FIRST READING: Acts 7:55-8:1. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit. gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was consenting to his death.

EXPLANATION: St. Luke, the author of Acts, gives us here a brief description of St. Stephen’s martyrdom. He had been appointed deacon some months previously, and went about fearlessly and eloquently preaching Christ and his message to the Jews of Jerusalem. He was falsely accused of speaking blasphemously about Moses and God and was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious court. He gave the Sanhedrin a brief survey of their disloyalty to God down through their history, and ended up accusing them of murdering the “Just One,” Christ, who was sent by God.

saw the glory of God, and Jesus: He ends his speech by describing a vision of heaven which he was actually seeing: God in his glory and Jesus at his right hand. “I see an opening in the sky and the Son of Man (the title Jesus always applied to himself) standing at God’s right hand.” This was the fulfillment of the prophecy Jesus had made when on trial before this same Sanhedrin (Mk. 14:62).

loud voice…stopped their ears: This to them was blasphemy, which no honest human ear could listen to: the impostor whom they had crucified occupying the highest place in heaven, next to God!

they cast him out of the city: All legality and justice was forgotten. He was a blasphemer. He was proclaiming that Christ was God, next to the Father in heaven, so they:

. . .and stoned him: Death by stoning for religious crimes was permitted to the Jews by the Roman authorities in Jerusalem. They could have stoned Jesus, and Pilate suggested this to them (Jn. 18:31), but for him they wanted the more lingering and the more shameful death by crucifixion, which was reserved for outlaws. Hence this appeal to Pilate.

Lord, do not hold this sin against them: Imitating his Master, Stephen prayed for his executioners before he expired.

APPLICATION: St. Stephen was the first Christian, the first follower of Christ to give his life for his Master and for his faith in him. The story of his martyrdom and of the courage with which he proclaimed his firm faith, in the face of his angry and hostile judges, is told to us Christians of the twentieth century with a purpose. It is intended to inspire us too with a firm confidence in this same faith, and with a willingness to live it and to stand by it whatever the cost.

Stephen was the first of a long unbroken line of martyrs whose example of faith and fortitude has been a tower of strength for us ordinary struggling, wobbling, Christians. Stephen could have denied his faith and denied Christ. He would have been handsomely rewarded by the opponents of Christianity, and could have lived perhaps to an old age in great worldly comfort and earthly happiness, presuming that he could silence his conscience. But in that case where would Stephen be now and where would he be for all eternity?

We are proud of Stephen because he put his convictions before expediency. Before his own fears of the pains of death he put his love for and gratitude to the Son of God who had suffered and died for our sakes. He appreciated the difference between an eternal happiness and a few short years of bodily comfort on this poor world of ours.

We are not only proud of him, but, as convinced Christians, we agree with every one of the noble sentiments which made him face death not only willingly but joyfully. We too love Christ and are grateful to him for all that he has done for us. We too know that all the treasures and all the joys of earth—even if we could live for centuries to enjoy them—are as a grain of sand in the Sahara compared to the eternal joys of heaven.

But the practical question for most of us, while we admit all these general principles, is this: are we always ready, like Stephen, to put our convictions before expediency? We love Christ of course, or we say so, and we would never deny him openly or in a really serious way. But in our daily life, our dealings in the family and with our neighbors, our honesty at work or in business, our speech and our moral conduct—can we truly say that these prove to the world that we love Christ and appreciate our Christian faith?

We want to go to heaven of course, but when we come to a crossroads on the way, and there are many of them, with signposts and posters offering us many earthly attractions, do we hesitate? For many of us perhaps the question is how often do we forget the straight road ahead and turn aside for a while? Others have done so before, and the while lasted until it was too late. It could happen to you. Today’s first reading is a reminder to you and to me. We want very much to go to heaven. We do not have to go through martyrdom like St. Stephen to get there, but we must live our ordinary lives as convinced as Stephen was that heaven is worth any sufferings earth can bring upon us. If we have this solid conviction, neither enemies nor false friends will lead us off the one straight road that leads us there. That road is true love of God and neighbor, true fidelity to Christ our Savior and to the wise rules he laid down for us.

SECOND READING: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20. I, John, heard a voice saying to me, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let him who hears say, “Come.” And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price.

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

EXPLANATION: As he comes to the end of his book of revelations, in which he has given us glimpses of heaven (see last Sunday) and described the struggles which the Church and the faithful will have to undergo before reaching heaven, St. John closes the book of Revelation with words spoken to him by Christ. These are words of encouragement and promise for his faithful followers. Their sufferings will be short, he is coming for them very soon, and their reward will be eternal.

I am coming soon: The first two generations of Christians were eagerly awaiting the second coming of Christ in glory as Judge of the world (see 2 Thess. 2:1-12). This was only natural, as they looked forward so anxiously to be with him in his glorious kingdom. Besides, the time of the second coming was not revealed. Now, through John, Christ assures all Christians he will come quickly, that is, each one’s earthly end, and entrance into his eternal glory, is near at hand.

bringing…has done: According to his works each one will receive his reward at that first meeting.

I am the Alpha…Omega: Christ as God was one with the Father and Holy Spirit in the creation of all things. The Son as the Word or Image of God played a special role in this work of the Trinity: “All things were made through him,” St. John says (Jn. 1:3). In the divine plan for the masterpiece of creation, “man,” the Son through the Incarnation, was not only the efficient and exemplary cause but the final cause. Man has been raised to the status of sonship and to immortality in order to glorify the Incarnate Son and through him the Holy Trinity.

Blessed…who wash their robes: Sinners who repent and purify themselves by washing their robes clean will enter heaven with the just. The means of purification have been given them.

the right to the tree of life: If they have never sinned or if they have washed away their sins they will have life everlasting (see Gen. 3:22).

enter the city: John has already described the new heavenly Jerusalem (21:9ff). All those who have proved themselves worthy may enter freely through its gates.

I am the Root…of David: Christ says he is the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies: he is the son of David often mentioned in Old Testament (Is., Psalms, etc.).

The bright morning star: Probably a reference to Nm. 24:7, often interpreted as messianic.

Come, Lord Jesus!: The final glorious return of Jesus will be the consummation of the whole of salvation history—all the elect will be forever in the company of God and Christ, their Savior.

APPLICATION: The first Christians, because of their fervent faith and their burning desire to be forever safely with Christ in his kingdom of happiness, were anxiously looking forward to his speedy return in glory to judge the world. That day of general judgment has not come yet. But in the meantime, millions and billions of Christians and others have met Christ the Judge in his glory at the moment of their deaths and have heard their sentence.

There is scarcely one here present today who will not have met Christ the judge within the next ninety years, and that meeting will be decisive for all eternity. There are some, amongst us, I’m sure, and there are many throughout the world, who are looking forward eagerly to that moment, because it will mean for them meeting their dearly beloved Savior and being assured that they can never again be separated from him.

How many of the rest of us could truly and honestly say, “Come Lord Jesus, I am ready to meet you”, if we were told this minute that he is at the door ready to enter? Without any false humility, I feel sure most, if not all of us, would beg for at least a few moments to put our consciences straight, to ask forgiveness for our sins and to cut out forever from our hearts whatever earthly attractions are coming between us and our sincere love for God.

That our meeting with our judge will take place soon, and sooner than anyone of us would care to admit, is one of the few certain facts we know about our future. That we shall get a warning no one can promise us. And even if we should, that we could in a moment make an act of thorough and perfect repentance is doubtful. If, whilst we still have our health and the full use of our senses, we remain enmeshed in sinful, earthly entanglements, in spite of many warning signals from our conscience and from our sincere advisers, what are the chances that we can free ourselves from them when death and the judge are knocking at our door?

There is only one way of assuring ourselves of a happy death, which really means a successful judgment, and that is to judge ourselves daily, recognize our failings and repent sincerely of them. If we are honest with ourselves in this daily personal judgment, we will never stray far, if at all, from God. We may stumble and even fall now and then, but we will rise again promptly and get going again on our heavenward journey. Of one thing we can be sure: if in the daily run of our very ordinary lives, we have sincerely tried to love and obey our loving Savior, the merciful judge will not call us before his tribunal at the moment when we are least prepared.

Christ, our judge, is not a policeman on the prowl, looking for the law breaker to drag him to jail. He is, rather, the fond brother waiting on the railway platform to welcome home one of the family who has spent his lifetime in a foreign land.

GOSPEL: John 17:20-26. Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which thou hast given me in thy love for me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known thee; and these know that thou hast sent me. I made known to them thy name, and I will make it known, that the love with which thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

EXPLANATION: At the Last Supper our Lord prayed very specially to his Father for his disciples, asking him to keep them true to the faith he had given them. He is about to leave them; they must continue to live on in a world which hates them as it hated him. He asks the Father to protect them from their enemies and to preserve unity and peace amongst them, so that they may be witnesses on earth to the mutual love of the Trinity in heaven. He now goes on to pray for all those who, through the apostolic labors of the disciples, will get to know him and become his followers. He prays, that is to say, for all Christians of all ages and climes.

I pray—also for those…word: Having prayed for true unity among his disciples, his thoughts now turn to the Church.

all may be one: The model he sets up for unity in his Church is the love which binds together the divine persons. The Church is the continuation of the Incarnation on earth. As the Incarnate Son of God was always in perfect union with his Father, so must the Church continue to be united with God and united in its members always.

that the world may believe: The greatest proofs that the Church on earth is the “body of Christ” (the continuation of the Incarnation) and that it comes from God, are the unity of its members among themselves and its close union with God.

the glory…given me: The glory of God means his presence which the Incarnation was and is (see Jn. 1:14). The “Word . . . the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father,” is head of his Church, and the members share in his divine gifts even while still on this earth.

I in them…thou in me: Christ is intimately united with his Church and the Father is intimately united with Christ. This unity is the essential element, the hallmark, of the Church of Christ.

loved them…loved me: If the members of the Church truly love one another as Christians, it will prove God loves them as he loved Christ, for he sees in them true brothers of Christ.

to behold my glory: Already Christ has shared with his Church some of the divine glory which he had from the Father while on earth. Now he wishes them to share in the eternal glory which will be his when in his glorified body he returns to the Father. This for the Christian will be the completion of glory.

which thou hast given me: All the gifts that his human nature possessed and the crowning gift of resurrection and glorification of that human nature, he attributes to his divine Father.

love…before the foundation of the world: The Incarnation was in the divine plan before creation began.

the world has not known you: He is referring to the unbelief of the world in all ages.

and I will make it known: God’s name and God’s love for men will be revealed until the end of time. Through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit whom he had promised, and through his own continual presence in his Church, in his love, in his sacraments, and especially in the Holy Eucharist.

the love with which…in them: The Father’s love for his Incarnate Son will reach to all men, who will accept it. They are all Christ’s brothers.

APPLICATION: The emphasis which our divine Lord placed on unity within the circle of the Apostles and unity among their followers, the faithful, or his Church on earth, must make us stop and think. He foresaw that dissension and disunity would one day arise. Was his prayer to his Father in vain then? By no means; this prayer, on this solemn occasion, was a warning first and foremost, a warning which should have been remembered and an instruction which should have been practised daily. Had it been put into practise by the leaders and members of his Church, disunity would never have arisen.

However, as regards the greater part of his Church, his prayer was answered. Unity still prevails, thank God, unity of the members with their leaders, and unity of the members among themselves. But while this is a great blessing from God for which we must constantly thank him, we cannot at the same time but feel sad that so many of our brothers, our fellow-Christians, are separated from us.

Now, thanks to the “man sent from God,” Pope John, and his second Vatican Council, and thanks to the divine grace that inspired the formation of the World Council of Churches, steps towards true unity between all the members of Christ’s mystical body are being taken in our day. So far, they are but exploratory steps, but even tentative moves are an improvement on the “cold war” or armed isolation which prevailed for some centuries past.

Many of you may ask, how does this concern me? What can I do about it? Every single brother of Christ can do more about it than he thinks he is able or bound to do. First of all, fervent prayer for this intention. Secondly, a personal effort to get to know and to esteem our separated brothers. Thirdly, a readiness to discuss our common Christian faith with them. Here you need not be ashamed to admit there are many points of doctrine to which you do not know all the difficult answers, but you can promise to get information from a good book or from your pastor. You will find, too, that your friend is not necessarily a profound theologian in his own communion. Finally, and perhaps the most important point, try to clear away all past prejudices. The present generation of separated brethren did not cause the separation nor did the present day Catholics. Let our ancestors answer for their own faults and sins. Ours is the task to undo their mistakes and their folly if with the help of God’s grace we can do so.

As regards our own unity within the Catholic Church, we all need to play a bigger part today in preserving this unity. This is an age of great freedom of speech, and that is only as it should be. But freedom to speak does not absolve one from the necessity of listening to reason. While we all decry authoritarianism in the Church or in any other society, all sane men must admit that authority is the basis of any society. And all Christians know that it was Christ himself who set up his Church under the authority and leadership of the Apostles. Under that leadership therefore, let us all strive to strengthen our faith and our Christian charity. When some decision of the authorities runs counter to our personal inclinations or opinions, let us pray fervently for the light of the Holy Spirit for ourselves and for those placed over us.

The one and only aim of those in authority in the Church is to direct the faithful on the road to heaven. They would risk their own eternal salvation were they knowingly to misdirect us. This should make it easier for us to submit our will to theirs, even when we cannot see eye to eye with the decision taken. Pray then, for ever greater unity between the members of our own Catholic Church. Pray too, that God will hasten the day when all his followers, all who are and call themselves Christians, will be united within his one sheepfold singing in unison the praises of Christ our divine Shepherd.-c191

FIRST READING: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29. Some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and the elders about this question.

Then it seemed good to the Apostles and the elders, with the whole Church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, with the following letter: “The brethren, both the Apostles and the elders, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that some persons from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us in assembly to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

EXPLANATION: Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us about the first general council ever held by the Church. It is called the Council of Jerusalem, as it was held in that city. It had to decide what was then a very important question as regards the future of the Church. Many Jews of Jerusalem and of the whole of Palestine had become Christians. Gentiles were now flocking to the Church outside of Palestine. The Jews were God’s Chosen People of the old dispensation, and the rite of initiation into their religion was circumcision, as God had prescribed for Abraham their father (Gen. 17:9-19).

Now some of the converted Jews thought that as the Christians were the new Chosen People, circumcision should be obligatory on them also. St. Paul, Barnabas and others denied this. The question was acute outside of Palestine only, as Gentiles did not practice circumcision. It was brought to Jerusalem to be solved by a meeting of the Apostles and elders, including Paul and Barnabas. The answer of the Council was that circumcision was not necessary for salvation and should not be imposed on the Gentile converts, nor should any other precepts of the Mosaic Law be binding on them except the Ten Commandments which are the universal moral law.

The brethren, both the apostles…elders: The decision of the Council is being sent in a letter to the Gentile converts at Antioch where the trouble arose. Note the truly Christian, humble tone of the letter. The College of Apostles, and the elders (the leaders of the local churches in Judea), call themselves the brothers of the Gentile converts.

although we…no instructions: The Jewish converts had no authority from the Apostles to raise this question of circumcision.

good to us in assembly: Verses 6-21 (not included in today’s readings) give the discussion of the question in the Council in which Peter took a leading part. James, as head of the Jerusalem Church, agreed with him, and so did all the others present.

choose men: To prove to the Church at Antioch that the Council decided in favor of the Gentiles, Barnabas and Paul are praised for the great work they have done “for the cause of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

seemed good to the Holy Spirit and…too: The Holy Spirit directs the authorities making the decision. Christ had promised that the Holy Spirit would always be with his Apostles (and their successors) to enable them to guide the Church and teach the truths of the Christian Faith (see Jn. 14:26, 16:13; Acts 1:8).

been sacrificed to idols: This was a question of avoiding scandal. To partake officially of the meat of an animal sacrificed to an idol was to take an official part in an act of pagan worship. This meat was often sold for use, and eating it had no connection with idolatry. But, for fear that some of the converts should suspect idolatry in its use, this prohibition was made.

blood…what is strangled: As the blood of an animal was looked on as the soul, the life of the animal, it belonged to God and should be given back to him. Man had no right to eat or use it. Gentiles had no such ideas, but in order to respect the sensitivities of the Jewish Christians they were asked to keep this rule not to use the blood of animals or not to eat a strangled animal as it contained the blood.

and from unchastity: Not to marry within the forbidden degrees of relationship as prescribed in Leviticus 18:6-18, a prohibition most reasonable even in the eyes of Gentiles.

If you keep yourselves from these…do well: The above prohibitions, therefore, were practical recommendations rather than laws.

APPLICATION: On reading of this, the First Council of the Church, which, guided by the Holy Spirit, gave a decision which was momentous for the spread of the Church in the Gentile world, our first thought must be for the wisdom and goodness of God who provided so effectively for our salvation. The Apostles and elders were men born under the Mosaic Law and soaked in its centuries-old traditions. Were it not for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, could they ever have even thought of abandoning the sacred rite of circumcision, and so many of the other customs and practices which had become second nature to them? The question had arisen because Jewish converts to the Christian faith—and there is no reason to doubt their piety and sincerity—had thought nobody could belong to the people of God unless this sacred rite, indeed the full Mosaic Law, was kept in its entirety.

But the Council, the human authority Christ had set up to rule and teach his Church, directed by the Holy Spirit, reached a unanimous decision—the correct one—which broke with the nonessentials of their ancient religious traditions.

When Christ set up his Church to continue his work of bringing mankind to heaven, he founded it on the Apostles, with Peter as their head. They were very ordinary mortal men, with all their human weaknesses. But he promised them the divine assistance of the Holy Spirit and his own presence in the sacraments, especially in the Holy Eucharist, until the end of time. He has kept his promise. Down through two thousand years, notwithstanding all the human weaknesses and worldly inclinations of so many of his followers, his Church has remained true to his teaching. She has had to face opposition from enemies outside the fold who hoped to destroy her, and often from friends within who meant well but acted unreasonably while desiring to improve her.

Human nature has not changed in those two thousand years. There are still enemies on the outside today, who would not only get rid of the Church but would get rid of God himself if they could. There are friends within her who in their anxiety to help feel and act as if the rustiest of ancient practices were still in their pristine brightness, while on the other hand there are zealous modernizers so anxious to keep the Church up to date that they are almost a century ahead of their time.

But Christ and the Holy Spirit are still looking after the Church. “The gates of hell, that is, all the powers of her enemies, will not prevail against her.” This is Christ’s promise and we can rely on that guarantee. The essentials of Christ’s teaching are long established in the Church, our duty and privilege (for they are our roadmap to heaven) are to follow them faithfully. If and when today’s abundant crop of theological experts prove that some minor diversions would be helpful to that old roadmap, the Holy Spirit, we can rest assured, will move and assist the divinely appointed authority in the Church to accept and sanction these proven diversions. Until then, we can feel sure we are on the right road whilst following the map already in use.

But we can and must all help the Church by our prayers. The assistance of the Holy Spirit, like all the other graces and gifts of God, must be sought for in the fervent prayers of all the faithful. The Church is a body made up of many members, if each member does its part not only to retain its own spiritual health but to help the weaker members to improve, the whole body will be healthy—it will increase in loyalty to God and Christ, it will grow daily in holiness and continue to produce saints for heaven, the purpose for which it was instituted.

SECOND READING: Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23. In the Spirit the angel carried me away to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed; on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

EXPLANATION: We have here another glimpse of heaven as seen by St. John in one of his visions, a description of the heavenly Jerusalem in which the bride of Christ, the elect, will dwell forever with God and with the Lamb, the Son of God-made-man, who brought them there.

The angel carried me away to a great high mountain: One of the seven angels who appear so often in John’s visions took him up to the high mountain so that he could see the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, i.e. from the sky.

having…the glory of God: It shone in beauty and brightness like the brightness and beauty of precious stones—the only image in which John could think of describing it for, of course, it is beyond human description.

It had…wall: John sees it as a walled city with walls so high that it was forever safe from attack. It was a square city with four walls, each had three gates and at each gate an angel bearing the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

has twelve foundations: Each wall had three foundation stones so that there were twelve in all. The names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb were written on them. The twelve tribes of Israel represent the whole chosen people of God, the elect of the old and the new covenants. But the city has been built on the twelve Apostles of the Lamb for it is the new, the heavenly Jerusalem built by Christ. The old Jerusalem had the throne of God in its Temple where he often showed his power to the Jews. The new Jerusalem, the Church triumphant in heaven, is the real throne of God, and there he will show not his power only, but his glory. He will show this glory to all, whether Jew or Gentile, who have accepted his Son (the Lamb) through the preaching of the twelve Apostles.

I saw no Temple in the city: The glory and the boast of the old Jerusalem was its temple of stone with its empty throne and its holy of holies representing the presence of God. No representations are necessary in the new Jerusalem for God, and the Holy Trinity, and the Lamb, the Son in his glorified human nature, will be really present there.

no need of sun or moon: No natural light will be necessary. The glory of God and of the Lamb will illuminate it.

APPLICATION: By repeating some reference to heaven Sunday after Sunday during the six Sundays that follow Easter, the Church wants us to concentrate, if only for a few moments once a week, on the future that awaits us. Easter, the Resurrection of Christ, meant the opening of heaven for man. It meant that when we end our few years here we are assured of a place of eternal happiness in the presence of the glorified Christ and the Blessed Trinity. This is so attractive a guarantee that one wonders sometimes why we do not abandon all earthly joys and cares to concentrate completely and entirely on this our future happiness.

A small percentage of the world’s population may do just this. But God does not demand or expect it of the rest of us. We have tasks to fulfil while on this earth and it is by doing these tasks honestly and faithfully that we shall earn the eternal reward. The man who every morning offers his day with its cares and consolations to God, and who does his work as well as possible to please God, is moving daily towards heaven.

We could compare ourselves on our earthly journey towards heaven to a young man of eighteen who goes to college with the firm determination to qualify at the end of six or seven years as a doctor. Although he studies and attends his lectures regularly, there may be weeks or even months, holiday time for instance, when the thought of his determination to be a doctor will hardly cross his mind. But he is moving towards it steadily and surely if he concentrates on the daily task during the prescribed periods. He can have lots of recreation and necessary periods of rest and relaxation, but he will end up a doctor and a good one if he does the work expected of him by his professors.

So it is with our journey to heaven—we are getting a step nearer each day if that day is spent in honest work, honest recreation, and well-deserved rest. However it is good for all of us, and necessary for some, to be reminded every so often of where we are going or should be going. That medical student may miss a day’s or even a week’s study through his own fault. He can make up for it by doubling his efforts later. We too can rest by the side of the road on our journey to heaven. We may sit there for days, for weeks, even for months. But through the mercy and kindness of God we too can make up for lost time by using the means that God gave us, the sacraments of his forgiveness and love. God actually wants to share his heaven with all of us. His hand is forever stretched out to lift up the lazy and the careless ones who have fallen by the way. All we have to do is to grasp that hand of divine friendship and we are on our way once more.

GOSPEL: John 14:23-29. Jesus said to his disciples, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me does not keep my word; and the word which you bear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

“These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you: ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.”

EXPLANATION: St. John gives us here another part of our Lord’s discourse to his Apostles at the Last Supper. He is telling them in advance that he will soon be leaving them. Instead of being saddened by this, they should rejoice. It will be followed by his glorification in the Resurrection which will mean their justification, and that of all men.

If a man…loves me: Obedience to the teaching of Christ is the one way of proving one’s love for him.

my Father will love him: True love of man for God will be reciprocated a hundredfold.

we will come to him: The Holy Trinity will “dwell” with those who love God. They will live in God’s grace and in his presence.

…but the Father’s: There are those who refuse to listen to Christ’s teaching. His fellow Jews were the people referred to. Yet this teaching is that of the Father, in whom they profess to believe.

who sent me: He was equal to the Father in his divinity. But when he took human nature, for our sakes, “he emptied himself” of the glories and prerogatives that followed from it. He became the suffering servant, the one and only perfectly obedient man.

the Holy Spirit: Following the completion of Christ’s mission on earth, through his death and his glorification in the Resurrection, the role of the third person of the Blessed Trinity will begin in the Church.

he will teach…things: He will continue the revelation given by Christ. He will recall Christ’s teaching to their minds, and enable them to see the full meaning of all that he had said and done. Christ’s actions were revelation also.

Peace…I give to you: “Peace be to you” was the Jewish salutation on meeting. But it had lost most of its original connotation (Num. 6:26) which implied God’s blessing and friendship. Christ is promising peace in its original meaning to his Apostles, not in the loose, almost meaningless sense used by the Jews of his time.

I go away and I will come: This refers to his appearance to them after the Resurrection but perhaps even more to the “dwelling” of the Trinity in them after their justification and elevation to divine sonship.

rejoiced…I go to the Father: If they understood (which they did not yet) what Christ’s death and Resurrection meant for them and for all men, they would rejoice at his departure. Instead they grieved and lost heart because they did not realize who he was and what his mission on earth meant for mankind.

the Father is greater than I: Jesus is now in the “humiliation of the flesh” (see Phil. 2:7; Jn. 1:14), but equal to the Father in his divine nature, which he has hidden. That he is less than the Father in his human nature would not need saying, but in accepting the Incarnation “he has humbled himself,” making himself obedient to the Father even as regards the glory of his divine nature.

I have told…you may believe: Christ foretold his death and Resurrection, with many of the circumstances of his death in detail. This made it much easier for the Apostles, once they were convinced of the fact of his Resurrection, to believe in his divinity and in the divine plan he had explained to them.

APPLICATION: In the first reading at today’s Mass, we were given the story of the first General Council ever held by the Church authorities. There we saw that a vital decision was reached through the guidance and assistance of the Holy Spirit. “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and ours” (Acts 15: 28) was how the authorities announced the conclusion they had reached. In this Gospel which we have just read, Christ promised his Apostles, the night before his death, that when he returned to the Father, the Holy Spirit would be sent to them. He would teach them all things and recall to their minds all that Christ had taught them. In other words, the Church, through the Apostles, was promised the direct assistance of the Holy Spirit in preserving and interpreting what we call “the deposit of faith” or the sum total of the divine revelation given to us for our sanctification.

That promise was fulfilled in a very solemn way within twenty years of our Lord’s Resurrection at the Council of Jerusalem. It has been fulfilled again and again down through the history of the Church. And this has been the case not only on the solemn occasions of General Councils, or when definitions concerning faith and morals were given ex cathedra by the Pope, but in many circumstances of less solemnity.

The Holy Spirit “breathes where he wills.” He assists the local authorities in the Church. He inspires individual Christians if they call on him in their need. He inspires young people of both sexes to offer their lives to the service of the Church and their neighbor. He has inspired founders of orders and congregations to form institutes which would help the spread of the Faith. He is at work today among us and among the separated brothers of the Church, helping and inspiring them towards that unity for which Christ prayed.

There are moments of crisis in all our lives, moments when a vital decision has to be made. If that decision is wrongly made it may not only seriously interfere with our earthly welfare, but, more important still, jeopardize our eternal salvation. We should call on the Holy Spirit to help us daily, but we should call for his assistance especially when we have a serious decision to make.

His role in the Church and in the lives of all Christians is to preserve and protect the revelation that God has given us. There are times in the lives of many of us when we are tempted to doubt about what we are called on to believe, or to hesitate with regard to what we are called on to do. It is on such occasions that the help of the Holy Spirit is especially necessary. He will not fail us if we turn to him earnestly and sincerely.-c177

The Christian Life can be summed up in two words: “Imitate Jesus.” Of course, we are to imitate Jesus as we live out our day-to-day lives. But we can also imitate him in death, as did St Stephen.

In today’s first reading from Mass, we hear, as St Stephen is being executed:

‘As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”; and when he said this, he fell asleep.’

Let us see that in his death, St. Stephen imitated Jesus, in what he spoke. Two of the seven “Words” that Jesus spoke from the Cross are: (1) “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46); and (2) “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

Whether or not we will actually quote Jesus at the moment of our death remains to be determined. However, we can search through Scripture and see how Jesus acted and reacted in various circumstances, and through the grace of the Holy Spirit incorporate what we see Jesus do into our lives.

Imitate Jesus.

FIRST READING: Acts 14:21-27. Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.

Then they passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia; and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. And when they arrived, they gathered the church together and declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

EXPLANATION: In these seven verses of chapter 14 of Acts, the latter part of the first missionary journey of Ss. Paul and Barnabas is described. Paul’s custom was to preach Christ to the Jews first. When they rejected him and his message, as was nearly always the case, he turned to the pagans and had numerous converts in every town. The towns evangelized on this first journey were all in Galatia, then a province of the Roman Empire, today part of Turkey.

strengthening the souls…disciples: Mostly among the pagans—some devout Jews in all the towns accepted the gospel, but they were a small minority.

Lystra, Iconium, Antioch: After their successful sojourn in Derbe, they went northwards to revisit Lystra, Iconium and Antioch. They had suffered severely from the Jews in these towns—Paul was stoned almost to death in Lystra—yet this did not deter them from returning to confirm and console the converts from paganism and to appoint elders and organize the Church in each town.

we must enter…of God: St. Paul made no attempt to minimize the difficulties the pagan converts would have to face if they were to be loyal followers of Christ and so “enter into the reign of God.”

they appointed elders: Paul and Barnabas appointed “with prayer and fasting” that is, calling for God’s grace on those appointed. These selected men were appointed by the Apostles, not elected by the congregation. They were to be the leaders of the new Christian community both in the liturgical (eucharistic) celebration which meant that they were given the Sacrament of Orders (see 1 Tim. 5:22), and the general running of the community. As they were always more than one (elders in the plural), they formed a kind of College. This developed later into the ecclesiastical hierarchy.

sailed back to Antioch: Having evangelized southern Galatia and firmly established the Christian Church there, they returned to Antioch in Syria, whence they had set out, and reported “how God had opened the door of faith to the gentiles (pagans).”

APPLICATION: This first missionary journey of St. Paul, the shortest of three, lasted about two-and-a-half years. During it, apart from the sea journey, he traveled on foot about 600 miles over mountainous and difficult terrain. He had to earn his bread by the work of his hands. He suffered hunger and cold and was once stoned by the Jews and left for dead. Compared with his other journeys this was relatively easy. But when we think about it and think about the love of God and of his fellow men which inspired St. Paul to endure such hardships, can we fail to wonder and be shocked at the coldness of our own love of God, and the almost total lack of interest in the eternal welfare of our neighbor which we perhaps show?

There are Christians and Catholics who begrudge the 45 minutes they have to give to God on Sunday morning: they look for a 20-minute Mass. The remaining 167.25 hours of each week are given to their worldly cares, which nonetheless they will have to leave forever in a few years’ time. There are Catholics who grumble when they are asked to give a portion of their weekly earnings to help support their church and their pastors. There are good devout Catholics who give no help whatsoever in spreading the Faith among the pagan peoples. Do such Christians really love God and appreciate what he has done for them? Have they really got their eternal salvation at heart if they are so unwilling to put themselves out the least little bit for its sake?

Granted, we are not all called to be other St. Pauls, nor do we get the abundance of divine grace he got. We are, however, all called to be saints, if lesser saints maybe, and we all have got many graces from God. God does expect us, too, to show some return for his many gifts and to prove our love for him by our love for our neighbor. Love of God and love of neighbor are the two greatest of the commandments. They are in fact our tickets to heaven. If we haven’t got these tickets or if we are not purchasing them in daily installments by our charitable acts, we had better begin today. Millions of the saved in heaven today are thanking God for St. Paul’s love of God and neighbor. I shall be happy if even a few of my fellow men will have reason to thank God that I existed.

SECOND READING: Revelation: 21:1-5. I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a great voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them, he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

EXPLANATION: As we have seen already this book, Revelation is full of visions. It is an attempt to describe in symbolic language the past, the present, and especially the future. In today’s verses we have a vision of the end of time, in which St. John saw the new heaven and the new earth—the future abode of the just where all will be happiness and unending peace.

I saw a new heaven and a new earth: “Heaven and earth” was a Hebrew term for the universe (Gen. 1:1). John sees a new universe created by God for his elect, the old universe will pass away he does not explain how.

sea…no more: Among the ancients the sea was looked on as the home of evil forces, Tyamat in Babylon, Leviathan in the Bible (see Jb. 26:13; Is. 27:1), and therefore it will have no place according to St. John in the new universe.

New Jerusalem: The old Jerusalem under the old covenant was God’s abode on earth: he dwelt by his power in his Temple. But God’s new abode will be a celestial city made by himself.

coming down from heaven: The Jewish idea that God dwelt above the sky colors his imagery.

as a bride adorned: The Chosen People of the old covenant were frequently called the bride of God. The Church has taken their place, so she is now the bride of God (see Jn. 3:29; Rev. 21:9, 22:17; Is. 62:4). The Church, those who are saved—is decorated in glory for her Bridegroom, God.

he shall dwell with them: Showing his condescension and love, he will share his abode with his elect.

every tear from their eyes: No further cause for weeping, sorrow will be no more.

no more death…nor pain: The new glorified life which the elect have after this earthly death will be eternal and free from any defect, “for the former things (the mortal things of this earthly life) will have passed away.”

all things new: God himself speaks and guarantees the truth of the vision John has seen and the words he has heard.

APPLICATION: We have only a very limited revelation from God as regards the nature of heaven, the place or state in which we hope to be for eternity after death, if we live as loyal Christians. There must be reasons for this paucity of information, or God would reveal more to us. One of the first reasons that we can see is that God wants us to have faith and to trust in his divine promise. The man who works honestly for a prearranged salary, legally guaranteed, has no reason to have faith in the justice of his employer or trust his word. But he who works diligently for a generous friend, without any contract, is showing faith and trust in that friend.

Another reason why we have not been given more minute information concerning our future life is that the present state of our intellect, dependent as it is on earthly images, is incapable of grasping or understanding the true and exact nature of the future life. If somebody had told Aristotle, one of the great minds of ancient Greece, that a man could travel on a machine to the moon and return again, I feel sure the great philosopher would shake his head in pity for his half-witted informant!

We have St. Paul’s word for it, and he had a vision of heaven that we could form no human concept of its nature.

However, St. John today tells us enough to make us anxious to go there. We shall be in the presence of God. All earthly things will have passed away. Our abode, which is God’s abode, will be a new creation. We shall live eternally there, free from all care, all pain, all anxiety—free from everything which makes our earthly life difficult.

I have God’s word for it that there is such a future place in store for me. I have the added proof that the Son of God came on earth, suffered, died and rose from the dead, in order that I could get there. What I shall be like in heaven is the least of my worries. The only worry I should really have now is: am I on the right road there? Will I make it? If I am on the right road then the other questions will be solved for me when God calls me.

GOSPEL: John 13:31-35. When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and in him God is glorified; if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

EXPLANATION: These verses are part of Our Lord’s last discourse to his Apostles at the Last Supper. He had indicated to John that Judas was the Apostle who was about to betray him. Judas knew that his foul plan was known to Jesus, but this did not deter him. When Jesus said to him: “Be quick about what you are to do,” he left the supper room to seek the chief priests and Pharisees to arrange for the betrayal of his Master.

Now is the Son of Man glorified: When Judas has left, Jesus speaks to the other eleven Apostles. He sees his “glorification,” which actually occurred when he was raised by the Father from the dead, as already present. It has actually begun with the betrayal by Judas. The Passion and death by crucifixion, which were so soon to come, were the final step in his human life of perfect obedience to his Father. He uses the title Son of Man to stress the reality of his human nature, for it was in his human nature that he gave perfect obedience to God; and it was in his human nature that he was glorified in the Resurrection.

God is glorified in him: God is glorified by Christ’s perfect subjection in all things to him, and also by the raising of all mankind to sonship with God through Christ, who represents all human beings.

God will…glorify him…while: Christ’s Resurrection is near at hand.

yet a little while I am with you: He knew the exact moment of his crucifixion, and all the terrible details of his sufferings. From this knowledge came the Agony in the Garden. But he willingly and gladly faced it for the good of mankind.

a new commandment: Charity was also commanded in the Old Testament, but it was restricted to fellow Jews. The charity commanded by Christ has to extend to all mankind (see Lk. 10:29-37). It must be like the real love that Christ himself had. One must therefore be ready to go as far as laying down one’s life for one’s fellow man (Jn. 15:12-14).

all…will know…disciples: Love for one another first, and then for all men, was to be the proof of the true Christian. “See how these Christians love one another” was a remark passed concerning the early Christians. And their love for their non-Christian brothers was proved by the hardships, and even death, endured by the Apostles and their followers, in order to bring the gospel of Christ, the knowledge of their eternal destiny, to Jew and Gentile.

APPLICATION: We are disciples, followers of Christ, but how many of us would pass the test that Christ himself lays down for deciding who are his true followers? The word “charity” unfortunately has come to have a very restricted meaning in our present-day vocabulary. It signifies giving an alms, a gift of money to a needy person. This is but a very small part of the true charity, true love of neighbor which Christ made the distinguishing mark of the true Christian. He who truly loves his neighbor must be interested, first and foremost, in those things which concern that neighbor’s most important purpose in life, his eternal salvation.

Here is where so many good Christians fail in true charity. Effective interest in missionary activity is a case in point. Practical help in parochial matters, taking part in the various societies which are intended to build up and strengthen the faith and the devotion of the members of the parish is another obligation of true charity. So many seem to think it is no concern of theirs, but it is. Advising and encouraging, with true Christian kindness, a neighbor who is beginning to grow lax in his attendance to his Christian duties, or who is forming habits or alliances which, if unchecked, will bring misery and suffering to his family, and scandal to the neighborhood, and even the possibility of his own eternal destruction, is also an exercise of real Christian charity.

There are thousands of broken homes today which would not be broken if there was true charity in those homes, not only in the heart of the offender but in the hearts of the offended. There are thousands in jails and in hospitals of rehabilitation today who would not be there if their families and neighbors fulfilled their obligation of Christian charity. There are many, far too many, lapsed Catholics in the world today, who would not have lapsed had true charity been practised by their relatives and neighbors. And, last but not least, there are millions of people who have remained outside the Church of Christ because the hallmark of charity which Christ said was its distinguishing mark was tarnished or invisible. Each one of us could, with great profit, spend a few moments today looking into ourselves and comparing our thoughts and our words and our actions with the thoughts, words and actions of love which Christ expects from his followers.

It is never too late to mend. Begin today to take a true Christian interest in the spiritual fate of your family and neighbors. Where words have already failed perhaps, try prayer and example. The grace of God will cooperate with your sincere, charitable effort.-c171

Here’s a powerful video by Carrie Underwood about handing all control over to Jesus.

Below is a really neat music video featuring Casting Crowns - make sure you listen to the very end with the surprise hook!

Here’s a lively and joyful song performed by Michael W. Smith, et al.

FIRST READING: Acts 13:14, 43-52. Paul and Barnabas passed on from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. And many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted what was spoken by Paul, and reviled him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’”

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord spread throughout all the region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

EXPLANATION: Saul of Tarsus, a Jew, and at the same time a Roman citizen by birth, had gone to Jerusalem to study the Jewish religion very soon after the Resurrection of our Lord. The new religion was just beginning to spread in that city. Saul became a fanatical defender of the old religion and persecuted the Christians without mercy. He was converted by a vision of our Lord, when on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians there. The rest of his life was spent in preaching Christ. He preached first to the Jews, his own kith and kin; but when they refused to listen, as the majority of them did, he turned to the pagans and became the great Apostle of the Gentiles.

In today’s lesson, we have a brief description of his work in Antioch in Pisidia, a town in Asia Minor. This preaching occurred during his first missionary journey on which he was accompanied by Barnabas.

On the Sabbath day: The Jews always gathered in their synagogue on Saturday, their day of rest. They were scattered throughout the Roman empire at this time and were influential enough to possess a synagogue in all towns of any size. Paul (he had changed his name from Saul in the early part of this first missionary journey) always went to the synagogue and preached Christ to the Jews—then when they cast him out, as nearly always happened, he found Gentiles willing to listen and he instructed them.

many Jews and devout converts…followed: Paul had told the congregation that Jesus, whom the leaders of the Jews in Jerusalem had crucified, was the promised Messiah. God had raised him from the dead and “In him every believer is acquitted.” Many Jews and devout proselytes (pagans converted to Judaism) showed interest and invited Paul and Barnabas to come again the next Sabbath day.

almost the whole city: The Gentiles had heard of Paul’s story and a great multitude of them came to the synagogue. The Jews got jealous. Why should the pagans have any part in the promises made to Abraham their father? So they shouted abuse while Paul was preaching.

we now turn to the Gentiles: Paul’s answer was: since you Jews prove yourselves unworthy of God’s promise, we bring it to the Gentiles—they will—-God had planned for them too—and they anxiously listened to God’s plan for their salvation.

throughout…region: The Gospel was gladly accepted and spread, not only in the city of Antioch but out through the surrounding country.

devout women of high standing: These were pagan women of social standing, wives and relatives of the city officials, who were proselytes, or at least sympathetic to the Jewish religion. The Jews used these to get Paul and Barnabas expelled from Antioch.

filled with joy: Paul and Barnabas had made many converts—the Church was in fact established in Antioch—so because of their success and also because of their persecution, they rejoiced greatly.

APPLICATION: How wonderful are the ways of God! The Incarnation, his plan in creation to unite the human with the divine, thus raising man, the masterpiece of his creation, to the supernatural state of adopted sons, did not take place for centuries and centuries. Yet, as St. Paul says, it took place, “in the fullness of time,” at the right moment in history.

When Christ came, the known world, after many wars and upheavals, was united under one government—the Roman Empire. It was 99% pagan but, apart from the daily widespread immorality which paganism encouraged, there was very little belief or trust in the many pagan gods among the people. They saw them for what they were, the work of men’s hands, or earthly creatures more helpless than their adorers.

Thus was the Christian message welcomed by all right-minded pagans, for it was the news of a true God who was creator and governor of the whole universe, who had made man in order to share in God’s eternal happiness. This true God so loved mankind that he sent his Son on earth in our human nature to teach us to know and love our Creator. This Son suffered and died as our representative, but was raised from the dead by God the Father, thus earning for us all the adopted sonship of God, and the guarantee that everyone who would follow his teaching would likewise be raised from the dead to an everlasting life.

This was surely startling, but pleasing, news. Coming as it did from men whose personal integrity and whose positive proofs were such as to convince any unprejudiced mind, it is little wonder that, in the lifetime of the Apostles, all the important cities and towns of the Mediterranean side of the Roman Empire had their flourishing Christian communities.

But today, twenty centuries later, there are still some people who have not heard of the true God, and unfortunately there are millions more who have heard of him but deny him. God can and does provide, in his own ways, for those who through no fault of their own have not yet heard of him. But does he not expect some cooperation from us, who have the blessing and the consolation of his knowledge, in bringing the light of faith to these people?

Likewise, as regards those who know of God but ignore him, are we true Christians if by our daily lives we do little or nothing to make them stop and think of their folly if they persevere in their practical atheism? Pope Pius XI once said that today we must all be apostles or else we become apostates. If our faith is a living faith, its light and heat will go out to enlighten and move others. If it is lukewarm or cold, it will not save others. Think for a few moments on St. Paul today and compare your own appreciation of and zeal for the Faith with his.

SECOND READING: Revelation 7:9, 14-17. I, John, looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. And one of the elders said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation, they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night within his temple; and he who sits upon the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

EXPLANATION: St. John here describes another vision he had of heaven, in which he sees a countless number of saints who have earned heaven through martyrdom and are now serving at God’s throne adoring him and rejoicing. They will never suffer or grieve again; neither will they die anymore, for the Lamb will be their shepherd and he will lead them to springs of living water.

great multitude…peoples and tongues: Christ brought eternal salvation for all mankind, no one is excluded except him who excludes himself.

palm…in their hands: Palms signify victory. Martyrs are usually depicted as holding palms, for through their martyrdom they have triumphed over the enemies of God, but non-martyrs are victors also if they reach heaven.

come out…great tribulation: This may refer to the persecution of Christians under Nero (54-68), but can include all who must suffer with Christ if they are to reign with him.

in the blood of the Lamb: The blood of the Lamb signifies the death of Christ and its salvific value. Those who avail of it through their lives, will be dressed in the white robe of their baptismal innocence and thus enter heaven.

will…shelter: They will be in God’s dwelling place.

hunger…thirst…from their eyes: All the causes of human suffering in this life, and the basic cause of it, death, will now be removed forever. They have entered eternal life.

APPLICATION: As Christians we have every reason to think that we will one day, and soon, be among the countless number of saints whom St. John saw in his vision of heaven. I say “every reason,” because God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, has done everything that was necessary to bring us there. There is only one thing that can keep us from getting there. That is the one thing that is completely under our own control—our free will. There is no other thing, no other being on earth or outside the earth that can come between us and our eternal happiness, if we truly and sincerely desire to get it.

That is fine in theory, you may answer, but what of my human weaknesses, what of my ignorance, what of the bad example of those around me, what of the urgent bodily needs of myself or of my dependents, all of which prevent me from keeping God’s laws?

Put yourself at the judgement seat at this moment and see how these excuses, which seem plausible enough now, will look to you. We all have human weaknesses, but God knows that and expects us to overcome them. He does not demand the impossible. If we do something wrong because of ignorance for which we are not responsible, then God will not hold us responsible for that particular act. But if our ignorance is willed, if we refuse to learn when we should, then we are not excused.

Bad example can and does influence people. Those who give such example are responsible, not only for their own sins but for those of others whom they lead into sin. But it is when we freely follow the bad example that we are guilty. The pressing need to preserve one’s own or one’s dependant’s life allows one to take what belongs to another, provided this urgent need is not brought about by one’s own laziness or carelessness.

Yes, heaven is intended for all men. Some, but very few, we hope, will not get there, but they will have no one but themselves to blame. Better have our remorse now, repent in time and seek the straight and narrow road. The judgement hour is not the time for repentance.

GOSPEL: John 10:27-30. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

EXPLANATION: These four verses are taken from a long discourse that Jesus gave in the Temple area on the Feast of Dedication, the annual commemoration of the restoration of the Temple by the Maccabees in 165 B.C. The Jews were questioning his claim to be the Messiah. He quotes his miracles as his proofs—could God allow him to work miracles if he were an imposter? He calls himself the Shepherd of God’s flock in this section of his discourse. Shepherd was a title commonly used for the King or ruler of the people in ancient Mesopotamia and also in Israel (see Jer. 2:8; 3:15; Ez. 34:2-21) and God himself is called the Shepherd of Israel (Gen. 48:15; Ps. 28:9 etc.).

My sheep hear my voice: His followers know him as the true shepherd and listen to him.

I give them eternal life: He is more than a temporal king or ruler who can provide for the welfare of his subjects in this life only.

they shall never perish: Temporal death is not final. It is the beginning of real life.

no one shall snatch them out of my hand: Those who are his will remain his, for

My Father…is greater than all: It is God the Father (who is his Father in a very special way, as he says in verse 30) who made him the Shepherd and no enemy can overpower the Father.

The Father and I are one: This statement can mean that God the Father (of all) is his support and strength, but it also gives an open hint to the Jews of a profound unity between him and the Father, unity of nature. And the Jews did not miss this implication for, as the following verses show, they wanted to stone him for blasphemy: “You who are only a man are making yourself God” (34).

APPLICATION: Christ, the Son of God, is our Shepherd. He has laid down his life for us, his sheep, as he himself said (10:11). Today he tells us in these verses which have been read, that his sheep know his voice and that they follow him. We have a very simple criterion here for judging the truth and sincerity of our faith. Do we always know his voice, do we always follow him?

The enemies of Christ, and of our eternal welfare, are blaring forth their gospel of degradation and destruction from all sides. Their message to us is to forget the future, get all the pleasure and power and prosperity we can out of this short life. It matters not to them that by so doing we are bringing suffering, slavery and misery on our fellow-men. They wish us to think of ourselves only, to let the weaker or the milder take what they deserve.

What our modern self-appointed teachers of the new heaven-on-earth for the few forget is that all this was tried before and failed miserably. The great empires of the past, built on the same pagan philosophy as that of our new “saviors,” flourished for a while. The masters satiated with power and pleasure, the slaves living in despair and degradation are part of history—but one by one they collapsed from internal corruption.

But something more important still which our modern world-renovators forget, or do not like to remember, is that our time on this earth is but a passing phase in our life. Our true life, our unending existence, begins when we leave this world. This is no “old-wives’ tale,” this is no opium for the common people. This is rational deduction of the reasoning of the greatest minds in human history down through the centuries. It is the universal conviction of the common men of all ages and climates. Above all, and beyond fallible human reasoning, this is the revelation that God the Creator of the universe has deigned to give to men.

Today we are once more reminded of this one basic and solid fact of life. We are destined for an eternal life. Our Good Shepherd, Christ our Savior, promised to give us this eternal life, if we listen to his voice and follow him. Any sane man or woman who knows this true fact of life can turn a very deaf ear to the modem vendors of false, temporary happiness. “They have not the truth in them” (Jn. 8:44).-c166

Classical literature is filled with biblical allusions.

Moby Dick, by Herman Melville, begins with the famous words “Call me Ishmael.” The obvious reference to the biblical character Ishmael, whose younger brother Isaac was favored.

Another example of a biblical allusion in classical literature is found in Hamlet. On Thursday, April 8, at Mass, the Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 8. Consider the similarities found in Psalm 8 and in Hamlet’s speech in this article in Wikipedia.

Given the obvious similarities, scholars have argued that Shakespeare may have directly used Psalm 8 as a basis for writing this speech. And even if he had not done so directly, his wide knowledge of classical literature and the Bible would have certainly influenced him.

As we go about our reading, and our lives in general, let us be aware of how much our Bible does influence our culture and lives.