Daily Retreat 05/28/09
2009 May 28 Thu:Easter Weekday
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11/ Ps 15(16):1-2a and 5. 7-8. 9-10. 11/ Jn 17:20-26
From today’s readings: “I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.... Keep me, O God, for in You I take refuge.... I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word....”
Skipping Ahead
All of a sudden, there’s a certain rush detected in the lectionary, as the Church hastens to finish the Acts of the Apostles by Pentecost. For this reason, chapter 21 and most of chapter 22 are skipped, recounting Paul’s journey to Jerusalem, his visit with James, his arrest in the Temple, and his defense before the Jews (telling of his conversion) and his appeal to his Roman citizenship, which narrowly spared him from torture ordered by the exacerbated tribune. Also omitted is a hot-headed remark from Paul in 23:3! All this is, of course, recommended reading (along with subsequent omissions) to follow the mounting drama of the closing chapters of the Acts of the Apostles.
After his arrest, Paul’s tactic then is to turn his accusers against each other, appealing to his Pharisaical background and thereby securing the defense of the Pharisees in the Sanhedrin (but further infuriating the Sadducee party). Since the ensuing dispute was soon out of control, the Roman tribune had to order Paul removed once again into safe custody, where the Lord Himself encourages him to continue to bear Christian witness, even to Rome!
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11/ Ps 15(16):1-2a and 5. 7-8. 9-10. 11/ Jn 17:20-26
From today’s readings: “I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.... Keep me, O God, for in You I take refuge.... I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word....”
Skipping Ahead
All of a sudden, there’s a certain rush detected in the lectionary, as the Church hastens to finish the Acts of the Apostles by Pentecost. For this reason, chapter 21 and most of chapter 22 are skipped, recounting Paul’s journey to Jerusalem, his visit with James, his arrest in the Temple, and his defense before the Jews (telling of his conversion) and his appeal to his Roman citizenship, which narrowly spared him from torture ordered by the exacerbated tribune. Also omitted is a hot-headed remark from Paul in 23:3! All this is, of course, recommended reading (along with subsequent omissions) to follow the mounting drama of the closing chapters of the Acts of the Apostles.
After his arrest, Paul’s tactic then is to turn his accusers against each other, appealing to his Pharisaical background and thereby securing the defense of the Pharisees in the Sanhedrin (but further infuriating the Sadducee party). Since the ensuing dispute was soon out of control, the Roman tribune had to order Paul removed once again into safe custody, where the Lord Himself encourages him to continue to bear Christian witness, even to Rome!
posted by FrPitstick | 5/16/2009
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