If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own
May 28, 2011
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Reading 1
Paul reached also Derbe and Lystra
where there was a disciple named Timothy,
the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer,
but his father was a Greek.
The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him,
and Paul wanted him to come along with him.
On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised,
for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
As they traveled from city to city,
they handed on to the people for observance the decisions
reached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem.
Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith
and increased in number.
Although Paul would write that circumcision means nothing – whether we have it or not – for the sake of the feelings of Jews he has Timothy circumcised. This is an act of kindness and sensitivity.
They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territorybecause they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit
from preaching the message in the province of Asia.
When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia,
but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them,
so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas.
During the night Paul had a vision.
The missionaries have some false starts and interpret as the Holy Spirit wishing them to go elsewhere. When we look back we can often see the hand of God in our lives.
A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words,
“Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
When he had seen the vision,
we sought passage to Macedonia at once,
concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (2a) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
and I have chosen you out of the world,
the world hates you.
Remember the word I spoke to you,
‘No slave is greater than his master.’
If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
And they will do all these things to you on account of my name,
because they do not know the one who sent me.”
“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
and I have chosen you out of the world,
the world hates you.
Remember the word I spoke to you,
‘No slave is greater than his master.’
If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
And they will do all these things to you on account of my name,
because they do not know the one who sent me.”
Jesus came ‘from above’ and proclaimed the truth without fear. He was hated because of it. He was the Lamb of God and “roaring lions open their mouths against me” (Ps 22:13) and hated him without cause (Ps 69:4). Jesus sends his disciples out “like lambs among wolves”. We carry the Word of God and must proclaim the truth to men who see things in their own way. We will be despised and even persecuted because of it. If we are true disciples of Jesus and live up to what we believe among people who see us as different and even as opposed to their views and practices, is it surprising that they will hate us as they hated Jesus. To be persecuted for the truth of Jesus is a gift, but let it not be because we are wealthy, powerful, political, or bearers of an alien culture.
May 27, 2011
Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Reading 1
The Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church,
decided to choose representatives
and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,
and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
This is the letter delivered by them:
“The Apostles and the presbyters, your brothers,
to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
of Gentile origin: greetings.
Since we have heard that some of our number
who went out without any mandate from us
have upset you with their teachings
and disturbed your peace of mind,
we have with one accord decided to choose representatives
and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So we are sending Judas and Silas
who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:
‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us
not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,
namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,
from blood, from meats of strangled animals,
and from unlawful marriage.
If you keep free of these,
you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’“
And so they were sent on their journey.
Upon their arrival in Antioch
they called the assembly together and delivered the letter.
When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.
Despite all the deep feeling and love for the Law of Moses and the Jewish traditions the leaders of the Church were open to the leading of the Spirit and see that it is purely by faith in Jesus that we are saved and the Old Covenant is now fulfilled in Christ Jesus. As the new gentile Christians would be living and having fellowship with the Judaic Christians the apostles, sensitive to the deep feeling of Jewish converts, asked the new gentile Christians to refrain from all that was an abomination to their Jewish brothers and sisters.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (10a) I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and chant praise.
Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn.
or:
R. Alleluia.
My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and chant praise.
Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”
“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”
How did Jesus love? Although God he became a man and lived among us. His love goes beyond emotional attraction. It makes us whole. It makes us like God, sharing his life. His love made him pour himself out for our good, dying on a Cross for us while we were still his enemies. “He loved me and gave himself for me”. His love desires communion. Each of us is precious to him. His love makes him share himself with us in intimate dialogue, “I stand at the door and knock”, “We will dine together”. He commands that we love in the same way. With the Holy Spirit we can do so. His love shares his our own mission with us. “I chose you”. We are to live in deep love, with him and then as he inspires with his love for others and we will bear much fruit.
May 26, 2011
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter. Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, priest
Reading 1
After much debate had taken place,
Peter got up and said to the Apostles and the presbyters,
“My brothers, you are well aware that from early days
God made his choice among you that through my mouth
the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe.
And God, who knows the heart,
bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit
just as he did us.
He made no distinction between us and them,
for by faith he purified their hearts.
Why, then, are you now putting God to the test
by placing on the shoulders of the disciples
a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved
through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.”
The whole assembly fell silent,
and they listened
while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders
God had worked among the Gentiles through them.
After they had fallen silent, James responded,
“My brothers, listen to me.
Symeon has described how God first concerned himself
with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name.
The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written:
After this I shall return
and rebuild the fallen hut of David;
from its ruins I shall rebuild it
and raise it up again,
so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord,
even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked.
Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,
known from of old.
It is my judgment, therefore,
that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God,
but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols,
unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.
For Moses, for generations now,
has had those who proclaim him in every town,
as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath.”
We see in this passage how the Spirit was guiding the Church. The problem the members of the community faced was deep seated and highly emotional. Peter argues from his experience of how gentiles had been transformed by the Holy Spirit and James argues from the Scriptures. The final verdict of James takes into consideration the sensitivities of the Jewish converts among whom the gentile converts will be living. We can trust in the Holy Spirit to guide the Church today since Jesus promised to send another Paraclete (Helper, Advocate, Counsellor, Consoler, Guide, Teacher, etc) who will “be with you always”. In this meeting in Jerusalem the Church’s leaders were able to recognize the new direction in which the Spirit was leading the community. The Church was breaking out of the religious and cultural atmosphere in which it was born.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (3) Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
“I have told you this so that
my joy might be in you and
your joy might be complete.”
my joy might be in you and
your joy might be complete.”
The Son is the perfect image of his Father and the Father sees himself in his Son. They are so perfectly one that they are one Being. There can be no closer union of two distinct yet identical Persons. Jesus loves us in the same way as his Father loves him. Though distinct he wants us to be one being with him. What must we do? We must open ourselves to his desire, for this is the purpose of our being born. It is here that we find the meaning of our life. It is to become the perfect image of Jesus the Christ and become one being through the indwelling of the Spirit. To be one being is to be one in action. In everything we become the manifestation of Jesus. This is to fulfil his every command. We become whole and so full of joy.
May 25, 2011
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Reading 1
Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved.”
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters
about this question.
They were sent on their journey by the Church,
and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria
telling of the conversion of the Gentiles,
and brought great joy to all the brethren.
When they arrived in Jerusalem,
they were welcomed by the Church,
as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters,
and they reported what God had done with them.
But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers
stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them
and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.”
The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.
If the first major problem faced by the early Church was the cultural difference and difference in approach to the Temple between Hebrew Christians and Hellenist Christians then an even more serious dispute arose about whether gentiles should be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses or not. This was a problem about which both sides felt very strongly and it was likely to split the Church. Jewish converts and especially the Hebrew Christians felt that gentile converts should become Jews if there were to become Christians. Fortunately there were those who argued strongly that faith in Jesus was alone necessary for salvation. Paul will be the champion of freedom.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
We stand around a dying man. He is still there. He smiles. We hold his hand and we hold him. Then he’s gone. You hold his body. It’s not him any more. So it is with Jesus. If you live in him and he in you, then he is you. People touch him in you. People touched Jesus in Mother Teresa, in Padre Pio. Do they in you? We are to be the living body of Jesus as the branch is the living vine. How tragic for the world when through our sin Jesus is gone and people just hold a corpse. Unless we live in Jesus we cause irreparable damage to the world. Although they may not realise it, people long for the incarnation of Jesus among them in you and me. Only you and I can make it possible. “Remain in me and my words in you”. How?
May 24, 2011Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Acts 14:19-28
Reading 1
Reading 1
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.
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.
The persecution is meant to stop the spread of the Gospel but in fact it is the cause of the Gospel being brought to new people and places. It is necessary to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom. The two apostles could speak from personal experience, but they were not depressed. Jesus had overcome the world. Though the elders they appointed may not be like the Church leaders we have today – bishops, parish priests etc, yet nonetheless since Paul and Barnabas were travelling missionaries, it was necessary to have leaders appointed in each community. Otherwise the community would have no focus and other leaders would surface who may not be suitable to lead the community in the way of the Gospel. Paul and Barnabas belonged to the community in Antioch and had been sent on mission by them and so they gave a report to them too. Missionaries are to be sent by a community to carry the Gospel.
Responsorial Psalm
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.
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.
Gospel
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.”
Jesus in John’s Gospel calls for a religion of intimacy with himself. Church structures are no doubt necessary but the heart and only lasting ‘structure’ is our personal relationship with Jesus. In this life it will always have a touch of pain because Jesus is not visible – he has gone away. He has come back but now under the cloak of faith. We can meet Jesus but only through faith. It is not a meeting face to face and the true disciple longs for this. But we can be at peace because though we do not see him, we know he is always present to us. When he is present to us then we need have no fear or anxiety about anything. All we need is trust in him. What is the heart of your religion?
May 23, 2011
Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Reading 1
Acts 14:5-18
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.
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.
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.
As Peter continued the ministry of Jesus among the Jews in healing the lame man outside the Temple so Paul continues this ministry by healing the lame man among the gentiles. Filled with the Spirit the apostles continue the work and ministry of Jesus. Paul and Barnabas in no way claim the honour for themselves. The Church is called to continue the same ministry of Jesus today throughout the world.
Responsorial Psalm
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?”
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?”
Gospel
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 name
he will teach you everything
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.”
How does the world give peace? We’ll give you money, position, acclamation. You can have everything. What more do you want? But what about your heart? Can it give you joy, contentment, a happiness that radiates to everyone you meet? Only Jesus gives this and he promises it to ‘his disciples’. Are you one? How to get joy and peace? There’s no well to draw from. There is no peace ‘out there’. There is only your peace and my peace. There is no substitute for resting in the arms of a beloved. There is no substitute for falling in love with Jesus. Only then will you experience his peace, of having no fear of anything or anyone. He is with you. How to fall in love? The Spirit works from the inside. Get to know him. He can make it happen. That’s his task.
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