Let us also go that we may die with him. John 11.16

CATHOLIC DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

Welcome to my blog. The Catholic Church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives us each day at least two readings from the Bible, plus several verses from a psalm which is an inspired response to one of the readings, normally the first.

There is a cycle (a two year cycle for weekdays and a three year cycle for Sundays) which covers the major parts of the Old Testament, the Gospels and the New Testament writings.

Through these readings we get our spiritual nourishment. In my blog I give the readings and the inspirations I have received in my prayer. I want to share them with others. If they help some to get in touch with God and his image in this world, Jesus the Christ, then my purpose will be fulfilled. May God bless you through his Spirit.

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Saturday 16 May 2020

Let us also go that we may die with him. John 11.16

You have been buried with Christ in Baptism,

through which you also rose again

by faith through the working of God,

who raised him from the dead, alleluia.

 

Prayer

Lord, loving Father, through your power in the Sacrament of Baptism you have given us a new birth as your children. We share your very life, even now. Grant that those to whom you have given this firm hope of eternal life with you, may by your guidance in this life attain, one day, that glorious life. We make this prayer through your Son, Christ our Lord.

 

First reading

Acts 16:1-10 ·

'Come across to Macedonia and help us'

From Cilicia Paul went to Derbe, and then on to Lystra. Here there was a disciple called Timothy, whose mother was a Jewess who had become a believer; but his father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of Timothy, and Paul, who wanted to have him as a travelling companion, had him circumcised. This was on account of the Jews in the locality where everyone knew his father was a Greek.

As they visited one town after another, they passed on the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, with instructions to respect them.

So the churches grew strong in the faith, as well as growing daily in numbers.

They travelled through Phrygia and the Galatian country, having been told by the Holy Spirit not to preach the word in Asia. When they reached the frontier of Mysia they thought to cross it into Bithynia, but as the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them, they went through Mysia and came down to Troas.

One night Paul had a vision: a Macedonian appeared and appealed to him in these words, ‘Come across to Macedonia and help us.’ Once he had seen this vision we lost no time in arranging a passage to Macedonia, convinced that God had called us to bring them the Good News.

 

Prayerful reflection

In order to save some, Paul makes himself all things to all people. He doesn’t believe in circumcision, nor the need to follow the Law of Moses, yet not to make the preaching of the Gospel repulsive to the Jews, he has Timothy circumcised. He is following his Master, Jesus. To save human beings, God the Son, emptied himself and became a human being and then lived among us. Likewise, we too must put aside all our own inclinations and become one with those we wish to bring to Jesus.

Notice that in the very early Church, there is a central authority which safeguards the unity of faith. It is exercised by Peter in union with the other apostles and elders. Once this is lost Christianity will be divided into a multitude of splinter groups. Peter and his successors are essential for the unity of the Church. Let us thank God for the papacy throughout the ages.

The Holy Spirit is as active today as much as in the early Church. However, we must be open to the Spirit and willing to follow his inspirations. His inspirations given to the Church and to each member of the Church will never go against the unity in faith and morals as taught by the apostles and handed on from generation to generation by the teaching authority of the Church.

Let each Catholic be anxious and active in bringing well intentioned people, desirous of knowing Jesus, to faith in him.

 

 

Psalm (Make the psalm your prayer of gratitude for God’s Word)

Psalm 100:1-3,5

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.

 

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Serve the Lord with gladness.

Come before him, singing for joy.

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.

 

Know that he, the Lord, is God.

He made us, we belong to him,

we are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.

 

Indeed, how good is the Lord,

eternal his merciful love.

He is faithful from age to age.

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.

 

The world hated me before it hated you      John 15:18-21.

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If the world hates you,

remember that it hated me before you.

If you belonged to the world,

the world would love you as its own;

but because you do not belong to the world,

because my choice withdrew you from the world,

therefore, the world hates you.

Remember the words I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master.

If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too;

if they kept my word, they will keep yours as well.

But it will be on my account that they will do all this,

because they do not know the one who sent me.’

 

Prayerful Reflection

Jesus said, ‘no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him’ (Matt 11:28). It follows then, that anyone who rejects Jesus will not know the Father. They will not know God, though they may have ideas about him. The Father is the One who sent Jesus, not to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:16). The world in its philosophy and practice is opposed to the teaching of Jesus in the Gospel. There is a ruler of this world. He has no part with Jesus. (John 14:30). He has no power over Jesus, but he will make war on Jesus. And so, Jesus was persecuted and killed. Those who follow Jesus will also be persecuted and even martyred. This takes place throughout the world. Maybe in more sophisticated countries they will not actually crucify Jesus again, nor kill his followers. They will ignore him and them as irrelevant, backward looking, out of date people. They will mock their beliefs and practices and side-line them, holding them up for ridicule.

Jesus, however, has warned us of this. We should know this, if we enter upon his way. But in the end, he will be victorious and those who persevere to the end will also share his glory.

 (Matt 10:23, Revelation 3:21).

Do you pray daily for strength to be an open witness to Jesus and his values in a hostile world?

 

Jn 17: 20-21

Father, I pray for them, that they may be one in us,

so that the world may believe it was you who sent me,

says the Lord, alleluia

 

 

Concluding Prayer

Father, we believe in Jesus with all our hearts, but we are weak human beings. In your great love, you have liberated us from sin by the death of your Son. Preserve us in your love so that we may have the joy of his Resurrection.