Friday of Fourth Week in Easter, May 4, 2007

Scripture: Acts 13:26-33. Psalm 2. John 14:1-6. Lectionary # 283:

Tertullian, an early Christian writer (+220A.D.) describes the preaching of
the Apostles in such a clear way that it made me think of the essay as
background reading for a book authored by Father Raymond E. Brown, S.S.
called "The Churches the Apostles left Behind." Tertullian's treatise was
called "On the Prescriptions of Heretics" (see CCl 1,201-204). I found it
quite helpful in reflecting upon the traditions found in the churches that
the apostles started. This fits with our first reading from Acts in which
Paul preaches and witnesses to Jesus in the synagogue at Antioch. His
thoughts are filled with the Scriptures (Old Testament) especially the
Psalms and Isaiah. These scriptures are used with boldness by Paul as he
shows Jesus fulfilling them as the Son of God and the son of David. Such
oral traditions in the preaching of the Apostles and of Paul, can only be
discovered through a form critical study of the Gospels themselves and
sometimes by what we find in the writings of early Christian theologians
like Tertullian, Justin martyr, and Irenaeus. Incidentally, in the
readings for the feast of Saints Philip and St. James, the essay of
Tertullian is presented in the Office of the Readings of May 3. The
selection is inspirational and helpful for seeing what a second century
Christian thought of the apostolic preaching and teaching. When we turn
to John and look at the beautiful passage for today, we find that Jesus is
responding to a statement made by the practical and impatient St. Thomas.
He says, "Show us the Father and that will be enough!" Jesus then gives
him the revelation that he is the way, the truth and the life and that he
and the Father are one. Jesus is the one sent to fulfill the Father's love
for us through his Son. I found this passage complementing the bold
proclamation of Paul and the Synoptics without taking anything away from
them. In John we are experiencing the profound historical and theological
reflection of an inspired writer who has developed and expanded the oral
traditions and written scriptures to the advantage of the Christian
community for which he was writing. Since this is a bit pedantic, let us
simply return to the Gospel Acclamation which serves as an excellent
scriptural reflection or meditation on what I am trying to say and pray
about: "Alleluiah! Alleluiah! I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, says
the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me." Alleluiah!
Alleluiah! Amen.