Pope's Intentions
Universal: That the media may be instruments in the service of truth and peace.
For Evangelization: That Mary, Star of Evangelization, may guide the Church in proclaiming Christ to all nations.
Saturday of the Third week of Easter
Commentary of the day
Saint Cyril of Alexandria (380-444), Bishop, Doctor of the Church
Commentary on Saint John's Gospel, 4, 4 ; PG 73, 613 (trans. ©Friends of Henry Ashworth)
"You have the words of eternal life"
To whom shall we go?” Peter asks. In other words: “Who else will instruct us in the divine mysteries the way you do?" or, "To whom shall we go to find anything better? You have the words of eternal life.” They are not hard words, as those other disciples say, but words that will bring us to the loftiest goal unceasing, endless life removed from all corruption. These words surely make quite obvious to us the necessity for sitting at the feet of Christ, taking him as our one and only teacher, and giving him our constant and undivided attention...
That the desire to follow Christ alone and to be with him always is a good thing leading to our salvation is entirely self-evident; yet we may learn this from the Old Testament as well. When the Israelites had shaken off Egyptian tyranny and were hastening toward the promised land, God did not allow them to make disorderly marches; nor did the Lawgiver let each one go where he would, for without a guide they should undoubtedly have lost the way completely... Keeping with their guide was the Israelites' salvation then, just as not leaving Christ is ours now. For he was with those people of old under the form of the tabernacle, the cloud, and the fire (Ex 13,21; 26,1s)…
“Whoever serves me must follow me, so as to be with me wherever I am” (Jn 12,26)... But accompanying the Savior Christ and following him is by no means to be thought of as something done by the body. It is accomplished rather by deeds springing from virtue. Upon such virtue the wisest disciples firmly fixed their minds... With good reason they cried out, "Where can we go?" It was as though they said: "We will stay with you always and hold fast to your commandments. We will receive your words without finding fault or thinking your teaching hard as the ignorant do, but thinking rather: “How sweet are your words to my throat! Sweeter to the mouth are they than honey or the honeycomb!” (Ps 118[119],103).