Posted on 05/05/2007 4:47:40 PM PDT by Salvation
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Fifth Sunday of Easter
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Reading 1
Acts 14:21-27
After Paul and Barnabas 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 elders 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.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
R. (cf. 1) I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
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.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them make known your might to the children of Adam,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading II
Rev 21:1-5a
Then I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.
He will dwell with them and they will be his people
and God himself will always be with them as their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,
for the old order has passed away.”
The One who sat on the throne said,
“Behold, I make all things new.”
Gospel
Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35
When Judas had left them, Jesus said,
“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
If God is glorified in him,
God will also glorify him in himself,
and God will glorify him at once.
My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.
I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”
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May Devotion: Blessed Virgin Mary
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. Toward the end of the eighteenth century a zealous Jesuit priest, Father Lalomia, started among the students of the Roman college of his Society the practice of dedicating May to Our Lady. The devotion, which others had promoted in a small way, soon spread to other Jesuit Colleges and to the entire Latin church and since that time it has been a regular feature of Catholic life. |
INVOCATIONS
Thou who wast a virgin before thy delivery, pray for us. Hail Mary, etc.
Thou who wast a virgin in thy delivery, pray for us. Hail Mary, etc.
Thou who wast a virgin after thy delivery, pray for us. Hail Mary, etc.
My Mother, deliver me from mortal sin.
Hail Mary (three times).
Mother of love, of sorrow and of mercy, pray for us.
Remember, O Virgin Mother of God, when thou shalt stand before the face of the Lord, that thou speak favorable things in our behalf and that He may turn away His indignation from us.
Roman Missal
Thou art my Mother, O Virgin Mary: keep me safe lest I ever offend thy dear Son, and obtain for me the grace to please Him always and in all things.
FOR THE HELP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
May we be assisted, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, by the worshipful intercession of Thy glorious Mother, the ever-Virgin Mary; that we, who have been enriched by her perpetual blessings, may be delivered from all dangers, and through her loving kindness made to be of one heart and mind: who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
Roman Missal
THE SALVE REGINA
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus! O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Roman Breviary
PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
O blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay thee thy just dues of praise and thanksgiving, thou who by the wondrous assent of thy will didst rescue a fallen world? What songs of praise can our weak human nature recite in thy honor, since it is by thy intervention alone that it has found
the way to restoration? Accept, then, such poor thanks as we have here to offer, though they be unequal to thy merits; and, receiving our vows, obtain by thy prayers the remission of our offenses. Carry thou our prayers within the sanctuary of the heavenly audience, and bring forth from it the antidote of our reconciliation. May the sins we bring before Almighty God through thee, become pardonable through thee; may what we ask for with sure confidence, through thee be granted. Take our offering, grant us our requests, obtain pardon for what we fear, for thou art the sole hope of sinners. Through thee we hope for the remission of our sins, and in thee, 0 blessed Lady, is our hope of reward. Holy Mary, succour the miserable, help the fainthearted, comfort the sorrowful, pray for thy people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women consecrated to God; may all who keep thy holy commemoration feel now thy help and protection. Be thou ever ready to assist us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to our prayers. Make it thy continual care to pray for the people of God, thou who, blessed by God, didst merit to bear the Redeemer of the world, who liveth and reigneth, world without end. Amen.
Saint Augustine
PETITION TO MARY
Most holy Virgin Immaculate, my Mother Mary, to thee who art the Mother of my Lord, the queen of the universe, the advocate, the hope, the refuge of sinners, I who am the most miserable of all sinners, have recourse this day. I venerate thee, great queen, and I thank thee for the many graces thou hast bestowed upon me even unto this day; in particular for having delivered me from the hell which I have so often deserved by my sins. I love thee, most dear Lady; and for the love I bear thee, I promise to serve thee willingly for ever and to do what I can to make thee loved by others also. I place in thee all my hopes for salvation; accept me as thy servant and shelter me under thy mantle, thou who art the Mother of mercy. And since thou art so powerful with God, deliver me from all temptations, or at least obtain for me the strength to overcome them until death. From thee I implore a true love for Jesus Christ. Through thee I hope to die a holy death. My dear Mother, by the love thou bearest to Almighty God, I pray thee to assist me always, but most of all at the last moment of my life. Forsake me not then, until thou shalt see me safe in heaven, there to bless thee and sing of thy mercies through all eternity. Such is my hope. Amen.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Magnificat Prayer
My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my savior,
For he has looked upon his servant in her lowliness; all ages to come shall call me blessed.
God who is mighty has done great things for me,
holy is his name; His mercy is from age to age on those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm; he has confused the proud in their inmost thoughts. He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places. The hungry he has given every good thing, while the rich he has sent empty away. He has upheld Israel his servant, ever mindful of his mercy; Even as he promised our fathers, promised Abraham and his descendants forever.
(Lk 1:46-55)
Seen above is the Blessed Virgin Mary, portrayed as Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
It was she who was chosen by God, to provide His Son with His Sacred Humanity.
She did so in humble and total cooperation with the Holy Spirit and the Divine will of the Holy Trinity; providing God's Son with the Blood He shed for us on the Cross.
TO MARY, REFUGE OF SINNERS
Hail, most gracious Mother of mercy, hail, Mary, for whom we fondly yearn, through whom we obtain forgiveness! Who would not love thee? Thou art our light in uncertainty, our comfort in sorrow, our solace in the time of trial, our refuge from every peril and temptation. Thou art our sure hope of salvation, second only to thy only-begotten Son; blessed are they who love thee, our Lady! Incline, I beseech thee, thy ears of pity to the entreaties of this thy servant, a miserable sinner; dissipate the darkness of my sins by the bright beams of thy holiness, in order that I may be acceptable in thy sight.
FOR THE GRACE OF LOVE
O Mary, my dear Mother, how much I love thee! And yet in reality how little! Thou dost teach me what I ought to know, for thou teachest me what Jesus is to me and what I ought to be for Jesus. Dearly beloved Mother, how close to God thou art, and how utterly filled with Him! In the measure that we know God, we remind ourselves of thee. Mother of God, obtain for me the grace of loving my Jesus; obtain for me the grace of loving thee!
Cardinal Merry del Val
TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY FOR MAY
O most august and blessed Virgin Mary! Holy Mother of God! glorious Queen of heaven and earth! powerful protectress of those who love thee, and unfailing advocate of all who invoke thee! look down, I beseech thee, from thy throne of glory on thy devoted child; accept the solemn offering I present thee of this month, specially dedicated to thee, and receive my ardent, humble desire, that by my love and fervor I could worthily honor thee, who, next to God, art deserving of all honor. Receive me, 0 Mother of Mercy, among thy best beloved children; extend to me thy maternal tenderness and solicitude; obtain for me a place in the Heart of Jesus, and a special share in the gifts of His grace. 0 deign, I beseech thee, to recognize my claims on thy protection, to watch over my spiritual and temporal interests, as well as those of all who are dear to me; to infuse into my soul the spirit of Christ, and to teach me thyself to become meek, humble, charitable, patient, and submissive to the will of God.
May my heart bum with the love of thy Divine Son, and of thee, His blessed Mother, not for a month alone, but for time and eternity; may I thirst for the promotion of His honor and thine, and contribute, as far as I can, to its extension. Receive me, 0 Mary, the refuge of sinners! Grant me a Mother's blessing and a Mother's care, now, and at the hour of my death. Amen.
TO OUR LADY
Saint John Vianney, better known as the Cure of Ars, when asked how long he had loved Mary, said: "I loved her almost before I could know her." In this prayer he expresses that love.
O thou most holy virgin Mary, who dost evermore stand before the most holy Trinity, and to whom it is granted at all times to pray for us to thy most beloved Son; pray for me in all my necessities; help me, combat for me, and obtain for me the pardon of all my sins. Help me especially at my last hour; and when I can no longer give any sign of the use of reason, then do thou encourage me, make the sign of the cross for me, and fight for me against the enemy. Make in my name a profession of faith; favor me with a testimony of my salvation, and never let me despair of the mercy of God. Help me to overthrow the wicked enemy. When I can no longer say: "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I place my soul in your hands," do thou say it for me; when I can no longer hear human words of consolation, do thou comfort me. Leave me not before I have been judged; and if I have to expiate my sins in purgatory, oh! pray for me earnestly; and admonish my friends to procure for me a speedy enjoyment of the blessed sight of God. Lessen my sufferings, deliver me speedily, and lead my soul into heaven with thee: that, united with all the elect, I may there bless and praise my God and thee for all eternity. Amen.
Saint John Vianney
ACT OF REPARATION
O blessed Virgin, Mother of God, look down in mercy from heaven, where thou art enthroned as Queen, upon me, a miserable sinner, thine unworthy servant. Although I know full well my own unworthiness, yet in order to atone for the offenses that are done to thee by impious and blasphemous
tongues, from the depths of my heart I praise and extol thee as the purest, the fairest, the holiest creature of all God's handiwork. I bless thy holy name, I praise thine exalted privilege of being truly Mother of God, ever virgin, conceived without stain of sin, co-redemptrix of the human race. I bless the Eternal Father who chose thee in an especial way for His daughter; I bless the Word Incarnate who took upon Himself our nature in thy bosom and so made thee His Mother; I bless the Holy Spirit who took thee as His bride. All honor, praise and thanksgiving to the ever-blessed Trinity, who predestined thee and loved thee so exceedingly from all eternity as to exalt thee above all creatures to the most sublime heights. 0 Virgin, holy and merciful, obtain for all who offend thee the grace of repentance, and graciously accept this poor act of homage from me thy servant, obtaining likewise for me from thy divine Son the pardon and remission of all my sins. Amen.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
| Memorare of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
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Remember O Most Gracious Virgin Mary! That never was it known Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto Thee! To Thee I come before Thee I stand,
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From: Acts 14:21-27
The Return Journey to Antioch
[24] Then they passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. [25] And
when they had spoken the Word in Perga, they went down to Attalia;
[26] and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been
commended to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.
[27] And when they arrived, they gathered the Church together and
declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door
of faith to the Gentiles.
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Commentary:
20-22. “If you accept difficulties with a faint heart you lose joy and
your peace, and you run the risk of not deriving spiritual profit from
the trial” ([St] J. Escriva, “The Way”, 696).
St. Paul is not cowed by persecution and physical suffering. He knows
that this crisis is the prelude to abundant spiritual fruit, and in
fact many people in this region do embrace the Gospel.
Even though St. Luke records the progress and success of the Word of
God, he also shows that its preachers certainly encounter the cross
(cf. 13:14, 50). The Gospel meets with acceptance everywhere—and also
with opposition. “Where there are many laurels”, St. Ambrose says,
“there is fierce combat. It is good for you to have persecutors: that
way you attain more rapid success in your enterprises” (”Expositio in
Ps 118”, 20, 43).
The Apostles have no difficulty in pointing to events to show the
disciples that suffering and difficulties form part of Christian
living.
“Cross, toil, anguish: such will be your lot as long as you live. That
was the way Christ went, and the disciple is not above his master”
([St] J. Escriva, “The Way”, 699). “Each of us has at some time or
other experienced that serving Christ our Lord involves suffering and
hardship; to deny this would imply that we had not yet found God [...].
Far from discouraging us, the difficulties we meet have to spur us on
to mature as Christians. This fight sanctifies us and gives
effectiveness to our apostolic endeavors” ([St] J. Escriva, “Friends of
God”, 28 and 216).
23. The appointment of elders in each church means that Christians were
invested with a ministry of government and religious worship, by a
liturgical rite of ordination. These have a share in the hierarchical
and priestly ministry of the Apostles, from whom their own ministry
derives.
“The ministry of priests [...]”, Vatican II teaches, “shares in the
authority by which Christ Himself builds up and sanctifies
and rules His Body” (”Presbyterorum Ordinis”, 2). The ministerial office of
priests is essential to the life of every Christian community, which
draws its strength from the Word of God and the Sacraments. Their
priesthood, derived from our Lord, is essentially different from what
is called the “priesthood common to all the faithful”.
A man becomes a priest of the New Testament through a special calling
from God. “Our vocation,” (Pope) John Paul II told a huge gathering of
priests in Philadelphia, “is a gift from the Lord Jesus Himself. It is
a personal, individual calling: we have been called by our name, just
as Jeremiah was” (”Homily at the Civic Center”, 4 October 1979).
The priestly life is a sublime vocation which cannot be delegated or
transferred to anyone else. It is a lifelong vocation and means that
one has to give himself entirely to God—and this he can do, with the
help of grace, because “we do not claim back our gift once given. It
cannot be that God, who gave us the impulse to Yes, should now desire
to hear us say No....
“It should not surprise the world that God’s calling through the Church
should continue, offering us a celibate ministry of love and service
according to our Lord Jesus Christ’s example. This calling from God
touched the very depths of our being. And after centuries of
experience the Church knows how appropriate it is that priests should
respond in this specific way in their lives, to demonstrate the
totality of the Yes they have said to our Lord” (”Ibid.”).
“Since He wishes that no one be saved who has not first believed (cf.
Mark 16:16), priests, like the co-workers of the bishops that they are,
have as their first duty to proclaim to all men the Gospel of God”
(Vatican II, “Presbyterorum Ordinis”, 4). To carry out this mission
well, a priest needs to be in contact with our Lord all the time—”a
personal, living encounter—with eyes wide open and a heart beating
fast—with the risen Christ” ([Pope] John Paul II, “Homily in Santo
Domingo Catedral”, 26 January 1979).
Reminding priests of their special duty to be witnesses to God in the
modern world, [Pope] John Paul II invites them not only to bear in mind
the Christian people, from whom they come and whom they must serve, but
also people at large; they should not hide the fact that they are
priests: “Do not help the trends towards ‘taking God off the streets’
by yourselves adopting secular modes of dress and behavior” (”Address
at Maynooth University”, 1 October 1979).
24-26. Paul and Barnabas return to Syrian Antioch, taking in the cities
they have visited—in reverse order: Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Pisidian
Antioch and Perga. At the port of Attalia they take ship for Syria and
arrive shortly afterwards in Antioch. Their journey, which began
around the year 45, has taken four years.
Despite the animosity and persecution they experienced in these cities,
the two missionaries do not avoid returning. They want to complete
arrangements for the government of the new churches and to consolidate the
faith of the disciples. The possible risks involved do not cause them any
concern.
“Whosoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life
for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35). “These are
mysterious and paradoxical words,” (Pope) John Paul II writes. “But
they cease to be mysterious if we strive to put them into practice.
Then the paradox disappears and we can plainly see the deep simplicity
of their meaning. To all of us this grace is granted in our priestly
life and in our zealous service” (”Letter to All Priests”, 8 April
1979, 5).
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: Revelation 21:1-5a
A New World Comes Into Being. The New Jerusalem
[5a] And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things
new.”
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Commentary:
1-4. The prophet Isaiah depicted the messianic times as a radical
change in the fortunes of the people of Israel—so radical that, as he
put it, God was going to create new heavens and a new earth, a new
Jerusalem full of joy, where the sound of weeping would never more be
heard, where God would make himself plain for all to see and where
everything would be as it was in paradise before sin (cf. Is 65:12-25).
The author of the Apocalypse uses this same format to describe the
future Kingdom of God. The imagery of a new heaven and a new earth
(taken in a physical sense) was very much in vogue in Jewish writing
around the time of the Apocalypse (cf. 1 Enoch 72:1; 91:16), and is
probably reflected also in 2 Peter 3:10-13 and Matthew 19:28.
Scripture nowhere indicates what form the new heaven and the new earth
will take. However, what is clear is that there will be a radical
“renewal” of the present cosmos, contaminated as it is by the sin of
man and the powers of evil (cf. Gen 2:8-3:24; Rom 8:9-13); through this
renewal all creation will be “recapitulated” in Christ (cf. Eph 1:10;
Col 1:16:20). No reference is made to the sea, probably because in
Jewish literature it symbolized the abyss, the abode of demonic powers
hostile to God.
Those who will inhabit this new world (symbolized by the Holy City, the
new Jerusalem) are the entire assembly of the saved, the entire people
of God (cf. vv. 12-14)—a holy people disposed to live in loving
communion with God (as reflected by the image of the adorned bride: cf.
vv. 2, 9). The promise of a new covenant (Ezek 37:27) will be
fulfilled to the letter: God will see to it that none of the evil,
suffering or pain found in this world will find its way into the new
world.
This passage of the Book of Revelation strengthens the faith and hope
of the Church—not only St John’s own generation but all generations
down the ages for as long as the Church makes its way through this
valley of tears. The Second Vatican Council says: “We know neither the
moment of the consummation of the earth and of man nor the way the
universe will be transformed. The form of this world, distorted by
sin, is passing away and we are taught that God is preparing a new
dwelling and a new earth in which righteousness dwells, whose happiness
will fill and surpass all the desires of peace arising in the hearts
of men. Then with death conquered the children of God will be raised
in Christ and what was sown in weakness and dishonor will put on the
imperishable: charity and its work will remain, and all of creation
which God made for man, will be set free from its bondage to decay”
(”Gaudium Et Spes”, 39).
5-8. For the first and only time in the entire book God himself speaks.
He does so as absolute Lord of all, to ratify what has just been
expounded. While the author and his readers are still in this world of
suffering, God affirms that he—even now—is creating a new world.
There is, then, a connection between present human suffering and the
future world which is taking shape thanks to the mercy of God.
Although that new world will emerge in its complete form on the last
day, the renewal of all things has already begun; it began with the
life, death and resurrection of Christ. “The kingdom of life has
begun,” St Gregory of Nyssa teaches, “and the empire of death has been
undone. Another generation, another life, another way of loving has
made its appearance: our very nature is being transformed. What type
of generation am I referring to? A generation which results not from
blood or carnal love or human love, but from God. Are you wondering
how that can be? I shall explain it in a few words. This new creature
is begotten by faith; the regeneration of Baptism brings it to birth;
the Church, its nurse, weans it by her teaching and institutions and
nourishes it with her heavenly bread. This new creature matures
through holiness of life; its marriage is marriage with Wisdom; its
children, hope; its home, the Kingdom; its inheritance and its riches,
the delights of paradise; its final destiny is not death, but eternal
and joyful life in the dwelling-place of the saints” (”Oratio I In
Christi Resurrectionem”). We should remember that “the Kingdom is
mysteriously present here on earth; when the Lord comes it will enter
into its perfection” (”Gaudium Et Spes”, 39).
The promise of a world to come is so sure that although that world has
not achieved its full perfection, it can be categorically stated that
it is a promise “already kept”—”It is done”: God himself, the Lord of
history guarantees it (cf. note on Rev 1:8)....
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: John 13:31-33a, 34-35
The New Commandment
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Commentary:
31-32. This glorification refers above all to the glory which Christ
will receive once He is raised up on the cross (John 3:14; 12:32).
St. John stresses that Christ’s death is the beginning of His victory:
His very crucifixion can be considered the first step in His ascension
to His Father. At the same time it is glorification of the Father,
because Christ, by voluntarily accepting death out of love, as a
supreme act of obedience to the Will of God, performs the greatest
sacrifice man can offer for the glorification of God. The Father will
respond to this glorification which Christ offers Him by glorifying
Christ as Son of Man, that is, in His holy human nature, through the
His resurrection and ascension to God’s right hand. Thus the glory
which the Son gives the Father is at the same time glory for the Son.
Christ’s disciple will also find His highest motivation by identifying
himself with Christ’s obedience. St. Paul teaches this very clearly
when he says: “Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of the
Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14).
33. From this verse onwards the evangelist recounts what is usually
called the discourse of the Last Supper; in it we can distinguish three
parts. In the first, our Lord begins by proclaiming the New
Commandment (verses 33-35) and predicts Peter’s denials (verses 36-38);
He tells them that His death means His going to the Father (Chapter 4),
with Whom He is one because He is God (verses 1-14); and He announces
that after His resurrection He will send them the Holy Spirit, who will
guide them by teaching them and reminding them of everything He told
them (verses 15-31).
The second part of the discourse is contained in Chapters 15 and 16.
Jesus promises to those who believe in Him a new life of union with
Him, as intimate as that of a vine and its branches (15:1-18). To
attain this union one must keep His New Commandment (verses 9-18). He
forewarns them about the contradictions they will suffer, and He
encourages them by promising the Holy Spirit who will protect them and
console them (verses 18-27). The action of the Paraclete or Consoler
will lead them to fulfill the mission Jesus has entrusted to them
(16:1-15). The fruit of the presence of the Holy Spirit will be
fullness of joy (verses 16-33).
The third part (Chapter 7) gives Jesus’ priestly prayer, in which He
asks the Father to glorify Him through the cross (verses 1-5). He
prays also for His disciples (verses 6-19) and for all those who
through them will believe in Him, so that, staying in the world without
being of the world, the love of God should be in them and they should
bear witness to Christ being the envoy of the Father (verses 20-26).
34-35. After announcing that He is leaving them (verse 33), Christ
summarizes His commandments in one—the New Commandment. He will
repeat it a number of times during the discourse of the Supper (cf.
John 15:12, 17), and St. John in his First Letter will insist on the
need to practice this commandment of the Lord and on the demands it
implies (cf. 1 John 2:8; 3:7-21).
Love of neighbor was already commanded in the Old Testament (cf.
Leviticus 19:18)—and Jesus ratified this when He specified that it was
the second precept of the whole Law and similar to the first: Love God
will all your heart and soul and mind (cf. Matthew 22:37-40). But
Jesus gives the precept of brotherly love new meaning and content by
saying “even as I have loved you”. The love of neighbor called for by
the Old Law did also in some way extend to one’s enemies (Exodus
23:4-5); however, the love which Jesus preaches is much more demanding
and includes returning good for evil (cf. Matthew 5:43-44), because
Christian love is measured not by man’s heart but by the heart of
Christ, who gives up His life on the cross to redeem all men (cf. 1
John 4:9-11). Here lies the novelty of Jesus’ teaching, and our Lord
can rightly say that it is His commandment, the principal clause in His
last will and testament.
Love of neighbor cannot be separated from love of God: “The greatest
commandment of the law is to love God with one’s whole heart and one’s
neighbor as oneself (cf. Matthew 22:37-40). Christ has made this love
of neighbor His personal commandment and has enriched it with a new
meaning when He willed Himself, along with His brothers, to be the
object of this charity, saying: `As you did it to one of the least of
these My brethren, you did it to Me’ (Matthew 25:40). In assuming
human nature He has united to Himself all humanity in a supernatural
solidarity which makes of it one single family. He has made charity
the distinguishing mark of His disciples, in the words: `By this all
men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one
another’” (Vatican II, “Apostolicam Actuositatem”, 8).
Even though Christ is Purity itself, and Temperance and Humility, He
does not, however, make any one of these virtues the distinguishing
mark of His disciples: He makes Charity that mark. “The Master’s
message and example are clear and precise. He confirmed His teaching
with deeds. Yet I have often thought that, after twenty centuries, it
is indeed still a NEW commandment, for very few people have taken the
trouble to practice it. The others, the majority of men, both in the
past and still today, have chosen to ignore it. Their selfishness has
led them to the conclusion: `Why should I complicate my life? I have
more than enough to do just looking after myself.’
“Such an attitude is not good enough for us Christians. If we profess
the same faith and are really eager to follow in the clear footprints
left by Christ when He walked on this earth, we cannot be content
merely with avoiding doing unto others the evil that we would not have
them do unto us. That is a lot, but it is still very little when we
consider that our love is to be measured in terms of Jesus’ own
conduct. Besides, he does not give us this standard as a distant
target, as a crowning point of a whole lifetime of struggle. It is—it
ought to be, I repeat, so that you may turn it into specific
resolutions—our starting point, for our Lord presents it as a sign of
Christianity: `By this shall all men know that you are My disciples’”
([St] J. Escriva, “Friends of God”, 223).
And this is what in fact happened among Christians in the early
centuries in the midst of pagan society, so much so that Tertullian,
writing around the end of the second century, reported that people
could indeed say, looking at the way these Christians lived: “See how
they love one another” (”Apologeticum”, XXXIX).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
| First reading | Acts 14:21 - 27 © |
|---|---|
| Having preached the Good News in that town and made a considerable number of disciples, Paul and Barnabas went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. ‘We all have to experience many hardships’ they said ‘before we enter the kingdom of God.’ In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe. They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans. |
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| Psalm or canticle: Psalm 144 |
| Second reading | © |
|---|---|
| Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, ‘You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.’ Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: ‘Now I am making the whole of creation new’ he said. ‘Write this: that what I am saying is sure and will come true.’ |
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| Gospel | John 13:31 - 35 © |
|---|---|
| When Judas had gone Jesus said: ‘Now has the Son of Man been glorified, and in him God has been glorified. If God has been glorified in him, God will in turn glorify him in himself, and will glorify him very soon. ‘My little children, I shall not be with you much longer. You will look for me, And, as I told the Jews, where I am going, you cannot come. I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.’ |
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Year C- 5th Sunday of Easter
Love one another, as I have loved you John 13:31-3531 When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. |
The moment Judas left our company with the purpose of betraying me, had been already predestined by the Divine Will. He was adamant in his resolution and nothing would make him change his mind. God the Father glorified me by confirming my mission to save the world and at the same time I glorified Him by accepting to carry out his Divine plan. Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary
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| Other Articles by Fr. Jerome Magat Printer Friendly Version |
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| Christ’s Glorious Suffering | ||
The Catholic faith contains within itself several mysterious paradoxes. For example: the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is born in poverty and born of a virgin. The apostles, charged with the spreading of the Faith, are mostly unsophisticated men.
This week's Gospel passage contains another: after Judas leaves the upper room to betray our Lord, Jesus reveals that it is now that his glorification is about to occur. For our Lord, glorification is understood in terms of His passion, death and resurrection. While it's very easy to understand how the resurrection is glorious, it's more difficult to see how His passion and death constitute a part of Christ's glory as well. Our society does not associate suffering with glory. And yet, Catholics believe it was precisely Jesus' suffering and death for our sins that was the greatest work He ever accomplished for us.
Our instinctual disdain for suffering is sometimes expressed in modern religious art. In some sanctuaries, you will find what are commonly known as "resurrecifixes." These are images of the resurrected Christ emerging from a cross. And yet, the liturgical law of the Church mandates that sanctuaries must contain a true crucifix that shows the five wounds of the passion.
By contrast, the "resurrecifix" expresses a desire to bypass the suffering and death aspect of Christ's glory. And yet, we know that this does not match the reality of our lives. The reality of our lives involves suffering, trial and hardship. This is precisely why the Church requires us to have a crucifix in the sanctuary -- it connects our lives and the sufferings we endure to the suffering of Jesus. In order to experience the joy of Easter Sunday, we must endure Good Friday. In fact, the significance and meaning of Easter Sunday can only be understood in light of the events of Good Friday. The two events reveal that as evil and dark as Good Friday was, it could not vanquish our Savior in the ultimate sense. His victory on Easter Sunday was a victory over suffering and death itself. The devil gave Christ his best shot and our Lord conquered and won.
To suffer graciously is to share in His glory. Those who suffer with grace and hope teach us to become poor in spirit -- persons totally dependent upon God. They provide for us opportunities for charity and show us the depths of humility. Those who suffer also teach us the possibility of remaining joyful in the face of trials. Most persons associate joy merely with happiness or giddiness. True Christian joy, which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, involves much more -- it is the desire for God and/or to delight in the things of God. So, it is quite possible to be joyful in one's suffering, in spite of the absence of giddiness.
In Christ, suffering reveals to us the depth of His love. He embraced His suffering joyfully, even though there was nothing emotionally happy about the moment. Our blessed Lord invites us down the same path -- to understand with greater clarity that our suffering can be an intimate participation in the glory of His suffering and death, which led to our hope -- the resurrection.
**”resurrecifixes.” These are images of the resurrected Christ emerging from a cross. And yet, the liturgical law of the Church mandates that sanctuaries must contain a true crucifix that shows the five wounds of the passion.**
Have any of you seen these resurrection crucifixes? I have not seen one. At Ascension parish in Portland they have a picture of the Ascension instead of a crucifix. Even that I found strange.
Any feedback appreciated.
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 1 |
|---|
| The two paths |
| Blessed the one who does not follow the counsels of the wicked, or stand in the paths that sinners use, or sit in the gatherings of those who mock: his delight is the law of the Lord, he ponders his law day and night. He is like a tree planted by flowing waters, that will give its fruit in due time, whose leaves will not fade. All that he does will prosper. Not thus are the wicked, not thus. They are like the dust blown by the wind. At the time of judgement the wicked will not stand, nor sinners in the council of the just. For the Lord knows the path of the just; but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 2 |
|---|
| The Messiah, king and victor |
| Why are the nations in a ferment? Why do the people make their vain plans? The kings of the earth have risen up; the leaders have united against the Lord, against his anointed. “Let us break their chains, that bind us; let us throw off their yoke from our shoulders!” The Lord laughs at them, he who lives in the heavens derides them. Then he speaks to them in his anger; in his fury he throws them into confusion: “But I – I have set up my king on Sion, my holy mountain”. I will proclaim the Lord’s decrees. The Lord has said to me: “You are my son: today I have begotten you. Ask me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, the ends of the earth for you to possess. You will rule them with a rod of iron, break them in pieces like an earthen pot”. So now, kings, listen: understand, you who rule the land. Serve the Lord in fear, tremble even as you praise him. Learn his teaching, lest he take anger, lest you perish when his anger bursts into flame. Blessed are all who put their trust in the Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 3 |
|---|
| The Lord is my protector |
| Lord, how many they are, my attackers! So many rise up against me, so many of them say: “He can hope for no help from the Lord”. But you, Lord, are my protector, my glory: you raise up my head. I called to the Lord, and from his holy mountain he heard my voice. I fell asleep, and slept; but I rose, for the Lord raised me up. I will not fear when the people surround me in their thousands. Rise up, Lord; bring me to safety, my God. Those who attacked me – you struck them on the jaw, you shattered their teeth. Salvation comes from the Lord: Lord, your blessing is upon your people. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Reading | Apocalypse 18:21 - 19:10 © |
|---|---|
| Then a powerful angel picked up a boulder like a great millstone, and as he hurled it into the sea, he said, ‘That is how the great city of Babylon is going to be hurled down, never to be seen again. Never again in you, Babylon, will be heard the song of harpists and minstrels, the music of flute and trumpet; never again will craftsmen of every skill be found or the sound of the mill be heard; never again will shine the light of the lamp, never again will be heard the voices of bridegroom and bride. Your traders were the princes of the earth, all the nations were under your spell. In her you will find the blood of prophets and saints, and all the blood that was ever shed on earth.’ After this I seemed to hear the great sound of a huge crowd in heaven, singing, ‘Alleluia! Victory and glory and power to our God! He judges fairly, he punishes justly, and he has condemned the famous prostitute who corrupted the earth with her fornication; he has avenged his servants that she killed’. They sang again, ‘Alleluia! The smoke of her will go up for ever and ever.’ Then the twenty-four elders and the four animals prostrated themselves and worshipped God seated there on his throne, and they cried, ‘Amen, Alleluia’. Then a voice came from the throne; it said, ‘Praise our God, you servants of his and all who, great or small, revere him’. And I seemed to hear the voices of a huge crowd, like the sound of the ocean or the great roar of thunder, answering, ‘Alleluia! The reign of the Lord our God Almighty has begun; let us be glad and joyful and give praise to God, because this is the time for the marriage of the Lamb. His bride is ready, and she has been able to dress herself in dazzling white linen, because her linen is made of the good deeds of the saints.’ The angel said, ‘Write this: Happy are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb’, and he added, ‘All the things you have written are true messages from God’. Then I knelt at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘Do not do that: I am a servant just like you and all your brothers who are witnesses to Jesus. It is God that you must worship.’ The witness Jesus gave is the same as the spirit of prophecy. |
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| Reading | From a sermon by Saint Maximus of Turin, bishop |
|---|---|
| Christ is the day | |
| Christ is risen! He has burst open the gates of hell and let the dead go free; he has renewed the earth through the members of his Church now born again in baptism, and has made it blossom afresh with men brought back to life. His Holy Spirit has unlocked the doors of heaven, which stand wide open to receive those who rise up from the earth. Because of Christ’s resurrection the thief ascends to paradise, the bodies of the blessed enter the holy city, and the dead are restored to the company of the living. There is an upward movement in the whole of creation, each element raising itself to something higher. We see hell restoring its victims to the upper regions, earth sending its buried dead to heaven, and heaven presenting the new arrivals to the Lord. In one and the same movement, our Saviour’s passion raises men from the depths, lifts them up from the earth, and sets them in the heights. Christ is risen. His rising brings life to the dead, forgiveness to sinners, and glory to the saints. And so David the prophet summons all creation to join in celebrating the Easter festival: Rejoice and be glad, he cries, on this day which the Lord has made. The light of Christ is an endless day that knows no night. Christ is this day, says the Apostle; such is the meaning of his words: Night is almost over; day is at hand. He tells us that night is almost over, not that it is about to fall. By this we are meant to understand that the coming of Christ’s light puts Satan’s darkness to flight, leaving no place for any shadow of sin. His everlasting radiance dispels the dark clouds of the past and checks the hidden growth of vice. The Son is that day to whom the day, which is the Father, communicates the mystery of his divinity. He is the day who says through the mouth of Solomon: I have caused an unfailing light to rise in heaven. And as in heaven no night can follow day, so no sin can overshadow the justice of Christ. The celestial day is perpetually bright and shining with brilliant light; clouds can never darken its skies. In the same way, the light of Christ is eternally glowing with luminous radiance and can never be extinguished by the darkness of sin. This is why John the evangelist says: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never been able to overpower it. And so, my brothers, each of us ought surely to rejoice on this holy day. Let no one, conscious of his sinfulness, withdraw from our common celebration, nor let anyone be kept away from our public prayer by the burden of his guilt. Sinner he may indeed be, but he must not despair of pardon on this day which is so highly privileged; for if a thief could receive the grace of paradise, how could a Christian be refused forgiveness? |
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| Hymn | Te Deum |
|---|---|
| God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you! You, the Father, the eternal – all the earth venerates you. All the angels, all the heavens, every power – The cherubim, the seraphim – unceasingly, they cry: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts: heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!” The glorious choir of Apostles – The noble ranks of prophets – The shining army of martyrs – all praise you. Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you. – Father of immeasurable majesty, – True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship, – Holy Spirit, our Advocate. You, Christ: – You are the king of glory. – You are the Father’s eternal Son. – You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb. – You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you. – You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father. – You will come, so we believe, as our Judge. And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood. Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory. Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance. Rule them and lift them high for ever. Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever. Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us. Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you. In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Concluding Prayer |
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| O God, you have redeemed us and adopted us. Grant to your beloved children that their belief in Christ may bring them true liberty and an eternal inheritance. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
| Sunday, May 6, 2007 Fifth Sunday of Easter |
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| Jn 13:31-35 | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
| 31 | When he therefore was gone out, Jesus said: Now is the Son of man glorified; and God is glorified in him. | cum ergo exisset dicit Iesus nunc clarificatus est Filius hominis et Deus clarificatus est in eo |
| 32 | If God be glorified in him, God also will glorify him in himself: and immediately will he glorify him. | si Deus clarificatus est in eo et Deus clarificabit eum in semet ipso et continuo clarificabit eum |
| 33 | Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You shall seek me. And as I said to the Jews: Whither I go you cannot come; so I say to you now. | filioli adhuc modicum vobiscum sum quaeretis me et sicut dixi Iudaeis quo ego vado vos non potestis venire et vobis dico modo |
| 34 | A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. | mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos ut et vos diligatis invicem |
| 35 | By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another. | in hoc cognoscent omnes quia mei discipuli estis si dilectionem habueritis ad invicem |
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 62 (63) |
|---|
| Thirsting for God |
| O God, you are my God, I wait for you from the dawn. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you. I came to your sanctuary, as one in a parched and waterless land, so that I could see your might and your glory. My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself. Thus I will bless you throughout my life, and raise my hands in prayer to your name; my soul will be filled as if by rich food, and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice. I will remember you as I lie in bed, I will think of you in the morning, for you have been my helper, and I will take joy in the protection of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | Daniel 3 |
|---|---|
| All creatures, bless the Lord | |
| Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, you heavens; all his angels, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens; all his powers, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, sun and moon; all stars of the sky, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, rain and dew; all you winds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, fire and heat; cold and warmth, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, dew and frost; ice and cold, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, ice and snow; day and night, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, light and darkness; lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, all the earth, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; all growing things, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, seas and rivers; springs and fountains, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, whales and fish; birds of the air, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame; sons of men, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, his priests; all his servants, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, spirits of the just; all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord. Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever. Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit, praise and exalt them for ever. Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven, praise and glorify him for ever. |
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| Psalm 149 |
|---|
| The saints rejoice |
| Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of the faithful. Let Israel rejoice in its maker, and the sons of Sion delight in their king. Let them praise his name with dancing, sing to him with timbrel and lyre, for the Lord’s favour is upon his people, and he will honour the humble with victory. Let the faithful celebrate his glory, rejoice even in their beds, the praise of God in their throats; and swords ready in their hands, to exact vengeance upon the nations, impose punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings in fetters and their nobles in manacles of iron, to carry out the sentence that has been passed: this is the glory prepared for all his faithful. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Short reading | Acts 10:40 - 43 © |
|---|---|
| God raised Jesus to life on the third day and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen beforehand. Now we are those witnesses – we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead – and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name. | |
| Canticle | Benedictus |
|---|---|
| The Messiah and his forerunner | |
| Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| O God, you have redeemed us and adopted us. Grant to your beloved children that their belief in Christ may bring them true liberty and an eternal inheritance. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
Fifth Sunday of Easter
"I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples." Love is man's first and constant vocation. Love is the summary of the whole Bible. Love is the secret of the saints, the necessary way to God. It is the means to reveal God's heart to other men. But the beauty of God's love must show itself fresh and new in every Christian; for beauty, to delight and attract, must be fresh as the morning. Every deed of vital love, performed by us in our personality which nature and grace have fashioned, is like the morning of time itself. "God is love" in its mysterious fullness and infinite freshness. Utterly King and Lord, He unites the baptized of every nation in the one Mystical Body of Christ, by the one Holy Spirit, under the one Mother Mary.
Love of neighbor cannot be separated from love of God: "The greatest commandment of the law is to love God with one's whole heart and one's neighbor as oneself. Christ has made this love of neighbor his personal commandment and has enriched it with a new meaning when he willed himself, along with his brothers, to be the object of this charity, saying: 'As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me'. In assuming human nature he has united to himself all humanity in a supernatural solidarity which makes of it one single family. He has made charity the distinguishing mark of his disciples, in the words: 'By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another"' (Vatican II, Apostolicam actuositatem, 8). Even though Christ is purity itself, and temperance and humility, he does not, however, make any one of these virtues the distinguishing marks of his disciples: he makes charity that mark. "The Master's message and example are clear and precise. He confirmed his teaching with deeds. Yet I have often thought that, after twenty centuries, it is indeed still a new commandment, for very few people have taken the trouble to practice it. The others, the majority of men, both in the past and still today, have chosen to ignore it. Their selfishness has led them to the conclusion: 'Why should I complicate my life? I have more than enough to do just looking after myself.' "Such an attitude is not good enough for us Christians. If we profess the same faith and are really eager to follow in the clear footprints left by Christ when he walked on this earth, we cannot be content merely with avoiding doing unto others the evil that we would not have them do unto us. That is a lot, but it is still very little when we consider that our love is to be measured in terms of Jesus' own conduct. Besides, he does not give us this standard as a distant target, as a crowning point of a whole lifetime of struggle. It is — it ought to be, I repeat, so that you may turn it into specific resolutions — our starting point, for our Lord presents it as a sign of Christianity: 'By this shall all men known that you are my disciples'" (J. Escriva, Friends of God, 223). And this is what in fact happened among Christians in the early centuries in the midst of pagan society, so much so that Tertullian, writing around the end of the second century, reported that people could indeed say, looking at the way these Christians lived: "See how they love one another" (Apologeticum, XXXIX). — The Navarre Bible - St. John Things to Do:
Collect:
God our Father, look upon us with love. You redeem us and make us your children in Christ. Give us true freedom and bring us to the inheritance you promised. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Recipes:
Activities:
Prayers:
May 06, 2007
Sunday Readings
The first reading is taken from Acts 14:21-27. Last week we heard of St. Paul's experiences at Antioch in Piscidia during his first missionary journey. Their visit had ended on a sour note as Paul and Barnabas were expelled. The reading ended with"the two shook the dust from their feet in protest and went on to Iconium. Their disciples knew only how to be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit". Today we hear of the conclusion of this first missionary journey where Paul and Barnabas retrace their steps back through Antioch in Piscidia on their way back to Antioch in Syria where they had begun their journey. The second reading is from the Book of Revelation 21:1-5a. For the past three weeks we have had as our second reading an account of John's privileged vision of the heavenly liturgy where he has seen the eternal sacrifice being offered to God the Father by His Son, The New and Eternal High priest and sacrifice. We have heard also the prayers being offered by the faithful. We now go to the end of John's account as he describes the Heavenly Jerusalem. It was Jesus' mission to go to the earthly Jerusalem to offer His sacrifice — this shows us the path that we must follow to reach the Heavenly Jerusalem so that we can dwell with Him there forever. 
The Gospel is from John 13:31-33a, 34-35. The time of this reading is at the last supper just after Jesus has predicted His betrayal and prior to their leaving for Gethsemane. After announcing that he is leaving them, Christ summarizes his commandments in one — the New Commandment. He will repeat it a number of times during the discourse of the Supper, and St John in his first letter will insist on the need to practice this commandment of the Lord and on the demands it implies. Love of neighbor was already commanded in the Old Testament — and Jesus ratified this when he specified that it was the second precept of the whole Law and similar to the first: Love God with all your heart and soul and mind. But Jesus gives the precept of brotherly love new meaning and content by saying "even as I have loved you". The love of neighbor called for by the Old Law did also in some way extend to one's enemies; however, the love which Jesus preaches is much more demanding and includes returning good for evil, because Christian love is measured not by man's heart but by the heart of Christ, who gives up his life on the Cross to redeem all men. Here lies the novelty of Jesus' teaching, and our Lord can rightly say that it is his commandment, the principal clause in his last will and testament.
Take your mother out to dinner for Mother's Day. Make a special dessert to celebrate Mom's day.
Honor Mary in a special way on Mother's Day since she is the Mother of us all. (For Mom's only: If you are feeling at all neglected, concentrate on it being a day to honor Our Lady instead of yourself. You will find that you then appreciate anything that may be done for you today.)
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They Will Know Us by Our Works
John 13: 31-33a, 34-35 Petition: Lord I want to be obedient to every desire of your heart. You gave your disciples this last and greatest commandment to love one another. Open my heart to embrace love as the ideal of my Christian vocation. 1. This Is How They Will Know You Are My Disciples. 2. Love Has High Standards 3. Love Is from the Heart Conversation with Christ: My Jesus your life is witness of love to me. You forgave your enemies and even prayed for them. My love is to mirror your love, but I realize I can love so much more than I have loved until now. Help me today to increase my love and let go of those remnants of egoism that are holding me back from a Christ-like love. Resolution: Today I will make a list of those souls immediately before me for whom I can do a hidden act of charity: pray for them, speak well of them, look for a significant way to serve their needs as I would if it were Christ himself. |
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