Tuesday of the Fourth
Week of Easter
Lectionary: 280
Those who had been
scattered by the persecution
that arose because of
Stephen
went as far as Phoenicia , Cyprus ,
and Antioch ,
preaching the word to no
one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots
and Cyrenians among them, however,
who came to Antioch and began to
speak to the Greeks as well,
proclaiming the Lord
Jesus.
The hand of the Lord was
with them
and a great number who
believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them
reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem ,
and they sent Barnabas to
go to Antioch .
When he arrived and saw
the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged
them all
to remain faithful to the
Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man,
filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of
people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him
he brought him to Antioch .
For a whole year they met
with the Church
and taught a large number
of people,
and it was in Antioch that the
disciples
were first called
Christians.
Responsorial Psalm PS 87:1B-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (117:1a) All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
His foundation upon the
holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion ,
more than any dwelling of
Jacob.
Glorious things are said
of you,
O city of God !
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those who know the
LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre , Ethiopia
“This man was born there.”
And of Zion they shall say:
“One and all were born in
her;
And he who has established
her
is the Most High LORD.”
R. All you nations, praise
the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They shall note, when the
peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in
their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel JN 10:22-30
The feast of the
Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem .
It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in
the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
So the Jews gathered
around him and said to him,
“How long are you going to
keep us in suspense?
If you are the Christ,
tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I
told you and you do not believe.
The works I do in my
Father’s name testify to me.
But you do not believe,
because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they
follow me.
I give them eternal life,
and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out
of my hand.
My Father, who has given
them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them
out of the Father’s hand.
The Father and I are one.”
Meditation: "My sheep hear my voice"
How
secure is your faith and trust in God? Scripture describes God’s word as a “lamp for our feet and a light for
our steps”(Psalm 119:105). The Jewish Feast
of the Dedication is also
called the Festival of Lights or Hanakkuh.
This feast was held in late December, near the time when Christians celebrate
the feast of Christmas. This is the time of year when the day is shortest and
the night longest. Jesus used this occasion to declare that he is the true light of the world (John 8:12). In his light we can see
who God truly is and we can find the true path to heaven.Jesus speaks of the tremendous trust he has in God his Father and the tremendous trust we ought to have in him because he is our good shepherd (John 10:11). Sheep without a shepherd are defenseless against prey, such as wolves, and often get lost and bewildered without a guide. That is why shepherds literally live with their sheep out in the open field and mountain sides. The shepherd guards his sheep from the dangers of storms, floods, and beasts of prey. The shepherd leads his sheep to the best places for feeding and the best streams for drinking. He finds the best place for their rest and safety at night. The sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd and heed his call when he leads them to safe pasture and rest.
We are very much like sheep who stray, we become easy prey to forces which can destroy us – sin, Satan, and a world in opposion to God and his people. The Lord Jesus came not only to free us from Satan's snares and the grip of sin, he came to personally lead us to the best of places where we can feed on his "word of life" and drink from the "living waters" of his Holy Spirit. The sheep who heed the voice of Jesus, the good shepherd, have no fear. He leads them to the best of places – everlasting peace, joy, and fellowship with God and his people.
In this present life we will encounter trials, difficulties, and persecution. We can face them alone or we can follow Jesus, the true shepherd, who will bring us safely through every difficulty to the place of peace and security with God. Do you listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd and heed his commands?
"Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd who secures what is best for us. I place all my hope and trust in you. Open my ears to hear your voice today and to follow your commands."
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 Nobody Can Steal From Jesus |
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Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
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John 10:
22-30 The feast of the Dedication was then taking place in Introductory Prayer: Jesus, I believe you are who you say you are. Thank you for granting me this gift of faith. You came so that we, the lost sheep, may be found. Thank you. You brought us knowledge of who we are and what we are worth. Petition: Lord, help me to hear your voice when you are calling in the night. 1. Kept in Suspense: Suspense is a state or a character of being undecided or doubtful. How many times have we been in suspense, waiting for Christ to do amazing things in our lives, doubting that he could save such lowly sinners like ourselves? Are we undecided in believing in Christ? He has already told us and shown us through his works who and what he is. We are to be his sheep and await him; sheep know their shepherd’s voice, and they follow their shepherd. Then we can await eternal life. Suspense also means “to have a pleasant excitement as to a decision or an outcome.” What is the outcome of life? It is true salvation, and it is eternity with the heavenly Father. Today, as in every day, we should have a “pleasant excitement” in waiting for our outcome. As we go to bed at night we should look at Christ and say, “Another day closer to heaven.” 2. Spiritually Blind: Christ is always standing right beside us. What in our lives is blinding us from seeing him? In human terms, seeing comes through the senses. However, we need a spiritual connection with our Lord in order to see him: The spirit replaces human sight. Once that connection is made, we see God everywhere: in people, in charitable actions, in the beauty of nature. Then, we see him in ourselves. When we see Christ in us, we begin to have peace and assurance that we may yield abundantly. 3. Yield Harvest: Christ’s peace flows in us when we are open and begin to see the path to salvation. Think about how the water of spring rain brings forth life that yields a good harvest. We believe in living water. This living water provides us peace and harmony in Christ. It fills us and brings forth in us work accomplished in peace. Believing and abiding in Christ yield great successes, rich harvests. Let us be watered by trust and bear much fruit in the name of Christ. Come, Lord Jesus. Conversation with Christ: Lord, you have called me many times. Many times I have turned a deaf ear to you, not believing that you could carry my burdens. Help me today, Lord, to believe in you; help me to testify to you, Lord; help me to be amongst your sheep that I may follow you. When I think it is too hard, help me to seek you in prayer and see what you have told me to believe, so that I may have eternal life in you and through you.
Resolution: Today I will speak to at least one person
about God’s infinite love and mercy.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 23
Easter Weekday
JOHN 10:22-30
(Acts 11:19-26; Psalm 87)
KEY VERSE: "But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep" (v 26).
REFLECTING: Do I follow Christ when he calls?
PRAYING: Risen Lord, help me to discern your voice from the voices of those who would lead me astray.
Optional Memorial of George, martyr
Several stories have been attached to St. George. The best known is the Golden Legend in which he fought a dragon that lived in a lake near
Optional Memorial of Adalbert, bishop and martyr
Adalbert was the Bishop of Prague in 983. A friend of Emperor Otto III, George and St. Astricus encouraged the evangelization of the Magyars. Opposed by the nobility in
www.daily-word-of-life.com
All you nations, praise the Lord
‘The works I do in my Father’s name are my witness.’
In other words, just watch what I do, how I live - that will reveal who I am. Jesus’ whole being was so clearly attuned to his love for the Father and all the Father’s children that he could make such a statement.
Scary stuff! If I think of inviting people to look at my life and decide from that observation who I am, I realise how often fear, hurt or jealousy distort my words and actions. Jesus, my desires so rarely show forth in what I do. Draw me closer to yourself. Heal the hurts and take away the fears that distort my attempts to love. Comfort me with the assurance that you know the desires of my heart.
April 23
St. George
d. c. 303
St. George
d. c. 303
If Mary Magdalene was the victim of
misunderstanding, George is the object of a vast amount of imagination. There
is every reason to believe that he was a real martyr who suffered at Lydda in Palestine , probably before the time of Constantine
That he
was willing to pay the supreme price to follow Christ is what the Church
believes. And it is enough.The story of George's slaying the dragon, rescuing the king's daughter and converting
Comment:
Human nature seems to crave more than cold historical data. Americans have Washington and Lincoln, but we somehow need Paul Bunyan, too. The life of St. Francis ofAssisi
Human nature seems to crave more than cold historical data. Americans have Washington and Lincoln, but we somehow need Paul Bunyan, too. The life of St. Francis of
Quote:
"When we look at the lives of those who have faithfully followed Christ, we are inspired with a new reason for seeking the city which is to come" (Vatican II,Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 50).
"When we look at the lives of those who have faithfully followed Christ, we are inspired with a new reason for seeking the city which is to come" (Vatican II,Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 50).
Patron
Saint of:
Boy Scouts
England
Germany
Portugal
Soldiers
Boy Scouts
Soldiers
LECTIO: JOHN 10,22-30
Lectio: Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Easter Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord God, our Father,
the Spirit of Jesus calls us, as he called your Son,
to abandon our old selves and our old world
to be free for new life and growth.
Forgive us our fear and hesitations,
lead us out of our worn-out phrases and habits,
and our self-made certainties,
steep us in the gospel of your Son,
that his good news may become credible
in our times and our world.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading
It was the time of the feast of Dedication in Jerusalem Temple
Jesus replied: I have told you, but you do not believe. The
works I do in my Father's name are my witness; but you do not believe, because
you are no sheep of mine. The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I
know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never be lost
and no one will ever steal them from my hand. The Father, for what he has given
me, is greater than anyone, and no one can steal anything from the Father's
hand. The Father and I are one.
3) Reflection
• Chapters one to twelve of the Gospel of John are called “The
Book of Signs”. In these chapters we have the progressive revelation of the
Mystery of God in Jesus. In the measure in which Jesus makes this revelation,
adherence and opposition grow around him according to the vision or idea which
each one has of the coming of the Messiah. This way of describing the activity
of Jesus does not only serve to inform how adherence to Jesus took place at
that time, but also and above all, how this should take place in us today, his
readers. At that time, all expected the coming of the Messiah and they had
their criteria of how to recognize him. They wanted him to be like they
imagined that he should be. But Jesus does not submit himself to that
requirement. He reveals the Father as the Father is and not as his listeners
would want him to be. He asks for conversion in the way of thinking and of
acting. Today, also, each one of us has his/her own likes and own preferences.
Some times we read the Gospel to see if we find in it a confirmation of our
desires. Today’s Gospel presents some light concerning this.
• John 10, 22-24: The Jews question Jesus. It was cold; it
was the month of October. It was the Feast of the dedication which celebrated
the purification of the temple done by Judah Maccabee (2 M 4, 36.59). It was a
very popular Feast with much light. Jesus was out on the square of the Temple
• John 10, 25-26: Response of Jesus: the works that I do are
my witness. The response of Jesus is always the same: “I have told you, but you
do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name are my witness; but you
do not believe, because you are no sheep of mine”. It is not a question of
giving proofs. It would be useless. When a person does not want to accept the
witness of some one, there is no proof which is valid and which will lead the
person to change and think differently. The basic problem is the disinterested
openness of the person toward God and toward truth. Where this openness exists,
Jesus is recognized by his sheep. “The sheep that belong to me listen to my
voice”. Jesus will say these words before Pilate (Jn 18, 37). The Pharisees lacked
this openness.
• John 10, 27-28: My sheep listen to my voice. Jesus repeats
the parable of the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep and they know him. This
mutual understanding – between Jesus who comes in the name of the Father and
the persons who open themselves to truth – is the source of eternal life. This
union between the Creator and the creature through Jesus exceeds every threat
of death: “They will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from my
hand!” They are safe and secure and, because of this, they are in peace and
enjoy full freedom.
• John 10, 29-30: The Father and I are one. These two verses
refer to the mystery of the union between Jesus and the Father: “The Father,
for what he has given me, is greater than anyone, and no one can steal anything
from my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one”. These and other phrases make
us guess or have a glimpse at something of the greatest mystery: “Anyone who
has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14, 9). “The Father is in me and I am in
the Father” (Jn 10, 38). This union between Jesus and the Father is not
something automatic, but rather it is the fruit of obedience: “I always do what
pleases my Father” (Jn 8, 29; 6, 38; 17, 4). “My food is to do the will of the
Father” (Jn 4, 34; 5, 30). The Letter to the Hebrews says that Jesus learnt
obedience from the things that he suffered (Heb 5, 8). “He was obedient until
death and death on the Cross” (Ph 2, 8). The obedience of Jesus is not a
disciplinary one, but rather it was prophetic. He obeys in order to be total
transparency and, thus, to be the revelation of the Father. Because of this, he
could say: “The Father and I are one!” It was a long process of obedience and
of incarnation which lasted 33 years. It began with Mary’s YES (Lk 1, 38) and
ended with: “It is all fulfilled!” (Jn 19, 30).
4) Personal questions
• Is my obedience to God, disciplinary or prophetic? Do I reveal
something of God or am I only concerned about my own salvation?
• Jesus does not submit himself to the exigencies of those who
want to verify if he is the Messiah. In me, is there something of this attitude
of dominion and of inquiry of the enemies of Jesus?
5) Concluding Prayer
May God show kindness and bless us,
and make his face shine on us.
Then the earth will acknowledge your ways,
and all nations your power to save. (Ps 67,2-3)
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