Giving Credit Where it's Due

From the Psalm: Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory. This sends home the message of today's other two readings, from Acts and from John. Nobody is accepting full credit for anything: God's message is offered in a three-prong attack.

In the first reading, Paul and Barnabas are spreading "the Good News" and come under attack by both Jews and Gentiles. But when Paul heals a lame man, the power of this act converts the crowd. They call Paul and Barnabas "Hermes" and "Zeus"—they believe these men are gods come to Earth.

Paul and Barnabas will have none of it. "We are of the same nature as you, human beings," they say. The crowds won't hear it—they remain determined to offer sacrifices to men they believe are living gods. It is easier to accept that "gods" walk the Earth then that men might be capable of such works.

Then in the gospel, Jesus reminds his followers that those who love him will keep his word. He offers a caveat, though:

The word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

Like Paul and Barnabas, he takes no credit: it all comes from the Father. Not only that, but he lets them know that the Holy Spirit will come to them to remind them of all he has taught them.

This is wonderfully reassuring to me. Jesus is beginning to introduce this concept of the Trinity that is so central to the Catholic faith.

I'm not sure I always understood why the idea of a trinity was so important. Thinking critically (cynically?), at times I could see where people might believe that the concept arose out of artful semantics intended to defend the faith against charges of polytheism.

But in this context, it makes a lot of sense that God revealed himself in these different forms. First he revealed himself as a human being in Jesus. Then when Jesus' time on Earth had passed, the Spirit could become a guide for those who were left to carry on the traditions and to spread the word. They would not be left without help, but would be inhabited by God's wisdom through the Spirit.

I really like this notion that God simply thought of everything in his desire to care for us! It reminds me that he is still with us in the same ways. We still have the power of Jesus' words and deeds in the scriptures, and we have the spirit to assist as well, along with men and women we meet every day whose good works and kindness reveal God's goodness again and again.