Saturday
of the Second Week of Easter
Lectionary: 272
Lectionary: 272
As
the number of disciples continued to grow,
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows
were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word.”
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,
so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,
also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the Apostles
who prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread,
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;
even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows
were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word.”
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,
so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,
also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the Apostles
who prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread,
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;
even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
R.
(22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Christ is risen, who made all things;
he has shown mercy on all people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ is risen, who made all things;
he has shown mercy on all people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 6:16-21
When
it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea,
embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.
It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,
and they began to be afraid.
But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
They wanted to take him into the boat,
but the boat immediately arrived at the shore
to which they were heading.
embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.
It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,
and they began to be afraid.
But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
They wanted to take him into the boat,
but the boat immediately arrived at the shore
to which they were heading.
Meditation: Jesus said: "It is I - do
not be afraid"
Does
the Lord Jesus ever seem distant to you? When John recounted the scene of the
apostles being alone at sea in a storm he described the situation as
"dark" (John 6:17). It was dark not only physically but spiritually
as well. Although they were experienced fishermen, they were fearful for their
lives. The Lord's sudden presence - and his supernatural ability to walk
towards them on top of the rough waves of the sea - only made them more
fearful! John says they were frightened. And Jesus had to calm them with a
reassuring command: "Do not be afraid because I am here with you!"
Aren't
we like the apostles when we experience moments of darkness, fear, and trials?
While the Lord may at times seem absent or very distant to us, he, nonetheless,
is always present and close-by. The Scriptures remind us that the Lord is
"a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). Whatever storms may
beset us, he promises to "bring us to our desired haven" and place of
calm rest and safety (Psalm 107:29-30). The Lord keeps watch over us at all
times, and especially in our moments of temptation and difficulty. Do you rely
on the Lord for his strength and help? Jesus assures us that we have no need of
fear if we put our trust in him and in his great love and care for us. When
calamities or trials threaten to overwhelm you, how do you respond? With faith
and hope in God's love, personal care, and presence with you?
"Lord
Jesus, may I never doubt your saving help and your watchful presence in my
life, especially in times of trouble. Fortify my faith with courage and give me
enduring hope that I may never waver in my trust in you."
SATURDAY,
APRIL 9, JOHN 6:16-21
Easter Weekday
(Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33)
Easter Weekday
(Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33)
KEY VERSE: "It is I. Do not be afraid" (v 20).
TO KNOW: After the miraculous multiplication of loaves in the wilderness, Jesus' disciples sailed to the village of Capernaum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberius, named for the second Roman Emperor). It was Passover time, the time of the full moon (Jn.6:4), and Jesus was up on the hillside praying. When a sudden storm came up threatening to capsize the small craft of his terrified disciples, Jesus appeared walking on the water toward them, calming them with his divine presence, and bringing them safely to shore. Whether in hunger or distress, Jesus continues to be with his people to deliver them from all evil.
TO LOVE: How can I be a source of peace to someone who is fearful?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to know that you are with me in all the storms of my life.
Saturday April 9 2016
Sat 9th. Acts 6:1-7. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as
we place our trust in you—Ps 32(33):1-2, 4-5, 18-19. John 6:16-21.
It can be difficult to recognise God in our lives,
especially in our darkest hours.
We wonder why we have been left alone when we are in
most need of his assistance. Then sometimes we look back and by a miracle, our
eyes are opened. We realise that it was God who was closest to us in those
moments.
He answers our prayers every day. In one lunch hour, I
went to mass. I had an important meeting and I felt nervous. I prayed for the
Holy Spirit to fill me with God’s peace. Just before Mass, I had seen a lady
asking for a lift home after mass. I refused her request but God spoke through
my conscience and duly chastened, I relented. She was the answer to my prayers,
filled with such a love for life and brimming with gratitude, she lifted my
spirits. She was his answer to my prayers.
MINUTE
MEDITATIONS
|
Virtual Life
|
When real life hits ideal life, many individuals are tempted to
retreat from reality. When life gets uncomfortable, unpredictable, when you
feel weak and empty—that’s exactly when you have an opportunity to become more
like Christ.
April
9
St. Casilda
(11th century)
St. Casilda
(11th century)
Some saints’ names are far more familiar
to us than others, but even the lives of obscure holy persons teach us
something.
And so it is with St. Casilda, the daughter of a
Muslim leader in Toledo, Spain, in the 10th century. Casilda
was herself raised as a Muslim and showed special kindness to Christian
prisoners. She became ill as a young woman but was not convinced that any of
the local Arab doctors could cure her. So, she made a pilgrimage to the shrine
of San Vicenzo in northern Spain. Like so many other people who made their way
there—many of them suffering from hemorrhages—Casilda sought the healing waters
of the shrine. We’re uncertain what brought her to the shrine, but we do know
that she left it relieved of illness.
In response, she became a Christian and lived a life
of solitude and penance not far from the miraculous spring. It’s said that she
lived to be 100 years old. Her death likely occurred around the year 1050.
Tensions between Muslims and Christians have often
existed throughout history, sometimes resulting in bloody conflict. Through her
quiet, simple life Casilda served her Creator—first in one faith, then another.
LECTIO DIVINA: JOHN 6,16-21
Lectio Divina:
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Easter Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord God,
also in our day we need men and women
filled with the Spirit of love and service
who are attentive to the needs of people.
Let them listen even to the unspoken cries
of people too timid to voice
their poverty and distress
and help without condescension
their brothers and sisters of Christ,
for he is our Lord for ever.
also in our day we need men and women
filled with the Spirit of love and service
who are attentive to the needs of people.
Let them listen even to the unspoken cries
of people too timid to voice
their poverty and distress
and help without condescension
their brothers and sisters of Christ,
for he is our Lord for ever.
2) Gospel Reading - John 6,16-21
That evening the disciples went down to the shore of the sea and got into a boat to make for Capernaum on the other side of the sea. It was getting dark by now and Jesus had still not rejoined them. The wind was strong, and the sea was getting rough.
They had rowed three or four miles when they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming towards the boat. They were afraid, but he said, 'It's me. Don't be afraid.' They were ready to take him into the boat, and immediately it reached the shore at the place they were making for.
That evening the disciples went down to the shore of the sea and got into a boat to make for Capernaum on the other side of the sea. It was getting dark by now and Jesus had still not rejoined them. The wind was strong, and the sea was getting rough.
They had rowed three or four miles when they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming towards the boat. They were afraid, but he said, 'It's me. Don't be afraid.' They were ready to take him into the boat, and immediately it reached the shore at the place they were making for.
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel narrates the episode of
the boat on the agitated sea. Jesus is on the mountain, the
disciples in the sea and the people on the land. In
the way of describing the facts, John tries to help the communities to discover
the mystery which envelopes the person of Jesus. He does it by recalling texts
from the Old Testament which refer to the Exodus.
• At the time when John wrote, the small
boat of the communities had to face a contrary wind both on the part of the
converted Jews who wanted to reduce the mystery of Jesus to prophecies and
figures of the Old Testament, and on the part of some converted Pagans who
thought that it was possible to have an alliance between Jesus and the Empire.
• John 6, 15: Jesus on the
mountain. In the face of the multiplication of the loaves, the people
conclude that Jesus is the awaited Messiah, because according to the hope of
the people of the time, the Messiah would have repeated the gesture of Moses:
feeding in the people in the desert. For this reason, according to the official
ideology, the crowds thought that Jesus was the Messiah, and, because of this,
they wanted to make him King (cf. Jn 6, 14-15). This request of the people was
a temptation for Jesus as well as for the disciples. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus
obliges the disciples to get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side of
the lake (MK 6, 45). He wanted to avoid that they get contaminated with the
dominating ideology. This is a sign that the “yeast of Herod and of the
Pharisees”, was very strong (Mk 8, 15). Jesus faces the temptation with prayer
on the mountain.
• John 6, 16-18: The situation
of the disciples. It was already night. The disciples went down near
the sea; they got into the boat and directed themselves toward Capernaum, on
the other side of the sea. John says that it was already dark and that Jesus
had not arrived as yet. On the one hand he recalls the Exodus: to cross the sea
in the midst of difficulties. On the other, he recalls the situation of the
communities in the Roman Empire: with the disciples, they were living in the
dark, with a contrary wind and the sea was agitated and Jesus seemed to be
absent!
• John 6, 19-20. Change of the
situation. Jesus reaches them walking on the water of the sea of life.
The disciples are afraid. As it happens in the account of the story of Emmaus,
they did not recognize him (Lk 24, 28). Jesus gets close to them and says: “It
is me! Do not be afraid!” For those who know the story of the Old
Testament, here again he recalls some very important facts: (a) He recalls the
crowd, protected by God, crossed the Red Sea without fear. (b) He recalls that
God, when calling Moses, he declares his name saying: “I am!” (cf.
Ex 3, 15). (c) He recalls also the Book of Isaiah which presents the return
from exile as a new Exodus, in which God appears repeating many times: “I
am!” (cf. Is 42, 8; 43, 5.11-13; 44, 6.25; 45, 5-7).
• For the People of the Bible, the sea
was the symbol of the abyss, of chaos, of evil (Ap 13, 1). In Exodus the People
goes across toward liberty, facing and conquering the sea. God divides the sea
with his breath and the crowds cross the sea which is dry land. (Ex 14, 22). In
other passages the Bible shows God who conquers the sea (Gen 1, 6-10; Ps 104,
6-9; Pro 8, 27). To conquer the sea means to impose one’s own limits and to
prevent that it swallows all the earth with its waves. In this passage Jesus
reveals his divinity by dominating and conquering the sea, preventing the boat
and his disciples to be carried away by the waves. This way of evoking or
recalling the Old Testament, of using the Bible, helped the communities to
perceive better the presence of God in Jesus and in the facts of life. Do
not be afraid!
• John 6, 22. They reached the
desired port. They want to take Jesus into the boat, but it was not
necessary, because the boat touched the shore to which they had directed
themselves. They reached the desired port. The Psalm says: “He reduced the
storm to calm, and all the waters subsided. He brought them overjoyed at the
stillness, to the port where they were bound”. (Ps 107, 29-30).
4) Personal questions
• On the mountain: Why does Jesus seek
to be alone to pray after the multiplication of the loaves? Which is the result
of his prayer?
• Is it possible today to walk on the water of the sea of life? How?
• Is it possible today to walk on the water of the sea of life? How?
5) Concluding Prayer
Shout for joy, you upright;
praise comes well from the honest.
Give thanks to Yahweh on the lyre,
play for him on the ten-stringed lyre. (Ps 33,1-2)
praise comes well from the honest.
Give thanks to Yahweh on the lyre,
play for him on the ten-stringed lyre. (Ps 33,1-2)
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