Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 291
Reading 1
Acts 16:11-15
We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace,
and on the next day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi,
a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.
We spent some time in that city.
On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river
where we thought there would be a place of prayer.
We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there.
One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth,
from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened,
and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention
to what Paul was saying.
After she and her household had been baptized,
she offered us an invitation,
"If you consider me a believer in the Lord,
come and stay at my home," and she prevailed on us.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia
John 15:26b, 27a
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord,
and you also will testify.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
John 15:26—16:4a
Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,
he will testify to me.
And you also testify,
because you have been with me from the beginning.
"I have told you this so that you may not fall away.
They will expel you from the synagogues;
in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you
will think he is offering worship to God.
They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.
I have told you this so that when their hour comes
you may remember that I told you."
Reflection 1
Catholic Daily Reflections
Giving Testimony
Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26–27
Jesus informs His disciples that “the Spirit of truth” will come and that the Spirit, as well as the disciples, will “testify” to Him. When Jesus first spoke these words to His disciples, they would not have comprehended what He meant. Since these words are prophetic in nature, they are words spoken that were to come to fulfillment and, then, once fulfilled, the words would be understood. So what does Jesus mean?
When we look at the Acts of the Apostles and read about the early Church, it is clear that something incredibly transforming took place after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Up until that time, the disciples and other followers of Jesus had faith, but they were also fearful. They communicated with those others who believed, but did so in secret and with fear. But as soon as Pentecost came and the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, descended upon them, the Apostles began to be used by God to powerfully proclaim the Gospel without fear and with great effect upon many. It was this experience of the disciples of our Lord, being filled with the Holy Spirit, to which Jesus was referring.
After Jesus died, and perhaps even more so after Jesus ascended into Heaven, it is likely that some of His disciples immediately concluded that the new movement Jesus started was now over. They could have never conceived of the idea that what Jesus started was only beginning. They could have never conceived of the fact that soon they would share in the beginning of the Church, proclaim the Gospel with courage and power, see the conversion of countless lives, witness the ongoing forgiveness of sins, and ultimately give their lives in imitation of our Lord. These disciples had no idea just what awaited them with the coming of the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth. What was awaiting them was their sharing in the ability to “testify” to Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. They soon realized that Jesus was actually more alive than ever and that He was now going forth to convert souls by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the instrumentality of all of His new disciples.
The same is true in our lives today. It is far too common for Christians to simply believe in Jesus personally, but then fail to wholeheartedly give testimony to Him by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. It is far too common for followers of Christ to act more like the disciples prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit. Too often, Christians keep the Gospel to themselves, fearful of giving testimony by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Reflect, today, upon these prophetic words of Jesus. Though these words were initially spoken to the Twelve, Jesus also speaks these words to you today. He wants you, too, to be a witness to Him, giving testimony to others so that they will come to believe. Reflect upon how well you fulfill this prophetic calling. Where you are lacking, pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life so that God can reach many hearts through you.
Reflection 2
One Bread, One Body
HOUSE CALLS
“After she and her household had been baptized, she extended us an invitation: ‘If you are convinced that I believe in the Lord, come and stay at my house.’ She managed to prevail on us.” —Acts 16:15
St. Paul, being a good Jew, had never stayed at a Gentile’s house in his life. However, Jesus led Paul to preach that Gentiles were in Christ, “now co-heirs with the Jews, members of the same body and sharers of the promise through the preaching of the gospel” (Eph 3:6). This message aroused such opposition in Jews that Paul was repeatedly attacked and imprisoned for preaching such a thing.
Paul also was challenged to live out his own preaching by treating Christian Gentiles as brothers and sisters — even staying in their houses. This would make Jews feel much worse than uncomfortable. It could also expose them to severe punishment from other Jews. Jewish Christians paid a great price when they stayed in a Gentile’s house. Therefore, when Paul and his companions stayed at Lydia’s house and ate in the home of the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:15, 34), they were dying to themselves and losing their lives (Lk 9:23-24).
Who are the untouchables you must touch because you are a Christian? Whom must you invite into your family and community because they are your brothers and sisters in Christ?
Prayer: Father, make my community reflect the body of Christ in all its richness.
Promise: “I have told you these things that when their hour comes you may remember My telling you of them.” —Jn 16:4
Praise: Joan, a mother of several young children, so inspired a fellow parishioner by bringing her children to daily Mass that the parishioner was moved to send an anonymous note and gift to her.
Reflection 3
Shared from God's Word
Today’s Gospel text begins with the third ‘Paraclete saying’ of Jesus. It stresses on the role of the Holy Spirit in bearing witness about Jesus. The Holy Spirit will give witness concerning Jesus in the minds and hearts of the disciples. Through the inner guidance of the Holy Spirit, the disciples will be given greater courage and deeper inner conviction about the mission and teachings of Jesus. The Spirit of truth will, consequently, embolden the disciples to bear witness to Jesus before their opponents and persecutors. The mission of witnessing Jesus has always been a divine-human venture. When Jesus is proclaimed, it is the Spirit that gives the listeners the inner conviction about Jesus. Saint Paul reminds us, “No one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12:3).
Prayers
Most glorious Jesus, You promised to send upon Your disciples and also upon me the Holy Spirit, the Advocate and Spirit of Truth. Holy Spirit, I welcome You into my life and offer myself to You without reserve to be used to give testimony to the Truth. Please do use me, my God, and touch many lives through me. Jesus, I trust in You.
O merciful God, fill our hearts, we pray, with the graces of your Holy Spirit; with love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. Teach us to love those who hate us; to pray for those who despitefully use us; that we may be the children of your love, our Father, who makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity grant us grace to be patient; in prosperity keep us humble; may we guard the door of our lips; may we lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, and thirst after heavenly things; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy
Reflection 126: Filial Fear – The Good Fear
Do you have fear in your life? It’s important to know that some fear is quite unhealthy, stemming from a form of pride, while another form of fear is quite healthy, resulting from your profound love of God. The “holy fear” is filial fear, which is the fear of a child of God. This particular form of fear is present when your love of God is so deep that you fear doing anything that would harm your relationship with Him. It’s not that you are afraid of God, rather, you have a holy desire to avoid all sin. This form of holy fear must also enter into every relationship of love you have for others. You should deeply desire to avoid all that harms each and every relationship you have been blessed to receive. This is a gift of God’s abundant Mercy (See Diary #610).
Consider your love of God. Is it strong enough to produce the healthy desire in your heart to avoid all that might hurt that relationship? This holy fear must become a driving force to develop a profoundly personal relationship with our Lord. Consider, also, your relationship with others. Do you have a healthy desire to eliminate anything that is an obstacle to your wholehearted love of them? Seek this gift of God’s Mercy and the Lord will draw you closer to Himself and to others.
Lord, I do love You and I desire to surrender to You everything in my life that keeps me from loving You with my whole heart. Give me a holy fear so that I may draw closer to You and learn to love others as You love them. Jesus, I trust in You.
No comments:
Post a Comment