Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Lectionary: 300
Lectionary: 300
Wishing to determine the truth
about why Paul was being accused by the Jews,
the commander freed him
and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene.
Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.
Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees,
so he called out before the Sanhedrin,
"My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees;
I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead."
When he said this,
a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees,
and the group became divided.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection
or angels or spirits,
while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.
A great uproar occurred,
and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party
stood up and sharply argued,
"We find nothing wrong with this man.
Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"
The dispute was so serious that the commander,
afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them,
ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst
and take him into the compound.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage.
For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem,
so you must also bear witness in Rome."
about why Paul was being accused by the Jews,
the commander freed him
and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene.
Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.
Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees,
so he called out before the Sanhedrin,
"My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees;
I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead."
When he said this,
a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees,
and the group became divided.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection
or angels or spirits,
while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.
A great uproar occurred,
and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party
stood up and sharply argued,
"We find nothing wrong with this man.
Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"
The dispute was so serious that the commander,
afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them,
ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst
and take him into the compound.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage.
For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem,
so you must also bear witness in Rome."
Responsorial
PsalmPS 16:1-2A AND 5, 7-8,
9-10, 11
R.(1) Keep me
safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
AlleluiaJN 17:21
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
May they all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that the world may believe that you sent me, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May they all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that the world may believe that you sent me, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 17:20-26
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
"I pray not only for these,
but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with me,
that they may see my glory that you gave me,
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them."
"I pray not only for these,
but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with me,
that they may see my glory that you gave me,
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them."
For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Norbert, please go here.
Meditation:
"May they become perfectly one"
When
you pray what do you ask for - God's help, blessing, guidance, and wisdom? One
of the greatest privileges and responsibilities we have been given by God is to
pray not only for ourselves, but for others as well. The Lord Jesus lived a
life full of prayer, blessing, and gratitude to his Father in heaven. He prayed
for his disciples, especially when they were in great need or danger. Mark
tells us in his Gospel account (see chapter 6:46-51) that when Jesus was
praying alone on the mountain he saw that his disciples were in great distress
due to a life-threatening storm that was beating against their boat. Jesus
immediately came to their rescue - walking on the waves of the rough waters
before he calmed their fears and calmed the raging waters as well! Luke records
in his Gospel account the words of Jesus to Simon Peter shortly before Jesus'
arrest and Peter's denial of the Lord three times. "Simon, Simon, behold,
Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have
prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned
back, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32). Jesus' prayers were
personal, direct, and focused on the welfare and well-being of others -
especially that they might find peace and unity with God and with one another.
Jesus
prays for all Christians to be united as one
The longest recorded prayer of Jesus is found in the Gospel of John, the "high priestly" prayer which Jesus prayed aloud at his last supper meal with his disciples (John 17). This prayer most clearly reveals the heart and mind of Jesus - who and what he loved most - love for his Father in heaven and love for all who believe in him. His prayer focuses on the love and unity he desires for all who would believe in him and follow him, not only in the present, but in the future as well.
The longest recorded prayer of Jesus is found in the Gospel of John, the "high priestly" prayer which Jesus prayed aloud at his last supper meal with his disciples (John 17). This prayer most clearly reveals the heart and mind of Jesus - who and what he loved most - love for his Father in heaven and love for all who believe in him. His prayer focuses on the love and unity he desires for all who would believe in him and follow him, not only in the present, but in the future as well.
Jesus'
prayer concludes with a petition for the unity among all Christians who profess
that Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus prays for all men and women who will come
after him and follow him as his disciples (John 17:20). In a special way Jesus
prays here for each one of us that as members of his body the church we would
be one as he and his Father are one. The unity of Jesus, the only begotten Son
of God, with the eternal Father is a unity of mutual love, service, and honor,
and a oneness of mind, heart, and spirit. The Lord Jesus calls each and every
one of his followers into this unity of mutual love, respect, service, honor,
and friendship with all who belong to Christ.
To
make him known and loved by all
Jesus’ prayer on the eve of his sacrifice shows the great love and trust he had for his beloved disciples. He knew they would abandon him in his hour of trial, yet he entrusted to them the great task of spreading his name throughout the world and to the end of the ages. The Lord Jesus entrusts us today with the same mission - to make him known and loved by all. Jesus died and rose again that all might be one as he and the Father are one. Do you love all who belong to Christ and do you recognize and accept all baptized Christians as your brothers and sisters in Christ? The Lord Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, draws each one of us into the unity which he and the Father have together and into the unity he desires for all who belong to him - we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and sons and daughters of our beloved Father in heaven.
Jesus’ prayer on the eve of his sacrifice shows the great love and trust he had for his beloved disciples. He knew they would abandon him in his hour of trial, yet he entrusted to them the great task of spreading his name throughout the world and to the end of the ages. The Lord Jesus entrusts us today with the same mission - to make him known and loved by all. Jesus died and rose again that all might be one as he and the Father are one. Do you love all who belong to Christ and do you recognize and accept all baptized Christians as your brothers and sisters in Christ? The Lord Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, draws each one of us into the unity which he and the Father have together and into the unity he desires for all who belong to him - we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and sons and daughters of our beloved Father in heaven.
The
Lord intercedes for us right now
The Lord Jesus Christ included each one of us in his high priestly prayer at the last supper meal with his disciples on the eve of his sacrifice on the cross (John 17:20). And today the Lord Jesus continues his high priestly office as our intercessor before the throne of God in heaven. Paul the Apostle tells us that it is "Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us" (Romans 8:34; see also Hebrews 7: 25). Do you join in Jesus' high priestly prayer that all who profess Jesus as Lord may grow in love and unity together as brothers and sisters who have been redeemed through the precious blood that was shed for us on the cross?
The Lord Jesus Christ included each one of us in his high priestly prayer at the last supper meal with his disciples on the eve of his sacrifice on the cross (John 17:20). And today the Lord Jesus continues his high priestly office as our intercessor before the throne of God in heaven. Paul the Apostle tells us that it is "Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us" (Romans 8:34; see also Hebrews 7: 25). Do you join in Jesus' high priestly prayer that all who profess Jesus as Lord may grow in love and unity together as brothers and sisters who have been redeemed through the precious blood that was shed for us on the cross?
"Heavenly
Father, have mercy on all your people who have been redeemed by the precious
blood of your Son who offered up his life for us on the cross. Pardon our sins
and heal our divisions that we may grow in love, unity, and holiness together
as your sons and daughters. May all Christian people throughout the world
attain the unity for which Jesus prayed on the eve of his sacrifice. Renew in
us the power of the Holy Spirit that we may be a sign of that unity and a means
of its growth. Increase in us a fervent love, respect, and care for all of our
brothers and sisters who believe in Jesus Christ."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: Prayer of unity for all who believe,
by Cyprian of Carthage - first martyr bishop of Africa, 200-258 A.D.
"The
Lord's loving-kindness, no less than his mercy, is great in respect of our
salvation in that, not content to redeem us with his blood, he in addition
prayed for us. See now what the desire of his petition was, that just as the
Father and Son are one, so also we should abide in absolute unity. From this,
it may be evident how greatly someone sins who divides unity and peace, since
even the Lord himself petitioned for this same thing. He no doubt desired that
his people should in this way be saved and live in peace since he knew that
discord cannot come into the kingdom of God." (excerpt from THE LORD'S
PRAYER 30.1)
THURSDAY, JUNE 6, JOHN 17:20-26
Easter Weekday
(Acts 22:30, 23:6-11; Psalm 16)
Easter Weekday
(Acts 22:30, 23:6-11; Psalm 16)
KEY VERSE: "I gave them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one" (v.22).
TO KNOW: As Jesus prepared to return to his Father, he prayed for all those who would come to believe in him through his disciples' proclamation of the gospel. Jesus' followers would continue his work on earth by making God's name known. Jesus prayed for the unity of all believers. He longed for the time when Christians would cease their divisions and be united with him in the unity he shared with the Father. The love that existed between the Father and the Son flowed through the Spirit and would be expressed in the love that Christians have for one another. The Christian community should be a reflection of the oneness of the Triune God: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When the world saw this, they would be attracted to the gospel and believe in Jesus Christ (Jn 13:35).
TO LOVE: Are people able to "read" the gospel that I proclaim by my life?
TO SERVE: Risen Lord, help me to work for unity in my parish.
Optional Memorial of Saint Norbert, bishop
Norbert of Xanten, a town near the Holland-German border, did not begin his career as a reformer. Quite the opposite; he took holy orders as a career move, a practice that was eroding the credibility and effectiveness of the Church. A narrow escape from death led him to a conversion experience. After three years of self-scrutiny and prayer, he concluded that he should commit himself to Jesus and the ideals of the Gospel. A changed man, he returned to the parish community, determined to live as a principled priest and anxious to engage in active ministry. He founded the order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, France, also called the Norbertines, starting a reform movement that swept through European monastic houses. The Norbertines vowed to seek Christ by means of community living, poverty, obedience and celibacy. Norbert held before them the ideal of the first Christians after Pentecost whose community life was characterized by the power of the Spirit and a desire to be of service to others.
Thursday 6 June 2019
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11. Psalm 15(16):1-2, 5, 7-11. John 17:20-26.
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope – Psalm 15(16):1-2, 5, 7-11.
‘I have sent them into the world.’
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope – Psalm 15(16):1-2, 5, 7-11.
‘I have sent them into the world.’
Jesus’ words today are not easy for us to act on. It seems that
he is saying that each of us is sent into the world to build the kingdom, just
as he was sent into the world by the Father for the same purpose. How do we do
this?
There is a saying that we should ‘bloom where we are planted’.
We take this to mean that we build the kingdom first in our hearts then in
those among whom we live who are the other plants in the same garden. We can do
this by prayer and deed. In cooperating with God, the kingdom of peace and love
will spread.
So let us take today’s reading as an invitation to turn again to
the renewing presence of God. Lord, give me an experience of your love poured
into my heart.
Saint Norbert
Saint of the Day for June 6
(c. 1080 – June 6, 1134)
 |
| St. Norbert | Marten Pepijn |
Saint Norbert’s Story
In the 12th century in the French region of Premontre,
Saint Norbert founded a religious Order known as the Praemonstratensians or the
Norbertines. His founding of the Order was a monumental tasks: combating
rampant heresies—particularly regarding the Blessed Sacrament, revitalizing
many of the faithful who had grown indifferent and dissolute, plus effecting
peace and reconciliation among enemies.
Norbert entertained no pretensions about his own ability to
accomplish this multiple task. Even with the aid of a goodly number of men who
joined his Order, he realized that nothing could be effectively done without
God’s power. Finding this help especially in devotion to the Blessed Sacrament,
he and his Norbertines praised God for success in converting heretics, reconciling
numerous enemies, and rebuilding faith in indifferent believers. Many of them
lived in central houses during the week and served in parishes on weekends.
Reluctantly, Norbert became archbishop of Magdeburg in central
Germany, a territory half pagan and half Christian. In this position he
zealously and courageously continued his work for the Church until his death on
June 6, 1134.
Reflection
A different world cannot be built by indifferent people. The
same is true in regard to the Church. The indifference of vast numbers of
nominal faithful to ecclesiastical authority and essential doctrines of the
faith weakens the Church’s witness. Unswerving loyalty to the Church and
fervent devotion to the Eucharist, as practiced by Norbert, will continue
immeasurably toward maintaining the people of God in accord with the heart of
Christ.
Lectio Divina: John 17:20-26
Lectio Divina
Thursday, June 6, 2019
1) Opening prayer
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
and Father of all people,
we believe in You
and we know that You loved Jesus
with a deep and trusting, lasting love.
Let Your Holy Spirit pour out this love
into the hearts of all those
who believe in Jesus, our Savior and shepherd.
Let this love unite us in one common bond
of understanding and respect for one another
and let that love lead us
to live for one another and to serve one another
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
and Father of all people,
we believe in You
and we know that You loved Jesus
with a deep and trusting, lasting love.
Let Your Holy Spirit pour out this love
into the hearts of all those
who believe in Jesus, our Savior and shepherd.
Let this love unite us in one common bond
of understanding and respect for one another
and let that love lead us
to live for one another and to serve one another
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading - John 17:20-26
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: "I pray
not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their
word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that
they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have
given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in
them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the
world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with
me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before
the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know
you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your
name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in
them and I in them."
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel gives us the third and last part of the
Priestly Prayer, in which Jesus looks toward the future and manifests His great
desire for unity among us, His disciples, and that all may remain in the love
which unifies, because without love and without unity we do not deserve
credibility.
• John 17:20-23: So that the world may believe it was You who
sent Me. Jesus expands the horizon and prays to the Father: “I pray not only
for these but also for those who through their teaching will come to believe in
Me. May they all be one, just as, Father, You are in Me and I am in You, so
that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe it was You who sent
Me.” Behold, here emerges Jesus’ great concern for unity which should
exist in the communities. Unity does not mean uniformity, but rather to remain
in love, in spite of tensions and conflicts. A love which unifies to the point
of creating, among all, a profound unity like the unity which exists between
Jesus and the Father. The unity in love revealed in the Trinity is the model
for the communities. For this, through love among people, the communities reveal
to the world the most profound message of Jesus. People said of the first
Christians, “See how they love one another!” The present day division among the
three religions which came from Abraham is really tragic: the Jews, the
Christians and the Muslims. And even more tragic is the division among us
Christians who say that we believe in Jesus. If we are divided we do not
deserve credibility. Ecumenism is at the center of the last prayer of Jesus to
the Father. It is His testament. To be a Christian and not be ecumenical is a
contradiction. It means to contradict the last Will of Jesus.
• John 17:24-26: “So that the love with which You loved Me may
be in them.” Jesus does not want to remain alone. He says, “Father, I want
those You have given Me to be with Me where I am so that they may always see My
glory, which You have given Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of
the world.” Jesus is happy when we are all together with Him. He wants His
disciples to have the same experience of the Father which He had. He wants us
to know the Father and that He knows us. In the Bible, the word to know is not
limited to a rational theoretical knowledge, but presupposes the experience of
the presence of God living in love with the people of the community.
• That they may be one as We are one. (Unity and Trinity in the
Gospel of John) The Gospel of John helps us to understand the mystery of the
Trinity, the communion among the three Divine Persons: the Father, the Son and
the Spirit. Of the four Gospels, John is the one which puts more stress on the
profound unity among the Father, the Son and the Spirit. From the text of John
(Jn 17:6-8) we see that the mission of the Son is the supreme manifestation of
the love of the Father. And this unity between the Father and the Son makes
Jesus exclaim, “The Father and I are one” (Jn 10:30). Between the Son and the
Father there is such an intense unity that one who sees the face of one also
sees the face of the other. And fulfilling this mission of unity received from
the Father, Jesus reveals the Spirit. The spirit of Truth comes from the Father
(Jn 15:26). At the bidding of the Son (Jn 14:16), the Father sends the Spirit
to each one of us in such a way that He will remain with us, encouraging us and
giving us strength. The Spirit also comes to us from the Son (Jn 16:7-8). Thus,
the Spirit of Truth, who journeys with us, is the communication of the profound
unity which exists between the Father and the Son (Jn 15:26-27). The Spirit
cannot communicate a truth which is different from the truth of the Son.
Everything which is in relationship with the mystery of the Son, the Spirit
makes known to us (Jn 16:13-14). This experience of unity in God was very
strong in the communities of the Beloved Disciple. The love which unites the
Divine Persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - allows us to experience God
through union with the people in a community of love. This was also the
experience of the community, where love should be the sign of God’s presence in
the midst of the community (Jn 13:34-35). This love builds unity in the
community (Jn 17:21). They looked at the unity in God in order to understand
the unity among themselves.
4) For Personal Consideration
• Bishop Don Pedro Casaldáliga said, “The Trinity is truly the
best community.” In the community of which you are a part, can you see any
human sign of the Divine Trinity?
• Ecumenism: Am I interested in ecumenism? How do I approach it with others?
• Do I know the doctrine and beliefs of the Church well enough to enter into ecumenical discussion with others without misleading myself or others?
• What limits do I put on ecumenical activity in my life? Should there be limits?
• Ecumenism: Am I interested in ecumenism? How do I approach it with others?
• Do I know the doctrine and beliefs of the Church well enough to enter into ecumenical discussion with others without misleading myself or others?
• What limits do I put on ecumenical activity in my life? Should there be limits?
5) Concluding Prayer
Lord, You will teach me the path of life,
unbounded joy in Your presence,
at Your right hand delight for ever. (Ps 16:11)
unbounded joy in Your presence,
at Your right hand delight for ever. (Ps 16:11)
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