Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 284
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.
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.
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.
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.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.”
“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? - To know
God. What is the best thing we can possess in this life, bringing more joy,
contentment, and happiness, than anything else? - 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 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 -
without reservation, unselfishly - for our sake and not his, and perfectly -
without neglecting or forgetting us even for a brief moment. 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 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."
SATURDAY, MAY 2, JOHN 14:7-14
(Acts 13:44-52; Psalm 98)
(Acts 13:44-52; Psalm 98)
KEY VERSE: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (v 9).
TO READ: Jesus came to reveal God the Father. His words and works testified to the life and truth that he shared with the Father. Philip asked for some manifestation (theophany) of God such as Moses experienced on Mount Sinai (Ex 33:18). Jesus said that if they really understood who he was, they would "see" the Father in him. Although God is Spirit, Jesus is the living revelation of God the Father who acts in and through him. If his disciples could not believe Jesus' words, at least they could believe in the works he had done. Jesus assured his followers that if they had faith in him, they would accomplish even greater works. He promised to empower the Church to act in his name through the coming of the Holy Spirit.
TO REFLECT: In what ways do I see Jesus working through me? Am I able to I see him working in others?
TO RESPOND: Risen Lord, help me to understand the Divine mystery you came to reveal.
Memorial of Athanasius, bishop and doctor of
the Church
Athanasius was born in Alexandria, Egypt, towards the end of the third century, and from his youth was pious and deeply versed in the sacred writings. While still a deacon, he was chosen by Alexander, his bishop, to go with him to the Council of Nicea, A.D. 325. There Athanasius defended the Church against the Arian heresy, which denied the Divinity of Christ. When Alexander was dying, he recommended Athanasius to be his successor as Patriarch of Alexandria, and he served in that office for forty-six years. When the dispute over Arianism spilled over from theology to politics, Athanasius was exiled five times, and spent more than a third of his episcopate in exile. He is a biographer of St. Anthony the Abbot, a Confessor of the faith and Doctor of he Church.
Note: Arianism taught that Christ was a creation of the Father, a creature, and not part of God. Athanasius formulated the doctrine of homoousianism which said that Christ was "consubstantial with the Father,” as we pray in the Nicene Creed.
Saturday 2 May 2015
St Athanasius.
Acts 13:44-52. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God—Ps 97(98):1-4. John 14:7-14.
Acts 13:44-52. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God—Ps 97(98):1-4. John 14:7-14.
Readings
Jesus promises that, if
we believe in him, we will do even greater works than he did.
These are challenging words. How could we
possibly even dare to pray for the healing of the blind, the raising of the
dead or the calming of a storm?
Jesus went on to promise the disciples:
‘You will know that I am in the Father, and you in me and I in you’ (John
14:20). Experiencing God’s presence in us will convince us that there is no
hurt so great that he cannot heal it. There is no heart too hard not to be
melted by God’s love. No miracle is impossible if God wills it.
Jesus, thank you for taking up your
dwelling in my heart. I am amazed that you would choose to live in me! May I be
pleasing to you today and always, in all I say and do. And may the works you do
through me glorify you.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
No Joke
|
A divine voice spoke to my soul, saying, “I did not love you as a
joke.” These words caused me mortal pain for immediately the eyes of my soul
were opened and I saw all that he suffered in life and death…and that it was
not as a joke but because of perfect and tender love that he loved me. –Blessed
Angela of Foligno
May
2
St. Athanasius
(295?-373)
St. Athanasius
(295?-373)
Athanasius led a tumultuous but dedicated life of service to the
Church. He was the great champion of the faith against the widespread heresy of
Arianism, the teaching by Arius that Jesus was not truly divine. The vigor of
his writings earned him the title of doctor of the Church.
Born of a
Christian family in Alexandria, Egypt, and given a classical education,
Athanasius became secretary to Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria, entered the
priesthood and was eventually named bishop himself. His predecessor, Alexander,
had been an outspoken critic of a new movement growing in the East—Arianism.
When
Athanasius assumed his role as bishop of Alexandria, he continued the fight
against Arianism. At first it seemed that the battle would be easily won and
that Arianism would be condemned. Such, however, did not prove to be the case.
The Council of Tyre was called and for several reasons that are still unclear,
the Emperor Constantine exiled Athanasius to northern Gaul. This was to be the
first in a series of travels and exiles reminiscent of the life of St. Paul.
After
Constantine died, his son restored Athanasius as bishop. This lasted only a
year, however, for he was deposed once again by a coalition of Arian bishops.
Athanasius took his case to Rome, and Pope Julius I called a synod to review
the case and other related matters.
Five
times Athanasius was exiled for his defense of the doctrine of Christ’s
divinity. During one period of his life, he enjoyed 10 years of relative
peace—reading, writing and promoting the Christian life along the lines of the
monastic ideal to which he was greatly devoted. His dogmatic and historical
writings are almost all polemic, directed against every aspect of Arianism.
Among his
ascetical writings, his Life of St. Anthony (January 17)
achieved astonishing popularity and contributed greatly to the establishment of
monastic life throughout the Western Christian world.
Comment:
Athanasius suffered many trials while he was bishop of Alexandria. He was given the grace to remain strong against what probably seemed at times to be insurmountable opposition. Athanasius lived his office as bishop completely. He defended the true faith for his flock, regardless of the cost to himself. In today’s world we are experiencing this same call to remain true to our faith, no matter what.
Athanasius suffered many trials while he was bishop of Alexandria. He was given the grace to remain strong against what probably seemed at times to be insurmountable opposition. Athanasius lived his office as bishop completely. He defended the true faith for his flock, regardless of the cost to himself. In today’s world we are experiencing this same call to remain true to our faith, no matter what.
Quote:
The hardships Athanasius suffered in exile, hiding, fleeing from place to place remind us that Paul said his ministry took him: “[O]n frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings, through cold and exposure. And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:26-28).
The hardships Athanasius suffered in exile, hiding, fleeing from place to place remind us that Paul said his ministry took him: “[O]n frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings, through cold and exposure. And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:26-28).
LECTIO DIVINA:
JOHN 14,7-14
Lectio:
Saturday, May 2, 2015
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 - JOHN 14,7-14
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.
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.
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?
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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