+ We have terrific readings at Mass today: a key-set
phrase comes from the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles: Philip asks
the Ethiopian eunuch if he understands the Scriptures that he is reading (from
the Prophet Isaiah), and then the classic and imitable reply: “How can I unless
someone instructs me?” Then, prompted and filled with the Holy Spirit, Philip,
beginning with that Passage from Isaiah (“Like a sheep he was led to the
slaughter…”), he proclaimed JESUS to him, and the need for water baptism first –
to be baptized and to become irrevocably linked and connected to him into
eternity.
The eunuch then notice some
water by the side of the road, and asked Philip if that could be used to
baptized him, and Philip said: “Sure!” so he and the eunuch went down into the
water and a new Christian emerged, and then Philip just abruptly went on his
way, mission accomplished, as he, and the other apostles, were moved at the
will of the Holy Spirit to meet up with people and announce Jesus and then see
if there was receptivity in the person encountered.
We are called today to very
much be led by the Spirit into the will of the Father, gathering still the lost
sheep of the world, before time runs out – and either seeing to their water
baptism, or leading them to an equally important Spirit baptism – as Jesus also
commanded – the same baptism the apostles and 120 men received on Pentecost Day
– to renew the face of the earth.
The gospel passage is about
Jesus saying that the Father selects those who would be led to him, like the
Ethiopian eunuch, but that they must approach through Jesus – through his Word,
preached and explained by his Apostles and their helpers, the priests and all
in Christian Formation, these days – because “all must be taught authoritatively
by God, and his duly appointed, not self-appointed, representatives and
spokespersons.
And he concludes the passage
by saying that the most excellent teaching is that Jesus becomes enfleshed in
bread and wine transsubstantiated by a priest in the apostolic line of
succession, so that we can eat and drink, and become him, who has left heaven
to become us, so to transform us, in this wondrous exchange.
And, of course, this
Eucharistic Banquet, so linked to the brutal Crucifixion of the God of Life,
Love and Peace, is in reality the preeminent sign of the forthcoming beginning
of the Marriage Feast and Subsequent Family Life of Christ the Bridegroom and
his Bride, the Church, when the veil will be lifted and we will see each other
face to face!
Yes,
no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise
him on the last day!
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