Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter Year 1 2023

Title

Doing God’s Will

Outline

“God has a plan for your life” went the mantra

That was an evangelical evangelistic mantra that pointed one to conversion and a heavenly future. Of course, not everyone chose the plan and for those who did it did not always work out as they imagined.

Nor does our imagined divine plan work out for us today, for within the last week I have heard of the deaths of Timothy Keller, a godly PCA pastor in New York City, and of Rodney Whitacre, an Anglican priest and New Testament scholar who succeeded me at TESM in 1983. Both died of cancer; both were two or three years younger than I. Both will be missed in the evangelical community.

The good news that we need to reflect on often is that God’s providential plan is better than ours.

Paul had a plan

He was going to visit Jerusalem, then travel to Rome to minister, and then go on to Spain, the western edge of the Mediterranean world.

God’s providence entailed going to Rome all right, but as a prisoner and with significant adventures; preaching there, but under guard in his own lodgings; and likely being executed before he ever had a chance to get to Spain. Yet he had finished his course, he had completed a significant corpus of writings that would live on beyond his lifetime, he had established Jew-Gentile unity in Christ, and his death helped cement Rome as the center of the Christian world. Even when Constantinople was founded it was called “the New Rome” to give it status.

And Paul is not bitter or upset, but rather diplomatically defends himself to the Jews in Rome as a true or fulfilled Jew (“it is on account of the hope of Israel”), trying to win his ethnic people to “the kingdom of God.” He mentioned rejection and attempted execution on the part of Jerusalem, only to defend his appeal to Caesar and not to accuse his people. I am sure that he died still witnessing to God’s grace and yet with joy that his labor on earth was over.

The Apostles had their plans

They planned for Jesus to reign and rule over the world from Jerusalem, just like the old prophecies had indicated. That was not Jesus’ plan.

Peter had to learn that after years of labor for God, much of it exiled from Judea and Jerusalem that he had seen as the center of the kingdom, he would be crucified as an old man (“old” being younger in those days than now) in imitation of his Master. He is not told that it will be in Rome and result in establishing that community as the center or the Church.

The Beloved Disciple (who may or may not be John son of Zebedee, but who keeps himself anonymous as an image of every true disciple of Jesus) is never informed of his future. [Peter is told to “mind his own business” when he asks.] He simply hears, “What if I want him to remain until I come?” and that the answer to the “What if” was none of the others’ beeswax. But as he got older and feebler (and the Virgin Mary had been assumed into heaven, so perhaps lonelier) he has to defend himself from destroying the faith of others by simply dying - something that I suspect he was longing to do so as to be with Jesus.

Sisters, we have plans and dreams, but do not try to outguess providence.

God has a plan that may not be our plan - however horrible it may sound to us, it will turn out better.

My plan did not include becoming an Episcopal priest, much less a Catholic priest - in fact, both were impossible until God brought it about. I saw myself fulfilling God’s call in the academic world, involved in the church but not with a formal office. I had no idea what a revolution my starting to read the literature of monks and bishops would cause in my life - I simply called it the “spiritual tradition.”

You probably had plans before entering your order and then have had some vision as what God was doing in bringing you into this order. You may live out many days in this order or die relatively young of accident or disease, but however long or short God’s providential plan certainly has twists and turns in it you could not imagine, and perhaps major changes.

The important point is to accept whatever comes as God’s grace, not take yourself too seriously, do as best you can whatever God sets before you in the now, and have a heart open to give Mary’s “be it unto me” to whatever He might have for you in the future.

Then, probably from the perspective of heaven, you will see the plan and realize how it all worked to his divine glory.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 5-27-2023: Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

FIRST READING

Acts 28:16–20, 30–31

16 When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

17 Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, “My brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. 18 After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me, because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation. 20 This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains.”

30 He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him, 31 and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Catholic Daily Readings 5-27-2023: Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

RESPONSE

Psalm 11:7b

7 The LORD is just and loves just deeds;

the upright will see his face.

PSALM

Psalm 11:4–5, 7

4 The LORD is in his holy temple;

the LORD’s throne is in heaven.

God’s eyes keep careful watch;

they test the children of Adam.

5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked,

hates those who love violence,

7 The LORD is just and loves just deeds;

the upright will see his face.

Catholic Daily Readings 5-27-2023: Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 16:7, 13

7 But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

13 But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.

GOSPEL

John 21:20–25

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” 23 So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? [What concern is it of yours?]”

24 It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. 25 There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 5-27-2023: Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2023 | EASTER

SATURDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER

YEARS 1 & 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

On the same date: Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop; Pentecost Vigil

First Reading Acts 28:16–20, 30–31

Response Psalm 11:7b

Psalm Psalm 11:4–5, 7

Gospel Acclamation John 16:7, 13

Gospel John 21:20–25

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