Scripture Study for
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts 1:15–17, 20a, 20c–26 / Psalm 103:19a / 1 John 4:11–16 / John 17:11b-19
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Understanding the Word
By Br. John R. Barker, OFM
Before the church can begin its work after the Ascension, it must replace Judas. Since Jesus had declared that the apostles would rule over the tribes of Israel (Luke 22:28–30), there must be twelve of them. Peter begins by noting that Judas’ betrayal was already anticipated in scripture, perhaps referring to Psalm 41:10 (see John 13:18), meaning that his act had been folded into the divine plan. Scripture also points out the next step, which is found in Peter’s citation of Psalm 109:8. The choice of Matthias is likewise guided by God. The throwing of lots was a divinely sanctioned way of discerning God’s will in ancient Israel (Leviticus 16:8; Joshua 18:6–8).
The second reading picks up the idea being developed in the reading from the Sixth Sunday. There John emphasized the divine love made manifest in the sending of the Son (4:7–10). As adopted children of God, Christians must take on the image of their heavenly Father, showing the same love for one another that God has shown for all humanity. Just as those who saw Jesus saw the Father (John 14:9), now those who see Christians should be able to see the Father, who “remains” in them. In effect, through the power of the Spirit, Christians come to enjoy much the same relationship with God the Father as Jesus does. This incredible status is the work and sign of God’s love.
The Gospel reading comes from Jesus’ extended farewell prayer for his disciples. A key feature of this prayer is the distinction between those who are “consecrated in truth” and those who “belong to the world,” or that sphere of human society that is hostile to God. The prayer acknowledges that Jesus’ disciples must continue to live among those whose values and actions are opposed to the divine will, and even overtly antagonistic to it. They cannot be taken away from the world; in fact, they are sent to it to continue Jesus’ mission. Jesus’ prayer is that they will remain safely “in the truth,” which means in effect to “remain” in Jesus. This, and only this, will protect them from the evil one, whose realm “the world” is.