A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 8, n. 21)
3rd Sunday of Easter, Year C – April 18, 2010 *
“Glory to the Lamb”
BIBLE READINGS
Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41 // Rv 5:11-14 // Jn 21:1-19
(N.B. Series 8 of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year C from the perspective of the Second Reading. For reflections on the Sunday liturgy of Year C based on the Gospel reading, please scroll up to the “ARCHIVES” above and open Series 2. For reflections based on the Old Testament reading, open Series 5.)
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
The Easter liturgy provides vibrant images of the apparitions of the Risen Lord. Today’s Gospel reading (Jn 21:1-19) depicts Jesus at the seashore, regaling his disciples with a lovingly prepared breakfast of bread and fish. This beautiful scene evokes the various episodes in Jesus’ public ministry when he multiplied bread and fish to feed the hungry. Indeed, the Risen Lord is font of salvation and source of nourishment for the Easter community. The Eucharistic Master offers the hungry disciples at the sea of Tiberias and of all ages bread – the bread of life – his very self. He likewise gives to them fish - a symbol of his redeeming self. “Fish” in Greek is ichthus, the acronym for Christos theo huios soter, which means “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior”. Jesus’ ministry of sustenance lives on in the Church. After the “Eucharistic” meal at the seashore, Jesus set apart Peter. He evoked from him a triple protestation of love, which he countered with a triple commission to feed and care for his sheep. By the same waters where he called Peter to be a “fisher of men”, the Risen Lord invested him with pastoral responsibility and authority.
Today’s First Reading (Acts 5:27-32) depicts Peter and the apostles as faithful witnesses of the Lord’s resurrection. They were truly “fishers of men”. Through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in them, they courageously preached the Easter message, evoking the people’s faith response. Many were brought to the Church and the community of faith increased. The apostles nourished and cared for them. They were good shepherds. They healed their infirmities. Like Christ, the apostles suffered and were persecuted.
The Easter liturgy, moreover, as could be verified in today’s Second Reading (Rv 5:11-14) assures us that evil and suffering do not have the ultimate word. In the apocalyptic vision of Saint John, the faith community is destined for eternal glory. The faithful would triumph in the power of the Lamb who was slain, but now lives forever. Jesus Christ is the victorious Lamb - the object of cosmic praise. Enthroned beside the almighty Father, he is adored eternally. Every creature is united in the universal acclamation that extols Christ’s dominion, honor and glory.
The liturgical scholar Adrian Nocent remarks: “The Second Reading proclaims John’s fervent vision of the risen Christ’s glorification as the Lamb triumphant that the whole world blesses and praises in a majestic doxology. This Christ, slain but now victorious, is the one who appeared to the apostles and gave them the commission to preach his paschal mystery. He is the one who appeared to Peter and made him shepherd of all who will enter the community.”
The Risen Lord abides in the Easter community through time and space. Even today he calls generous hearts to “feed and tend” his sheep. The glorious Paschal lamb continues to encourage us with his infinite victory. The following article on the Oakland outfielder Grant Desme, who opts to respond to his priestly vocation, illustrates that Jesus is indeed worthy of our love and dedication, of our service and praise (cf. Mark Emmons, “From A’s Prospect to Priesthood” in SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, April 9, 2010, p. 1, 15).
For as long as Grant Desme can remember, his life revolved around baseball. As one of Oakland A’s top young prospects, he seemed to have a future waiting for him as a major league outfielder. And yet this week he had to be reminded that the season was starting. “I didn’t even realize it was Opening Day”, Desme said. That’s because in January, the Bakersfield native accepted a different calling. Desme, 24, stunned the sports world by retiring from baseball to pursue the Catholic priesthood. In August, he will enter St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange County, taking the Norbertine monastic order’s vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, and leaving behind the life of fame and fortune that baseball might have provided.
How could he just walk away? Simply put: After 18 months of contemplation, Desme decided he would rather play for the angels than for the A’s. “I know it’s hard for some people to understand, and I don’t think there’s any perfect way to explain it because it’s such a personal choice”, he said. “All I can say is that when God speaks to you, it gets your attention.” (…)
Desme was raised in a devout Catholic home where the rosary was said every night and the Mass attended every Sunday. But he also found time for baseball. “We had weekend tournaments and some Sundays I would miss games or show up in the fourth inning because of Mass, which I wasn’t very fond of”, Desme said. “Baseball was always how I defined myself.” Desme blossomed into a star at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, playing so well that even his mother asked: “What’s going on? Because you’re not this good.” The A’s thought he was, making him a second-round draft pick in 2007 and giving him a $432,000 signing bonus. But when he was sidelined most of his first two seasons with wrist and shoulder injuries, Desme rediscovered his faith. He visited the Vatican and began seriously thinking about the priesthood. He decided to give baseball one more year. And what a year it was. The 6-foot-2-inch, 205-pound Desme developed into the complete package of speed, power-hitting ability and defensive skills. (…)
Then came the curveball. In January, Desme called A’s general manager Bille Beane to tell he was retiring. He was exchanging his baseball uniform for a white habit. “He was a bit shocked, to say the least”, Desme said. So was everyone else as the news became an Internet sensation … Desme says he was conflicted when he accepted St. Michael’s invitation. “I saw everything that I might do in baseball pass before my eyes”, he said. But he came to view his baseball success as a final test – this is what you will be giving up. It wasn’t the only test. “Once you start considering the priesthood, the most beautiful Catholic women start showing up”, Desme said. “That made my decision interesting.”
St. Michael’s is a community of 70 members who live like monks. The process of becoming an ordained priest in the order takes about 10 years. When he arrives, Desme will give up all the trappings of modern life. He won’t be allowed to use a cell phone or the Internet, watch television, listen to the radio, read a newspaper or go home during the first two years. He will join the other abbey members as they spend about three hours a day singing their prayers in Gregorian chant. “I’m just trying to learn how to read music now”, said Desme, conceding he doesn’t have much of a singing voice. And after a Christmas Eve ceremony, where he will be given his religious garments, he won’t be called Grant anymore. He will receive a new first name of a saint as well as the title of “frater” or brother.
“It’s a very countercultural life, but it is also a beautiful life”, said Father Ambrose Criste, the novice master at St. Michael’s. “Once the young men live that separation from the world, they don’t see it as a sacrifice at all. Really, you’re not giving up anything when you stop watching television.” Many discover the quiet, cloistered life is not for them. Only about half ultimately become priests. Criste said St. Michael’s has welcomed the media attention that has accompanied Desme’s decision because it’s a positive story of faith at a time when the Catholic Church has been battered by charges of sexual abuse by clergy. “He’s just a good example that our lives are much more important than simply this world”, Criste said. “He’s devoting his life to a much bigger reality than something as small as baseball – as important as that can be to fans.”
Desme said most people have been supportive of his decision. But he also knows many still wonder why he’s doing this. “Our culture idolizes athletes”, he said. “It’s very hard not to fall into that trap, and I think I did a little bit. I can only imagine what it’s like for the guys in the big leagues. But I chose a different path.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
Like Peter and the apostles, are we credible and zealous witnesses of the Risen Lord in today’s world? How do we respond when our faith is challenged or assailed by evil forces?
Do we give glory and praise to the triumphant Lamb Jesus Christ? Is our life a participation in the cosmic praise rendered to him, who is worthy of honor and glory? Is our life a “Eucharist” or a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to Christ and his heavenly Father?
Are we receptive to Christ’s Easter apparitions? Are we grateful for the Risen Lord’s gift of “bread and fish” and the life-giving reality it signifies? Are we willing to avow our love for Christ and assume its consequent responsibility of “feeding” and “tending” his sheep?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Lord Jesus,
we thank you for the “bread and fish”
you prepared at the break of day
by the seashore.
The meal you hosted at the Sea of Tiberias
is a sign of your providential love
and life-giving sacrifice.
You have vanquished sin and death.
In the Eucharist,
you continue to nourish and save us.
Give us the grace to respond to your love-command:
“Feed my lambs … Tend my sheep.”
Strengthen us with the Holy Spirit, the Easter gift.
Help us to be faithful Easter witnesses.
You are the victorious Lamb,
who once was dead,
but lives forever.
United with the angels
and with every creature,
we sing this cosmic praise:
“To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor,
glory and might,
forever and ever.”
Assembly: Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.” (Rv 5:13b)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
ACTION PLAN: Pray that the Risen Lord may be glorified in the lives of those who have responded to the priestly vocation. By your acts of charity and concern for the needy, contribute to the triumph of life and the reign of the triumphant Lamb Jesus Christ.
ACTION PLAN: That we may experience more fully the glorious Paschal Lamb Jesus Christ, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR: A Weekly Pastoral Tool (Year C, vol. 6, # 21).
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US