Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter St Bernardine of Siena Priest 2023

Title

The Way of the Lord

Outline

Ignorance is the mother of error and deception

People ignorant of the Catholic Church often hold opinions about it that lead them into error. This deception is not victimless, for one can be deceived into serious sin.

Ignorance can be innocent, as when people are not taught the good, the true and the beautiful, even in Catholic schools and formation programs. They grow up with ignorance of scripture that means ignorance of Christ and so are easily caught in the snares of the devil. But it can also be willful as when we ignore the truth or at least the proddings of our conscience because it will keep us from something that we see as desirable.

St Bernardine of Siena was clearly aware of this and spoke plainly and clearly at length against the issues of his day. And if, as is true, he did not come up to the standards of Vatican II, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the like, he also did not live when such teaching was being revealed by God. On the other hand, he clearly lived the truth that he did know.

In our first reading we have a traveling evangelist and pastor, Paul.

Notice that he traveled in an orderly sequence strengthening disciples. He was not hit and miss. Usually he aimed at the major centers, one after the other. St. Bernardine died while trying to reach an area he had not yet covered.

He was also not exclusive, gathering all power to himself. His disciples, Priscilla and Aquila, heard an Alexandrian Jew speaking the the synagogue. He knew the scriptures and “He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord,” but apparently did not have the full story, only the baptism of John. Rather than being jealous of his rhetorical skills that surpassed Paul’s or rejecting him because he knew only John’s baptism, they followed Paul’s example “took him aside and explained to him the Way [of God] more accurately.” Then they sent him on to Achaia, Greece, where he greatly benefitted the church. There you see a precursor of Vatican II in which Protestants and Jews, among others, do have truth; some of the truths they have they may be instructive to Catholics. And we can say this without either denying that the Church has the fulness of truth nor that a gentle and discreet instructing them in the fuller truth is not appropriate. Priscilla and Aquila lived this even if they predated its formal promulgation by a couple millennia.

Jesus realizes that his disciples are ignorant but seeking

They have questions they want to ask him; they do not understand everything that he says. Much of it is about how the relationship with him and the Father works.

Well, says Jesus, ask the Father. Ask on behalf of and in service of your commitment to me; that is, “in my name.” “Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” “Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” It may not be as fast as we want or in the way we want, but he will do it.

Indeed, Jesus “[I] will tell you clearly about the Father.” And “the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God.” Jesus will not be physically present, which is the reason that we need to be aware of the Father’s love of us who are committed to Jesus.

He does not chastise us for our ignorance, but rather is committed to our growth: the Father and the Son are one.

Sisters, I find this helpful for me; perhaps it is also helpful for you

Realize that we are all ignorant of many things, that heaven itself will be an eternal growth in our depth of understanding of God.

Realize that we are even partial in our understanding of others - I have found that Pope Francis’ mind works differently than mine and I need to reflect more on what he said and read it in a wider context.

Realize that others, even those outside the Church and outside the Faith, often have truths we have yet to grasp or have or live them in a clearer form than we know. Do not be afraid to affirm that and learn from them, as Thomas Aquinas did. That affirmation will also open doors for instructing them in what we know better than they.

Realize, finally, that what Jesus and the Father want for us is not that we be healthy and wealthy and respected, but that we understand and know them. If we seek deeper knowledge, deeper understanding, deeper relationship, they will grant this request, but will also do so in the time, manner, and circumstances that they know are best for us and for the Church. In the meantime we can know that we are loved.

St Bernardine lived in his day and we in ours, so he understands when we pray, “St Bernardine of Siena, pray for us.”

READINGS

Catholic Daily Readings 5-20-2023: Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter

FIRST READING

Acts 18:23–28

23 After staying there some time, he left and traveled in orderly sequence through the Galatian country and Phrygia, bringing strength to all the disciples.

24 A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent speaker, arrived in Ephesus. He was an authority on the scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and, with ardent spirit, spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way [of God] more accurately. 27 And when he wanted to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. After his arrival he gave great assistance to those who had come to believe through grace. 28 He vigorously refuted the Jews in public, establishing from the scriptures that the Messiah is Jesus.

Catholic Daily Readings 5-20-2023: Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter

RESPONSE

Psalm 47:8a

8 For God is king over all the earth;

sing hymns of praise.

PSALM

Psalm 47:2–3, 8–10

2 All you peoples, clap your hands;

shout to God with joyful cries.

3 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,

the great king over all the earth,

8 For God is king over all the earth;

sing hymns of praise.

9 God rules over the nations;

God sits upon his holy throne.

10 The princes of the peoples assemble

with the people of the God of Abraham.

For the shields of the earth belong to God,

highly exalted.

Catholic Daily Readings 5-20-2023: Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 16:28

28 I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

GOSPEL

John 16:23b–28

23 On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. 24 Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

25  “I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father. 26 On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. 27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 5-20-2023: Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter

SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA, PRIEST

YEARS 1 & 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

On the same date: Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter

From Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter

First Reading Acts 18:23–28

Response Psalm 47:8a

Psalm Psalm 47:2–3, 8–10

Gospel Acclamation John 16:28

Gospel John 16:23b–28

WHITE