Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 285
Lectionary: 285
There was an attempt in Iconium
by both the Gentiles and the Jews,
together with their leaders,
to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.
They realized it,
and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe
and to the surrounding countryside,
where they continued to proclaim the Good News.
by both the Gentiles and the Jews,
together with their leaders,
to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.
They realized it,
and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe
and to the surrounding countryside,
where they continued to proclaim the Good News.
At Lystra there was a crippled
man, lame from birth,
who had never walked.
He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him,
saw that he had the faith to be healed,
and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.”
He jumped up and began to walk about.
When the crowds saw what Paul had done,
they cried out in Lycaonian,
“The gods have come down to us in human form.”
They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,”
because he was the chief speaker.
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city,
brought oxen and garlands to the gates,
for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.
who had never walked.
He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him,
saw that he had the faith to be healed,
and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.”
He jumped up and began to walk about.
When the crowds saw what Paul had done,
they cried out in Lycaonian,
“The gods have come down to us in human form.”
They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,”
because he was the chief speaker.
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city,
brought oxen and garlands to the gates,
for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.
The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore
their garments
when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,
“Men, why are you doing this?
We are of the same nature as you, human beings.
We proclaim to you good news
that you should turn from these idols to the living God,
who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.
In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;
yet, in bestowing his goodness,
he did not leave himself without witness,
for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,
and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.”
Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds
from offering sacrifice to them.
when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,
“Men, why are you doing this?
We are of the same nature as you, human beings.
We proclaim to you good news
that you should turn from these idols to the living God,
who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.
In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;
yet, in bestowing his goodness,
he did not leave himself without witness,
for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,
and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.”
Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds
from offering sacrifice to them.
Responsorial
Psalm115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16
R. (1ab) Not to us, O Lord, but
to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory
because of your mercy, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say,
“Where is their God?”
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,
but the earth he has given to the children of men.
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory
because of your mercy, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say,
“Where is their God?”
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,
but the earth he has given to the children of men.
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
AlleluiaJN 14:26
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 14:21-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,
“Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us
and not to the world?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,
“Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us
and not to the world?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.
“I have told you this while I am
with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my nameB
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my nameB
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”
Meditation: "If you
love me, keep my word"
Do you know the love that surpasses all, that is stronger than
death itself (Song of Songs 8:6)? In Jesus' last supper discourse he
speaks of the love he has for his disciples and of his Father's love. He
prepares his disciples for his imminent departure to return to his Father by
exhorting them to prove their love for him through their loyalty and obedience
to his word. He promises them the abiding instruction and consolation of the
Holy Spirit.
Saint Augustine says the Lord loves each of us as if
there were only one of us to love. God's love for each of us is as real and
tangible as the love of a mother for her child and the love of a lover who
gives all for his beloved. God made us in love for love - to know him
personally and to grow in the knowledge of his great love for us and to love
him in return.
God's love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit
How can we know and be assured of the love of God? The Holy Spirit helps us to grow in the knowledge of God and his great love. The Spirit enables us to experience the love of God and to be assured of the Lord’s abiding presence with us (see Romans 5:5 and 8:35-39). The Holy Spirit also opens our ears to hear and understand the word of God. Do you listen attentively to God's word and believe it? Ask the Holy Spirit to inflame your heart with the love of God and his word.
How can we know and be assured of the love of God? The Holy Spirit helps us to grow in the knowledge of God and his great love. The Spirit enables us to experience the love of God and to be assured of the Lord’s abiding presence with us (see Romans 5:5 and 8:35-39). The Holy Spirit also opens our ears to hear and understand the word of God. Do you listen attentively to God's word and believe it? Ask the Holy Spirit to inflame your heart with the love of God and his word.
"Lord Jesus, in love you created me and you drew me to
yourself. May I never lose sight of you nor forget your steadfast love and
faithfulness. And may I daily dwell upon your word and give you praise in the
sanctuary of my heart, You who are my All."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: God
is pleased to dwell in us, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"God is not too grand to come, he is not too fussy or shy,
he is not too proud - on the contrary he is pleased to come if you do not
displease him. Listen to the promise he makes. Listen to him indeed promising
with pleasure, not threatening in displeasure, "We shall come to
him," he says, "I and the Father." To the one he had earlier
called his friend, the one who obeys his precepts, the keeper of his
commandment, the lover of God, the lover of his neighbor, he says, "We
shall come to him and make our abode with him." (excerpt from Sermon
23,6)
MONDAY, MAY 11, JOHN 14:21-26
EASTER WEEKDAY
(Acts 14:5-18; Psalm 115)
EASTER WEEKDAY
(Acts 14:5-18; Psalm 115)
KEY VERSE: "Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me" (v.21).
TO KNOW: As Jesus prepared to return to the Father, he comforted his fearful and bewildered disciples about his impending departure. The disciples were afraid that Jesus was abandoning them, but he assured them that he would not leave them orphans. He and the Father would send another "Advocate" (Greek, parakletos, an intercessor, one who defends someone as in a court of law) who would give them help in time of need. Jesus gave a "new commandment" to his followers, to "love one another" as he loved them (Jn 13:34). Judas (not the Iscariot) asked, “Master, why is it that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus said that the unbelieving world could not accept this truth because they did not love him, nor did they keep his commands. Jesus' disciples would prove their love by obedience to his word and by loving one another. Jesus promised that he and the Father would make their dwelling within the hearts of believers. The Holy Spirit, or the "Advocate," would be sent by the Father in Jesus' name to remind his followers of everything that he taught them.
TO LOVE: Have I kept Jesus' command to love those who may be difficult to love?
TO SERVE: Holy Spirit, be my advocate when I face a difficult situation.
Monday 11 May 2020
Acts 14:5-18. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give
the glory – Psalm 113B(115):1-4, 15-16. John 14:21-26.
‘The Holy Spirit… will remind you of all I have said to you’
According to the dictionary, an ‘advocate’ can support,
write/speak in favour of, or recommend publicly. The Holy Spirit does all these
things, but are they for us or for God? Perhaps we could say both. The Holy
Spirit supports and encourages us to live our faith fully, and is the
love of the Father and the Son for us. Yet, the Holy Spirit also advocates for
God, directing our attention to God’s word in our world. So are we called to be
advocates: supporting others in their faith journey, directing their attention
to the love of God through Jesus Christ.
How might we reframe admiration or praise for our actions today
and turn it instead to the source of all that is good?
Saint Ignatius of Laconi
Saint of the Day for May 11
(December 17, 1701 – May 11, 1781)
 |
| Statue of Saint Ignatius of Laconi | Unknown |
Saint Ignatius of Laconi’s Story
Ignatius is another sainted begging brother.
He was the second of seven children of peasant parents in
Sardinia. His path to the Franciscans was unusual. During a serious illness,
Ignatius vowed to become a Capuchin if he recovered. He regained his health but
ignored the promise. When he was 20, a riding accident prompted Ignatius to
renew the pledge, which he acted on the second time. Ignatius’s reputation for
self-denial and charity led to his appointment as the official beggar for the
friars in Cagliari. He fulfilled that task for 40 years, despite being blind
for the last two years.
While on his rounds, Ignatius would instruct the children, visit
the sick, and urge sinners to repent. The people of Cagliari were inspired by
his kindness and his faithfulness to his work. Ignatius was canonized in 1951.
Reflection
Why did the people of Cagliari support the friars? These
followers of Francis worked hard but rarely at jobs that paid enough to live
on. Under these conditions Saint Francis allowed them to beg. The life of
Ignatius reminds us that everything God considers worthwhile does not have a
high-paying salary attached to it.
Lectio Divina: John 14:21-26
Lectio Divina
Monday, May 11, 2020
Easter Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord God, loving Father,
we look for Your presence
in the temple of nature
and in churches built by our hands,
and You are there with Your people.
But above all, You have made Your temple
right in our hearts.
God, give us eyes of faith and love
to recognize that You live in us
with Your Son and the Holy Spirit
if we keep the word of Jesus Christ,
Your Son and our Lord for ever.
we look for Your presence
in the temple of nature
and in churches built by our hands,
and You are there with Your people.
But above all, You have made Your temple
right in our hearts.
God, give us eyes of faith and love
to recognize that You live in us
with Your Son and the Holy Spirit
if we keep the word of Jesus Christ,
Your Son and our Lord for ever.
2) Gospel Reading - John 14:21-26
Jesus said to his disciples: "Whoever has my commandments
and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my
Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him." Judas, not the
Iscariot, said to him, "Master, then what happened that you will reveal
yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him,
"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we
will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does
not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who
sent me. "I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy
Spirit whom the Father will send in my name -- he will teach you everything and
remind you of all that I told you."
3) Reflection
• Chapter 14 of the Gospel of John is a beautiful example of how
the catechesis was done in the communities of Asia Minor at the end of the
first century. Through the questions of the disciples and the responses of
Jesus, the Christians formed their conscience and found an orientation to
address their problems. In chapter 14, we find the question of Thomas and the
answer of Jesus (Jn 14:5-7), the question of Philip and the response of Jesus
(Jn 14:8-21), and the question of Judas and the answer of Jesus (Jn 12:22-26).
The last phrase of the answer of Jesus to Philip (Jn 14:21) forms the first
verse of today’s Gospel.
• John 14:21: I shall love Him and reveal myself to Him. This
verse presents the summary of the response of Jesus to Philip. Philip had said:
“Show us the Father and then we shall be satisfied!” (Jn 14:8). Moses had asked
God: “Show me your glory!” (Ex 33:18). God answered: “My face you cannot see,
for no human being can see Me and survive” (Ex 33:20). The Father cannot be shown.
God lives in inaccessible light (1 Tim 6:16). “Nobody has ever seen God” (I Jn
4:12). But the presence of the Father can be experienced through the experience
of love. The First Letter of Saint John says: “He who does not love does not
know God because God is love”. Jesus tells Philip: “Whoever loves Me will be
loved by My Father, and I shall love him and reveal Myself to him”. By
observing the commandment of Jesus, which is the commandment to love our
neighbor (Jn 15:17), the person shows his love for Jesus. And whoever loves
Jesus, will be loved by the Father and can be certain that the Father will
manifest Himself to him. In the response to Judas, Jesus will say how this
manifestation of the Father will take place in our life.
• John 14:22: The question of Judas is the question of all. The
question of Judas: “Lord, what has happened that You intend to show Yourself to
us and not to the world?” This question mirrors a problem which is real even
today. Sometimes, among us, Christians, there arises the idea of being better
than the others and of being loved by God more than others. Do we attribute to
God distinction among people?
• John 14:23-24: The answer of Jesus. The answer of Jesus is
simple and profound. He repeats what He had just said to Philip. The problem is
not if we, Christians, are loved more by God than others, or that the others
are despised by God. This is not the criteria for any preference by the Father.
The criteria of the Father is always the same: love. “If anyone loves Me, he
will observe My word, and My Father will love him and We shall come to him and
make a home in him. Anyone who does not love Me does not keep My words”.
Independently of whether the person is Christian or not, the Father manifests
Himself to all those who observe the commandment of Jesus which is love for
neighbor (Jn 15:17). In what does the manifestation of the Father consist? The
response to this question is engraved in the heart of humanity, in the
universal human experience. Observe the life of the people who practice love
and make their life a gift for others. Examine their experience, independently
of religion, social class, race or color. The practice of love gives us a
profound peace and it is a great joy that they succeed to live and bear
together pain and suffering. This experience is the reflection of the
manifestation of the Father in the life of the person. It is the realization of
the promise: “I and the Father will come to him and make our home in him.
• John 14:25-26: The promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus ends his
response to Judas saying: I have said these things to you while still with you.
Jesus communicates everything which He has heard from the Father (Jn 15:15).
His words are a source of life and they should be meditated on, deepened, and
updated constantly in the light of the always new reality which surrounds us.
For this constant meditation on His words, Jesus promises us the help of the
Holy Spirit: “The Consoler, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in My
name will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.
4) Personal questions
• Jesus says: We will come to him and make our home in him. How
do I experience this promise?
• We have the promise of the gift of the Spirit to help us understand the word of Jesus. Do I invoke the light of the Spirit when I prepare myself to read and meditate on Scripture?
• Do I keep His word in a way that allows the Father and the Son to dwell in me continuously, or is it only on good days or certain times?
• We have the promise of the gift of the Spirit to help us understand the word of Jesus. Do I invoke the light of the Spirit when I prepare myself to read and meditate on Scripture?
• Do I keep His word in a way that allows the Father and the Son to dwell in me continuously, or is it only on good days or certain times?
5) Concluding Prayer
Day after day I shall bless You,
I shall praise Your name for ever and ever.
Great is Yahweh and worthy of all praise,
His greatness beyond all reckoning. (Ps 145:2-3)
I shall praise Your name for ever and ever.
Great is Yahweh and worthy of all praise,
His greatness beyond all reckoning. (Ps 145:2-3)
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