Memorial of Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr
Lectionary: 270
Reading 1
Acts 5:27-33
When the court officers had brought the Apostles in
and made them stand before the Sanhedrin,
the high priest questioned them,
“We gave you strict orders did we not,
to stop teaching in that name.
Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching
and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the Apostles said in reply,
“We must obey God rather than men.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior
to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
We are witnesses of these things,
as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they heard this,
they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20
R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia
John 20:29
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
John 3:31-36
The one who comes from above is above all.
The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.
But the one who comes from heaven is above all.
He testifies to what he has seen and heard,
but no one accepts his testimony.
Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.
For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.
He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life,
but the wrath of God remains upon him.
Reflection 1
Catholic Daily Reflections
The Meaning of Love
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. John 3:35
It’s interesting to note that the words of today’s Gospel appear to be from Saint John the Baptist, since they come within the context of his testimony to Jesus. Some commentators, however, suggest that they are words that were actually spoken by Jesus and that the Evangelist inserts them here as a continuation of the testimony of the Baptist, attributing them to Saint John. Regardless of who actually spoke these words, the line quoted above gives us much to reflect upon, in that it gives us insight into the very meaning and practice of true love.
What is love? Is it a feeling? An emotion? A drive or a desire for something or someone? Of course, the secular understanding of love is much different than a divine understanding of love. Oftentimes the secular view of love is more self-centered. To “love” someone or something is to want to possess that person or object. “Love” from a secular view focuses upon the attraction and desire. But true love, from a divine perspective, is very different.
The line quoted above tells us two things: First, we are told that “The Father loves the Son…” But then we are given a definition of that love. We are told that love in this case results in the Father giving “everything over” to the Son. When we consider the word “everything” in this passage, it is clear that this can only refer to the Father giving Himself to the Son in totality. Within the life of the Father, everything means His very essence, His being, His personhood, His whole divine self. The Father does not say, “I want;” rather, the Father says, “I give.” And the Son receives all that the Father is.
Though this is deep and mystical language, it becomes very practical for our lives when we understand that divine love is not about wanting, taking, desiring, feeling, etc. Divine love is about giving. It’s about the giving of oneself to another. And it’s not just about giving some of yourself away, it’s about giving “everything” away.
If the Father gave everything to the Son, does that mean that the Father has nothing left? Certainly not. The beautiful nature of divine love is that it is never ending. The more one gives themself away, the more they have. Thus, the gift of the life of the Father to the Son is infinite and eternal. The Father never ceases to give, and the Son never ceases to receive. And the more the Father gives Himself to the Son, the more the Father becomes the essence of love itself.
The same is true in our lives. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that love should only go so far. But if we are to strive to imitate and participate in the love the Father has for the Son, then we must also understand that love is about giving, not receiving, and that the giving must be a gift of everything, holding nothing back. We must give ourselves away to others without counting the cost and without exception.
Reflect, today, upon your view of love. Look at it from a practical perspective as you think about the people whom you are especially called to love with a divine love. Do you understand your duty to give yourself to them completely? Do you realize that giving yourself away will not result in the loss of your life but in the fulfillment of it? Ponder the divine love that the Father has for the Son and make the radical and holy choice today to strive to imitate and participate in that same love.
Reflection 2
One Bread, One Body
SPIRIT-FILLED TESTIMONY
“The One Who comes from heaven [Who is above all] testifies to what He has seen and heard, but no one accepts His testimony. Whoever does accept this testimony certifies that God is truthful.” —John 3:31-33
The words “testimony” and “testifies” are used three times in today’s Gospel passage. Jesus testified to “what He [had] seen and heard,” both in heaven and on earth (see Jn 3:11).
In today’s first reading, St. Peter and the apostles testified before the Sanhedrin that God raised Jesus from the dead to bring repentance and forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:30-31). They concluded by saying publicly: “We testify to this” (Acts 5:32). The same apostles who cowered in fear in the upper room now boldly testified to their captors. The Holy Spirit gave them the testimony and fortified them with the courage to speak boldly of Jesus. Praise God for “the Spirit of Truth” (Jn 16:13), Who enables us to testify to God’s mercy and power.
God lavishes the Holy Spirit on us (Ti 3:6) and then the Spirit flows powerfully through us (Jn 7:37-38). May the Holy Spirit, poured out on us (Rm 5:5), flow like a powerful river. May we never ration the Spirit as we minister to others (see Jn 3:34). May we never stifle the Spirit as He ministers through us (1 Thes 5:19). Beg God daily for the gift of the Holy Spirit (Lk 11:13). In the Holy Spirit, testify powerfully to the Lord (see 2 Tm 1:8; Rv 12:11).
Prayer: Father, I fall on my knees and beg You to set me on fire with the Holy Spirit. Use me and use me up.
Promise: “For the One Whom God has sent speaks the words of God; He does not ration His gift of the Spirit.” —Jn 3:34
Praise: St. Stanislaus, bishop of Kracow, Poland, admonished the King of Poland to repent of his adultery. The King responded by murdering Stanislaus as he celebrated Mass. Praise be to God for the courageous faith of the martyrs.
Reflection 3
Fr. Melcior QUEROL i Solà
(Ribes de Freser, Girona, Spain)
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life”
Today, the Gospel invites us to cease being so “worldly”, to stop being men who can only speak about mundane things, to speak and behave instead as “The one who comes from above”(Jn 3:31), who is Jesus. In this text we see —once more— that in evangelic radicalism there is no happy medium. We must always strive to follow God's thinking, endeavor to share Christ's feelings and aim at seeing men and their circumstances with the same spirit of the Word made flesh. If we behave as “He who comes from above” we shall discover the multitude of positive things happening all the time around us, for God's love is a continued action in favor of man. If we come from above we shall love everybody without exception, and our life will be an open invitation for others to do the same.
“The one who comes from above” (Jn 3:31). This is why He can be so helpful to every man and woman where they need help; furthermore “the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what He has seen and heard” (Jn 3:32). And His service costs nothing. This attitude of service without expecting anything in return, without needing a reply from others, creates a profoundly human and respectful ambiance towards each person's free will; this is a contagious attitude that freely impels others to respond and behave in very much the same way.
Service and testimony always go together, they identify one another. Our world needs authenticity: and what can be more authentic than God's words? What is there more authentic than He who “does not ration his gift of the Spirit” (Jn 3:34)? This is why “Whoever does accept His testimony certifies that God is trustworthy” (Jn 3:33).
“Believing in the Son” means to have eternal life; it also means that Judgement Day is not hanging over believers because they have already been judged and received a favorable sentence; on the other hand, “whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him” (Jn 3:36)... until he believes.
Prayers
My loving Lord, the Father has given all to You, and You, in turn, have given all to the Father. The love You share is infinite and eternal, overflowing into the lives of all Your creatures. Draw me into that divine love, dear Lord, and help me to imitate and share in Your love by fully giving my life to others. Jesus, I trust in You.
Lord Jesus Christ, let your Holy Spirit fill me and transform my heart and mind that I may choose life - the abundant life you offer to those who trust in you. Give me courage to always choose what is good, true, and just and to reject whatever is false, foolish, and contrary to your holy will.
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy
Reflection 101: God Speaking Through Others
Very often, God wants to speak to You a particular message that you need to hear. It may happen that, as you listen to a homily, read a book, hear something on the radio or talk with a friend, something particular will jump out at you that does not seem to affect others. Pay attention to this inspiration, it is a gift to you of God’s Mercy and a revelation of His love for you (See Diary #456).
Reflect upon anything, lately, that has gotten your attention. Have you heard something that seemed to be spoken just for you? Is there something that has been on your mind? If so, spend time with that thought and try to discern if it is from the Lord and what He may be saying to you through it. This may be God’s voice speaking to you and an act of His great Mercy.
Lord, I desire to hear Your voice. Help me to be attentive to Your word as it is spoken to me. When You speak, help me to listen and to respond to You with generosity and love. Jesus, I trust in You.
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