Fourth Sunday of Easter (2)

Title

Safe but not Secure

Outline

Sometimes we expect the Christian life to be like a country music song played backwards

You know, the spouse comes back, the dog comes back, your house or trailer comes back, your job comes back, health comes back, prosperity comes back

There is a genre of Christian literature in this vein: I turned to Christ and my addictions disappeared, I was restored to my family, and found an even better job than the one I had lost. I have prospered in every way since then and have had no problems.

Tell that to Paul or tell that to Jesus

Jesus refers to safety but not worldly security

We read of conversion, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

We read of safety, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.” In fact, while the Father and Jesus are one, the Father is greater than Jesus and he also guarantees safety.

But it does not mean that the forces of evil will not try and that does not mean that if we listen to siren song of evil we cannot rebel and jump from his hand, as we see in the warning passages in Hebrews.

There is no need for us to worry about our future with God, even if we must face the devil prowling around like a roaring lion

Revelation reinforces this looking back from the end

John sees “a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue.”

Who are they? “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” They are committed followers of Christ, but they have not had an easy time of it until they enter the new dimension where they have a very good life indeed, God himself serving them (wiping away every tear).

Acts tells us the story

Having evangelized across Cyprus, Paul and Barnabas land in Asia Minor and go inland to Pisidian Antioch (either for health reasons or because it was on the main east - west road in Asia Minor).

When asked to speak in the synagogue, Paul gives an evangelistic address that affirms the history of Israel and connects Messianic expectation to the story of Jesus, including his unjust execution and then divine resurrection. He concludes by offering both salvation and a warning.

A significant number of Jews and proselytes follow Paul and Barnabas, but the next Sabbath other Jewish leaders attack the second presentation in the synagogue (Acts says, out of jealousy). Paul and Barnabas then say that having offered salvation to the Jews, they will now, also in continuity with the Hebrew Scriptures, offer it to the Gentiles, resulting in “All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, 49 and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region.”

But there is more backlash, for the unconverted Jews incite influential women (who were likely proselytes or close to being such) who influence their husbands to kick Paul and Barnabas out of town. And so we get the first example of someone actually following the teaching of Jesus, “they shook off the dust from their feet against them,” the departure of Paul and Barnabas, and the new-born particular church functioning “filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Paul and Barnabas would suffer worse persecution later.

Sisters, there you have the pattern

God chooses us for salvation and so we get to hear and are drawn the respond to the good news when it reaches us. It may also include a call to a vocation.

We live the good news according to our vocation and others are drawn to faith. In Paul’s case it meant starting new particular churches. And that faith lasts and no one will pluck those people out of God’s hand.

But then persecution arises, sometimes from other believers (as Paul would have seen the Jewish leaders in Antioch or the “leading women”), sometimes from the civil authorities and one must leave the “fruit” to grow on its own - with the Holy Spirit.

This persecution, however, only spreads the seed of the good news or the virus of the gospel farther, for other particular churches or other groups of disciples are founded, with the cycle repeating.

The result is a multitude in heaven praising God, but with tears needing to be wiped from their eyes.

So do not be surprised at false accusation, rejection, or other persecution - just make sure that you really do not deserve it. Then turn your eyes to what God is doing in the hearts of individuals, what their and your future is, and where his next project for you is located. God will deal with the persecutors; keep your eyes fixed on him and his good news and you will be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 5-8-2022: Fourth Sunday of Easter

FIRST READING

Acts 13:14, 43–52

14 They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered [into] the synagogue and took their seats.

43 After the congregation had dispersed, many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.

44 On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. 46 Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

48 The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, 49 and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. 50 The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. 51 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 The disciples were filled with joy and the holy Spirit.

Catholic Daily Readings 5-8-2022: Fourth Sunday of Easter

RESPONSE

Psalm 100:3c

3 Know that the LORD is God,

he made us, we belong to him,

we are his people, the flock he shepherds.

PSALM

Psalm 100:1–3, 5

1 A psalm of thanksgiving.

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;

2 serve the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful song.

3 Know that the LORD is God,

he made us, we belong to him,

we are his people, the flock he shepherds.

5 good indeed is the LORD,

His mercy endures forever,

his faithfulness lasts through every generation.

Catholic Daily Readings 5-8-2022: Fourth Sunday of Easter

SECOND READING

Revelation 7:9, 14b–17

9 After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

14 I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 “For this reason they stand before God’s throne

and worship him day and night in his temple.

The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.

16 They will not hunger or thirst anymore,

nor will the sun or any heat strike them.

17 For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them

and lead them to springs of life-giving water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Catholic Daily Readings 5-8-2022: Fourth Sunday of Easter

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 10:14

14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me,

GOSPEL

John 10:27–30

27 My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 5-8-2022: Fourth Sunday of Easter

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2022 | EASTER

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

YEAR C | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Acts 13:14, 43–52

Response Psalm 100:3c

Psalm Psalm 100:1–3, 5

Second Reading Revelation 7:9, 14b–17

Gospel Acclamation John 10:14

Gospel John 10:27–30

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