Saturday, 5/27/17 Priscilla and Aquila

“The Greatest Show on earth” was a blockbuster Technicolor movie produced by Cecil B DeMille in 1952.  Two of the animal stars of the movie were two gorillas by the name of Priscilla and Aquila. I thought the names were rhythmical but I drew no significance. To a seven-year old boy they were just names and did not notice the irony of the names till much later in life and only stands out if you are a movie buff. In reality they were hero’s of the Bible . They are mentioned a couple of times in the Book of Acts( Acts 18) from our readings on Thursday and Friday. Who were they and who was Apollos? It is interesting that Priscilla and Aquila were a married  couple and missionaries for the early Christian church. Apollos likewise was a missionary much like Saint Paul. It seems that Apollos had never been Baptized  in the name of Jesus Christ and only the baptism of repentance by Saint John  and had not received the Holy Spirit. Priscilla and Aquila instructed and guided Apollos and there is the major significance of their act of correction and loving instruction that is  a model for us in our lives in the 21st Century in 1917. They were married which I think is of huge significance.  Don’t get me wrong I was a single person for 55 years before I married my lovely bride, Anna, for the last 17 years. What is important is they were a team and mentors for change for the Church to grow. According to the Book of Acts, Apollos went on to do even greater works in Acts 18: 27-28 ”  And when he wanted to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. After his arrival he gave great assistance to those who had come to believe through grace.He vigorously refuted the Jews in public, establishing from the scriptures that the Messiah is Jesus.”  

Let me talk about some of the mentors in my life over the years. My seventh grade nun was Sister Mary Fatima from the School Sisters of Notre Dame. She was the daughter of an Irish-American Milwaukee cop. She was an amazing women. I will speak of her in some later reflections. But there is also another person who was by name Father Moran who was my senior religion teacher in high school. We were so disrespectful we called him by the nickname “Bugs”. Not to his face of course . He was a great guy.  Let me describe one of his six-week courses in which he used of all things the King James version of the bible as proof of a great number Catholic Doctrines. For example one of the doctrines that the good Father  supported by scripture was the doctrine of Transubstantiation which describes the real presence of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. ( John 6; Luke 22 and Luke 24) He said at the time it was part of a seminary course. I wish I had saved my notes from high school. Nonetheless, it led me to a life long love of the study of scriptures . Some people do not study because they are intimidated by The Word. I was never scared although there is much more I need to learn and am still learning everyday. We need mentors in our lives to help us grow much like Apollo had with Priscilla and Aquila. Notice I did not include family members who were mentors but I had a great number of them as well. The Book of Act has always been a pattern for us to act in the modern Church today or any day in the future.

Jesus brings it home in the Gospel for today. John 16:23-26 ” On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete, I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father.On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you”

We have someone our side and His name is Jesus. Personally the work that mentors did in my life is not completely over. I even am mentored by my grandchildren. We all serve as mentors for the world around us. It is ironic that “The Greatest Show on Earth” which is the Barnum and Bailey Circus is closing it doors forever this year. The performers will go to other circuses and the animals will go to animal preserves. This is an era gone for good or bad but the era of mentoring is alive and well in all of us who guide others to be better Christians and Catholics. Mentors speak clearly and with a firmness of faith. Look at the world around you and see with the eyes of the Holy Spirit when  you look to mentor someone.  It could be any person like Apollo or one of your relatives. One of the ten commandments is number eight which says not to swear  false witness towards a neighbor (Exodus 20). The opposite side of the coin is a truthful and a positive witness to all with life lessons that we all have and the Holy Spirit working in us.

God Bless

Bob Burford

Readings. Acts 18:23-28; Psalm 47:2-3; 8-9; 10; John 16: 23B-28

Pray for the one among us who needs our prayers the most today and for the person who has no one to pray for them.

 

About the Author

My name is Bob Burford and am married to my lovely bride, Anna. I am a cradle Catholic and worship at Church of Saint Mary's in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am active in the Knights of Columbus and praying where the Lord wants both of us to serve in our new faith home. College degrees in Economics and Accounting. My wife and I have eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren with a sixth to arrive this Fall. Love Pope Frances and proclaiming the Word of the Lord in my life! Please pray for all the Ukrainian people. Pray for their salvation and physical and emotional health.

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8 Comments

  1. Thank you Bob for this inspiring Reflection. It brings to mind a proverb of my people in Ghana which says “knowledge is like an odum tree: no one can encircle it with his arms “. Meaning that we learn by the help of other people. That is why Jesus admonished us to ask His Father for our needs through His Jesus’s Name. So, as we sojourn through this complex life, we need the guidance, the advice of others (Pricilas and Aquilas). These mentors, young and old , are used by the Holy Spirit to direct our lives. I pray that we open up ourselves to listen to the HOLY GUIDANCE of people the GOOD LORD has put into our lives.

  2. Thanks Bob, truly, mentoring brings us out of ignorance to better understanding of essence of life, just as you are doing by various reflections of yours in Catholic Moment.

  3. May good God bless our mentors. No one can claim to know it all, hence some one has to guild, direct and turtor us.

  4. You brought so many messages together, all in one beautiful reflection. Thank you Bob. Your reflections are always so comforting to read. It’s nice to know there are good Christians in the world today, and that we must seek them out. We must also return the favor for others. God bless.

  5. Joseph Kpodo
    Thank you for your proverb. I must learn more of the odum tree.

  6. Fantastic reflection Bob. I think a good mentor both learns in his own mentoring, kind of like becoming coordinated with it when doing it. Plus learns also from and by who ever they are mentoring. And everyone knows Jesus right. Master priest, profit and king, Master mentor, Master Shepherd, Master Carpenter, Master Teacher. Who could ask for a better older brother right? Glory and Praise be to the Most Holy Trinity!!!

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