Thursday May 7, 2009

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Readimgs: ACTS 13: 13-25 Psalm89: 2-3, 21-22, 25-27 John 13: 16-20
Psalm Response: " Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord"

Paul sets out on his second missionary journey to the mideast countries of Greece and Turkey. John Mark who is reported to have been Peter's scribe in the writing of the Gospel of Mark left for some unknown reason to return to Jerusalem. There is speculation, since he was a youngster, the rigors of the intinerant living was too much for him so he went home to be with his parents. Sounds like kids at camp on their first night away from the home fires.
When paul and his companions entered the local synagogue as was the custom they were invited to address the congregation. Paul, no shrinking violet, filled with the Holy Spirit, stood and address the crowd.
What he proclaimed wasn't what they expected to hear! He outlined a bit of Jewish history and then revealed what had been proclaimed to him by Christ Himself that He was the expected messiah and all people would be saved through His death and resurrection as foretold by all the prophets.
They were aghast and enthralled at the same time wanting to believe but reticent when considering who was doing the preaching, a turncoat Jew!
When he closed with the story of John the Baptist's recognition of Jesus as the One who was to come and they consideredJohn a prophet, they were stunned and some of them came to believe.

We don't often bring the Psalms to memory as do other traditions. However, we hear the words of the responses and they remind us of our obligation to revere the words of both the old and the new testaments. The words of God should always be on our minds and lips.

Jesus, after taking the role of a slave and washing the Apostles feet as a sign of fealty, reveals the traitor among His chosen. It was to remind them and us of the inroads the Devil has at his disposal to sway even those of the insider caste.
Be on your guard! The allures of peasure and worldly treasure can sway even te staunchist of us. So beware!