Reading 1 Acts 14:5-18
There was an attempt in Iconiumby both the Gentiles and the Jews,
together with their leaders,
to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.
They realized it,
and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe
and to the surrounding countryside,
where they continued to proclaim the Good News.
At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth,
who had never walked.
He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him,
saw that he had the faith to be healed,
and called out in a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet."
He jumped up and began to walk about.
When the crowds saw what Paul had done,
they cried out in Lycaonian,
"The gods have come down to us in human form."
They called Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes,"
because he was the chief speaker.
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city,
brought oxen and garlands to the gates,
for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.
The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments
when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,
"Men, why are you doing this?
We are of the same nature as you, human beings.
We proclaim to you good news
that you should turn from these idols to the living God,
who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.
In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;
yet, in bestowing his goodness,
he did not leave himself without witness,
for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,
and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts."
Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds
from offering sacrifice to them.
Gospel Jn 14:21-26
Jesus said to his disciples:"Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,
"Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us
and not to the world?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.
"I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my name--
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you."
I like the reflection here: :http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/
The first reading has made an especial impression on me this morning in light of the reflection of on the USCCB website. As parents that proclaim that we are Christians, people have expectations of what we will be like. It is risky business. If we live up to those standards we may fall into the trap of being put on a pedestal, which is not right, God only belongs on the pedestal, not us. Also if we fall more people will be watching, using our failures to denounce God. Our own children will do the same. The truth is, being Christian, and a Christian Parent, is about recognizing our imperfections and our need for God. Paul and Barnabas, when raised to the level of God's with the Gentiles actually,
"rushed out into the crowd, shouting,
"Men, why are you doing this?
We are of the same nature as you, human beings.
We proclaim to you good news
that you should turn from these idols to the living God,
who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them."
My Parents, I think, did a great job with this. They held themselves and their children to high christian standards, but were not afraid to show us how much they needed God because they were not perfect and neither were we. When we came across obstacles in life we sat in prayer, together, asking Him for help. Paul and Barnabas were quick to action when placed higher than the God they were proclaiming, rushing into the crowd and tearing their clothes. Our children watch everything we do, it's almost like being famous...They want to make us their Hero, but also they are quick to recognize when we have fallen short...Let us be vigilant with our whole hearts, minds, souls, and bodies to follow God's commandments so that our children can follow suit, let us also kneel in prayer with our children that the Holy Spirit be with us each day and moment to remind us of Jesus word, let us always point to the Lord when we have success knowing that He is the author of all good things, and last of all let us embrace our children in our mutual humanity, understanding the pain of imperfection and the Glory of our perfect God who loves us anyway.
Jesus, help us in all these things. Amen
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