Adapting to Circumstances
May 13: Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
The lectionary has created an interesting set of readings today. In the first, Paul and Timothy go out to preach to the world; the Psalm calls for all nations to join together in singing.
And then in the Gospel, Jesus says the world is gonna hate us for it.
Reading 1
Acts 16:1-10
Paul reached also Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him, and Paul wanted him to come along with him. On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled from city to city, they handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem. Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number.
They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them, so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
Paul is nothing if not adaptable. Here he is, delivering a message that you don’t have to be circumcised to become Christian, and yet Paul has Timothy circumcised. Why? Because following the Jewish customs, especially when his father is Greek, will make the Jews in the area trust Timothy more. It’s a practical issue, not a moral one.
The same goes for his missionary route. He had plans for where he was going to preach; God had other plans. So which does Paul choose to follow?
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 5
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
This was a song to be sung in the Temple courts. When it says, “his people,” they’re referring to themselves as God’s Chosen People. Which was true, and still is. But Israel is just the starting point, from which God’s Good News will spread to all the lands.
Alleluia
Col 3:1
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If then you were raised with Christ,
seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus didn’t die for us to keep doing what we’re doing on Earth. He wants to raise us up with Him.
Gospel
Jn 15:18-21
Jesus said to his disciples: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me."
While the psalmist invites the whole world to sing together, it doesn’t mean the whole world will accept. We don’t know why the Holy Spirit turned Paul's team away from Bithynia and Asia,1 but it’s possible they would've been in grave danger there, and it wasn't time yet for his martyrdom.
God has a larger plan. The plan will involve suffering, and we often don’t understand why. It’s okay to feel sad about those things, even complain. Didn’t Jesus Himself ask God to take the cup from His lips?
But remember, keep in your heart, that you don’t suffer alone. Jesus suffers with you, and you’ll be brought to glory with him, too.
The name of a Roman province, not the whole continent as we understand it today.