Sixth Sunday of Easter
Lectionary: 57
Some who had come down
from Judea were instructing the brothers,
“Unless you are
circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved.”
Because there arose no
little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with
them,
it was decided that Paul,
Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles
and elders
about this question.
The apostles and elders,
in agreement with the whole church,
decided to choose
representatives
and to send them to Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas.
The ones chosen were
Judas, who was called Barsabbas,
and Silas, leaders among
the brothers.
This is the letter
delivered by them:
“The apostles and the
elders, your brothers,
to the brothers in Antioch , Syria ,
and Cilicia
of Gentile origin:
greetings.
Since we have heard that
some of our number
who went out without any
mandate from us
have upset you with their
teachings
and disturbed your peace
of mind,
we have with one accord
decided to choose representatives
and to send them to you
along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
who have dedicated their
lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So we are sending Judas
and Silas
who will also convey this
same message by word of mouth:
‘It is the decision of the
Holy Spirit and of us
not to place on you any
burden beyond these necessities,
namely, to abstain from
meat sacrificed to idols,
from blood, from meats of
strangled animals,
and from unlawful
marriage.
If you keep free of these,
you will be doing what is
right. Farewell.’”
Responsorial Psalm PS 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May God have pity on us
and bless us;
may he let his face shine
upon us.
So may your way be known
upon earth;
among all nations, your
salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the nations be glad
and exult
because you rule the
peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth
you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the peoples praise
you, O God;
may all the peoples praise
you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of
the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The angel took me in
spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy
city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven
from God.
It gleamed with the
splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that
of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as
crystal.
It had a massive, high
wall,
with twelve gates where
twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were
inscribed,
the names of the twelve
tribes of the Israelites.
There were three gates
facing east,
three north, three south,
and three west.
The wall of the city had
twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed
the twelve names
of the twelve apostles of
the Lamb.
I saw no temple in the
city
for its temple is the Lord
God almighty and the Lamb.
The city had no need of
sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gave
it light,
and its lamp was the Lamb.
Gospel JN 14:23-29
Jesus said to his
disciples:
“Whoever loves me will
keep my word,
and my Father will love
him,
and we will come to him
and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me
does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is
not mine
but that of the Father who
sent me.
“I have told you this
while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy
Spirit,
whom the Father will send
in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that
I told you.
Peace I leave with you; my
peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do
I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be
troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I
will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I
am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater
than I.
And now I have told you
this before it happens,
so that when it happens
you may believe.”
Meditation: “Let not your hearts be troubled"
Do you know the love that
surpasses all, that is stronger than death itself (Song of Songs 8:6)? In Jesus' last
supper discourse he speaks of the love he has for his disciples and of his
Father's love. He prepares his disciples for his imminent departure to return
to his Father by exhorting them to prove their love for him through their
loyalty and obedience to his word. He promises them the abiding guidance and
consolation of the Holy Spirit. Do you know the peace which passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7)? Jesus grants peace as his gift to his disciples. What kind of peace does he offer? The peace of Christ is more than the absence of trouble. It includes everything which makes for our highest good. The world's approach to peace is avoidance of trouble and a refusal to face unpleasant things. Jesus offers the peace which conquers our fears and anxieties. Nothing can take us from the peace and joy of Jesus Christ. No sorrow or grief, no danger, no suffering can make it less. Jesus also speaks of his destination and ultimate triumph over the powers of evil in the world. In the eyes of the world the cross stood for shame, humiliation, and defeat. Jesus went to the cross knowing that it would lead to victory over the powers of sin and of Satan. Jesus also knew that he would return to his Father in glory. The cross brought glory to Jesus and to the Father and it is our way to glory as well. In the Cross of Christ we find true peace and reconciliation with God. Do you live in the peace of Jesus Christ?
"Lord Jesus, in love you created me and you drew me to yourself. May I never lose sight of you nor forget your steadfast love and faithfulness. And may I daily dwell upon your word and give you praise in the sanctuary of my heart, You who are my All."
Scripture
Study
May 5, 2013 Sixth Sunday of Easter
Happy
Easter! Yes, it is still Easter. The Church celebrates the Easter Season until
Pentecost Sunday. During this time the readings focus on the post-resurrection
appearances of Jesus, on the meaning of the victory of the "Risen
One" and on the presence of Jesus in the community of believers.
This Sunday we celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter. The emphasis in the readings this Sunday is on unity and peace that come from the presence of God among His people.
FirstReading : Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
1 Some who had come down fromJudea were
instructing the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the
Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved." 2 Because there arose no little
dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul,
Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters
about this question.
22 Then the apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them toAntioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones
chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the
brothers. 23 This is the letter delivered by them: "The apostles and the
presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch , Syria
NOTES on FirstReading :
Luke uses thisJerusalem
"Council" to mark the official rejection of the rigid view that
Gentile converts were obliged to observe the Mosaic law. He appears to have
telescoped events by combining two different conflicts into one crisis that is
settled by the deliberations of the Mother Church of Jerusalem. From here to
the end of Acts, the focus of Luke's writing becomes Paul and the Gentile
mission. This reading challenges us to listen to the Holy Spirit when we
disagree. If we trust Him to show us His will, we can find the solution to our
divisions.
* 15:1-5 When the report of the results of Paul's first missionary journey reaches some of the converted Pharisees of Jerusalem, they urge that the newly converted Gentiles be taught to follow the Mosaic law. Recognizing the authority of theJerusalem
church, Paul and Barnabas go there to settle the question of whether Gentiles
can embrace a form of Christianity that does not include this obligation.
* 15:2 Here Luke seems to report a conflict that Paul does not mention.
* 15:22-23 Although the letter that Luke presents here is mainly his own composition, the narrative does have some elements of a previous tradition that formed one of his sources. The narrative has portrayed Paul and Barnabas as being involved in the deliberations but later in 21:25 it seems that Paul receives the decision for the first time. There seem to be two different traditions that Luke has attempted to meld together. The letter is very much in keeping with the style of the Hellenistic historians' convention. The introduction is standard for Greek letters of the time.
* 15:28 The decision is presented as the will of God (Holy Spirit). The deliberations indeed emphasized the initiative of God in the spread of the Church. The Church and its leadership have no authority and no power or agenda of their own. Their authority is legitimate only as it carries out the saving will of God.
* 15:29 The Church was faced with a severe crisis in that as more and more Gentiles joined, the issue of table fellowship with converted Jews became a serious difficulty. The requirements that are enjoined on the Gentile converts to Christianity all come from the things required of aliens residing inIsrael by
Leviticus 17-18. They appear to be more specifically from Lev 17:8-9, 10-12,
15; and 18:6-18. These rules prohibited those things that were so reprehensible
to the Jews that they made table fellowship with them impossible. Thus the
ability to share the same table was established without imposing the entire
Mosaic Law on the Gentiles.
Second Reading: Revelation 21: 10-14, 22-23
10 He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, (the names) of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. 13 There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. 23 The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.
NOTES on SecondReading
Using the symbolism of a city for the people of God, this reading impresses us with the sense of unity of the city and of God with His people. United with our God how can we remain alienated from each other?
* 21:12-13 The combination of the names of the twelve tribes and the names of the twelve apostles implies a people but the people of this future city are not the people of God simply identified by either the old covenant or the Church. The city represents God dwelling with His people face to face. Thus no temple was needed as a focus for the Holy since the entire city (entire people) are holy (21:22).
* 21:14 The words translated as "Courses of stones . . . apostles" are literally, "twelve foundations." See Eph 2:19-20. Here the apostles are described as the foundations of the new Jerusalem.
* 21:22 Because Christ is present throughout the church, no temple is needed as an earthly dwelling for God. See Matthew 18:20; 28:20; and John 4:21. There is no need for a single place for the holy since the entire city is holy (21:12-13).
* 21:23 See John 8:12 where Jesus calls Himself the Light.
GospelReading
23 Jesus answered and said to him, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. 25 "I have told you this while I am with you. 26 The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. 28 You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater thanI. 29 And now I have told you this before it
happens, so that when it happens you may believe.
NOTES on Gospel:
Here Jesus challenges us to live out the life He has given us by keeping His word. He promises that if we do so, He and the Father will be present with us and we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Advocate.
* 14:23 For John this is the meaning of His coming for there will no longer be a separation of believers from God/Jesus. There is no need to wait or look for heavenly habitations to experience salvation in the presence of God. God is here now for those who believe.
* 14:24 This verse restates verse 23 in negative terms.
* 14:25-31 Having established the future life of the community, Jesus tells them that He is leaving. But even His departure will result in further blessing of His followers because the Father will send the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
* 14:26 "Remind" for the disciples meant not only to bring to the memory but to enable them to understand the teachings and actions of Jesus. The Advocate will teach them but His teaching will be a deeper understanding of the revelation present in Jesus. It will not be independent of the revelation of Christ.
* 14:27 The traditional Hebrew salutation is salom but Jesus' "Shalom" is much more than simply a wish for peace; it is a gift of salvation, connoting the bounty of messianic blessing.
* 14:28 This verse was used by the Arians as one of their proof-texts because it seems to deny the equality of two members of the Holy Trinity. That interpretation, however, is inconsistent with the rest of John's Gospel where the divinity of Jesus is very strongly affirmed. Here Jesus is speaking in terms of function during His mission on earth in which the Father sent, gave, etc., and Jesus is "a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God" (John 8:40). In absolute terms, the Son's glory is equal to that of the Father. It was, however, veiled, for a time so as to allow Him to be a man on earth. After the exaltation His glory was revealed again.
www.st-raymond-dublin.orgThis Sunday we celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter. The emphasis in the readings this Sunday is on unity and peace that come from the presence of God among His people.
First
1 Some who had come down from
22 Then the apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to
NOTES on First
Luke uses this
* 15:1-5 When the report of the results of Paul's first missionary journey reaches some of the converted Pharisees of Jerusalem, they urge that the newly converted Gentiles be taught to follow the Mosaic law. Recognizing the authority of the
* 15:2 Here Luke seems to report a conflict that Paul does not mention.
* 15:22-23 Although the letter that Luke presents here is mainly his own composition, the narrative does have some elements of a previous tradition that formed one of his sources. The narrative has portrayed Paul and Barnabas as being involved in the deliberations but later in 21:25 it seems that Paul receives the decision for the first time. There seem to be two different traditions that Luke has attempted to meld together. The letter is very much in keeping with the style of the Hellenistic historians' convention. The introduction is standard for Greek letters of the time.
* 15:28 The decision is presented as the will of God (Holy Spirit). The deliberations indeed emphasized the initiative of God in the spread of the Church. The Church and its leadership have no authority and no power or agenda of their own. Their authority is legitimate only as it carries out the saving will of God.
* 15:29 The Church was faced with a severe crisis in that as more and more Gentiles joined, the issue of table fellowship with converted Jews became a serious difficulty. The requirements that are enjoined on the Gentile converts to Christianity all come from the things required of aliens residing in
Second Reading: Revelation 21: 10-14, 22-23
10 He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, (the names) of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. 13 There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. 23 The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.
NOTES on Second
Using the symbolism of a city for the people of God, this reading impresses us with the sense of unity of the city and of God with His people. United with our God how can we remain alienated from each other?
* 21:12-13 The combination of the names of the twelve tribes and the names of the twelve apostles implies a people but the people of this future city are not the people of God simply identified by either the old covenant or the Church. The city represents God dwelling with His people face to face. Thus no temple was needed as a focus for the Holy since the entire city (entire people) are holy (21:22).
* 21:14 The words translated as "Courses of stones . . . apostles" are literally, "twelve foundations." See Eph 2:19-20. Here the apostles are described as the foundations of the new Jerusalem.
* 21:22 Because Christ is present throughout the church, no temple is needed as an earthly dwelling for God. See Matthew 18:20; 28:20; and John 4:21. There is no need for a single place for the holy since the entire city is holy (21:12-13).
* 21:23 See John 8:12 where Jesus calls Himself the Light.
Gospel
23 Jesus answered and said to him, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. 25 "I have told you this while I am with you. 26 The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. 28 You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than
NOTES on Gospel:
Here Jesus challenges us to live out the life He has given us by keeping His word. He promises that if we do so, He and the Father will be present with us and we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Advocate.
* 14:23 For John this is the meaning of His coming for there will no longer be a separation of believers from God/Jesus. There is no need to wait or look for heavenly habitations to experience salvation in the presence of God. God is here now for those who believe.
* 14:24 This verse restates verse 23 in negative terms.
* 14:25-31 Having established the future life of the community, Jesus tells them that He is leaving. But even His departure will result in further blessing of His followers because the Father will send the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
* 14:26 "Remind" for the disciples meant not only to bring to the memory but to enable them to understand the teachings and actions of Jesus. The Advocate will teach them but His teaching will be a deeper understanding of the revelation present in Jesus. It will not be independent of the revelation of Christ.
* 14:27 The traditional Hebrew salutation is salom but Jesus' "Shalom" is much more than simply a wish for peace; it is a gift of salvation, connoting the bounty of messianic blessing.
* 14:28 This verse was used by the Arians as one of their proof-texts because it seems to deny the equality of two members of the Holy Trinity. That interpretation, however, is inconsistent with the rest of John's Gospel where the divinity of Jesus is very strongly affirmed. Here Jesus is speaking in terms of function during His mission on earth in which the Father sent, gave, etc., and Jesus is "a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God" (John 8:40). In absolute terms, the Son's glory is equal to that of the Father. It was, however, veiled, for a time so as to allow Him to be a man on earth. After the exaltation His glory was revealed again.
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Make Me Your
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Sixth Sunday of Easter
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John
14:23-29
Jesus
answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father
will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not
mine but that of the Father who sent me. I have told you this while I am with
you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name -- he
will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I
leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it
to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would
rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And
now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may
believe.”Introductory Prayer: Lord, as I begin this prayer I offer you my whole self: my thoughts, desires, decisions, actions, hopes, fears, weaknesses, failures and petty successes. I open my entire being to you, aware that you know everything already. I’m certain of your mercy and of the purifying power of your penetrating, loving gaze. Petition: May the Blessed Trinity dwell in me. 1. How Can God Dwell in My Stony Heart? We have no writings of Our Lord. The only time we see Our Lord writing, he was bent over writing something in the sand with his finger. However, as his finger traced in the sand, it was also etching into the hardened hearts of the surrounding crowd. They dropped the stones with which they intended to kill the adulterous woman. It is curious how these stones also symbolized the hardness of their hearts. They dropped them because their hearts had also softened. In the Old Testament we see Moses coming down from the mountain with a stone tablet that contained the written law of God, the Ten Commandants. Christ came to crush our stony hearts and to write his law of love there. Christ wants us to give him a blank slate so that he can write whatever he wants in our hearts. 2. Christ Knows We Need Reassurance: It is scary when we learn that a loved one will be leaving us for an undetermined amount of time. We can think of the soldiers who go off to war and how hard it must be for their spouses and children to deal with the loneliness and uncertainties that naturally arise. Yet the good soldier assures them he will return, and he is confident that they will be strong and live upright lives. How hard it must have been for the apostles when Christ told them he would be leaving them. They had left everything to follow him, and now it seemed as if they would be alone. Christ knew how heavy their hearts were, so he assured the apostles that he needed to leave in order that he and the Father could send the Holy Spirit into their hearts. The Holy Spirit enlightens our hearts too, as he enlightened the hearts of the apostles. 3. We Should Rejoice Because Christ Is Going Home: Christ is the Prince of Peace. He sought to uplift the apostles, who were dragged down by sadness and fear at being left alone in the world. Christ tells them, and he tells us, that they should rejoice because he is going home. Christ wants us to rejoice not only because he is going home to the Father, but also because if we keep his word, he and the Father will make their dwelling in us. Their abode will be in our hearts. He wants us to trust the Holy Spirit who will give us the clarity of thought and the strength to live Christ’s teachings coherently. How open am I to the promptings of the Holy Spirit within my soul? What keeps me from perceiving Him within me? Do I need to be more detached from the goods of this life so my friendship with my Lord and Creator can grow? Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, I want to trust in your word -- in the working of the Holy Spirit in my heart. Help me to let go of the anxieties that at times paralyze my thoughts and actions. I open my heart so that you, the Blessed Trinity, can dwell within me. This gives me supernatural joy, a joy that the world cannot give or take away.
Resolution: I will look to comfort someone who is
lonely, helping him or her to know that you are always with us.
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UNDAY, MAY 5
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
JOHN 14:23-29
(Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23)
KEY VERSE: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you" (v 27).
REFLECTING: Am I being true to Christ's word at home and work?
PRAYING: Risen Lord, send your Spirit to stand beside your Church in times of trouble.
The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, the 5th Of May, commemorates the victory of the Mexicans over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of
www.daily-word-of-life.com
‘Let not your hearts be troubled.’
Both the first reading and the gospel today deal with the struggles of the new followers of Christ. His way was different to traditional Judaism and these followers were confused and rattled. There was so much they did not understand. But in both these readings there are simple instructions.
In Acts, the people are told that no greater burden is laid on them than ‘these necessary things’. In John, Jesus says to his followers, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled.’
www.churchresources.info
May 5
St. Hilary of
(400-449)
It’s been said that youth is wasted on
the young. In some ways, that was true for today’s saint.
Born in
The new, youthful bishop undertook the role with confidence. He did manual labor to earn money for the poor. He sold sacred vessels to ransom captives. He became a magnificent orator. He traveled everywhere on foot, always wearing simple clothing.
That was the bright side. Hilary encountered difficulty in his relationships with other bishops over whom he had some jurisdiction. He unilaterally deposed one bishop. He selected another bishop to replace one who was very ill–but, to complicate matters, did not die! Pope St. Leo the Great kept Hilary a bishop but stripped him of some of his powers.
Hilary died at 49. He was a man of talent and piety who, in due time, had learned how to be a bishop.
www.americancatholic.org
LECTIO: 6TH SUNDAY OF
EASTER (C)
Lectio:
Sunday, May 5, 2013
The Holy Spirit will
help us
understand Jesus’ words
John 14,23-29
understand Jesus’ words
John 14,23-29
1.
Opening prayer
Shaddai, God of the mountain,
You who make of our fragile life
the rock of your dwelling place,
lead our mind
to strike the rock of the desert,
so that water may gush to quench our thirst.
May the poverty of our feelings
cover us as with a mantle in the darkness of the night
and may it open our heart to hear the echo of silence
until the dawn,
wrapping us with the light of the new morning,
may bring us,
with the spent embers of the fire of the shepherds of the Absolute
who have kept vigil for us close to the divine Master,
the flavour of the holy memory.
Shaddai, God of the mountain,
You who make of our fragile life
the rock of your dwelling place,
lead our mind
to strike the rock of the desert,
so that water may gush to quench our thirst.
May the poverty of our feelings
cover us as with a mantle in the darkness of the night
and may it open our heart to hear the echo of silence
until the dawn,
wrapping us with the light of the new morning,
may bring us,
with the spent embers of the fire of the shepherds of the Absolute
who have kept vigil for us close to the divine Master,
the flavour of the holy memory.
2. LECTIO
a) The text:
23 Jesus answered him,
"If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and
we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me does
not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who
sent me.
25 "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. 26 But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater thanI. 29 And now I have told you
before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.
25 "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. 26 But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than
b) A moment of
silence:
Let us allow the voice of the Word to resonate within us.
3. MEDITATIO
a) Some questions:
- “And we will come to
him and make our home with him”: looking in our interior camp, will we find
there the tent of the shekinah (presence) of God?
- “He who does not love me does not keep my words: Are the words of Christ empty words for us because of our lack of love? Or could we say that we observe them as a guide on our journey?
- “The Holy Spirit will bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”: Jesus turns to the Father, but everything which he has said and done remains with us. When will we be able to remember the marvels which divine grace has accomplished in us? Do we receive or accept the voice of the Spirit who suggests in our interior the meaning of all that has taken place, that has happened?
- “My peace I give to you: The peace of Christ is his resurrection”: When will we be able in our life to abandon the anxiety and the mania of doing, which draws us away from the sources of the being? God of peace, when will we live solely from you, peace of our waiting?
- “I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe”: Before it takes place... Jesus likes to explain to us beforehand what is going to happen, so that the events do not take us by surprise, unprepared. But, are we ready to read the signs of our events with the words heard from him?
- “He who does not love me does not keep my words: Are the words of Christ empty words for us because of our lack of love? Or could we say that we observe them as a guide on our journey?
- “The Holy Spirit will bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”: Jesus turns to the Father, but everything which he has said and done remains with us. When will we be able to remember the marvels which divine grace has accomplished in us? Do we receive or accept the voice of the Spirit who suggests in our interior the meaning of all that has taken place, that has happened?
- “My peace I give to you: The peace of Christ is his resurrection”: When will we be able in our life to abandon the anxiety and the mania of doing, which draws us away from the sources of the being? God of peace, when will we live solely from you, peace of our waiting?
- “I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe”: Before it takes place... Jesus likes to explain to us beforehand what is going to happen, so that the events do not take us by surprise, unprepared. But, are we ready to read the signs of our events with the words heard from him?
b) Key for the
reading:
To make our home.
Heaven does not have a better place than a human heart which is in love.
Because a dilated heart extends the boundaries and all barriers of time and
space disappear. To live in love is equal to live in Heaven, to live in Him who
is love, and eternal love.
v. 23. Jesus answered him: If a man loves me, he will
keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our
home with him. In the origin of every
spiritual experience there is always a movement forward. Take a small step,
then everything moves harmoniously. And the step to be taken is only one: If a
man loves me. Is it really possible to love God? And how is it seen that his
face is no longer among the people? To love: What does it really mean? In
general, to love for us means to wish well to one another, to be together, to
make choices to construct a future, to give oneself... to love Jesus is not the
same thing. to love him means to do as he did, not to draw back in the face of
pain, of death; to love as he did takes us very far... and it is in this love
that the word becomes daily bread to eat and life becomes Heaven because of the
Father’s presence.
vv. 24-25. He who does not love me does not keep my
words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. If there is no love, the consequences are
disastrous. The words of Jesus can be observed only if there is love in the heart,
otherwise they remain absurd proposals. Those words are not the words of a man
, they come for the Father’s heart who proposes to each one of us to be like
Him. In life it is not so much a question of doing things, even if they are
very good. It is necessary to be men, to be sons, to be images similar to the
One who never ceases to give Himself completely.
vv. 25-26. These things I have spoken to you, while I am
still with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send
in my name, he will teach you all things, and will bring to your remembrance
all that I have said to you. To remember is an
action of the Spirit; when in our days the past is seen as something lost
forever and the future is there as something threatening to take away our joy
today, only the divine Breath in you can lead you to remember it. To remember
what has been said, every word coming from God’s mouth for you, and forgotten
because of the fact that time has gone by.
v. 27. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid. The peace of Christ
for us is not absence of conflicts, serenity of life, health... but the
plenitude of every good, absence of anxiety in the face of what is going to
happen. The Lord does not assure us well-being, but the fullness of son-ship in
a loving adherence to his projects which are good for us. We will possess
peace, when we will have learnt to trust in that which the Father chooses for
us.
v. 28. You heard me say to you, ‘I go away, and I
will come to you’. If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to
the Father; for the Father is greater than I. We come back to the question of love. If you
loved me, you would have rejoiced. But what is the sense of this expression
pronounced by the Master? We could complete the phrase and say: If you loved
me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father... but since you think
of yourselves, you are sad because I am leaving, going away. The love of the
disciples is an egoistic love. They do not love Jesus because they do not think
of Him, they think of themselves. Then, the love which Jesus asks, is this
love! A love capable of rejoicing because the other will be happy. A love
capable of not thinking of self as the centre of all the universe, but as a
place in which one feels open to give and to be able to receive: not in
exchange, but as the “effect” of the gift received.
v. 29. I have told you before it takes place, so when
it does take place, you may believe. Jesus instructs his own because he knows that
they will remain confused and will be slow in understanding. His words do not
vanish, they remain as a presence in the world, treasures of understanding in
faith. An encounter with the Absolute who is always and for always in favour of
man.
c) Reflection:
Love: a magic and
ancient word as old as the world, a familiar word which is born in the horizon
of every man in the moment in which he is called into existence. A word written
in his human fibres as origin and end, as an instrument of peace, as bread and
gift, as himself, as others, as God. A word entrusted to history through our
history of every day. Love, a pact which has always had one name alone: man.
Yes, because love coincides with man: love is the air that he breathes, love is
the food which is given to him, love is the rest to which he entrusts himself,
love is the bond of union which makes of him a land of encounter. That love
with which God has seen in his creation and has given: “It is something very
good”. And he has not taken back the commitment taken when man made of himself
a rejection more than a gift, a slap more than a caress, a stone thrown more
than a silent tear. He has loved even more with the eyes and the heart of the Son,
up to the end. This man who became a burning torch of sin, the Father has
redeemed him, again and solely out of love, in the Fire of the Spirit.
4.
ORATIO
Psalm 37,23-31
Psalm 37,23-31
The steps of a man are
from the Lord,
and he establishes him in whose way he delights;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord is the stay of his hand.
I have been young, and now am old;
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging bread.
He is ever giving liberally and lending,
and his children become a blessing.
Depart from evil, and do good;
so shall you abide for ever.
For the Lord loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
The righteous shall be preserved for ever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall possess the land,
and dwell upon it for ever.
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip.
and he establishes him in whose way he delights;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord is the stay of his hand.
I have been young, and now am old;
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging bread.
He is ever giving liberally and lending,
and his children become a blessing.
Depart from evil, and do good;
so shall you abide for ever.
For the Lord loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
The righteous shall be preserved for ever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall possess the land,
and dwell upon it for ever.
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip.
5. CONTEMPLATIO
I see you, Lord,
dwelling in my days through your word which accompanies me in my more intense
moments, when my love for you becomes courageous, audacious and I do not give
up in the face of what I feel that does not belong to me. that Spirit which is
like the wind: blows where it wants and his voice is not heard, that Spirit has
become space in me, and now I can tell you that he is like a dear fried with
whom to remember. To go back to remember the words said, to the lived events,
to the presence perceived while on the way, does good to the heart. I feel
profoundly this indwelling every time that in silence one of your phrases comes
to mind, one of your invitations, one of your words of compassion, your
silence. The nights of your prayer allow me to pray to the Father and to find
peace. Lord, tenderness concealed in the pleads of my gestures, grant me to
treasure all that you are: a scroll which is explained in which it is easy to
understand the sense of my existence. May my words be the dwelling place of
your words, may my hunger be your dwelling, bread of life, may my pain be the
empty tomb and the folded shroud so that everything that you want may be
accomplished, up to the last breath. I love you, Lord, my rock.
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