself.
His words are spirit and life.