Tuesday, April 23, 2024

24-APL-'24, Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter


Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Lectionary: 281


Reading I

Acts 12:24—13:5a

The word of God continued to spread and grow.


After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission,

they returned to Jerusalem,

taking with them John, who is called Mark.


Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:

Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,

Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,

“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul

for the work to which I have called them.”

Then, completing their fasting and prayer,

they laid hands on them and sent them off.


So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit,

went down to Seleucia

and from there sailed to Cyprus.

When they arrived in Salamis,

they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.

 

Responsorial Psalm

67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8

R.        (4)  O God, let all the nations praise you!

or:

R.        Alleluia.


May God have pity on us and bless us;

            may he let his face shine upon us.

So may your way be known upon earth;

            among all nations, your salvation.

R.        O God, let all the nations praise you!

or:

R.        Alleluia.


May the nations be glad and exult

            because you rule the peoples in equity;

            the nations on the earth you guide.

R.        O God, let all the nations praise you!

or:

R.        Alleluia.


May the peoples praise you, O God;

            may all the peoples praise you!

May God bless us,

            and may all the ends of the earth fear him!

R.        O God, let all the nations praise you!

or:

R.        Alleluia.


Alleluia

John 8:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

whoever follows me will have the light of life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel

John 12:44-50

Jesus cried out and said,

“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me

but also in the one who sent me,

and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.

I came into the world as light,

so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.

And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them,

I do not condemn him,

for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words

has something to judge him: the word that I spoke,

it will condemn him on the last day,

because I did not speak on my own,

but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.

And I know that his commandment is eternal life.

So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”


Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections


The Oneness of God


Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.” John 12:44–45


Note that Jesus’ words in the above quoted passage start by stating that “Jesus cried out…” This intentional addition by the Gospel writer adds emphasis to this statement. Jesus didn’t just “say” these words, He “cried out.” For that reason, we should be extra attentive to these words and allow them to speak to us all the more.


This Gospel passage takes place during the week prior to Jesus’ Passion. He entered Jerusalem triumphantly and, then, throughout the week, spoke to various groups of people while the Pharisees plotted against Him. The emotions were tense, and Jesus spoke with greater and greater vigor and clarity. He spoke about His pending death, the unbelief of many, and His oneness with the Father in Heaven. At one point during the week, as Jesus was speaking of His oneness with the Father, the voice of the Father spoke audibly for all to hear. Jesus had just said, “Father, glorify your name.” And then the Father spoke, saying, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” Some thought it was thunder and others thought it was an angel. But it was the Father in Heaven.


This context is useful when reflecting upon today’s Gospel. Jesus passionately wants us to know that if we have faith in Him, then we also have faith in the Father, because the Father and He are one. Of course, this teaching on the oneness of God is nothing new to us today—we should all be very familiar with the teaching on the Most Holy Trinity. But in many ways, this teaching on the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit must be seen as new and pondered anew every day.


Imagine Jesus speaking to you, personally, and with great vigor, about His unity with the Father. Consider carefully how deeply He desires that you understand this divine mystery of Their oneness. Allow yourself to sense how much Jesus wants you to understand Who He is in relation to His Father.


Prayerfully understanding the Trinity teaches us much, not only about Who God is but about who we are. We are called to share in the oneness of God by becoming united with Them through love. The early Church Fathers often spoke of our calling to be “divinized,” that is, to share in the divine life of God. And though this is a mystery beyond complete comprehension, it’s a mystery that Jesus deeply desires us to prayerfully ponder.


Reflect, today, upon the passion in the heart of Jesus to reveal to you Who He is in relation to the Father. Be open to a deeper understanding of this divine truth. And as you open yourself to this revelation, allow God to also reveal to you His desire to draw you into Their holy life of unity. This is your calling. This is the reason Jesus came to earth. He came to draw us into the very life of God. Believe it with much passion and conviction.


Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body


FATHER’S DAY


“The Father Who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to speak. Since I know that His commandment means eternal life, whatever I say is spoken just as He instructed Me.” —John 12:49-50


When we say we believe in Jesus, we are believing not only in Him but also in God the Father (Jn 12:44). When we see Jesus, we see the Father (Jn 12:45; 14:9). When we hear the words of Jesus and obey Him, we are hearing and obeying the Father, for the Father has commanded Jesus “what to say and how to speak” (Jn 12:49). Jesus said: “The Father and I are One” (Jn 10:30).


Jesus became a man to reveal our Father to us (Lk 10:22) and to show us the Father’s love (Jn 15:9). By His death and Resurrection, Jesus gave us the opportunity to have a new nature and be adopted by God the Father (see Rm 8:15). He made it possible for us to be sons and daughters of God the Father (see 1 Jn 3:2). Jesus then taught us to pray “Abba” (“Father”). Jesus is the only Way for us to go home to our Father (Jn 14:6). Jesus has shown us the Father, and that is enough for us (see Jn 14:8).


Prayer:  Abba...


Promise:  “After they had fasted and prayed, they imposed hands on them and sent them off.” —Acts 13:3


Praise:  St. Fidelis, a Franciscan priest from Germany, gave up his law career to follow the example of St. Francis of Assisi and serve the poor. Sent to preach against a group of Calvinists in Switzerland, he was ambushed and martyred.


Reflection 3

Fr. Julio César RAMOS González SDB

(Mendoza, Argentina)


“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me”


Today, Jesus cries out; He cries out just as someone who is speaking and it is clear everyone should listen. His raised voice addresses His saving mission, as He has come “to save the world” (Jn 12:47), not on His own but in the name of “the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak” (Jn 12:49).


It is not yet been a month since we were celebrating the Paschal Triduum: how very present was the Father in the final hour, the hour of the Cross! As His Holiness Saint John Paul II wrote, “Jesus, overwhelmed by his foreknowledge of the trial waiting for him, alone before God, invokes him with his usual and tender expression of trust: ‘Abbá, Father’”. The next hours clearly show the intimate dialogue of the Son with the Father: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Lk 23:34); “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46).


The importance of this work by the Father and His Messenger, well deserves the personal response of he who is listening. This response is to believe, that is, a profession of faith (cf. Jn 12:44); faith that gives us the light —by the same Jesus— so that we shall not remain in darkness. But, he who rejects all these gifts and manifestations, and does not listen to those words “has something to judge him: the word that I spoke” (Jn 12:48).


Therefore, to accept Jesus is to believe in, see and listen to the Father, not to be in darkness, to obey the command of eternal life. We certainly deserve Saint John of the Cross’- rebuke: “[The Father] spoke everything to us at once in this sole Word… Those who now desire to question God or receive some vision or revelation are guilty not only of foolish behavior but also of offending him by not fixing their eyes entirely on Christ and by living with the desire for some other novelty.”




Prayers

My passionate Lord, You spoke long ago about Your oneness with the Father in Heaven. You speak again, today, to me, about this glorious truth. Draw me in, dear Lord, not only to the great mystery of Your oneness with the Father but also to the mystery of Your calling to me to share in Your life. I accept this invitation and pray that I become more fully one with You, the Father and the Holy Spirit. Most Holy Trinity, I trust in You.


Lord Jesus, in your word I find life, truth, and freedom. May I never doubt your word nor forget your commandments. Increase my love for your truth that I may embrace it fully and live according to it.


Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy


Reflection 114: Detachment From the World

The “world” is referred to in Scripture many times, especially by Jesus Himself.  He said that the world will hate you and will not understand you.  The world will, in fact, persecute you.  This could become the cause of fear and distress for some.  It causes these effects within us when we are overly concerned about looking good in the eyes of the world and acting so as to win its esteem.  Do not fall into this trap.  The world will love you only if you become worldly, taking on its secular and sinful values.  Instead, keep your eyes fixed on Heaven.  Live as though you are in the world, but not of it.  Allow the Lord to shield you from worldly enticements so that you will live only in Him and for Him at all times (See Diary #537).


Seriously ask yourself, today, how much influence the opinions of the world have on you.  Do you find yourself dreaming of being well regarded and respected in the public eye?  If so, be very careful with this desire.  Sure, if you have given yourself completely to Christ and, as a result, many people speak well of you, this is good.  But it’s not all that common.  More often, when we commit ourselves to Christ and to His holy mission, we will find that we are misjudged, scorned and even persecuted.  It may be only in small ways, but don’t be surprised if it becomes more pronounced as you draw closer to the Will of God.  Do not worry about this.  Keep your eyes on Christ and be concerned only about His judgment of you.  His “opinion” is all that matters because His opinion is Truth.


Lord Jesus, You were not controlled by the opinions of others.  You did not allow the false values and pressures of the world to direct You.  Help me to keep my eyes on You and Your Will in all things.  Give me courage to be concerned only with pleasing You.  Jesus, I trust in You.


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