Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 292
Lectionary: 292
The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas,
and the magistrates had them stripped
and ordered them to be beaten with rods.
After inflicting many blows on them,
they threw them into prison
and instructed the jailer to guard them securely.
When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell
and secured their feet to a stake.
About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying
and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened,
there was suddenly such a severe earthquake
that the foundations of the jail shook;
all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.
When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open,
he drew his sword and was about to kill himself,
thinking that the prisoners had escaped.
But Paul shouted out in a loud voice,
"Do no harm to yourself; we are all here."
He asked for a light and rushed in and,
trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.
Then he brought them out and said,
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus
and you and your household will be saved."
So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.
He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds;
then he and all his family were baptized at once.
He brought them up into his house and provided a meal
and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.
and the magistrates had them stripped
and ordered them to be beaten with rods.
After inflicting many blows on them,
they threw them into prison
and instructed the jailer to guard them securely.
When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell
and secured their feet to a stake.
About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying
and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened,
there was suddenly such a severe earthquake
that the foundations of the jail shook;
all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.
When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open,
he drew his sword and was about to kill himself,
thinking that the prisoners had escaped.
But Paul shouted out in a loud voice,
"Do no harm to yourself; we are all here."
He asked for a light and rushed in and,
trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.
Then he brought them out and said,
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus
and you and your household will be saved."
So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.
He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds;
then he and all his family were baptized at once.
He brought them up into his house and provided a meal
and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 138:1-2AB, 2CDE-3,
7C-8
R. (7c) Your
right hand saves me, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple,
and give thanks to your name.
R. Your right hand saves me, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Because of your kindness and your truth,
you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. Your right hand saves me, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. Your right hand saves me, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple,
and give thanks to your name.
R. Your right hand saves me, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Because of your kindness and your truth,
you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. Your right hand saves me, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. Your right hand saves me, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia SEE JN 16:7, 13
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;
he will guide you to all truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;
he will guide you to all truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 16:5-11
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Now I am going to the one who sent me,
and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'
But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.
But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go.
For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.
But if I go, I will send him to you.
And when he comes he will convict the world
in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation:
sin, because they do not believe in me;
righteousness, because I am going to the Father
and you will no longer see me;
condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned."
"Now I am going to the one who sent me,
and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'
But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.
But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go.
For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.
But if I go, I will send him to you.
And when he comes he will convict the world
in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation:
sin, because they do not believe in me;
righteousness, because I am going to the Father
and you will no longer see me;
condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned."
Meditation: "I will send the Counselor to you"
Why does God seem far from us at times? Separation and
loss of relationship often lead to grief and pain. The apostles were filled
with sorrow when Jesus spoke about his imminent departure. Jesus explained that
it was for their sake that he must leave them and return to his Father. He
promised, however, that they would never be left alone. He will send in
his place the best of friends, the Holy Spirit.
Paul reminds us that "nothing can separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:39). By sending the Holy
Spirit to his followers, the Lord Jesus makes his presence known to us in a new
and on-going way. We are not left as orphans, but the Lord himself dwells
within us through the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:9; 6:16b).
The work of the Holy Spirit
Jesus tells his disciples three very important things about the work of the Holy Spirit - to convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. The original word for convince also means convict. The Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier. He makes us holy as God is holy. He does this first by convicting us of our unbelief and sin and by bringing us humbly to the foot of the Cross. The Spirit convinces us of God's love and forgiveness and of our utter dependence on God for his mercy and grace. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us from the error of our unbelief and sinful ways and to show us the way of love and truth.
Jesus tells his disciples three very important things about the work of the Holy Spirit - to convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. The original word for convince also means convict. The Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier. He makes us holy as God is holy. He does this first by convicting us of our unbelief and sin and by bringing us humbly to the foot of the Cross. The Spirit convinces us of God's love and forgiveness and of our utter dependence on God for his mercy and grace. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us from the error of our unbelief and sinful ways and to show us the way of love and truth.
The Jews who had condemned Jesus as a blasphemer and
false messiah thought they were serving God rather than sinning when they
crucified Jesus. When the Gospel was later preached on the day of Pentecost
(Acts 2:37), many were pricked in their heart and convicted of their sin. What made
them change their mind about Jesus? The Holy Spirit opened their hearts to
recognize Jesus as the true Messiah sent by the Father in heaven.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit to both convict us
of our unbelief and wrongdoing and to convince us of God's truth. The Spirit
convinces us of the righteousness (moral truth and goodness) of Christ, backed
by the fact that Jesus rose again and went to his Father. The Holy Spirit also
convicts us of judgment. The Spirit gives us the inner and unshakable conviction
that we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. God's judgments are
just and good. He not only forgives those who repent of their wrongdoing, he
also vindicates the innocent who have been unjustly treated and restores their
rights and he rewards those who have done what is just and good. When we heed
his judgments we find true peace, joy and reconciliation with God. Do you allow
the Holy Spirit free reign in your life that he may set you free from the grip
of sin and set you ablaze with the fire of God's love?
"Come Holy Spirit, and let the fire of your love
burn in my heart. Let me desire only what is pure, lovely, holy and good and in
accord with the will of God and give me the courage to put away all that is not
pleasing in your sight."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Whatever is not of faith is sin, by
Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When the Lord said of the Holy Spirit, 'He shall
convict the world of sin,' he meant unbelief. For this is what he meant when he
said, “Of sin because they believed not on me.' And he means the same when he
says, 'If I had not come and spoken to them, they should not have sin.' (John
15:22). He was not talking about [a time] before they had no sin. Rather, he
wanted to indicate that very lack of faith by which they did not believe him
even when he was present to them and speaking to them. These were the people
who belonged to 'the prince of the power of the air, who now works in the
children of unbelief' (Ephesians 2:2). Therefore those in whom there is no
faith are the children of the devil because they have nothing in their inner
being that would cause them to be forgiven for whatever is committed either by
human infirmity, ignorance or any evil will whatever. But the children of God
are those who certainly, if they should 'say that they have no sin, deceive
themselves, and the truth is not in them,' but immediately (as it continues)
'when they confess their sins' (which the children of the devil do not do, or
do not do according to the faith which is peculiar to the children of God), 'he
is faithful and just to forgive them their sins and to cleanse them from all
unrighteousness'" (1 John 1:9). (excerpt
from AGAINST TWO LETTERS OF THE PELAGIANS 3.4)
TUESDAY, MAY 8, JOHN 16:5-11
Easter Weekday
(Acts 16:22-34; Psalm 138)
Easter Weekday
(Acts 16:22-34; Psalm 138)
KEY VERSE: "For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you" (v.7).
TO KNOW: As Jesus prepared for his passion and death, he consoled his grief-stricken disciples. He promised them that when he ascended to the Father, the Spirit would be sent to comfort and empower them. John used legal language to describe the Spirit's work. The Spirit would act as an "advocate" of those who were falsely accused, and would "prosecute" those who refused to believe in Jesus. In the eyes of the world, Jesus was put on trial, found guilty, and sentenced to die in disgrace. But the Spirit proved the world wrong, and the judgment was reversed. The ruler of darkness was the one who was tried, convicted and condemned. Truth triumphed and justice prevailed.
TO LOVE: Do I defend others when they are falsely accused?
TO SERVE: Risen Lord, send your Spirit to help the Church bear witness to your truth.
NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY
National Teacher Day is always celebrated the first Tuesday of the first full week of May. Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day in 1953. Teachers are true heroes in our communities, who through their dedication to children, work millions of small miracles every day. This day honors those hard working, patient and understanding people to whom we entrust our children. So let's give them their due. And, if you happen to be a teacher reading this, we personally offer our thanks, for the future of our world is in your hands.
Tuesday 8 May
2018
Acts 16:22-34. Psalm 137(138):1-3, 7-8. John 16:5-11.
Your right hand has saved me, O Lord—Psalm 137(138):1-3, 7-8.
He and his whole household rejoiced that he had become a
believer in God.
These words end the story of the conversion of the gaoler
assigned to guard Paul and Silas in today’s first reading. The story begins
with the gaoler ready to suicide because the prisoners have escaped. But the
right hand of God becomes his salvation when Paul and Silas persuade him and
his household to believe in Jesus.
He accepts Jesus and his faith immediately becomes a liberating
experience. He and his family are baptised and he finds time to bathe the
wounds of Paul and Silas and set food before them.
The elements of healing and hospitality are interwoven with this
man’s first experience of faith. They continue to sustain every community that
grows out of faith in Jesus.
Saint Peter of Tarentaise
Saint of the Day for May 8
(1102 – 1175)
Saint Peter of Tarentaise’s Story
There are two men named Saint Peter of Tarentaise who lived
one century apart. The man we honor today is the younger Peter, born in France
in the early part of the 12th century. The other man with the same name became
Pope Innocent the Fifth.
The Peter we’re focusing on today became a Cistercian monk and
eventually served as abbot. In 1142, he was named archbishop of Tarentaise,
replacing a bishop who had been deposed because of corruption. Peter tackled
his new assignment with vigor. He brought reform into his diocese, replaced lax
clergy, and reached out to the poor. He visited all parts of his mountainous
diocese on a regular basis.
After about a decade as bishop, Peter “disappeared” for a year
and lived quietly as a lay brother at an abbey in Switzerland. When he was
found out, the reluctant bishop was persuaded to return to his post. He again
focused many of his energies on the poor.
Peter died in 1175 on his way home from an unsuccessful papal
assignment to reconcile the kings of France and England.
Reflection
We probably know a lot of people who would welcome the chance to
receive some honor or honorary position. They relish the thought of the glamour
and glory. But saints like Peter of Tarentaise remind us that humility and the
avoidance of glory is the way of the Gospel.
LECTIO DIVINA: JOHN 16:5-11
Lectio Divina:
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
1) OPENING PRAYER
Lord our God,
if we really believe in You and in Your Son,
we cannot be but witnesses.
Send us Your Spirit of strength,
that we may give no flimsy excuses
for not standing up for You
and for the love and rights of our neighbor.
Make us only afraid
of betraying You and people
and of being afraid to bear witness.
We ask You this through Christ our Lord.
if we really believe in You and in Your Son,
we cannot be but witnesses.
Send us Your Spirit of strength,
that we may give no flimsy excuses
for not standing up for You
and for the love and rights of our neighbor.
Make us only afraid
of betraying You and people
and of being afraid to bear witness.
We ask You this through Christ our Lord.
2) GOSPEL READING - JOHN
16:5-11
Jesus said to his disciples: "Now I
am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you
going?' But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell
you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate
will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he
will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation:
sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to
the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of
this world has been condemned."
3) REFLECTION
• John 16:5-7: The sadness of the
disciples. Jesus begins with a rhetorical question that makes evident the
sadness of the disciples in light of of detachment from Jesus: “Now I am going
to the One who sent Me; not one of you asks, ‘where are you going?’” It is
clear that for the disciples, the detachment from the lifestyle lived with
Jesus implies suffering. Jesus acknowledges this, saying “Yet you are sad at
heart because I have told you this” (v. 6). Saint Augustine explains the
sentiment of abandonment of the disciples: “They were afraid to think of losing
the visible presence of Christ... they were grieved, saddened in their human affection
at the thought that their eyes would no longer be consoled in seeing Him.”
(Commentary on the Gospel of John, XCIV: 4). Jesus tries to dispel this
sadness, due to the fact that they will not have His presence, revealing to
them His departure. He says that if He does not leave them, the Paraclete will
not be able to join them; if He returns to the Father, He will be able to send
the Paraclete to the disciples. His departure and the detachment of the
disciples makes possibility the coming of the Paraclete: “because unless I go,
the Paraclete will not come to you...” (v. 7).
• John 16:8-11: The Mission of the
Paraclete. Jesus continues to describe the mission of the Paraclete. The term
“Paraclete” means “advocate,” that is, support, assistant. Here the Paraclete
is presented as the accuser in a process that is carried out before God and in
which the accused is the world, which has made itself guilty for condemning
Jesus: “He will show the world how wrong it was, about sin, and about who was
in the right and about judgment” (v. 8). The Greek verb elègken means that He
will make an inquiry, He will question, will test: He will bring to light a
reality and will furnish the proof of guilt.
The object of the confutation is sin: He
will give the world the proof of the sin that it has committed regarding Jesus
and will expose it. What is the sin in question here? - that of unbelief
(Jn 5:44ff; 6:36; 8:21,24,26; 10:31). Besides, for the world to have thought
that Jesus was a sinner (Jn 9:24; 18:30) is an inexcusable sin (Jn 15:21ff).
In the second place He will “refute” the
world “concerning justice.” On the juridical level, the notion of justice which
adheres more to the text is the one which implies a declaration of guilt or
innocence in a judgment. In our context this is the only time that the term
“justice” appears in the Gospel of John. Elsewhere there is the term “just.” In
John 16:8 justice is linked to all that Jesus has affirmed about Himself, that
is, the reason why He is going to the Father. Such a discourse concerns His
glorification: Jesus goes to the Father. The disciples will no longer be able
to see Him. He is about to trust and to submerge Himself completely in
the will of the Father. The glorification of Jesus confirms His divine
filiation or son-ship and the approbation of the Father regarding the mission
which Jesus has accomplished. Therefore, the Spirit will directly show the
justice of Christ (Jn 14:26; 15:26) protecting the disciples and the ecclesial
community.
The world that has judged Jesus, condemning
Him, is condemned by the “prince of this world,” because he is responsible for
His crucifixion (13:2,27). Jesus, in dying on the Cross, is exalted (12:31) and
He has triumphed over Satan. Now the Spirit will give witness to the
significance of the death of Jesus which coincides with the fall of Satan (Jn
12:32; 14:30; 16:33).
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• This is the beginning of our exposure
to the Trinity. What is my relationship with the Holy Trinity?
• Do you allow yourself to be led by the
Spirit, the Paraclete, who gives you certainty of the error of the world and
helps you to adhere to Jesus, and therefore, leads you into the truth about
yourself?
• Very few go forth with the intention
to sin or do evil, but rather, they are misled or confused. What do you do to
discern the authentic influence and advice of the Paraclete versus being
mislead?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
I thank You, Lord, with all my
heart,
for You have listened to the cry I uttered.
In the presence of angels I sing to You,
I bow down before Your holy Temple. (Ps 138:1-2)
for You have listened to the cry I uttered.
In the presence of angels I sing to You,
I bow down before Your holy Temple. (Ps 138:1-2)
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