Saturday of the Fourth
Week of Easter
Lectionary: 284
On the following sabbath
almost the whole city
gathered to hear the word
of the Lord.
When the Jews saw the
crowds, they were filled with jealousy
and with violent abuse
contradicted what Paul said.
Both Paul and Barnabas
spoke out boldly and said,
“It was necessary that the
word of God be spoken to you first,
but since you reject it
and condemn yourselves as
unworthy of eternal life,
we now turn to the
Gentiles.
For so the Lord has
commanded us,
I have made you a light to
the Gentiles,
that you may be an
instrument of salvation
to the ends of the earth.”
The Gentiles were
delighted when they heard this
and glorified the word of
the Lord.
All who were destined for
eternal life came to believe,
and the word of the Lord
continued to spread
through the whole region.
The Jews, however, incited
the women of prominence who were worshipers
and the leading men of the
city,
stirred up a persecution
against Paul and Barnabas,
and expelled them from
their territory.
So they shook the dust
from their feet in protest against them
and went to Iconium.
The disciples were filled
with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4
R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the
saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new
song,
for he has done wondrous
deeds;
His right hand has won
victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving
power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD has made his
salvation known:
in the sight of the
nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his
kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel .
R. All the ends of the
earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth
have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD,
all you lands;
break into song; sing
praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving
power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel JN 14:7-14
Jesus said to his
disciples:
“If you know me, then you
will also know my Father.
From now on you do know
him and have seen him.”
Philip said to Jesus,
“Master, show us the
Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I
been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know
me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has
seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us
the Father’?
Do you not believe that I
am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to
you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in
me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in
the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because
of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me
will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones
than these,
because I am going to the
Father.
And whatever you ask in my
name, I will do,
so that the Father may be
glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me
in my name, I will do it.”
Meditation: "Lord, show us the Father"
What’s the greatest thing we
can aim for in this life? – Is it not to know God personally as your Father and
Redeemer? What is the best thing we can possess in this life, bringing more
joy, contentment, life and happiness, than anything else? – Is it not true
knowledge and understanding of who God is and what kind of relationship he
wants to have with you? Scripture tells us the greatest thing we can know and
posses is true knowledge of God: Thus
says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty
glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who
glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me” (Jeremiah 9:23-24). One of the
greatest truths of the Christian faith is that we can know the living God. Our
knowledge of God is not simply limited to knowing something about God, but we
can know God personally. The essence of Christianity, and what makes it
distinct from Judaism and other religions, is the personal knowledge of God as
our Father.Jesus makes it possible for each of us to personally know God as our heavenly Father. To see Jesus is to see what God is like. In Jesus we see the perfect love of God – a God who cares intensely and who yearns over men and women, loving them to the point of laying down his life for them upon the Cross. Jesus is the revelation of God – a God who loves us unconditionally, unselfishly and perfectly – without neglecting or forgetting us even for a brief moment. If we put our trust in Jesus and believe in him, Jesus promises that God the Father will hear our prayers when we pray in his name. That is why Jesus taught his followers to pray with confidence, Our Father who art in heaven ..give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:9,11; Luke 11:2-3). Do you pray to your Father in heaven with joy and confidence in his personal love and care for you?
"Lord Jesus, you fill us with the joy of your saving presence and you give us the hope of everlasting life with God our Father in Heaven. Show me the Father that I may know and glorify him always."
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Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
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Father Steven Reilly, LC Jesus said to his disciples: "If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ´Show us the Father´? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it." Introductory Prayer: Father, how empty is the life that doesn’t know the joy of Jesus your Son. I have come to this prayer today to know you and your Son better, to love you more and to imitate your perfections. Thank you for this time of prayer. Petition: Father, help me to be aware of your presence in my soul. 1. The Father and Jesus Are One: The liturgy gives us a second look at this Gospel passage. The great truth that Jesus is sharing with Philip is that as the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, Jesus and the Father are one – they are inseparable. We worship Christ. We don’t merely honor him as the best of men; he is the God-man whom we adore. What Jesus is by nature we are empowered to be by grace. With our baptism, we became adopted children of God. Brought into the family of the Trinity, the divine persons dwell in our soul as in a temple. Do we realize the dignity we have been given? 2. Doing the Same Works As Jesus: Herein lies the possibility of doing the works of Jesus. If he lives in us, he can work through us. What an opportunity to cooperate with grace! When we are loving, kind and disciplined, we aren’t merely being good. These good deeds are more than just good; they have an eternal value. After all, they are the “works of Jesus.” We receive the reward for his works. Such is the generosity of the Master whom we serve! 3. Ask and You Shall Receive: The name of Jesus is powerful. He commands us to ask in his name for the things we need so that in granting them to us, the Father may be glorified. When we kneel before the tabernacle, we must approach the Lord with total and absolute confidence. He knows that our faith will grow when we experience his power in action: “Ask and you shall receive!” (Matthew 7:7-9). Conversation with Christ: Lord, what a consoling thought is it that the Holy Trinity dwells in my soul. I am a child of God! Help me to do the works of God! I ask this in your name.
Resolution: Because God dwells in my soul I will try to
treat others as he would treat them.
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SATURDAY, APRIL 27
Easter Weekday
Easter Weekday
JOHN 14:7-14
(Acts 13:44-52; Psalm 98)
KEY VERSE: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (v 9).
REFLECTING: In what ways do I see Jesus working through me? Am I able to I see him working in others?
PRAYING: Risen Lord, help me to understand the Divine mystery you came to reveal.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of
God
They were
filled with joy and Holy Spirit.We can still find shining examples of the robust confidence and courage of Paul and the early Christians. Even if our own lives often seem to reflect so little, we have only to look wherever the modern church is persecuted.
Today’s beautiful gospel is part of Jesus’ long, loving farewell to his disciples. Understanding that they were demoralised and disturbed, and that they still failed to recognise the true nature of his mission, he sought to comfort them and strengthen their faith.
On the eve of his Passion, he bequeathed to them the Spirit, to guide them and all his followers after his departure.
Holy Spirit, stay with us always. Fill us with your hope and peace and help us to do the Father’s will.
April 28
St. Louis Grignion de Montfort
(1673-1716)
St. Louis Grignion de Montfort
(1673-1716)
Louis's life is inseparable from his
efforts to promote genuine devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus and mother of
the Church. Totus tuus(completely
yours) was Louis's personal motto; Karol Wojtyla (Blessed John Paul II, October
22) chose it as his episcopal motto.
Born in
the Breton Soon he began preaching parish missions throughout western
Louis founded the Missionaries of the Company of Mary (for priests and brothers) and the Daughters of Wisdom, who cared especially for the sick. His book True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin has become a classic explanation of Marian devotion.
Louis died in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, where a basilica has been erected in his honor. He was canonized in 1947.
Comment:
Like Mary, Louis experienced challenges in his efforts to follow Jesus. Opposed at times in his preaching and in his other ministries, Louis knew with St. Paul, “Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:7). Any attempt to succeed by worldly standards runs the risk of betraying the Good News of Jesus. Mary is “the first and most perfect disciple,” as the late Raymond Brown, S.S., described her.
Like Mary, Louis experienced challenges in his efforts to follow Jesus. Opposed at times in his preaching and in his other ministries, Louis knew with St. Paul, “Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:7). Any attempt to succeed by worldly standards runs the risk of betraying the Good News of Jesus. Mary is “the first and most perfect disciple,” as the late Raymond Brown, S.S., described her.
Quote:
“Mary is the fruitful Virgin, and in all the souls in which she comes to dwell she causes to flourish purity of heart and body, rightness of intention and abundance of good works. Do not imagine that Mary, the most fruitful of creatures who gave birth to a God, remains barren in a faithful soul. It will be she who makes the soul live incessantly for Jesus Christ, and will make Jesus live in the soul” (True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin).
“Mary is the fruitful Virgin, and in all the souls in which she comes to dwell she causes to flourish purity of heart and body, rightness of intention and abundance of good works. Do not imagine that Mary, the most fruitful of creatures who gave birth to a God, remains barren in a faithful soul. It will be she who makes the soul live incessantly for Jesus Christ, and will make Jesus live in the soul” (True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin).
LECTIO: JOHN 14,7-14
Lectio:
Saturday, April 27,
2013
Easter Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
you are distant and unknown, and yet so near
that you know and love and save us
through your Son Jesus Christ.
May he be present in us and in our actions
that we may do the same works
of justice, truth and loving service
and thus become the sign to the world
that your Son is alive
and that you are a saving God
now and for ever.
you are distant and unknown, and yet so near
that you know and love and save us
through your Son Jesus Christ.
May he be present in us and in our actions
that we may do the same works
of justice, truth and loving service
and thus become the sign to the world
that your Son is alive
and that you are a saving God
now and for ever.
2) Gospel Reading
Jesus said to his disciples: "If you know
me, you will know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen
him.
Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and then we shall be satisfied.' Jesus said to him,
'Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? 'Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father, so how can you say, "Show us the Father"? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I say to you I do not speak of my own accord: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his works. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe it on the evidence of these works.
In all truth I tell you, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, and will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and then we shall be satisfied.' Jesus said to him,
'Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? 'Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father, so how can you say, "Show us the Father"? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I say to you I do not speak of my own accord: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his works. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe it on the evidence of these works.
In all truth I tell you, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, and will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
3) Reflection
• John 14, 7: To know Jesus is to know the
Father. The text of today’s Gospel is the continuation of that of yesterday.
Thomas had asked: “Lord we do not know where you are going, how can we know the
way?” Jesus answers: “I am the Way, I am Truth and Life! No one can come to the
Father except through me.” And he adds: “If you know me, you will know the
Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him”. This is the first
phrase of today’s Gospel. Jesus always speaks of the Father, because it was the
life of the Father which appeared in all that he said and did. This constant
reference to the Father provokes Philip’s question.
• John 14, 8-11: Philip asks: “Lord, show us the Father and then we will be satisfied!” This was the desire of the disciples, the desire of many persons of the communities of the Beloved Disciple and it is the desire of many people today: What do people do to see the Father of whom Jesus speaks so much? The response of Jesus is very beautiful and is valid even now: “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me! Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!” People should not think that God is far away from us, distant and unknown. Anyone who wants to know how and who God the Father is, it suffices that he looks at Jesus. He has revealed him in his words and gestures of his life! “I am in the Father and the Father is in me!” Through his obedience, Jesus identified himself totally with the Father. At every moment he did what the Father asked him to do (Jn 5, 30; 8, 28-29.38). This is why, in Jesus everything is revelation of the Father! And the signs and the works are the works of the Father! As people say: “The son is the face of the father!” This is why in Jesus and for Jesus, God is in our midst.
• John 14, 12-14: The Promise of Jesus. Jesus makes a promise to say that his intimacy with the Father is not his privilege only, but that it is possible for all those who believe in him. We also, through Jesus, can succeed in doing beautiful things for others as Jesus did for the people of his time. He intercedes for us. Everything that people ask him for; he asks the Father and always obtains it. as long as it is to render service. Jesus is our advocate, he defends us. He leaves but he does not leave us defenceless. He promises that he will ask the Father and the Father will send another advocate or consoler, the Holy Spirit. Jesus even says that it is necessary for him to leave, because otherwise the Holy Spirit will not be able to come (Jn 16, 7). And the Holy Spirit will fulfil the things of Jesus in us, if we act in the name of Jesus and we observe the great commandment of the practice of love.
• John 14, 8-11: Philip asks: “Lord, show us the Father and then we will be satisfied!” This was the desire of the disciples, the desire of many persons of the communities of the Beloved Disciple and it is the desire of many people today: What do people do to see the Father of whom Jesus speaks so much? The response of Jesus is very beautiful and is valid even now: “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me! Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!” People should not think that God is far away from us, distant and unknown. Anyone who wants to know how and who God the Father is, it suffices that he looks at Jesus. He has revealed him in his words and gestures of his life! “I am in the Father and the Father is in me!” Through his obedience, Jesus identified himself totally with the Father. At every moment he did what the Father asked him to do (Jn 5, 30; 8, 28-29.38). This is why, in Jesus everything is revelation of the Father! And the signs and the works are the works of the Father! As people say: “The son is the face of the father!” This is why in Jesus and for Jesus, God is in our midst.
• John 14, 12-14: The Promise of Jesus. Jesus makes a promise to say that his intimacy with the Father is not his privilege only, but that it is possible for all those who believe in him. We also, through Jesus, can succeed in doing beautiful things for others as Jesus did for the people of his time. He intercedes for us. Everything that people ask him for; he asks the Father and always obtains it. as long as it is to render service. Jesus is our advocate, he defends us. He leaves but he does not leave us defenceless. He promises that he will ask the Father and the Father will send another advocate or consoler, the Holy Spirit. Jesus even says that it is necessary for him to leave, because otherwise the Holy Spirit will not be able to come (Jn 16, 7). And the Holy Spirit will fulfil the things of Jesus in us, if we act in the name of Jesus and we observe the great commandment of the practice of love.
4) Personal questions
• To know Jesus is to know the Father. In the
Bible the word “to know a person” is not only an intellectual understanding,
but it also presupposes a profound experience of the presence of the person in
one’s life. Do I know Jesus?
• Do I know the Father?
• Do I know the Father?
5) Concluding Prayer
The whole wide world has seen
the saving power of our God.
Acclaim Yahweh, all the earth,
burst into shouts of joy! (Ps 98,3-4)
the saving power of our God.
Acclaim Yahweh, all the earth,
burst into shouts of joy! (Ps 98,3-4)
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