Wednesday of Fifth Week in Easter, May 9, 2007

Scripture: Acts 15:1-6. Psalm 22:1-5. John 15:1-8. Lectionary # 287:

In my religious congregation (the Marianists founded by Blessed William
Joseph Chaminade) we have communities which concentrate on inviting
potential young men to the religious vowed life. Our sisters do the same
(the Daughters of Mary). Our community life together is probably the most
attractive feature for these young men who come and live with us for a week
when they are more serious about discerning whether they have a religious
call to vowed life. Today's readings made me think more deeply about the
call to community life combined with a meaningful journey of faith and
apostolic outreach to people. Our Founder used the Acts of the Apostles
for his intuition and conviction of what our communities should be. They
were to be of one mind and one heart as we see Luke describing them in
Acts; they are to share in the breaking of the bread, the prayers, and the
disposition of having all things in common. I also found the Gospel
speaking to me about community life through the descriptive metaphor of the
vine and the branches. Christ is at the center of such a life in common
and we are the branches. We have based our life on the Benedictine rule
and it is centered on community; for them the vow of stability means being
attached to the same Benedictine monastery as one's community. For us the
vow of stability means a dedication to never refuse anything to the Society
of Mary and to be inspired in our mission by Mary the Mother of Jesus, his
best and most faithful disciple. Can a mother be otherewise? One of the
Psalms comes to mind and my Jewish friends love to sing it. It fits in well
with the community dimension of our lives, "How good and how pleasant it
is for brothers (and sisters) to live together..." Psalm 133: 1. This
psalm used to be said after we had renewed our vows and went out on mission
during the start of a new school year. As for the vine and the branches
that Jesus uses as the example for us to follow and be a part of, I
noticed that the commentary from the scholarly Jewish Soncino Psalms reads
in a similar manner: " Brethren are to dwell together as brethren should
do. A strong and united metropolis, at once the religious and political
centre of the country, will concentrate and envigorate the whole nation,
and spread blessing through the body of which is it the head."
(A.F.Kirkpatrick, Christian Hebraist in Soncino Psalms, p.439). Returning
to our first reading from the Acts, I imagine the apostles Barnabas and
Paul going up to Jerusalem (the reiligious and political center) in order
to consult the community about the issue whether circumcision is required
of the new community members in the emerging Christian communities. Is it
necessary for salvation to adhere to the fullness of the Jewish law or
Torah of Moses? What may be considered the first ecumenical council which
is held in Jerusalem is the result of Paul's and Barnabas' going up to the
holy city to meet with James and the other apostles. Jesus' metaphor about
the vine and the branches will be their answer and a new sign is given to
the Christians through their Baptism which then leads them to participate
in the Eucharist. In place of circumcision the sacrament of Baptism will
be their initiation into the vine which is Christ in his suffering, death,
and resurrection. Amen.