Daily Catholic Lectio
Sat, 4 May 2024
Fifth Week of Easter – Saturday
Acts 16:1-10. John 15:18-21
Come to Macedonia
From the Acts of the Apostles, we are able to discern how the early Christian community was animated by the Holy Spirit. We have somehow lost this animation by the Holy Spirit. Our Holy Father’s attempt to bring forth synodality is one way of restoring us to this starting point.
Two important events are presented in today’s first reading:
One, Timothy joins Paul in his missionary journeys and ministry. Later, he will be anointed as the Bishop of Ephesus. Timothy’s mother was a Jew, and his father was Greek. Paul circumcises Timothy. We may ask a question here: Why did Paul, who vehemently opposed the order that the Gentiles must be circumcised, circumcise Timothy, who was a Gentile? This was primarily for a mission. Paul was not only directed by his intellect (mind) but also guided by the spirit (heart). In order to avoid conflicts, Paul chooses to do so. Paul chose peace of mind over conflict. He was able to compromise with himself for his mission. This is pastoral intelligence.
Two, Paul sees a vision. In the vision, a Macedonian man appears to him and says, ‘Come to Macedonia and help us.’ As soon as Paul had this vision, he discerned that it was the will of God that they preach the gospel in Macedonia. A few verses earlier, Luke records that the Holy Spirit stopped them from going to Asia (Asia Minor, not the continent).
The apostles and the community were constantly in touch with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit was in touch with them. In everything, they saw the hand of God. And everything they saw with the eyes of God.
There are two lessons to be learned from here:
(a) In the Acts of the Apostles, God reveals himself to the believers through different means: dream, vision, intuition, metaphor, words, and signs. Whatever the medium, the people were able to identify God’s voice.
This is what is known as universe consciousness or intuition. When we are at peace and without any anxiety, we are able to get connected to the universe. Often times, external noises, internal fears, anger, guilt, and low self-esteem take us away from our intuition. Or they silence the voice of the inner being.
God continues to reveal Godself to us. In the Old Testament, Hagar, who runs away from her mistress Sarah, is met by the angel of the Lord. She was able to see God’s presence there through her intuition. That’s why she announces, “I have seen the one who sees me” (cf. Gen 16:13).
Moreover, Isaiah refers to such an intuitive element when he prophesies, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left” (Isa 30:21).
(b) There are two types of evangelization, or proclamation. One is the Markan or Matthean Model, where Jesus says to his apostles, “Go unto the whole world and proclaim the gospel” (cf. Mk 16:15). Here, Jesus does not define the locus of the mission. The disciples have to identify it themselves. Two, the Macedonian Model, where the locus invites the disciples for mission. In the first reading, Paul sees a vision where a man appears to say, “Come to Macedonia and help us.” The disciples were told where to go and where not to go.
Paul was able to identify and discern God’s voice. He was able to realign his mission accordingly.
In the gospel reading, Jesus sets his disciples apart from the world, saying, “You do not belong to the world; I have chosen you out of the world.” Besides, he says to them, “The servant is not greater than his master.” He warns that what befalls Jesus will befall them.
Whatever our life situation, when we realise that we are set apart and chosen by God, we will be able to listen to his voice.
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We need to set the boundaries. God is our master, and we are his servants. When the boundaries are clear, anxieties lessen. When anxieties are down, we will be able to listen to the inner voice and be guided by it. (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 89)
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
# Be M.er.cy.Fool
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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