Wednesday in Fourth Week of Easter, May 2,2007

Scripture: Acts 2:24-13:15. Psalm 67. John 12:44-50. Lectionary # 281:

The Church continues to grow throught he efforts of the new convert Saul
and his fellow companion Barnabas. John Mark, a relative of Barnabas joins
them in spreading the words of Jesus to the peoples. They form new
communities or home churches as they move along through Cyprus. This led
me to think of my own Marianist Congregation which consists of many local
communities in the cities throughout the United States. Some of the
communities are focused in their mission to invite and attract young men
(and sometimes not so young) to join us in the mission of bringing Jesus to
people. Specific communities are formed and are called 'invitational
communities". In these communities the vowed brothers and priest-brothers
bring in young people to pray, to participate in the Eucharist, to have
periods of living within the community, and especially to dine at table
with us. Faith sharing is an important part of the invitation in all of
these activities of the spiritual realm. In a way, this is somewhat
similar to what we have been reading about in the Acts of the Apostles
where witness, teaching, preaching, breaking bread, and serving one another
and the poor take place. We are in this way sharing in what Barnabas,
Paul, and John Mark were doing in their time. Communities for mission is
who and what we are and do. Then as I read the last part of chapter 12 in
John's Gospel I realized that it was the summary and conclusion of what is
called the Book of Signs (chapters 1-12). Here we are told by Jesus that
he is the light of the world. We are to put our entire hope, faith, and
trust in his Person and his words and example. I believe both readings
inspire us to keep on doing what we do from a faith perspective. Often we
do not seem to get anyone who really wants to be a part of our committed
vowed life, but this is the sacrament of our mission--to keep inviting and
never give up in offering our hospitality to those invited. We face great
odds because of individualism, secularism, and so many avocations and calls
that our youth encounter. But we know that down deep these young people
are searching for the same thing we are. We pray for them that they may be
willing to become part of this mission of Jesus in today's world. We are
confident that the Holy Spirit is as much at work as in the Acts of the
Apostles--that is, on every page of that idyllic sacred report of St. Luke.
Amen.