Thursday of the Sixth Week in Easter, May 17,2007

Scripture: Acts 18:1-8. Psalm 98:1-4. John 16:16-20. Lectionary # 294

Paul never misses an opportunity to bring the Good News about Jesus the
Messiah risen from the dead to as many people as possible. His apostolic
journeys are graphically described by Luke in the Acts. Some think that
Luke may have even accompanied Paul on some of these missionary apostolic
journeys. Today we learn of his knowing the tentmaking trade and this
gives him an opportunity of finding those in the similar trade, Priscilla
and Aquila. These are Latin names but Jewish persons who became followers
of the Risen Lord because of Paul. They believe that Jesus is the Risen
Messiah; together with Paul they work, pray, and labor for the Lord through
their good example and through knowing well the Gospel message given them
by Paul. Friendship is evident in the life of Paul who develops this with
both men and women as we learn from the Epistles as well as from the Acts.
Even though he is so strong-willed and absolutely convinced about his call
to bring the Good News to others, he still has a great compassion and love
for his friends; many are named in Romans and in the Acts of the Apostles.
In reading Philippians one sees how unselfishly he can give people his
love. And when he leaves Ephesus the people surround him with tears,
embraces, and profuse weeping. This is indicative that he knew how to be
loved and how to love. Let us not deny him that human quality so evident
also in his Jewish people today. We need to read between the lines to find
and discover this side of Paul. Such friends will help him to his dying
day in Rome outside the walls. After all, it is he who is known as the
Apostle to the Gentiles. One would have to have more than a strong voice
and correct Christian preaching to attract others. Jesus, in the Gospel,
assures us through his own apostles that his love and friendship will
endure even beyond his death and burial. He leaves them and us for a short
time but returns through his resurrection where the friendship with him
then takes on a new dimension and depth in our lives. We have learned
about his intimate love at the beginning of chapter 13 in John and we have
the most striking sign of that as he bequeaths to us who are symbolized by
the Beloved Disciple the gift of his Mother Mary. The Beloved Disciple and
Mary represent both Judaism and Christianity in the prayer of Jesus already
given at the Last Supper. Jesus prays for this form of love called AGAPE:
"...may they be one, even as we are one: I in them and thou in me;; that
they may be perfected in unity, and that the world may know that thous hast
sent me, and that thous hast loved them even as thou hast loved me." John
17:23. Amen.