What a contrast between the two readings for mass today. They are as different from one another as night from day. The first reading from the book of Acts is about discord, fighting, division, arguments, and violence. Contrast this reading with the gospel today, when Jesus prays for his followers to be one, in love and in unity. Christ’s words are absolutely beautiful, filled with the Holy Spirit, and his heart is full of love for his Father, his disciples, and also all of us too, when he said:
“I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they may be in us …”
Which would you prefer to read about? A dispute so bad that the commander in the first reading had to send troops in to rescue Paul before they literally tore him to pieces? Or the beautiful, Spirit filled words that Jesus prayed in today’s gospel?
Most of us would prefer to focus on today’s gospel reading because of the beautiful words that Jesus prayed, which are filled with the Holy Spirit. They are such a joy to read:
” … I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you love me may be in them and I in them.”
Christ’s words are so beautiful, what could we possibly add to them? This is love at it’s finest. Jesus, His Father, all the Apostles, together with each and every one of us throughout the world, united in love. This is what heaven must be like and his words are a little bit like heaven on earth. This is what most people view Christianity to be like, and what we should act like, and feel like most of the time as well. Negative feelings have no place in the Christian life, because we should all be striving for the unity, peace, love and harmony that Christ speaks of in today’s gospel.
However, Christ also spoke to Saint Paul in the first reading for mass today too. It was the next night after all the chaos broke loose in front of the Sanhedrin and Paul was nearly torn to pieces. Paul spoke up for Jesus, when he spoke up for the resurrection of the dead. This was because Christ rose from the dead. In a way, his words provoked the whole uproar, because he knew full well that there were some Sadducees in the group that didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead who would take offense at this, and then the Pharisees would defend their belief in the resurrection of the dead. Saint Paul intentionally provoked the Sadducees, and then the Pharisees intentionally provoked the Sadducees too.
What is the point of all of this, you might be asking? Jesus prayed for the unity of his followers in the gospel, but he also stood by Paul and supported him, saying, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”
Unity, peace and harmony is what we are supposed to strive for as Christians, but it’s fullness may only be possible one day, when we go to live in heaven with the Lord.
To seek peace and unity at the expense of not speaking up for the truth, the gospel values we are called to live by, will result in a superficial peace at best. Jesus showed Saint Paul in today’s gospel, and us as well, that he is with us in times of peace, and in times of conflict too. He supported Saint Paul even after he spoke up and provoked the big uproar in the Sanhedrin court.
Don’t feel too guilty if sometimes you lose your temper, or there are conflicts in your family life or your friendships, because conflicts are part of being a Christian too. In fact, that is a clear indicator that you are actually living a Christian life, because all of Christ’s Apostles, and Jesus Christ himself lived lives that were full of conflicts. However, peace, love, and unity, was something they constantly strove for as well, especially with their fellow believers.
Daily Mass Readings:
Acts: 22: 30; 23: 6-11 / Psalm 16 / John 17: 20-26
