Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 280
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.
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.
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.”
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
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."
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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EASTER WEEKDAY, TUESDAY,
MAY 13, JOHN 10:22-30
(Acts 11:19-26; Psalm 87)
(Acts 11:19-26; Psalm 87)
KEY VERSE: "But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep" (v 26).
READING: As a faithful Jew, Jesus went to the temple for the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah). This feast commemorated the rededication of the temple by the Maccabees after its desecration in 164 BCE by the Syrian King Antiochus IV Epiphanes (1 Mc 4:36-59). While in the temple, Jesus was confronted by those who demanded to know whether or not he claimed to be the Messiah. Jesus pointed to the works that he did as evidence that God had sent him. The words and deeds of Jesus were the words and deeds of God. The reason his adversaries did not recognize him was because they did not belong to his flock. Those who belonged to Jesus knew him and followed him. God gave these faithful ones to Jesus, the "good shepherd" (v 11), who kept careful watch over his own. No one could snatch them from his hand because he and the Father were one
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 Our Lady of Fatima
The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared six times to three shepherd children near the town of Fatima, Portugal between May 13th and October 13th 1917. She told them that she had been sent by God with a message for every man, woman and child. She promised that Heaven would grant peace to all the world if her requests for prayer, reparation and consecration were heard and obeyed. The Blessed Mother repeatedly emphasized the necessity of praying the Rosary daily, of wearing the Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel and of performing acts of reparation and sacrifice. Our Lady requested the solemn public Consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart. She also asked that the Faithful practice a devotion of reparation on the first Saturday of five consecutive months ("the Five First Saturdays"). The heart of Our Lady's Message to the world is contained in what has come to be called the "Secret" which she confided to the three child seers in July 1917. Two of those children, Jacinta and Francisco Martos, died shortly after the apparitions, and on May 13, 2000 the Pope declared them 'Blessed.' At the Mass of Beatification, the third part of the Secret of Fatima was finally revealed to the world on the instruction of Pope John Paul. Sr. Lucy Dos Santos, the eldest of the three, died after a long illness at the age of 97 on February 13, 2004 at her Carmelite convent in Coimbra, Portugal. Pope John Paul II publicly credited Our Lady of Fatima for saving his life in an attempted assassination at Saint Peters in 1981 (which took place on the 64th anniversary of the first Fatima apparition).
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Loving Family
Jesus, in your family life, you grew in wisdom, age and grace
before God and people. Help us to follow the same path on our journey toward a
loving union with you. With your guidance we can live in a family united in
respect and love
All you nations, praise the Lord
‘The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice.’Good teachers always use stories and examples that are relevant to their class. Jesus was a great teacher and his stories of sheep and shepherds would have been understood by his followers. How different the hostile crowd in today’s gospel! They ignore the message of belonging to the flock. Instead they demand a sign and a declaration that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. Jesus tells them that his healing works and teachings are his witness. But the community leaders and found Jesus was eroding their authority. Like the sheep that need their shepherd’s protection, we need each other to survive in this world and most of all we need God’s protection. Let us respond to his call today and trust that we are held in his embrace.
May
13
Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fatima
Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, three Portuguese children
received apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria, near Fatima, a city 110 miles
north of Lisbon. (See February 20 entry for Blesseds Jacinta and Francisco
Marto). Mary asked the children to pray the rosary for world peace, for the end
of World War I, for sinners and for the conversion of Russia. The third
visionary, Lucia dos Santos, became a Carmelite nun and died in 2005 at the age
of 97.
Mary gave
the children three secrets. Since Francisco died in 1919 and Jacinta the
following year, Lucia revealed the first secret in 1927, concerning devotion to
the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The second secret was a vision of hell.
Pope John
Paul II directed the Holy See's Secretary of State to reveal the third secret
in 2000; it spoke of a "bishop in white" who was shot by a group of
soldiers who fired bullets and arrows into him. Many people linked this to the
assassination attempt against Blessed John Paul II in St. Peter's Square on May
13, 1981.
The feast
of Our Lady of Fatima was approved by the local bishop in 1930; it was added to
the Church's worldwide calendar in 2002.
Comment:
The message of Fatima is simple: Pray. Unfortunately, some people—not Sister Lucia—have distorted these revelations, making them into an apocalyptic event for which they are now the only reliable interpreters. They have, for example, claimed that Mary's request that the world be consecrated to her has been ignored. Sister Lucia agreed that Pope John Paul II's public consecration in St. Peter's Square on March 25, 1984, fulfilled Mary's request. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith prepared a June 26, 2000 document explaining the “third secret” (available at www.vatican.va).
The message of Fatima is simple: Pray. Unfortunately, some people—not Sister Lucia—have distorted these revelations, making them into an apocalyptic event for which they are now the only reliable interpreters. They have, for example, claimed that Mary's request that the world be consecrated to her has been ignored. Sister Lucia agreed that Pope John Paul II's public consecration in St. Peter's Square on March 25, 1984, fulfilled Mary's request. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith prepared a June 26, 2000 document explaining the “third secret” (available at www.vatican.va).
Mary is perfectly
honored when people generously imitate her response “Let it be done to me as
you say” (Luke 1:38). Mary can never be seen as a rival to Jesus or to the
Church's teaching authority, as exercised by the college of bishops united with
the bishop of Rome.
Quote:
“Throughout history there have been supernatural apparitions and signs which go to the heart of human events and which, to the surprise of believers and non-believers alike, play their part in the unfolding of history. These manifestations can never contradict the content of faith and must, therefore, have their focus in the core of Christ's proclamation: the Father's love which leads men and women to conversion and bestows the grace required to abandon oneself to him with filial devotion. This too is the message of Fatima which, with its urgent call to conversion and penance, draws us to the heart of the Gospel” (The Message of Fatima, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, June 26, 2000)
“Throughout history there have been supernatural apparitions and signs which go to the heart of human events and which, to the surprise of believers and non-believers alike, play their part in the unfolding of history. These manifestations can never contradict the content of faith and must, therefore, have their focus in the core of Christ's proclamation: the Father's love which leads men and women to conversion and bestows the grace required to abandon oneself to him with filial devotion. This too is the message of Fatima which, with its urgent call to conversion and penance, draws us to the heart of the Gospel” (The Message of Fatima, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, June 26, 2000)
LECTIO DIVINA:
JOHN 10,22-30
Lectio:
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
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.
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 - JOHN 10,22-30
It was the time of the feast of Dedication in Jerusalem. It was
winter, and Jesus was in the Temple walking up and down in the Portico of
Solomon. The Jews gathered round him and said, 'How much longer are you going
to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us openly.'
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, in
the Portico of Solomon. The Jews said: "How much longer are you going to
keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us openly”. They wanted Jesus
to define himself and that they could verify, according to their own criteria,
if Jesus was or was not the Messiah. They wanted some proofs. It is the
attitude of the one who feels that he dominates the situation. The new ones
must present their credentials. Otherwise, they have no right to speak or to
act.
• 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)
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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