After Jesus originally spoke the words of today's Gospel reading, the hearers' reaction was violent hostility. They "again reached for rocks to stone Him" (Jn 10:31). We don't react in this same way because we're not Jews and so Jesus' claims don't seem to oppose our religious beliefs. Yet does this fully explain our different reaction? Do we understand the radical implications of Christ's words? In today's first reading, we read that Paul's preaching was countered "with violent abuse" (Acts 13:45). There may have been some homilies we haven't cared for, but we probably haven't gone so far as to run the priest out of town. Does this show that we're more gentle and understanding than Paul's listeners or that maybe we "couldn't care less"? In our secularized brand of Christianity, many people are lukewarm. We don't believe vigorously or strongly contend for the faith (Jude 3) if we believe it is threatened. We try to appear tolerant of others' beliefs, but maybe we're just apathetic. In the early Church, riots broke out over the resurrection (see Acts 23:6ff). Would that we believed in Jesus' resurrection with such zeal!One Bread, One Body
<< Sunday, April 21, 2013 >>
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Acts 13:14, 43-52
Revelation 7:9, 14-17
View ReadingsPsalm 100:1-3, 5
John 10:27-30
MUSH?
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Prayer to End Abortions |
Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, and for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, yet I rejoice that You have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself NEVER to be silent, NEVER to be passive, NEVER to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, and never to stop defending life until all my brothers and sisters are protected, and our nation once again becomes a nation with liberty and justice not just for some, but for all, through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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