Weekly Catholic Bible Study
To make a tax deductible donation to the Confraternity of Penitents which supplies these reflections, click here..
Weeks 731-740
Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 732: Be a witness: A reflection on the Book of Acts and the Gospel of John (Acts 5 : 27-33 & John 3 : 31-36)
[Acts]
When the court officers had brought the Apostles in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders did we not, to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the Apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.
[John]
The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.
Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
“We are witnesses of these things…” This is what Peter says to the Sanhedrin today. Why should we, the scholars of the Law believe you, an uneducated fisherman?’ Because we are witnesses of these things. We witnessed what Jesus did while he was alive. We witnessed you putting him to death. And we witnessed that God has raised him from the dead. THAT’S why you should believe us. And that’s why WE should believe also.
When we ask the teenagers why should they believe, many of them say, because of the miracles that Jesus and the apostles did. Yeah, you can say that. The problem is that miracles can be faked and skeptics readily point that out. We see magicians today like David Copperfield, who can make us believe we’re seeing the impossible.
The REAL proof of authenticity is NOT the miracles that Jesus preformed. Rather, the real proof is that the apostles all chose death, (or in John’s case, exile) rather than deny what they witnessed. The apostles witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit from their own hands. Peter himself makes a lame man walk, which was the incident that ultimately led them before the Sanhedrin, because they don’t know what to make of this. And so Peter, who was so afraid to even be associated with Jesus on the eve of the crucifixion, now boldly says to the Sanhedrin, “Better for us to obey God rather than you.”
That’s the REAL proof. They witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus, they witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit in themselves and they died for what they witnessed. That’s what makes their story believable. Then why do so many NOT believe? Jesus said in the gospel to Nicodemus, “The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.”
People don’t believe because their heads are too stuck in earthly things. That’s why during lent we try to wean ourselves, detach ourselves from earthly things, so we can better hear the Spirit of God, and be more effective tools for the Spirit of God to use. Because now people have to believe through our witness, and we will NOT be effective witnesses if we are obsessed with the goods of this world.
My brothers and sisters, pray that God make us effective witnesses to the Christian life, in a world that sorely needs the example of Christians.
by Father Michael Sisco
Prayer: “Loving God, our Father, strengthen us to become witnesses to the saving grace of your Son, Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
Quote from a Saint: “Whoever is still seeking for miracles so that he may believe is himself a wonder, who does not believe while the world around him does.” --Saint Augustine
Questions for reflection:
-
Do you believe in God because of miracles or do you believe because of the witness of the apostles?
-
In what ways can using miracles as a basis for belief be dangerous?
-
In what way can we use miracles to support our faith but not base it on them?
-
Have you or someone you know ever experience something that would be considered miraculous? Did this have an effect on your faith?
-
“People don’t believe because their heads are too stuck in earthly things.” Do you agree with this statement? How have you seen this in those around you?
-
Do you live your life in a way that leads others to believe in God through your witness?
-
Do you struggle with being obsessed with the goods of this world? What are some ways that you can detach yourself?
-
Have you found Lent a good time to practice weaning yourself of earthly things?
--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP
Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 731: The Light: A reflection on the Book of Acts and the Gospel of John (Acts 5 : 23-26 & John 3 : 16-21)
[Acts]
The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.”
When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss about them,
as to what this would come to. Then someone came in and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people.”
Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
[John]
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
When you can’t find the light, BE the light. That is the basic theme of our readings today. We see this ongoing exchange between the apostles and the Chief priests these past several days, because Peter and John cured a lame man in front of the temple.
No matter what the Chief priests do to try to silence the apostles; threaten them, beat them, lock them up in jail; nothing stops them from going right back to the steps of the temple and preaching again. And this was just the beginning! The rest of their lives were going to be defined by rejection, abuse, and death. What kept them going? What kept them coming back for more? What kept them from giving up?
The empowering of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It WASN’T their experience of Christ that kept them faithful, because all the time they were WITH Christ they kept messing up! It was the effect of the Holy Spirit on them at Pentecost that changed them. While they were WITH Christ, before AND after his resurrection, HE was
their light. AFTER he ascended into heaven that light was gone. Then THEY had to allow the Holy Spirit to shine through THEM to continue HIS work. Then THEY had to be the light for everyone else to see.
Everyone is discouraged and disheartened because the world is so dark right now. YES! Agreed! It is VERY hard to find light in this world right now. But could it EVER be as bad as the apostles had it, when it was literally them against the entire world?
The same Holy Spirit THEY received at Pentecost YOU received at confirmation. But if you continue to focus on and be discouraged by the darkness that Spirit will never be effective in you. You will mute the Spirit that God has given you.
So stop focusing on the darkness and instead LOOK for the light. Look for the light here in Church; in the readings and the Grace of the sacraments. Look for the light in the good that other people do. Look for the light in your prayers, in music that inspires you to holiness, in faithful friends that rally you and encourage you.
Secondly BE the light. Be charitable whenever opportunity presents itself. Keep challenging yourself to grow in virtue and weed out sins and vice. This is how we survive, living in a dark world, without letting the darkness overcome us. And this is how we draw others to salvation, who will gravitate to the light in us.
by Father Michael Sisco
Prayer: “Lord, thank you for the Light of the World that has come into the world for our blessing and guidance. Help us to learn how to be the Light, the True Light, in this world. Let Your Light shine brightly through our lives. Show us how we are to live that our works may be the works of Your Light. Let us not grow weary in doing the good things. Rather joyfully carry them out through Your Spirit, buried deep within us. Thank You, always, for showing us the way we are to walk. Help us to always seek You out as we step. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Quote from a Saint: “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” ― St. Francis Of Assisi
Questions for reflection:
-
Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by the darkness of the world to the point where the Spirit is muted?
-
Where do you find the light in the world?
-
Where is the light the most powerful to you in the Church?
-
It is easy to see darkness in people. When are some times when you have seen the light in others?
-
Do you have a friend group or small group that rally you and encourage you?
-
Do you take into account how you can be the light to others?
-
What are some ways that you are the light to others?
-
Have you ever contemplated how it hard it was for the early Christians to live under the Roman persecutions?
--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP