Monday in the 7th Week of Easter
Scratching Chickens and Soaring Eagles

Readings: Acts 19:1-8; Psalm 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab; John 16:29-33
Picture: CC Carl Chapman

We might perhaps be forgiven for thinking that the story in the first reading has nothing really to do with us. For, at least at first glance, it merely presents a contrast between two religious rituals: the baptism of John and that of the Lord Jesus. Although both are seen as important, the second is more significant. It completes the first. And most, if not all of us, present here will have already satisfied the requirements of the second ritual. Not only have we been baptized in the name of Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, but we have also been anointed with the oil of holy chrism at our Confirmation, and been admitted to the table of the Lord in the Eucharist. We have already gone through the ritual that the reading requires, and more. Is there anything else that the story has to tell us?

Probably. But first we need to look beyond the rituals to the respective experiences and ways of living to which they point. Consider for a moment, what it might be like for those who have only undergone the baptism of repentance. We can only guess, of course. But could it be something along the following lines? These people have taken a big step in deciding to turn away from sinful ways and to live God-fearing lives. This is what the ritual expresses. It is likely that these same people will be trying very hard to stay away from sin. But, as we may know from experience, this is not easy. And, because they may be too focused on their own performance, it is likely that they face the risk of falling into one or the other of the following temptations. Either they may fail to live up to their own expectations and give up in disillusionment and despair, as Judas did. Or they may become too pleased with their own achievements and succumb to the pride and hypocrisy of the Pharisee.

In contrast, the experience of those baptized in the Lord is different. Although they too are committed to living God-centered lives, their focus is less on themselves – on their own sin, on their own performance – than it is on the Lord. Their efforts are invested not so much in resisting temptation – as important as this is – than in bearing witness to the Lord’s Life, Death and Resurrection. We see this in the actions of Paul who entered the synagogue, in Ephesus, and for three months debated boldly with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God. Even in the face of opposition, Paul courageously continues his mission. He provides for us an example of what Jesus speaks about in the gospel: in the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.

I’m reminded of that well known story told by Tony de Mello about how someone places an eagle’s egg in a chicken coop. The eaglet hatches and grows up living like a chicken, scratching the ground with its claws and pecking at the dirt with its beak. Then, one day, when it has grown old and frail, it happens to see an eagle soaring majestically high up in the sky. And it thinks to itself, how wonderful it would have been had it been born an eagle.

More than just a contrast between two rituals, the first reading presents us with a difference between two ways of life. And at the root of this difference lies the very thing that we are praying for with renewed fervor especially in this week leading up to the great feast of Pentecost. We are asking for a fresh experience of the power of the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit whom we received at baptism and confirmation. We want to feel again the Spirit’s power. For in this experience lies the difference between the chicken that scratches the dirt and the eagle that soars in the sky.

How does the Lord wish to anoint us anew with his Spirit today?