Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Lectionary: 301
Lectionary: 301
King Agrippa and
Bernice arrived in Caesarea
on a visit to Festus.
Since they spent several days there,
Festus referred Paul’s case to the king, saying,
“There is a man here left in custody by Felix.
When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation.
I answered them that it was not Roman practice
to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers
and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.
So when they came together here, I made no delay;
the next day I took my seat on the tribunal
and ordered the man to be brought in.
His accusers stood around him,
but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected.
Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion
and about a certain Jesus who had died
but who Paul claimed was alive.
Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy,
I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem
and there stand trial on these charges.
And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody
for the Emperor’s decision,
I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”
on a visit to Festus.
Since they spent several days there,
Festus referred Paul’s case to the king, saying,
“There is a man here left in custody by Felix.
When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation.
I answered them that it was not Roman practice
to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers
and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.
So when they came together here, I made no delay;
the next day I took my seat on the tribunal
and ordered the man to be brought in.
His accusers stood around him,
but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected.
Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion
and about a certain Jesus who had died
but who Paul claimed was alive.
Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy,
I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem
and there stand trial on these charges.
And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody
for the Emperor’s decision,
I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”
Responsorial PsalmPS 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20AB
R. (19a) The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you his angels,
you mighty in strength, who do his bidding.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you his angels,
you mighty in strength, who do his bidding.
R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R. Alleluia.
AlleluiaJN 14:26
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 21:15-19
After Jesus had
revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
he said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Meditation: "Do you love Jesus more than
these?"
The Lord Jesus asked Simon Peter and he asks each one of us a
very personal and profound question - do you love me more than anything else
that might be very dear to you? How can the love of Jesus Christ be so
attractive and so costly at the same time? Jesus on many occasions spoke to his
disciples about the nature of God's unquenchable love. God is love (1
John 4:16) because he is the creator and source of all that is true love. His
love is unconditional, unmerited, and unlimited. We can't buy it, earn it,
demand it. It is a pure gift, freely given, and freely received. God's love
doesn't change or waver. It endures because it is eternal and timeless. It’s
the beginning and the end - the purpose for which God created us and why he
wants us to be united with him in a bond of unbreakable love. And it’s the
essence of what is means to be a son or daughter of God the eternal Father.
The Lord Jesus shows us that love is a personal choice and a
gift freely given - it is the giving of oneself to another person for their
sake. Unselfish love is oriented wholly to the good of the other person for
their own welfare and benefit. John the Evangelist tells us that "God so
loved the world that he gave us his only-begotten Son" (John 3:16) who
took on human flesh for our sake and who died upon the cross for our salvation
- to set us free from the power of sin so that we might receive abundant
everlasting life and peace with God.
God's love heals and transforms our lives and frees us from
fear, selfishness, and greed. It draws us to the very heart of God and it
compels us to give him the best we have and all we possess - our gifts, our
time, our resources, our full allegiance, and our very lives. Paul the Apostle
tells us that God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the
Holy Spirit which has been given us (Romans 5:5). What can quench such
love? Certainly fear, sin, pride, indifference, disbelief, and the loss of hope
and trust in God's promises and his mercy towards us.
Do you love me more than these?
Why did Jesus question Peter's loyalty and love three times in front of the other apostles? It must have caused Peter great pain and sorrow since he had publicly denied Jesus three times during the night of Jesus' betrayal and condemnation by the religious authorities who had sought to kill him. Now Peter, full of grief and deep remorse, unequivocally stated that he loved his master and was willing to serve and obey him whatever it might cost. When Jesus asks him "do you love me more than these?" Jesus may have pointed to the boats, fishing nets, and catch of fish from the night's work. He may have challenged Peter to abandon his work as a fisherman for the task of shepherding the community of God's people. Jesus may have also pointed to the other disciples and to Peter's previous boast: "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away" (Matthew 26:33). Peter now makes no boast or comparison but humbly responds: "You know that I love you."
Why did Jesus question Peter's loyalty and love three times in front of the other apostles? It must have caused Peter great pain and sorrow since he had publicly denied Jesus three times during the night of Jesus' betrayal and condemnation by the religious authorities who had sought to kill him. Now Peter, full of grief and deep remorse, unequivocally stated that he loved his master and was willing to serve and obey him whatever it might cost. When Jesus asks him "do you love me more than these?" Jesus may have pointed to the boats, fishing nets, and catch of fish from the night's work. He may have challenged Peter to abandon his work as a fisherman for the task of shepherding the community of God's people. Jesus may have also pointed to the other disciples and to Peter's previous boast: "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away" (Matthew 26:33). Peter now makes no boast or comparison but humbly responds: "You know that I love you."
The Lord Jesus calls each one of us, even in our own weakness,
sins, and failings, to love him above all else. Saint Augustine of Hippo
(354-430 AD) in his Confession wrote: "Late have I loved you, O Beauty so
ancient and so new. Late have I loved you! ...You shone your Self upon me to
drive away my blindness. You breathed your fragrance upon me... and in
astonishment I drew my breath...now I pant for you! I tasted you, and now I
hunger and thirst for you. You touched me! - and I burn to live within your
peace" (Confession 10:27).
Nothing but our own sinful pride and stubborn wilfulness can
keep us from the love of God. He loved us first and our love for him is a
response to his exceeding graciousness and mercy towards us. Do you allow God's
love to fill your heart and transform your life?
"Lord Jesus, inflame my heart with your love and burn
away everything within it that may be unloving, unkind, ungrateful, unholy, and
not in accord with your will. May I always love what you love and reject what
is contrary to your love and will for my life."
FRIDAY, MAY 22, JOHN 21:15-19
Easter Weekday(Acts 25:13b-21; Psalm 103)
Easter Weekday(Acts 25:13b-21; Psalm 103)
KEY VERSE: Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep" (v.17).
TO READ: For Peter's three-fold denial, the Risen Lord gave him three opportunities to profess his devotion. There are two Greek words used for love in this passage. Agape love is the highest love imaginable, the love that God has for the Son and for all created beings. Phileo love has a different connotation, referring to human affection or friendship. Jesus asked Peter twice, "Do you love me?" (Agapas me?). Peter replied, "I love you" (Philo se). The third time, Jesus asked, "Do you love me like a friend?" (Phileis me?). Jesus wanted Peter to know he accepted him in friendship and forgave him for his disavowal of knowing him. To each expression of love, Jesus told Peter to feed his flock. Like Jesus the good Shepherd, Peter would lay down his life for the sake of the sheep (Jn 10:11). He would walk the same road to the cross that Jesus walked..
TO REFLECT: In what ways do I feed the Lord's flock?
TO RESPOND: Risen Lord, I pray for all the shepherds of the Church, especially Pope Francis I.
Optional Memorial of Rita of Cascia, religious
From her early youth, Rita showed an interest in a religious life. However, when she was twelve, her parents betrothed her to an ill-tempered, abusive individual. Disappointed but obedient, Rita married him when she was 18, and became the mother of twin sons. She put up with her husband's abuses for eighteen years before he was ambushed and stabbed to death. Her sons swore vengeance on their father's killers, but through Rita's prayers and interventions, they forgave the offenders. Upon the deaths of her sons, Rita again felt the call to religious life, and she was admitted to the Augustine monastery at age 36. Rita lived 40 years in the convent. She was devoted to the Passion, and in response to a prayer to suffer as Christ, she received a chronic head wound that appeared to have been caused by a crown of thorns, and which bled for 15 years. Rita is well-known as a patron seemingly impossible situations.
Friday 22 May 2015
St Rita of Cascia. Day of
Penance.
Acts 25:13-21. The Lord has set his throne in heaven—Ps 102(103):1-2, 11-12, 19-20. John 21:15-19.
Acts 25:13-21. The Lord has set his throne in heaven—Ps 102(103):1-2, 11-12, 19-20. John 21:15-19.
‘Another will gird you and
carry you where you do not wish to go.’
Jesus warns Peter that the
path of the disciple will not be easy. Each of us is called to be a disciple of
Jesus. We might draw back for various reasons—’I’m not good enough’, ‘not
capable’, ‘too hard’, ‘might fail’. The simple fact is that none of us is good
enough, or capable, and we’re all prone to failure, that is, if it weren’t for
Jesus and his grace. In him, though, everything is possible.
So let us take heart when
we see how the Lord continued to call Peter in spite of desertion, denials and
general bumbling. But there is one important criterion. Jesus asks, not once
but three times, ‘Do you love me?’
Lord, give me the grace to
say from my heart, ‘Lord, you know that I love you.’ Then to follow, like
Peter, where you lead.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Change of Heart
|
Your sins are great? Just tell the Lord: Forgive me, help me to
get up again, change my heart! –Pope Francis
May
22
St. Rita of Cascia
(1381-1457)
St. Rita of Cascia
(1381-1457)
Like Elizabeth Ann Seton, Rita of Cascia was a wife, mother, widow
and member of a religious community. Her holiness was reflected in each phase
of her life.
Born at
Roccaporena in central Italy, Rita wanted to become a nun but was pressured at
a young age into marrying a harsh and cruel man. During her 18-year marriage,
she bore and raised two sons. After her husband was killed in a brawl and her
sons had died, Rita tried to join the Augustinian nuns in Cascia. Unsuccessful
at first because she was a widow, Rita eventually succeeded.
Over the
years, her austerity, prayerfulness and charity became legendary. When she
developed wounds on her forehead, people quickly associated them with the
wounds from Christ's crown of thorns. She meditated frequently on Christ's
passion. Her care for the sick nuns was especially loving. She also counseled
lay people who came to her monastery.
Beatified
in 1626, Rita was not canonized until 1900. She has acquired the reputation,
together with St. Jude, as a saint of impossible cases. Many people visit her
tomb each year.
Comment:
Although we can easily imagine an ideal world in which to live out our baptismal vocation, such a world does not exist. An “If only ….” approach to holiness never quite gets underway, never produces the fruit that God has a right to expect.
Although we can easily imagine an ideal world in which to live out our baptismal vocation, such a world does not exist. An “If only ….” approach to holiness never quite gets underway, never produces the fruit that God has a right to expect.
Rita became holy
because she made choices that reflected her Baptism and her growth as a
disciple of Jesus. Her overarching, lifelong choice was to cooperate generously
with God's grace, but many small choices were needed to make that happen. Few
of those choices were made in ideal circumstances—not even when Rita became an
Augustinian nun.
Quote:
For the Baptism of adults and for all the baptized at the Easter Vigil, three questions are asked: “Do you reject sin so as to live in the freedom of God's children? Do you reject the glamor of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin? Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?”
For the Baptism of adults and for all the baptized at the Easter Vigil, three questions are asked: “Do you reject sin so as to live in the freedom of God's children? Do you reject the glamor of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin? Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?”
Patron Saint of:
Difficult marriages
Impossible causes
Infertility
Parenthood
Difficult marriages
Impossible causes
Infertility
Parenthood
LECTIO DIVINA:
JOHN 21,15-19
Lectio:
Friday, May 22, 2015
1)
OPENING PRAYER
Lord our God,
you have appointed shepherds in your Church
to speak your word to us
and to build community in your name.
We pray you today:
May they be shepherds like your Son
who look for those who have lost the way,
bring back the stray, bandage the wounded
and make the weak strong.
May they all be ministers
of your tender love and service,
as Jesus was, your Son and our Lord.
you have appointed shepherds in your Church
to speak your word to us
and to build community in your name.
We pray you today:
May they be shepherds like your Son
who look for those who have lost the way,
bring back the stray, bandage the wounded
and make the weak strong.
May they all be ministers
of your tender love and service,
as Jesus was, your Son and our Lord.
2)
GOSPEL READING - JOHN 21,15-19
When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of
John, do you love me more than these others do?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you
know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my lambs.'
A second time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love
me?' He replied, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Look
after my sheep.'
Then he said to him a third time, 'Simon son of John, do you
love me?' Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, 'Do you love me?' and
said, 'Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.' Jesus said to him,
'Feed my sheep. In all truth I tell you, when you were young you put on your
own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out
your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you
would rather not go.'
In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter
would give glory to God. After this he said, 'Follow me.'
3)
REFLECTION
• We are in the last days before Pentecost. During the time of
Lent the selection of the Gospels of the day continues the ancient tradition of
the Church. Between Easter and Pentecost, the Gospel of John is preferred. And
thus, during these last days, before Pentecost, the Gospels of the day narrate
the last verses of the Gospel of John. When again we go to Ordinary time, we
will go back to the Gospel of Mark. In the weeks of Ordinary Time, the Liturgy
proceeds to a continuous reading of the Gospel of Mark (from the 1st to the 9th
week of the Ordinary Time), of Matthew (from the 10th to 21st week of Ordinary
Time) and of Luke from the 22nd to the 34th week of Ordinary Time).
• The Gospel readings for today and for tomorrow speak about the
last encounter of Jesus with his disciples. It was an encounter of celebration,
marked by tenderness and affection. At the end Jesus calls Peter and asks him
three times: “Do you love me?” Only after having received three times the same
affirmative response, Jesus entrusts to Peter the mission of taking care of the
lambs. In order to be able to work in the community Jesus does not ask us many
things. What he asks of us is to have much love!
• John 21. 15-17: Love in the centre of the mission. After a
whole night of fishing in the lake catching not even one fish, they go to the
shore, the disciples discover that Jesus had prepared bread and roasted fish
for them. When they finished eating, Jesus calls Peter and asks him three
times: “Do you love me?” Three times, because Peter denied Jesus three times
(Jn 18, 17.25-27). After the three affirmative responses, Peter also becomes a
“Beloved Disciple” and receives the order to take care of the lambs. Jesus does
not ask Peter if he had studied exegesis, theology, Morals, or Canon Law. He
only asks: “Do you love me?” Love in the first place. For the communities of the
Beloved Disciple the force which supports and maintains united is not the
doctrine, but love.
• John 21, 18-19: The foresight of death. Jesus tells Peter:
Truly I tell you: when you were young, you put on your own belt and walked
where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and
somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would rather not
go! Throughout life, Peter and we also, attain maturity. The practice of love
will take roots in life and the persons will not longer be the patrons of their
own life. Service to the brothers and sisters out of love will prevail and will
lead us. Somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would
rather not go. This is the meaning of the following. And the Evangelist
comments: “He tells him this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would
give glory to God”. And Jesus adds: “Follow me.”
• Love in John – Peter, do you love me? – The Beloved Disciple.
The word love is one of the words which today are more used by us. Precisely,
because of this, it is a word that has been greatly worn out. But the
communities of the Beloved Disciple manifested their identity and their own
project by this word. To love is, above all, a profound experience of
relationship among persons in which there are similar sentiments and values:
joy, sadness, suffering, growth, renunciation, dedication, fulfilment, gift,
commitment, life, death, etc. All these together is summarized in the Bible in
one only word in the Hebrew language. This word is hesed. Its translation in
our language is difficult. Generally, in our Bibles it is translated by
charity, mercy, fidelity or love. The communities of the Beloved Disciple
sought to live this practice of love in a very radical way. Jesus revealed this
in his encounters with persons with sentiments of friendship and tenderness, as
for example, in his relationship with the family of Martha and Mary of Bethany:
“Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” He weeps before the tomb of
Lazarus (Jn 11, 5.33-36). Jesus always embodies his mission in a manifestation
of love: “having loved his own, he loved them to the end” (Jn 13, 1). In this
love, Jesus manifests his profound identity with the Father (Jn 15, 9). For his
communities, there was no other commandment, except this one “to act as Jesus
acted” (1 Jn 2, 6). This presupposes to love the brethren” (1 Jn 2, 7-11; 3,
11-24; 2 Jn 4-6). Being such a central commandment in the life of the
community, the writings of John define love as follows: “This is the proof of
love that he laid down his life for us and we too ought to lay down our lives
for our brothers”. Our love should not be just words or mere talk but something
active and genuine”. (1 Jn 3, 16-17). Anyone who lives this love and manifests
it in words and attitudes becomes a Beloved Disciple.
4)
FOR PERSONAL CONFRONTATION
• Look within you and say: which is the most profound reason
which impels you to work in the community? Love or the concern for ideas?
• Considering the relationships among us, with God and with
nature, what type of community are we constructing?
5)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Bless Yahweh, my soul,
from the depths of my being, his holy name;
bless Yahweh, my soul,
never forget all his acts of kindness. (Ps 103,1-2)
from the depths of my being, his holy name;
bless Yahweh, my soul,
never forget all his acts of kindness. (Ps 103,1-2)
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