Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 286
Lectionary: 286
In those days, some Jews from
Antioch and Iconium
arrived and won over the crowds.
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,
supposing that he was dead.
But when the disciples gathered around him,
he got up and entered the city.
On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
arrived and won over the crowds.
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,
supposing that he was dead.
But when the disciples gathered around him,
he got up and entered the city.
On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
After they had proclaimed the good
news to that city
and made a considerable number of disciples,
they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the Kingdom of God.”
They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and,
with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord
in whom they had put their faith.
Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.
After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.
From there they sailed to Antioch,
where they had been commended to the grace of God
for the work they had now accomplished.
And when they arrived, they called the Church together
and reported what God had done with them
and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Then they spent no little time with the disciples.
and made a considerable number of disciples,
they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the Kingdom of God.”
They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and,
with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord
in whom they had put their faith.
Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.
After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.
From there they sailed to Antioch,
where they had been commended to the grace of God
for the work they had now accomplished.
And when they arrived, they called the Church together
and reported what God had done with them
and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Then they spent no little time with the disciples.
Responsorial Psalm145:10-11, 12-13AB, 21
R. (see
12) Your
friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May my mouth speak the praise of the LORD,
and may all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May my mouth speak the praise of the LORD,
and may all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
or:
R. Alleluia.
AlleluiaLK 24:46, 26
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead,
and so enter into his glory.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead,
and so enter into his glory.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 14:27-31A
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.
I will no longer speak much with you,
for the ruler of the world is coming.
He has no power over me,
but the world must know that I love the Father
and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.
I will no longer speak much with you,
for the ruler of the world is coming.
He has no power over me,
but the world must know that I love the Father
and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”
Meditation: "My
peace I give to you"
Do you know the peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians
4:7)? In his farewell discourse Jesus grants peace as his gift
to his disciples. What kind of peace does he offer? The peace of Christ is
more than the absence of trouble. It includes everything which makes for our
highest good. The world's approach to peace is avoidance of trouble and a
refusal to face unpleasant things. Jesus offers the peace which conquers our
fears and anxieties. Nothing can take us from the peace and joy of Jesus
Christ. No sorrow or grief, no danger, no suffering can make it less.
The true nature of peace
How can we attain the peace which the Lord Jesus offers his followers? Through the gift and work of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, the Lord Jesus shows us how to yield our passions of anger, fear, and pride to him so we can receive his gift of peace. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and strengthens us with his gifts and supernatural virtues which enable us to live as wise and holy disciples of Christ.
How can we attain the peace which the Lord Jesus offers his followers? Through the gift and work of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, the Lord Jesus shows us how to yield our passions of anger, fear, and pride to him so we can receive his gift of peace. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and strengthens us with his gifts and supernatural virtues which enable us to live as wise and holy disciples of Christ.
Caesarius of Arles (470-542 AD), an early church bishop in Gaul
who was noted for his godly wisdom and preaching of Scripture, linked peace
with the character of Christ and the Christlike virtues which help us to grow
as disciples of Jesus Christ. Caesarius describes some of the key character
traits (virtues) which form us into true people of peace:
"Peace, indeed, is serenity of mind, tranquility of soul,
simplicity of heart, the bond of love, the fellowship of charity. It removes
hatred, settles wars, restrains wrath, tramples on pride, loves the humble,
pacifies the discordant and makes enemies agree. For it is pleasing to
everyone. It does not seek what belongs to another or consider anything as its
own. It teaches people to love because it does not know how to get angry, or to
extol itself or become inflated with pride. It is meek and humble to everyone,
possessing rest and tranquility within itself. When the peace of Christ is
exercised by a Christian, it is brought to perfection by Christ. If anyone
loves it, he will be an heir of God, while anyone who despises it rebels
against Christ.
"When our Lord Jesus Christ was returning to the Father, he
left his peace to his followers as their inherited good, teaching them and
saying, 'My peace I give to you, my peace I leave with you.' Anyone who has
received this peace should keep it, and one who has destroyed it should look
for it, while anyone who has lost it should seek it. For if anyone is not found
with it, he will be disinherited by the Father and deprived of his
inheritance." (Sermon 174.1)
Destiny with the Father
Jesus speaks to his disciples about his destination - and their destiny as well. He tells them in plain words that he must return to his Father in heaven (John 14:28). If his disciples truly love him for who he is - the only begotten Son of the Father, then they will rejoice that Jesus will ascend to the throne of God and be reunited with his Father in heaven.
Jesus also speaks of his struggle - his passion, suffering and death which he undertook on the cross to redeem us from slavery to sin and death. Jesus called Satan the "ruler of this world" (John 14:30) who seeks to rob people of peace and friendship with God. Jesus defeated the evil one through his death and resurrection and won pardon and peace for all who believe in him.The victory of the cross brought glory to Jesus and to the Father and it is our way to glory with the Father in heaven as well. In the Cross of Christ we find true peace and reconciliation with God our Father. Do you live in the peace of Jesus Christ?
Jesus speaks to his disciples about his destination - and their destiny as well. He tells them in plain words that he must return to his Father in heaven (John 14:28). If his disciples truly love him for who he is - the only begotten Son of the Father, then they will rejoice that Jesus will ascend to the throne of God and be reunited with his Father in heaven.
Jesus also speaks of his struggle - his passion, suffering and death which he undertook on the cross to redeem us from slavery to sin and death. Jesus called Satan the "ruler of this world" (John 14:30) who seeks to rob people of peace and friendship with God. Jesus defeated the evil one through his death and resurrection and won pardon and peace for all who believe in him.The victory of the cross brought glory to Jesus and to the Father and it is our way to glory with the Father in heaven as well. In the Cross of Christ we find true peace and reconciliation with God our Father. Do you live in the peace of Jesus Christ?
"Lord Jesus, may your peace be always with me. May no troubling
thought, trial or affliction rob me of the peace which passes all
understanding. You, alone, O Lord, are my Peace. May I always reside in that
peace by believing in your word and by doing your will.”
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The
Following of Christ, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Come, follow Me, says the Lord. Do you love? He has
hastened on, He has flown on ahead. Look and see where. O Christian, don't you
know where your Lord has gone? I ask you: Don't you wish to follow Him there?
Through trials, insults, the cross, and death. Why do you hesitate? Look, the
way has been shown you." (excerpt from Sermon 345,6)
TUESDAY, MAY 12, JOHN 14:27-31a
EASTER WEEKDAY
(Acts 14:19-28; Psalm 145)
EASTER WEEKDAY
(Acts 14:19-28; Psalm 145)
KEY VERSE: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you" (v.27).
TO KNOW: In anticipation of his passion and death, Jesus entreated his disciples to remain steadfast when they faced persecution and suffering. The enemy, though close at hand, held no power over them. Jesus’ farewell gift to his disciples was "peace" (Hebrew, shalom). When Jesus ascended to his Father, his first gift of the resurrection would be the peace of the Spirit. The peace that he imparted was not to be understood in the worldly sense as a cessation of hostilities. Nor could it be achieved by arbitration and treaties. Jesus' peace is the indwelling Spirit. Jesus says that we should not let fear dominate our lives, for he is with us—and with him is his peace. This peace would sustain his disciples in his absence, even in the midst of distress and fear. In their fearless proclamation of the gospel, the world would know that Jesus’ followers were obedient to the Father's will despite pain and death.
TO LOVE: In what ways do I gift others with the peace of Christ?
TO SERVE: Risen Lord, grant your peace to this troubled world.
Tuesday 12 May 2020
Acts 14:19-28. Your friends tell the glory of your
kingship, Lord – Psalm 144(145):10-13am, 21. John 14:27-31.
A peace the world cannot give is my gift to you
Jesus offers a peace that the world cannot give, and yet it is
sometimes so difficult to put ourselves into His hands. Our lives and hearts
are troubled by the anxiety of our world and these times. We find it hard to
give ourselves to the unknown, wanting to fix the future in a certain way,
wanting to keep things static. We manufacture and build up a solid and
impenetrable identity outside of our true nature in Christ. But Jesus calls us,
His disciples to leave our fixed state, to make our lives, like His, dedicated
to following God, despite our freedom to do otherwise. It is a paradox that
what sometimes fills us with the most anxiety is, too, what will also give us
the greatest peace.
Saint Leopold Mandic
Saint of the Day for May 12
(May 12, 1866 – July 30, 1942)
 |
| Statue of Leopold Mandic | St. Jacob Church in Međugorje, Bosnia | photo by gnuckx |
Saint Leopold Mandic’s story
Western Christians who are working for greater dialogue with
Orthodox Christians may be reaping the fruits of Father Leopold’s prayers.
A native of Croatia, Leopold joined the Capuchin Franciscans and
was ordained several years later in spite of several health problems. He could
not speak loudly enough to preach publicly. For many years he also suffered
from severe arthritis, poor eyesight, and a stomach ailment.
For several years Leopold taught patrology, the study of the
Church Fathers, to the clerics of his province, but he is best known for his
work in the confessional, where he sometimes spent 13-15 hours a day. Several
bishops sought out his spiritual advice.
Leopold’s dream was to go to the Orthodox Christians and work
for the reunion of Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy. His health never permitted
it. Leopold often renewed his vow to go to the Eastern Christians; the cause of
unity was constantly in his prayers.
At a time when Pope Pius XII said that the greatest sin of our
time is “to have lost all sense of sin,” Leopold had a profound sense of sin
and an even firmer sense of God’s grace awaiting human cooperation.
Leopold, who lived most of his life in Padua, died on July 30,
1942, and was canonized in 1982.
Reflection
Saint Francis advised his followers to “pursue what they must
desire above all things, to have the Spirit of the Lord and His holy manner of
working” (Rule of 1223, Chapter 10)—words that Leopold lived out.
When the Capuchin minister general wrote his friars on the occasion of
Leopold’s beatification, he said that this friar’s life showed “the priority of
that which is essential.”
Lectio Divina: John 14:27-31a
Lectio Divina
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Easter Season
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God, almighty Father,
You have absolute power over the world,
and yet You respect the freedom of people,
even of those who persecute Your faithful.
Make us realize that our faith
does not protect us against the evil
which people bring upon one another,
but that You want us to build according to Your plan
a kingdom of justice, love and peace.
Help our faith to stand the test
when our meager efforts fail.
We ask You this through Christ our Lord.
You have absolute power over the world,
and yet You respect the freedom of people,
even of those who persecute Your faithful.
Make us realize that our faith
does not protect us against the evil
which people bring upon one another,
but that You want us to build according to Your plan
a kingdom of justice, love and peace.
Help our faith to stand the test
when our meager efforts fail.
We ask You this through Christ our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading - John 14:27-31a
Jesus said to his disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my
peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let
your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and
I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to
the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this
before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer
speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over
me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the
Father has commanded me."
3) Reflection
• Here begins the farewell of Jesus, in John 14:27. At the end
of chapter 14 He ends the conversation, saying, “Come now, let us go!” (Jn
14:31). But instead of leaving the room, Jesus continues to speak for three
more chapters: 15, 16, and 17. At the beginning of chapter 18, we see the
following phrase: “After He had said all this, Jesus left with His disciples
and crossed the Kidron valley where there was a garden which He entered with
His disciples.” (Jn 18:1). In Jn 18:1, there is the continuation of Jn 14:31.
The Gospel of John is like a beautiful building constructed slowly, rock on top
of rock, brick upon brick. Here and there, there are signs of rearrangement or
adaptation. In some way, all the texts, all the bricks, form part of a building
and are the Word of God for us.
• John 14:27: The gift of Peace. Jesus communicates His peace to
the disciples. The same peace will be given after the Resurrection (Jn 20:29).
This peace is an expression of the manifestation of the Father, as Jesus had
said before (Jn 14:21). The peace of Jesus is the source of joy that He
communicates to us (Jn 15:11; 16:20,22,24; 17:13). It is a peace which is
different from the peace which the world gives us. It is different from Pax
Romana. At the end of the first century the Pax Romana was maintained by force
and violent repression against the rebellious movements. Pax Romana, as a
policy of the Roman government, guaranteed institutionalized inequality
between the Roman citizens and the slaves. This is not the peace of the Kingdom
of God. The peace which Jesus communicates is what in the Old Testament is
called “shalom.” It is the complete organization of all life around the
values of justice, fraternity and equality.
• John 14:28-29: The reason why Jesus returns to the Father.
Jesus returns to the Father in order to be able to return immediately. He will
say to Mary Magdalene, “Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to
the Father” (Jn 20:17). Going up to the Father, He will return through the Holy
Spirit which He will send (cf. Jn 20; 22). Without the return to the Father, He
will not be able to stay with us through the Spirit.
• John 14:30-31a: That the world may know that I love the
Father. Jesus had ended the last conversation with the disciples. The prince of
this world wanted to impose himself on the destiny of Jesus. Jesus will die. In
reality, the prince of this world, the Tempter, the Devil, has no power over
Jesus. The world will know that Jesus loves the Father. This is the great
witness of Jesus which impels the world to believe in Him. In proclaiming the
Good News, it is not a question of spreading doctrine or imposing Canon Law, or
of uniting all in one organization. It is above all a question of living and
radiating what the human being desires and has deeper in his heart through
intimacy with God: love. Without this, the doctrine, the Law, the celebration,
will only be a wig on a bald head.
• John 14:31b: Come now, let us go. These are the last words of
Jesus and the expression of His decision to be obedient to the Father,
revealing His love. In the Eucharist, at the moment of the consecration, in
some countries, it is said, “On the day before His passion, voluntarily
accepted.” In another place Jesus says, “This is why the Father loves Me:
because I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from
Me, but I lay it down of My own free will. I have power to lay it down so
I have power to take it up again, and this is the command that I have received
from My Father.” (Jn 10:17-18)
4) Personal questions
• Jesus says, “I give you My peace.” How do I contribute to the
building of peace in my family and in my community?
• Looking into the mirror of the obedience of Jesus toward the Father, how could I improve my obedience to the Father?
• Jesus told His disciples beforehand so that they would believe. Do I need to “see” beforehand in order to believe, or do I see everything with faith and trust?
• We also have choices to lay down our “life” for others every day – in charity and denial of self in order to serve others in our daily “life”. Do I volunteer my “life” every day, all day, or only sometimes or only when asked?
• Looking into the mirror of the obedience of Jesus toward the Father, how could I improve my obedience to the Father?
• Jesus told His disciples beforehand so that they would believe. Do I need to “see” beforehand in order to believe, or do I see everything with faith and trust?
• We also have choices to lay down our “life” for others every day – in charity and denial of self in order to serve others in our daily “life”. Do I volunteer my “life” every day, all day, or only sometimes or only when asked?
5) Concluding Prayer
All Your creatures shall thank You, Yahweh,
and Your faithful shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingship
and tell of Your might. (Ps 145:10-11)
and Your faithful shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingship
and tell of Your might. (Ps 145:10-11)
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