Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Lectionary:
293
Reading
After Paul’s escorts had taken him to Athens
they came away with instructions for Silas and Timothy
to join him as soon as possible.
Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said:
“You Athenians, I see that in every respect
you are very religious.
For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines,
I even discovered an altar inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’
What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you.
The God who made the world and all that is in it,
the Lord of heaven and earth,
does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,
nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything.
Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.
He made from one the whole human race
to dwell on the entire surface of the earth,
and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions,
so that people might seek God,
even perhaps grope for him and find him,
though indeed he is not far from any one of us.
For ‘In him we live and move and have our being,’
as even some of your poets have said,
‘For we too are his offspring.’
Since therefore we are the offspring of God,
we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image
fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination.
God has overlooked the times of ignorance,
but now he demands that all people everywhere repent
because he has established a day on which he will ‘judge the world
with justice’ through a man he has appointed,
and he has provided confirmation for all
by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about resurrection of the dead,
some began to scoff, but others said,
“We should like to hear you on this some other time.”
And so Paul left them.
But some did join him, and became believers.
Among them were Dionysius,
a member of the Court of the Areopagus,
a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
After this he leftAthens
and went to Corinth
they came away with instructions for Silas and Timothy
to join him as soon as possible.
Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said:
“You Athenians, I see that in every respect
you are very religious.
For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines,
I even discovered an altar inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’
What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you.
The God who made the world and all that is in it,
the Lord of heaven and earth,
does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,
nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything.
Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.
He made from one the whole human race
to dwell on the entire surface of the earth,
and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions,
so that people might seek God,
even perhaps grope for him and find him,
though indeed he is not far from any one of us.
For ‘In him we live and move and have our being,’
as even some of your poets have said,
‘For we too are his offspring.’
Since therefore we are the offspring of God,
we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image
fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination.
God has overlooked the times of ignorance,
but now he demands that all people everywhere repent
because he has established a day on which he will ‘judge the world
with justice’ through a man he has appointed,
and he has provided confirmation for all
by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about resurrection of the dead,
some began to scoff, but others said,
“We should like to hear you on this some other time.”
And so Paul left them.
But some did join him, and became believers.
Among them were Dionysius,
a member of the Court of the Areopagus,
a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
After this he left
Responsorial PsalmPS 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14
R. Heaven and earth are full of
your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you his angels;
praise him, all you his hosts.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
the princes and all the judges of the earth,
Young men too, and maidens,
old men and boys.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
His majesty is above earth and heaven.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has lifted up the horn of his people;
Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,
from the children ofIsrael
Alleluia.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you his angels;
praise him, all you his hosts.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
the princes and all the judges of the earth,
Young men too, and maidens,
old men and boys.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
His majesty is above earth and heaven.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has lifted up the horn of his people;
Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,
from the children of
Alleluia.
R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
GospelJN 16:12-15
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you.”
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you.”
Meditation: "The Spirit will guide you into
the truth"
What would you give to know
all truth! Truth, however, is not something we create nor is it our discovery.
It is the gift of God who is the possessor and the giver of all truth. Jesus
tells his disciples that it is the role of the Holy Spirit to reveal what is
true. How can this be? Skeptics of truth don't want to believe in an absolute
Truth. If truth is objective then it must be submitted to as authoritative.
Some fear the truth because they think it will inhibit their freedom to act and
think as they wish. Jesus told his disciples thatthe truth will set you free (John 8:32). The truth liberates us
from doubts, illusions, and fears. Since God is the source of all truth, then
the closer we draw to him and listen to his word, the more we grow in the
knowledge of him and of his great love and wisdom for us.Jesus told his disciples that he would send them the Spirit of truth who will guide you into all the truth ..and declare to you the things that are to come (John 16:13). Through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit poured out on the new community of faith on the day of Pentecost, we too are able to profess the same creed which the apostles proclaimed – that Jesus died, and was buried, and rose again on the third day, and will come again to judge, raise the dead, and give everlasting life (the Apostles Creed). We not only have the same faith given to the apostles and early believers, but we have the same Spirit in us who raised Jesus from the dead. The Lord Jesus gives each of us his Holy Spirit as our divine Teacher and Helper that we may grow in the knowledge and wisdom of God. Do you listen attentively to God's word and allow his Holy Spirit to give you understanding of God's truth and will for your life?
"Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and guide me in your way of life and truth. Free me from ignorance of your ways, and from deception caused by sinful pride and rebellion. May I love you wholly with all of my strength, mind, and will and seek to please you in all things.
www.dailyscripture.net
 Nothing But the Truth |
|
Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
|
|
Father John Doyle, LC John 16:12-15 Jesus said to his disciples: "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you." 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: Lord, allow me to be sincerely and truthfully yours. 1. My Truth Before God: Jesus tells his apostles he has many more things to tell them, but it seems that they are not yet ready to accept the truth. They were not ready, for one thing, to acknowledge the fact that in a few short hours all of them would flee before the prospect of the Cross, leaving Christ quite alone. I, too, may find it hard to see, or to accept, a realistic picture of my relationship with Christ or my state of soul. I may justify myself or my indifference with any number of psychological consolations. I might convince myself that I am not quite as bad off as so-and-so. Perhaps I put up an excellent external show, living all the motions, but with little true conviction and sincerity. 2. Cheap Deceptions: In our consumer-oriented world, first impressions often seem to count more than the goodness or evil of a thing. Opinion polls appear to set the standard for right and wrong, and a false idea of tolerance is a highly held ideal. Truth can be seen as bluntly offensive, and so it is repackaged in a more appealing way. However, none of these attempts by the “spirit of the world” can ever succeed in the end, just as no amount of darkness can ever stop the smallest beam of light. The Holy Spirit is at work in the world declaring the truth loud and clear in the depths of the human soul. Only the truth -- which comes from Christ -- has the power to bring true peace and joy to the human heart when all illusions are shown up as such. 3. Living in the Truth: As Christians we must be on guard against the spirit of insincerity. No one who lives outside the truth can claim to be a disciple of Christ. Little falsehoods in our lives are utterly destructive to the action of the “Spirit of Truth” in our souls. Our Savior never spoke out so strongly against anything as he did against the pretended righteousness of the leaders of his time. How many things have I done recently just to be praised by others? How many good things have I done which are known to God alone? Am I capable of standing firm to my convictions in the face of misunderstanding or ridicule? Conversation with Christ: Jesus, the example of your life and death is one of complete honesty. Empower me through the “Spirit of Truth” to be sincere in all that I do before God and others.
Resolution: I will ask forgiveness in the sacrament of
reconciliation at the first available opportunity for any insincerity in my
life.
|
WEDNESDAY,
MAY 8
Easter Weekday
JOHN 16:12-15
(Acts 17:15, 22 ̶ 18:1; Psalm 148)
KEY VERSE: "But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth" (v 13).
REFLECTING: Do I hand on the faith that I have received to others?
PRAYING: Holy Spirit, help the Church to grow in knowledge and wisdom of God's truth.
Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
His splendour transcends earth and heaven.
The words of today’s psalm, ‘He heightens the strength of his people’, reinforce our understanding of Jesus’ words as presented by John. When the Spirit of truth comes, Jesus says, we will understand the new order he brought. By being open to the Spirit, the indwelling presence of God within us, we begin to see how it can animate our lives and open doors to understandings we could never imagine.
Richard Rohr tells us: ‘The Spirit blows where it pleases, and for those of us on the journey, all we can do is listen and remain open.’ Through contemplative prayer we can tap into the Spirit always there: ‘It’s a way of living in the Presence, living in awareness of the Presence, and even of enjoying the Presence’ (Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer).
www.churchresources.info
May 8
(c. 1102-1174)
There are two men named St. Peter of Tarentaise who lived one
century apart. The man we honor today is the younger Peter, born in France
The
Peter we’re focusing on became a Cistercian monk and eventually served as
abbot. In 1142, he was named archbishop of Tarentaise, replacing a bishop who
had been deposed because of corruption. Peter tackled his new assignment with
vigor. He brought reform into his diocese, replaced lax clergy and reached out
to the poor. He visited all parts of his mountainous diocese on a regular
basis.After about a decade as bishop Peter “disappeared” for a year and lived quietly as a lay brother at an abbey in
Peter died in 1175 on his way home from an unsuccessful papal assignment to reconcile the kings of
www.americancatholic.org
LECTIO: JOHN 16,12-15
Lectio:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
1) Opening prayer
Lord God, our Father,
you are not far away from any of us,
for in you we live and move and exist
and you live in us
through your Holy Spirit.
Be indeed with us, Lord,
send us your Holy Spirit of truth
and through him deepen our understanding
of the life and message of your Son,
that we may accept the full truth
and live by it consistently.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
you are not far away from any of us,
for in you we live and move and exist
and you live in us
through your Holy Spirit.
Be indeed with us, Lord,
send us your Holy Spirit of truth
and through him deepen our understanding
of the life and message of your Son,
that we may accept the full truth
and live by it consistently.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading
Jesus said to his disciples: "I still
have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you to bear now.
However, when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth,
since he will not be speaking of his own accord, but will say only what he has
been told; and he will reveal to you the things to come. He will glorify me,
since all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the
Father has is mine; that is why I said: all he reveals to you will be taken
from what is mine."
3) Reflection
• In these weeks of Easter Time, the Gospels
of each day are almost always taken from chapters 12 to 17 of the Gospel of
John. That reveals something regarding the origin and the destination of these
chapters. They show not only what happened before the Passion and the death of
Jesus, but also and above all, the living out of faith of the first communities
after the resurrection. They express the Paschal faith which animated them.
• John 16, 12: I still have many things to say to you. The Gospel today begins with this phrase: “I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you to bear now”. In these words of Jesus there are two things: the environment of the farewell, which characterized the Last Supper, and the concern of Jesus, the older brother, for his younger brothers, who within a brief time will remain without his presence. The time left was very short. Within a short time, Jesus will be arrested. The work begun was not yet complete. The disciples were just at the beginning of their apprenticeship. Three years are a very short time to change life and to begin to live and to think in a new image of God. Their formation was not yet finished. Much was still lacking and Jesus had still many things to teach them and to transmit to them, but he knows his disciples. They are not among the most intelligent. They would not be capable to know now all the consequences and implications of discipleship. They would become discouraged. They would not be able to bear this.
• John 16, 13-15: The Holy Spirit will come to their help. “However, when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking of his own accord, but will say only what he has been told; and he will reveal to you the things to come. He will glorify me, since all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine”. This affirmation of Jesus shows the experience of the first communities. In the measure in which they sought to imitate Jesus, trying to interpret and apply his Word to the various circumstances of their life, they experienced the presence and the light of the Spirit. And this happens even today in the communities which try to incarnate the Word of Jesus in their life. The root of this experience is the words of Jesus: “Everything the Father has is mine that is why I said: all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine”.
• The action of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John. John uses many images and symbols to signify the action of the Holy Spirit. Like in creation (Gen 1, 1), the Spirit also descends on Jesus, “in the form of a dove, come from Heaven” (Jn 1, 32). It is the beginning of the new creation! Jesus speaks the words of God and communicates the Sprit without reserve to us (Jn 3, 34). His words are Spirit and Life (Jn 6, 63). When Jesus bids farewell, he said that he would have sent another Paraclete, Consoler, another defender, who will remain with us. It is the Holy Spirit (Jn 14, 16-17). By his Passion, death and Resurrection, Jesus won for us the gift of the Holy Spirit. By Baptism all of us have received this same Spirit of Jesus (Jn 1, 33). When he appeared to the apostles, he breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit!” (Jn 20, 22). The Spirit is like the water which springs from within the persons who believe in Jesus (Jn 7, 37-39; 4, 14). The first effect of the action of the Spirit in us is reconciliation: “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained”. (Jn 20, 23). The Spirit which Jesus communicates to us has multiple actions: consoles and spreads (Jn 14, 16), he communicates truth (Jn 14, 17; 16, 13), makes us remember what Jesus taught (Jn 14, 26); will give witness of Jesus (Jo 15, 26); manifests the glory of Jesus (Jn 16, 14); will convince the world concerning sin, justice (Jn 16, 8). The Spirit is given to us so that we can understand the complete meaning of the words of Jesus (Jn 14, 26); 16, 12-13). Encouraged by the Spirit of Jesus we can adore God in any place (Jn 4, 23-24). Here lies the liberty of the Spirit of whichSaint Paul
• John 16, 12: I still have many things to say to you. The Gospel today begins with this phrase: “I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you to bear now”. In these words of Jesus there are two things: the environment of the farewell, which characterized the Last Supper, and the concern of Jesus, the older brother, for his younger brothers, who within a brief time will remain without his presence. The time left was very short. Within a short time, Jesus will be arrested. The work begun was not yet complete. The disciples were just at the beginning of their apprenticeship. Three years are a very short time to change life and to begin to live and to think in a new image of God. Their formation was not yet finished. Much was still lacking and Jesus had still many things to teach them and to transmit to them, but he knows his disciples. They are not among the most intelligent. They would not be capable to know now all the consequences and implications of discipleship. They would become discouraged. They would not be able to bear this.
• John 16, 13-15: The Holy Spirit will come to their help. “However, when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking of his own accord, but will say only what he has been told; and he will reveal to you the things to come. He will glorify me, since all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine”. This affirmation of Jesus shows the experience of the first communities. In the measure in which they sought to imitate Jesus, trying to interpret and apply his Word to the various circumstances of their life, they experienced the presence and the light of the Spirit. And this happens even today in the communities which try to incarnate the Word of Jesus in their life. The root of this experience is the words of Jesus: “Everything the Father has is mine that is why I said: all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine”.
• The action of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John. John uses many images and symbols to signify the action of the Holy Spirit. Like in creation (Gen 1, 1), the Spirit also descends on Jesus, “in the form of a dove, come from Heaven” (Jn 1, 32). It is the beginning of the new creation! Jesus speaks the words of God and communicates the Sprit without reserve to us (Jn 3, 34). His words are Spirit and Life (Jn 6, 63). When Jesus bids farewell, he said that he would have sent another Paraclete, Consoler, another defender, who will remain with us. It is the Holy Spirit (Jn 14, 16-17). By his Passion, death and Resurrection, Jesus won for us the gift of the Holy Spirit. By Baptism all of us have received this same Spirit of Jesus (Jn 1, 33). When he appeared to the apostles, he breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit!” (Jn 20, 22). The Spirit is like the water which springs from within the persons who believe in Jesus (Jn 7, 37-39; 4, 14). The first effect of the action of the Spirit in us is reconciliation: “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained”. (Jn 20, 23). The Spirit which Jesus communicates to us has multiple actions: consoles and spreads (Jn 14, 16), he communicates truth (Jn 14, 17; 16, 13), makes us remember what Jesus taught (Jn 14, 26); will give witness of Jesus (Jo 15, 26); manifests the glory of Jesus (Jn 16, 14); will convince the world concerning sin, justice (Jn 16, 8). The Spirit is given to us so that we can understand the complete meaning of the words of Jesus (Jn 14, 26); 16, 12-13). Encouraged by the Spirit of Jesus we can adore God in any place (Jn 4, 23-24). Here lies the liberty of the Spirit of which
4) Personal questions
• How do I live my adherence to Jesus: alone
or in community?
• Has my participation in the community led me, sometimes, to experience the light and the force of the Holy Spirit?
• Has my participation in the community led me, sometimes, to experience the light and the force of the Holy Spirit?
5) Concluding Prayer
The name of the Lord is sublime,
his splendour transcends earth and heaven.
For he heightens the strength of his people,
to the praise of all his faithful,
the people close to him. (Ps 148,13-14)
www.ocarm.orghis splendour transcends earth and heaven.
For he heightens the strength of his people,
to the praise of all his faithful,
the people close to him. (Ps 148,13-14)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét