“The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I told you.” – JN 14: 26

 

Our First Reading today reflects how Good can occur from bad.  Paul and Barnabas find that both Jews and Gentiles are jealous of their teaching of the Good News of Jesus.  They are threatened by the disciples, and their pride blinds them to the Truth.  In fact, they are willing to break God’s Commandments of Love by planning to stone Paul and Barnabas.

However, the Holy Spirit guides them to leave and go to where the Good News will be accepted. In fact, because of their relationship with Jesus through Faith, Hope, and Love, they can cure one who seeks healing.  Out of the threat of losing their lives, Paul and Barnabas actually save more lives, for those who accept the Good News of Jesus, and cured one who was lame since birth.

This Reading is for us to understand and believe that God will be with us to bring Good from Bad. As Catholics we are to believe that God can bring good out of suffering and evil, even though He permits these things to happen. Recall the Paschal Mystery.  Jesus suffered and died yet is raised from the dead.  Our belief, therefore, stems from the understanding that God is ultimately in control and has a Divine Plan that transcends our human understanding. While suffering may seem random or arbitrary, Catholics should believe that God can use even the worst of circumstances to bring about a greater Good, whether for the individual experiencing the suffering or for the world at large. 

Remember, God does not directly cause evil, but rather permits it to happen, ultimately drawing Good from it. This is often explained by the concept of Free Will, where we humans, as intelligent and free creatures, can choose to do Good or evil. God has a Plan for all things, and that even the most difficult circumstances can be part of that Plan. This belief is often rooted in the Hope that suffering can lead to Spiritual Growth, increased Faith, and a deeper understanding of God's Love. 

Thus, we need to believe that suffering can be an opportunity for personal growth and transformation. By uniting our suffering with the suffering of Jesus, we can find meaning and purpose in our pain.  The saying, “No pain, no gain” comes to mind.  

What we need to keep in mind is that God has the power to redeem even the darkest situations and turn them into something beautiful and beneficial. This belief is often expressed through the idea that God can take a broken thing and make it whole again.

It is important to realize this as Paul and Barnabas did.  The crowds of Lystra were ready to make sacrifices to them as gods for what was done for the lame man.  It would be easy to get caught up and allow our egos to think we bring good out of bad situations.  This is pride working its way into our life rather than humility.  That is why we must keep in mind that God is God, and we are not.  Thus, like Paul and Barnabas, we should always have it at the back of our minds that God alone deserves all the Glory and Praise as Jesus taught us.

Our Response Oral Psalm again reminds us from Psalm 115, “Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.”  If there is any doubt, then remember the words of Jesus at the end of today’s Gospel, “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."

Let us not be afraid of what can happen to us in this life by proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. God brings Good from bad.  If something bad should happen to us, God will bring us to the Good of Heaven.  Isn’t that our desire, Everlasting Life?

 

May God’s Grace and Blessings Always be with You and Yours!!

Shalom,

Deacon Bob

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church

Houston, TX