Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul,
Apostle
Lectionary: 519
Lectionary: 519
Paul addressed the people in these words:
"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia,
but brought up in this city.
At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law
and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.
I persecuted this Way to death,
binding both men and women and delivering them to prison.
Even the high priest and the whole council of elders
can testify on my behalf.
For from them I even received letters to the brothers
and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem
in chains for punishment those there as well.
"On that journey as I drew near to Damascus,
about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.
I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,
'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
I replied, 'Who are you, sir?'
And he said to me,
'I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.'
My companions saw the light
but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.
I asked, 'What shall I do, sir?'
The Lord answered me, 'Get up and go into Damascus,
and there you will be told about everything
appointed for you to do.'
Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light,
I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.
"A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law,
and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
came to me and stood there and said,
'Saul, my brother, regain your sight.'
And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him.
Then he said,
'The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will,
to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice;
for you will be his witness before all
to what you have seen and heard.
Now, why delay?
Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away,
calling upon his name.'"
or
Acts 9:1-22
Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,
went to the high priest and asked him
for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that,
if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,
he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.
On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus,
a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
He said, "Who are you, sir?"
The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do."
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,
for they heard the voice but could see no one.
Saul got up from the ground,
but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;
so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.
For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias,
and the Lord said to him in a vision, AAnanias."
He answered, "Here I am, Lord."
The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight
and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul.
He is there praying,
and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias
come in and lay his hands on him,
that he may regain his sight."
But Ananias replied,
"Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,
what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.
And here he has authority from the chief priests
to imprison all who call upon your name."
But the Lord said to him,
"Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine
to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel,
and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name."
So Ananias went and entered the house;
laying his hands on him, he said,
"Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me,
Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came,
that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes
and he regained his sight.
He got up and was baptized,
and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.
He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,
and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,
that he is the Son of God.
All who heard him were astounded and said,
"Is not this the man who in Jerusalem
ravaged those who call upon this name,
and came here expressly to take them back in chains
to the chief priests?"
But Saul grew all the stronger
and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus,
proving that this is the Christ.
"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia,
but brought up in this city.
At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law
and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.
I persecuted this Way to death,
binding both men and women and delivering them to prison.
Even the high priest and the whole council of elders
can testify on my behalf.
For from them I even received letters to the brothers
and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem
in chains for punishment those there as well.
"On that journey as I drew near to Damascus,
about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.
I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,
'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
I replied, 'Who are you, sir?'
And he said to me,
'I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.'
My companions saw the light
but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.
I asked, 'What shall I do, sir?'
The Lord answered me, 'Get up and go into Damascus,
and there you will be told about everything
appointed for you to do.'
Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light,
I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.
"A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law,
and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
came to me and stood there and said,
'Saul, my brother, regain your sight.'
And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him.
Then he said,
'The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will,
to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice;
for you will be his witness before all
to what you have seen and heard.
Now, why delay?
Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away,
calling upon his name.'"
or
Acts 9:1-22
Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,
went to the high priest and asked him
for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that,
if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,
he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.
On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus,
a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
He said, "Who are you, sir?"
The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do."
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,
for they heard the voice but could see no one.
Saul got up from the ground,
but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;
so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.
For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias,
and the Lord said to him in a vision, AAnanias."
He answered, "Here I am, Lord."
The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight
and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul.
He is there praying,
and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias
come in and lay his hands on him,
that he may regain his sight."
But Ananias replied,
"Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,
what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.
And here he has authority from the chief priests
to imprison all who call upon your name."
But the Lord said to him,
"Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine
to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel,
and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name."
So Ananias went and entered the house;
laying his hands on him, he said,
"Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me,
Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came,
that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes
and he regained his sight.
He got up and was baptized,
and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.
He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,
and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,
that he is the Son of God.
All who heard him were astounded and said,
"Is not this the man who in Jerusalem
ravaged those who call upon this name,
and came here expressly to take them back in chains
to the chief priests?"
But Saul grew all the stronger
and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus,
proving that this is the Christ.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 117:1BC, 2
R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
AlleluiaJN 15:16
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 16:15-18
Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
"Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
"Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Meditation: "Go into all the world and preach the
Gospel"
Mark ends his Gospel account with Jesus' last
appearance to the apostles before his ascension into heaven. Jesus' departure
and ascension was both an end and a beginning for his disciples. While it was
the end of Jesus' physical presence with his beloved disciples, it marked the
beginning of Jesus' presence with them in a new way. Jesus promised that he
would be with them always to the end of time. Now as the glorified and risen
Lord and Savior, ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven, Jesus
promised to send them the Holy Spirit who would anoint them with power on the
Feast of Pentecost, just as Jesus was anointed for his ministry at the River
Jordan. When the Lord Jesus departed physically from the apostles, they were
not left in sorrow or grief. Instead, they were filled with joy and with great
anticipation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus' last words to his apostles point to his saving
mission and to their mission to be witnesses of his saving death and his
glorious resurrection and to proclaim the good news of salvation to all the
world. Their task is to proclaim the good news of salvation, not only to the
people of Israel, but to all the nations. God's love and gift of salvation is
not just for a few, or for a nation, but it is for the whole world - for all
who will accept it. The gospel is the power of God, the power to forgive sins,
to heal, to deliver from evil and oppression, and to restore life. Do you
believe in the power of the gospel?
This is the great commission which the risen Christ
gives to the whole church. All believers have been given a share in this task -
to be heralds of the good news and ambassadors for Jesus Christ, the only
savior of the world. We have not been left alone in this task, for the risen
Lord works in and through us by the power of his Holy Spirit. Today we witness
a new Pentecost as the Lord pours out his Holy Spirit upon his people to renew
and strengthen the body of Christ and to equip it for effective ministry and
mission to every land and peoples. Do you witness to others the joy of the
gospel and the hope of the resurrection?
Conversion of Paul the Apostle
Many Christians celebrate today the conversion of St. Paul who became an apostle to the Gentile nations. Paul testified how he first opposed the gospel and persecuted Christians, but was converted when Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 22:3-16). Paul's encounter with the person of Christ radically changed his life and opened his eyes to the truth of the gospel. Benedict XVI reflects on the significance of Paul's conversion for the whole Christian people:
Many Christians celebrate today the conversion of St. Paul who became an apostle to the Gentile nations. Paul testified how he first opposed the gospel and persecuted Christians, but was converted when Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 22:3-16). Paul's encounter with the person of Christ radically changed his life and opened his eyes to the truth of the gospel. Benedict XVI reflects on the significance of Paul's conversion for the whole Christian people:
"Paul's conversion matured in his
encounter with the Risen Christ; it was this encounter that radically changed
his life. What happened to him on the road to Damascus is what Jesus asks in
today's Gospel: Saul is converted because, thanks to the divine light, "he
has believed in the Gospel". In this consists his and our conversion: in believing
in Jesus dead and risen and in opening to the illumination of his divine grace.
In that moment Saul understood that his salvation did not depend on good works
fulfilled according to the law, but on the fact that Jesus died also for him
the persecutor and has risen. This truth by which every Christian life is
enlightened thanks to Baptism completely overturns our way of life. To be
converted means, also for each one of us, to believe that Jesus "has given
himself for me", dying on the Cross (cf. Galatians 2: 20) and, risen,
lives with me and in me. Entrusting myself to the power of his forgiveness,
letting myself be taken by his hand, I can come out of the quicksands of pride
and sin, of deceit and sadness, of selfishness and of every false security, to
know and live the richness of his love." (from address given on January 25, 2009)
“Lord Jesus, through the
gift of your Holy Spirit, you fill us with an indomitable spirit of praise and
joy which no earthly trial can subdue. Fill me with your resurrection joy and
help me to live a life of praise and thanksgiving for your glory. May I witness
to those around me the joy of the gospel and the reality of your resurrection.”
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Our witness is trustworthy if we live
accordingly, by John Chrysostom (347-407
AD)
"For [Paul] truly became a witness to [Jesus],
and a witness as one should be, both by what he did and by what he said. We too
must be such witnesses and not betray what we have been entrusted. I speak not
only of doctrines, but also of our way of life. Look, what he knew, what he
heard, he bore witness to this before all, and nothing hindered him. We too
have heard that there is a resurrection and ten thousand good things;
therefore, we ought to bear witness to this before all. 'We do in fact bear
witness,' you say, 'and believe.' How, since we do the opposite? Tell me, if
someone should say he was a Christian but should then apostatize and act like a
Jew, would his testimony be sufficient? No, not at all; for people would look
for testimony through his actions. Likewise, if we say that that there is a
resurrection and ten thousand good things but then look down upon them and
prefer the things here, who will believe us? For all people pay attention not
to what we say but to what we do. 'You will be a witness,' [Christ] says, 'to
all.'1 That is, not only to the friends, but also to the unbelievers. For this
is what witnesses are for: they persuade not those who know but those who do
not. Let us become trustworthy witnesses. How will we become trustworthy? By
the life we lead." (excerpt from HOMILIES
ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 47)
FEAST OF THE
CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, MARK 16:15-18
(Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22; Psalm 117)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, MARK 16:15-18
(Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22; Psalm 117)
KEY VERSE: "He said to them, `Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature'" (v 15).
TO KNOW: This section of chapter 16 of Mark's Gospel (verses 9-20) is termed the "Longer Ending." It is believed that this material was added later from other traditions to complete what was thought to be an abrupt ending to Mark's gospel. But Mark's purpose in writing was complete; Jesus was raised from the dead just as he told his followers. The longer ending includes material from other gospels: Christ's appearance to Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:1-18), and to two disciples on a road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-24). The disciples refused to believe these witnesses, and later, when they "were at table" (Mk 16:14, the Eucharist), the Lord appeared and rebuked them for their unbelief. Jesus then commissioned his followers to go into the world and proclaim the message of salvation to everyone.
TO LOVE: Is my life an open letter that others might read to meet the Lord?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to proclaim your gospel with the zeal of St. Paul.
Feast of the Conversion of St.
Paul the Apostle
Paul (born, c.10, died, c.65) was the most prominent Christian missionary of the early church. Paul was born as Saul (his Jewish name) at Tarsus in Cilicia (modern Turkey, Acts 21:39), of a father who was a Roman citizen. Saul was a student of the Law, and a tent-maker by trade. He was a Pharisee who hated and persecuted Christians as heretical, even assisting at the stoning of Saint Stephen the Martyr. On his way to arrest Christians in Damascus, Paul experienced a vision of the risen Lord who told him that in persecuting Christians, he was persecuting Christ (Acts 9:3-5; note: nothing is said that Paul was riding a horse). The Lord then commissioned him to preach the Gospel. The experience had a profound spiritual effect on him, bringing about his conversion to Christianity. He was baptized, using his Roman name Paul to reflect his new vocation, and began traveling and preaching as an Apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13, Galatians 2:8). Paul embarked on three missionary journeys, founding churches in many areas, and writing letters to encourage and correct those struggling communities. He became convinced that there was no distinction between Gentile or Jew, slave or free, woman or man (Gal 3: 28). All were saved through faith in Christ rather than through observance of the Mosaic law (Ro 3: 21-30). In the year 57 Paul was arrested and sent to Rome where he was imprisoned and beheaded during the Emperor Nero's persecution of Christians (67-68 CE). (According to Clement of Rome, Paul was released before this and evangelized in Spain and elsewhere). Paul is interred in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. More than anything else, Paul's determination was to preach nothing but "Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Cor 2: 2). “For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” [Gal 2:19-20].
Wednesday 25 January 2017
Wed 25th. Conversion of St Paul. Acts
22:3-16. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News—Ps 116(117):1-2. Mark
16:15-18.
'What am I to do, Lord?'
Paul was a forthright man, a maker of
instant friends and powerful enemies. There was nothing tentative about him. If
he felt that you were not getting it, not following his argument, he would
continue with his exposition until you understood the point he was making and
agreed with him. No wonder God had to knock him off his horse with a blast of
light and blind him. How else to get his attention? He underwent an absolute,
instantaneous conversion and very soon the whole known world was learning about
his mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. How wonderful if we could
share Paul's enthusiasm and dedication!
CONVERSION OF ST.
PAUL
The great apostle was
a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin. He surpassed all his peers in zeal
for the Jewish law and their traditions, which he thought to be the cause of
God, became one of the most fierce enemies and persecutors of Christians. He
was one of the conspiritors in the martyrdom of St. Stephan.
After the martyrdom of
the holy deacon, the priests and magistrates of the Jews raised a violent
persecution against the church at Jerusalem, in which Saul placed himself
above the others.
In the fury of his
zeal, he appealed to the high priest and Sanhedrim for a commission to take up
all Jews at Damascus who confessed Jesus Christ, and bring them bound to
Jerusalem, that they might serve as public examples to incite terror into
others.
But God was pleased to
show forth in Saul his patience and mercy: Saul was almost at the end
of his journey to Damascus, when, around noon, he and his company were
surrounded by a great light from heaven and, fell to the ground. Then Saul
heard a voice, which to him was articulate and distinct, but not understood by
the rest :"Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? Christ said not: Why
dost thou persecute my disciples, but me: for it is he, their head, who is
chiefly persecuted in his servants." Saul answered: "Who art thou, Lord?"
Christ said: "Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecute. It is hard for thee
to kick against the goad: - to contend with one so much mightier than
thyself."
There was a Christian
of distinction in Damascus, Ananius, greatly respected by the Jews
for his irreproachable life and great virtue. Christ appeared to this holy
disciple, and commanded him to go to Saul, who was at that moment in
the house of Judas at prayer. Ananias trembled at the name of Saul, being
familiar with the misdeeds he had done in Jerusalem and the errand for
which he set out to Damascus. But our Redeemer overruled his fears, and charged
him a second time to go, saying: "Go, for he is a vessel of election to
carry my name before Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel: and I will
show him how much he has to suffer for my name. For tribulation is the test and
portion of all the true servants of Christ."
Thus a blasphemer and
a persecutor was made an apostle, and chosen to be one of the principal
instruments of God in the conversion of the world.
St. Paul never
recalled his wonderful conversion, from which have poured forth may
blessings, without raptures of gratitude and praise to the Divine and
His mercy. The Church, in thanksgiving to God for such a miracle of his grace,
to commemorate so miraculous an instance of his almighty power and to propose
to penitents a perfect model of a true conversion, has instituted this feast,
which we find mentioned in several calendars and missals of the eighth and
ninth centuries, and which Pope Innocent III commanded to be observed with
great solemnity.
LECTIO DIVINA:
CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL
Lectio Divina:
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father of heaven and earth,
hear our prayers,
and show us the way to your peace in the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
hear our prayers,
and show us the way to your peace in the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Mark 16,15-18
And he said to them, 'Go out to the
whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is
baptised will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These are
the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out
devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their
hands and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands
on the sick, who will recover.'
3) Reflection
• The signs which accompany the
proclamation or announcement of the Good News. And finally Jesus appears to the eleven disciples and
reproached them because they had not believed the persons who had seen him
Risen. Once again, Mark refers to the resistance of the disciples to believe in
the witness of those, men and women, who had made an experience of the
Resurrection of Jesus. Why would this be so? Probably, in order to teach two
things. In the first place, that faith in Jesus goes through
the faith in persons who give witness. Second, that nobody should
get discouraged, when incredulity comes from the heart. Finally, the eleven
disciples had doubts!
• Then Jesus gives them the mission of announcing the Good News to all creatures. The requirement which he indicates is the following: to believe and to be baptized. To those who had the courage to believe in the Good News and who are baptized, he promises them the followings signs: they will cast out devils, they will have the gift of tongues, they will pick up snakes in their hands and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison, they will lay their hands on the sick who will recover. This happens up until now:
- To cast out devils; is to fight against the force of evil which destroys life. The life of many persons has improved for having entered a community and for having begun to live the Good News of the presence of God in their life.
- To have the gift of tongues: is to begin to communicate with the others in a new form. Sometimes, we find a person whom we never have seen before, but it seems to us that we have known her for a long time . This happens because we speak the same language, the language of love.
- They will be unharmed if they take deadly poison: there are many things which poison living together. Much gossip which destroys the relationship between persons. The one who lives in the presence of God goes beyond this and succeeds in not being bothered by this terrible poison.
- Cures the sick: wherever there is a clearer and more dynamic conscience of the presence of God, there is also a special attention toward oppressed and marginalized persons, especially sick persons. What helps the person more to heal, is to feel accepted and loved.
- Through the community, Jesus continues his mission: Jesus himself who lived in Palestine, where he accepted the poor of his time, revealing in this way, the love of the Father, this same Jesus continues alive in our midst, in our communities. And through us he continues his mission, revealing the Good News of the Love of God for the poor. Up until today, the Resurrection takes place, which urges us to sing: “Who will separate us, who will separate us from the love of Christ, who will separate us?” (cf. Rm 8, 38-39). No power of this world is capable to counteract the force which comes from faith in the Resurrection (Rm 8, 35-39). A community which wants to be witness of the Resurrection has to be a sign of life, should fight against the forces of death, in a way that the world may be a favourable place for life, and should believe that a different world is possible. Above all in Latin America, where the life of the people is in danger because of the system of death which has been imposed; the communities have to be a living proof of the hope which overcomes the world, without fear of being happy!
• Then Jesus gives them the mission of announcing the Good News to all creatures. The requirement which he indicates is the following: to believe and to be baptized. To those who had the courage to believe in the Good News and who are baptized, he promises them the followings signs: they will cast out devils, they will have the gift of tongues, they will pick up snakes in their hands and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison, they will lay their hands on the sick who will recover. This happens up until now:
- To cast out devils; is to fight against the force of evil which destroys life. The life of many persons has improved for having entered a community and for having begun to live the Good News of the presence of God in their life.
- To have the gift of tongues: is to begin to communicate with the others in a new form. Sometimes, we find a person whom we never have seen before, but it seems to us that we have known her for a long time . This happens because we speak the same language, the language of love.
- They will be unharmed if they take deadly poison: there are many things which poison living together. Much gossip which destroys the relationship between persons. The one who lives in the presence of God goes beyond this and succeeds in not being bothered by this terrible poison.
- Cures the sick: wherever there is a clearer and more dynamic conscience of the presence of God, there is also a special attention toward oppressed and marginalized persons, especially sick persons. What helps the person more to heal, is to feel accepted and loved.
- Through the community, Jesus continues his mission: Jesus himself who lived in Palestine, where he accepted the poor of his time, revealing in this way, the love of the Father, this same Jesus continues alive in our midst, in our communities. And through us he continues his mission, revealing the Good News of the Love of God for the poor. Up until today, the Resurrection takes place, which urges us to sing: “Who will separate us, who will separate us from the love of Christ, who will separate us?” (cf. Rm 8, 38-39). No power of this world is capable to counteract the force which comes from faith in the Resurrection (Rm 8, 35-39). A community which wants to be witness of the Resurrection has to be a sign of life, should fight against the forces of death, in a way that the world may be a favourable place for life, and should believe that a different world is possible. Above all in Latin America, where the life of the people is in danger because of the system of death which has been imposed; the communities have to be a living proof of the hope which overcomes the world, without fear of being happy!
4) Personal questions
• To cast out devils, to have the gift of new tongues,
to be unharmed by deadly poison and by the snakes, to impose the hands on the
sick: Have you fulfilled any of these signs?
• Does Jesus continue his mission through us and through our community? Is he able to fulfil this mission in our community? How and in which way?
• Does Jesus continue his mission through us and through our community? Is he able to fulfil this mission in our community? How and in which way?
5) Concluding prayer
Praise Yahweh, all nations,
extol him, all peoples,
for his faithful love is strong
and his constancy never-ending. (Ps 117,1-2)
extol him, all peoples,
for his faithful love is strong
and his constancy never-ending. (Ps 117,1-2)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét