Posted on 05/15/2006 7:33:21 AM PDT by Salvation
Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Reading 1
Acts 14:5-18
There was an attempt in Iconium
by both the Gentiles and the Jews,
together with their leaders,
to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.
They realized it,
and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe
and to the surrounding countryside,
where they continued to proclaim the Good News.
At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth,
who had never walked.
He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him,
saw that he had the faith to be healed,
and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.”
He jumped up and began to walk about.
When the crowds saw what Paul had done,
they cried out in Lycaonian,
“The gods have come down to us in human form.”
They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,”
because he was the chief speaker.
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city,
brought oxen and garlands to the gates,
for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.
The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments
when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,
“Men, why are you doing this?
We are of the same nature as you, human beings.
We proclaim to you good news
that you should turn from these idols to the living God,
who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.
In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;
yet, in bestowing his goodness,
he did not leave himself without witness,
for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,
and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.”
Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds
from offering sacrifice to them.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16
R. (1ab) Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory
because of your mercy, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say,
“Where is their God?”
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,
but the earth he has given to the children of men.
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Jn 14:21-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,
“Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us
and not to the world?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.
“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my name—
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Alleluia Ping List.
From: Acts 14:5-18
Iconium Evangelized. Persecution
From: John 14:21-26
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
| First reading | Acts 14:5 - 18 © |
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| Eventually with the connivance of the authorities a move was made by pagans as well as Jews to make attacks on the apostles and to stone them. When the apostles came to hear of this, they went off for safety to Lycaonia where, in the towns of Lystra and Derbe and in the surrounding country, they preached the Good News. A man sat there who had never walked in his life, because his feet were crippled from birth; and as he listened to Paul preaching, he managed to catch his eye. Seeing that the man had the faith to be cured, Paul said in a loud voice, ‘Get to your feet – stand up’, and the cripple jumped up and began to walk. When the crowd saw what Paul had done they shouted in the language of Lycaonia, ‘These people are gods who have come down to us disguised as men’. They addressed Barnabas as Zeus, and since Paul was the principal speaker they called him Hermes. The priests of Zeus-outside-the-Gate, proposing that all the people should offer sacrifice with them, brought garlanded oxen to the gates. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening they tore their clothes, and rushed into the crowd, shouting, ‘Friends, what do you think you are doing? We are only human beings like you. We have come with good news to make you turn from these empty idols to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that these hold. In the past he allowed each nation to go its own way; but even then he did not leave you without evidence of himself in the good things he does for you: he sends you rain from heaven, he makes your crops grow when they should, he gives you food and makes you happy.’ Even this speech, however, was scarcely enough to stop the crowd offering them sacrifice. |
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| Psalm or canticle: Psalm 113B |
| Gospel | John 14:21 - 26 © |
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| Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them will be one who loves me; and anybody who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I shall love him and show myself to him.’ Judas – this was not Judas Iscariot – said to him, ‘Lord, what is all this about? Do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’ Jesus replied: ‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him. Those who do not love me do not keep my words. And my word is not my own: it is the word of the one who sent me. I have said these things to you while still with you; but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you. |
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May 15, 2006
St. Isidore the Farmer
(1070-1130)
Isidore has become the patron of farmers and rural communities. In particular he is the patron of Madrid, Spain, and of the United States National Rural Life Conference. When he was barely old enough to wield a hoe, Isidore entered the service of John de Vergas, a wealthy landowner from Madrid, and worked faithfully on his estate outside the city for the rest of his life. He married a young woman as simple and upright as himself who also became a saint—Maria de la Cabeza. They had one son, who died as a child. Isidore had deep religious instincts. He rose early in the morning to go to church and spent many a holiday devoutly visiting the churches of Madrid and surrounding areas. All day long, as he walked behind the plow, he communed with God. His devotion, one might say, became a problem, for his fellow workers sometimes complained that he often showed up late because of lingering in church too long. He was known for his love of the poor, and there are accounts of Isidore’s supplying them miraculously with food. He had a great concern for the proper treatment of animals. He died May 15, 1130, and was declared a saint in 1622 with Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila and Philip Neri. Together, the group is known in Spain as “the five saints.” Quote:
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| Monday, May 15, 2006 Saint Isidore the Farmer (Optional Memorial) |
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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 6 |
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| A prayer for relief from affliction |
| Lord, do not condemn me in your fury: do not destroy me in your anger. Take pity on me, Lord, for I am sick; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in disarray. My spirit is deeply disturbed, and you, Lord – how long? Turn to me, Lord, rescue my spirit: in your pity, save me. If I die, how can I praise you? Can anyone in the underworld proclaim your name? I struggle and groan, soak my bed with weeping night after night; my eyes are troubled with sadness: I grow older as my enemies watch. Leave me, all who do evil, for the Lord has heard my voice as I wept. The Lord listened to my prayer, granted me what I asked. Let my enemies be ashamed and confounded: let shame and confusion overtake them soon. 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 9A (9) |
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| Thanksgiving for victory |
| I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of your wonders. I will rejoice in you and triumph, make music to your name, O Most High. Because my enemies are in full retreat; they stumble and perish at your presence. For you have given judgement in my favour, upheld my case, taken your seat on the throne of judgement. You have rebuked the nations, condemned the wicked, wiped out their name for ever and for ever. My enemies are no more; their land is a desert for ever. You have demolished their cities, their very memory is wiped away. But the Lord will reign for ever: he has made his throne his judgement-seat. He himself will judge the whole world in justice, judge the peoples impartially. The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in good times and in bad. Let them put their hope in you, those who know your name; for you, Lord, have never abandoned those who seek you. 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 9A (9) |
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| Sing to the Lord who dwells in Sion, proclaim to the nations his loving care. For he has remembered the poor and avenged them with blood: he has not forgotten the cry of the weak. Take pity on me, Lord: see how my enemies torment me. You raise me up from the gates of death, and I will proclaim your praise at the gates of the daughter of Sion; I will rejoice in your salvation. The nations have fallen into the pit that they made, into the very trap that they set: their feet are caught fast. The Lord’s justice shines forth: the sinner is trapped by his very own action. Sinners will go down to the underworld, and all nations that forget God. For the weak will not always be forgotten: the hope of the weak will never perish. Rise up, Lord, let men not be complacent: let the nations come before you to be judged. Put fear into them, Lord: let them know that they are only men. 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 19:11 - 21 © |
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| And now I saw heaven open, and a white horse appear; its rider was called Faithful and True; he is a judge with integrity, a warrior for justice. His eyes were flames of fire, and his head was crowned with many coronets; the name written on him was known only to himself, his cloak was soaked in blood He is known by the name, The Word of God. Behind him, dressed in linen of dazzling white, rode the armies of heaven on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike the pagans with; he is the one who will rule them with an iron sceptre, and tread out the wine of Almighty God’s fierce anger. On his cloak and on his thigh there was a name written: The King of kings and the Lord of lords. I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he shouted aloud to all the birds that were flying high overhead in the sky, Come here. Gather together at the great feast that God is giving. There will be the flesh of kings for you, and the flesh of great generals and heroes, the flesh of horses and their riders and of all kinds of men, citizens and slaves, small and great.’ Then I saw the beast, with all the kings of the earth and their armies, gathered together to fight the rider and his army. But the beast was taken prisoner, together with the false prophet who had worked miracles on the beast’s behalf and by them had deceived all who had been branded with the mark of the beast and worshipped his statue. These two were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulphur. All the rest were killed by the sword of the rider, which came out of his mouth, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. |
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| Reading | From a sermon by Saint Gregory of Nyssa, bishop |
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| The firstborn of the new creation | |
| The reign of life has begun, the tyranny of death is ended. A new birth has taken place, a new life has come, a new order of existence has appeared, our very nature has been transformed! This birth is not brought about by human generation, by the will of man, or by the desire of the flesh, but by God. If you wonder how, I will explain in clear language. Faith is the womb that conceives this new life, baptism the rebirth by which it is brought forth into the light of day. The Church is its nurse; her teachings are its milk, the bread from heaven is its food. It is brought to maturity by the practice of virtue; it is wedded to wisdom; it gives birth to hope. Its home is the kingdom; its rich inheritance the joys of paradise; its end, not death, but the blessed and everlasting life prepared for those who are worthy. This is the day the Lord has made – a day far different from those made when the world was first created and which are measured by the passage of time. This is the beginning of a new creation. On this day, as the prophet says, God makes a new heaven and a new earth. What is this new heaven? you may ask. It is the firmament of our faith in Christ. What is the new earth? A good heart, a heart like the earth, which drinks up the rain that falls on it and yields a rich harvest. In this new creation, purity of life is the sun, the virtues are the stars, transparent goodness is the air, and the depths of the riches of wisdom and knowledge, the sea. Sound doctrine, the divine teachings are the grass and plants that feed God’s flock, the people whom he shepherds; the keeping of the commandments is the fruit borne by the trees. On this day is created the true man, the man made in the image and likeness of God. For this day the Lord has made is the beginning of this new world. Of this day the prophet says that it is not like other days, nor is this night like other nights. But still we have not spoken of the greatest gift it has brought us. This day destroyed the pangs of death and brought to birth the firstborn of the dead. I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God. O what wonderful good news! He who for our sake became like us in order to make us his brothers, now presents to his true Father his own humanity in order to draw all his kindred up after him. |
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| A concluding prayer may follow here. |
Prayers:
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May 15, 2006    Optional Memorial of St. Isidore Old Calendar: St. John Baptist de la Salle, confessor
Isidore was a Spanish laborer who worked most of his life as a ploughman for a nobleman who lived near Madrid, Spain. Although working many hours a day, he never failed to attend daily Mass, and spend time praying before the Holy Eucharist. He married a maid-servant, Maria de la Cabeza, who was also canonized a saint. They were always willing to help their neighbors and worked with the poor in the city slums. In 1947, he was proclaimed the Patron of the National Rural Life Conference in the United States. The feast of St. John Baptist de la Salle was transferred to April 7.
St. Isidore the Farmer When he was barely old enough to wield a hoe, Isidore entered the service of John de Vergas, a wealthy landowner from Madrid, and worked faithfully on his estate outside the city for the rest of his life. He married a young woman as simple and upright as himself who also became a saint-Maria de la Cabeza. They had one son, who died as a child. Isidore had deep religious instincts. He rose early in the morning to go to church and spent many a holiday devoutly visiting the churches of Madrid and surrounding areas. All day long, as he walked behind the plow, he communed with God. His devotion, one might say, became a problem, for his fellow workers sometimes complained that he often showed up late because of lingering in church too long. He was known for his love of the poor, and there are accounts of Isidore's supplying them miraculously with food. He had a great concern for the proper treatment of animals. He died May 15, 1130, and was declared a saint in 1622 with Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila and Philip Neri. Together, the group is known in Spain as "the five saints." Patron: Farmers; farm workers; ranchers; rural communities; Madrid, Spain; United States National Catholic Rural Life Conference; death of children; for rain; livestock. Symbols: White oxen; sapde; hoe or rake; plough. Things to Do:
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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 5 |
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| A morning prayer for help |
| Let my words come to your ears, O Lord: hear my sighs. Listen to the voice of my crying, my King and my God. As I pray to you in the morning, Lord, listen to my voice; in the morning I will stand before you and await you. You are not a God who loves evil. The wicked cannot stay near you, the unjust cannot remain in your presence. You hate all who do evil – you destroy all who speak falsehood – the Lord abominates the bloody and deceitful man. But in the abundance of your mercy you will admit me to your house: I will worship you in your holy temple, with fear and reverence. Lord, guide me in your justice, protect me from my enemies: let me see the path I must follow. For there is no truth in their mouth – their heart is a bottomless pit – their throat is a wide open grave – their tongue seduces. Punish them, Lord, and let their own plans destroy them. On account of their crimes, thrust them from your presence; for they are rebels against you. Let all who hope in you rejoice, triumph for ever. You will shelter them and they will glory in you. For you bless the just, O Lord, and your good will surrounds them like a shield. 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 | 1 Chronicles 29 |
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| To God alone be honour and glory | |
| Blessed are you, Lord, God of our father Israel, through all the ages. All power and greatness are yours, O God; glory, splendour, and majesty. All things are yours, in the heavens and on the earth; you rule over them, Lord, you are high above them all. All riches and glory come from you, you rule over all things. In your hand lie strength and power, your hand raises all things and sets them firm. So now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 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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| Psalm 28 (29) |
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| Praise the word of the Lord |
| Give to the Lord, all his children, his glory and power, give to the Lord the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in holy splendour. The voice of the Lord is heard over the waters: the God of majesty thunders, God above all the waters. The voice of the Lord in his power, the voice of the Lord in his greatness. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, the Lord breaks down the cedars of Lebanon. The Lord makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a wild ox. The voice of the Lord cuts flames in two; the voice of the Lord beats on the desert, the Lord stuns the desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord puts the deer to flight, it empties the thickets; in his sanctuary, all praise his glory. The Lord dwells above the raging flood, he is enthroned as king for ever. The Lord will give strength to his people, the Lord will bless his people with 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. |
| A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here. |
| Canticle | Benedictus |
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| 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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| Some short prayers may follow here, to offer up the day's work to God. |
| 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. |
| A concluding prayer may follow here. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
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A Dialogue of Love Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter John 14:21-26 Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe that you have revealed the love of God to me. I trust that you speak to us in your Church and send us out to reveal this love to others. Let my love be transformed by your love, so that I forget about myself, seeing more fully and feeling more deeply the needs of others. Let me heed the urgency of your mission. Petition: Reveal your love to me, O Lord. 1. The World. “Why would you reveal yourself to us rather than to the world?” In this question St. Jude helps us ask the often posed, “Why me, Lord?” Another way to ask the same question might be: “Why the Church?” The answer is found in the mystery of love. It is a relationship of love that allows people to reveal themselves, open themselves up, and give and change themselves, even to the point of making themselves vulnerable. The world, in this respect, is defensive; it fears and distrusts God. The disobedience of not keeping his word is a rejection of God’s love, including his self-revelation. Sin blinds us and makes us deaf to the word of God. How closed am I to God’s ways? What attachment or fear lies at the root of my distrust? 2. The Disciple. A disciple is one who listens. Any openness or willingness to listen allows God’s word entrance into a disciple’s heart. It is God’s love that first inspires a disciple’s trust. “If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great” (Pope Benedict XVI, Homily, Inauguration Mass, April 24, 2005). 3. The Spirit. The Lord reveals himself to the world, but through me. How? Through the gift of the Holy Spirit he dwells in, teaches, reminds and guides us, his disciples, to reveal God and his love to the world. Why do I find it so hard to make Jesus’ mission my own? Why does it seem so overwhelming? Sometimes we forget that it is Jesus’ gift, the Spirit, who does most of the work. We forget that the gift of faith was not revealed to me for myself alone. We forget that love is the mystery of self-giving. How much I respond in showing God’s love to others is the measure of how much I have allowed him to reveal himself to me. Dialogue with Christ: Dear Lord Jesus, help me to believe in your love, to trust enough to open my heart to your word. May I never let your intimate words to me go unanswered. I want to respond with sincere gratitude and love. Send your Spirit to help me pray. Help me reflect your love to the world. Resolution: I will open Scripture and reflect on one passage in order to hear what more God wants of me. |
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Acts 14:5-18 / Jn 14:21-26 What a grand spectacle it must have been in that Greek town when St. Paul healed the crippled man. The crowd responded with such fervor, calling Paul and his companions "gods" and trying to offer sacrifices to them! What a temptation it would be to relax and enjoy the glory of it all — just for a little while. It's the kind of temptation that comes to all of us at times, though usually in less glamorous forms. It's the temptation to say, "This or that is about me," when in fact it's not. The priest can know that temptation as he towers above the congregation at the pulpit or the altar. The teacher can know it in the classroom. The boss can know it; the parent can know it; the person with some special gift can know it. All of us can know the temptation to think that God's gifts of life, talent, or power are our own, to be flaunted and used for our own gratification and exultation. It's the sick temptation to say that this moment or this day is about me and not about God or the folks to whom He sent His gifts through me. Paul had that temptation, and he knew how to respond to it, "We are only men" who were sent to bring you God's gifts. So obvious, so right, but some folks never figure it out. Give thanks to God for all the unearned gifts He's given to you. Ask Him to guide your hand in carrying them faithfully to those who need them. That's a prayer He always answers. |
From:email
To:"DesertVoice Email"
Subject:May 14 Update
Date:Tue, 16 May 2006 01:38:24 IST
Dear Friends of Father Altier and DesertVoice,
Praised be Jesus Christ!
We posted a new article on Sunday, May 14 which you will want to check out. Keep praying!!!
Many of you have asked what else you can do. The articles that appear on DesertVoice are available for you to distribute to friends, blogs, websites, Church officials, etc. We want to get the truth out about this whole situation. So let us pray and do what we can to protect the innocent little ones.
God bless you and may He pour His mercy upon us all,
DesertVoice webmasters
P.S. Please continue to show your support by visiting www.desertvoice.org daily.
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Pray for A Voice in the Desert |
May the Lord give strength to His people! May the Lord bless His people with peace!
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Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA This action of the Archbishop is not related to any scandal We regret any inconvenience and humbly ask for your prayers. Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn |
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 10 (11) |
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| The Lord, support of the just |
| I trust in the Lord, so why do you say to me: “Fly up to the mountain like a sparrow”? “For the wicked have drawn their bows, fitted the arrow to the string, to shoot in darkness at the upright of heart. When the foundations are being overthrown, what are the just to do?” The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes look down on the poor, he examines the children of men. The Lord scrutinises the just and the unjust, and his heart hates those who do evil. He rains down coals upon the wicked, fire and brimstone and a scorching wind: this is what he gives them to drink. For the Lord is just and loves just deeds, and the upright shall see his face. 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 14 (15) |
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| Who is worthy to face the Lord? |
| Lord, who will live in your tent? Who will dwell on your holy mountain? Whoever comes there without stain, acts rightly, speaks truth in his heart. Whoever does not speak deceitfully, – or do harm to his neighbour, – or slander him. Whoever despises the evil-doer, but he reveres those who fear the Lord. Whoever swears and keeps his word, come what may – lends his money without usury – takes no bribe to condemn the innocent. Whoever lives like this will stand firm for ever. 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 | Ephesians 1 |
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| God the Saviour | |
| Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us, in Christ, with every spiritual blessing in heaven. In love, he chose us before the creation of the world, to be holy and spotless in his sight. He predestined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ, simply because it pleased him to do so. This he did for the praise of the glory of his grace, of his free gift of us to his Beloved, in whose blood we have gained redemption, and the forgiveness of our sins. This he did according to the riches of his grace, which he gave us in abundance, with all wisdom and discernment, revealing to us the mysteries of his will, because it pleased him to do so. In this action he has planned, in the fulfilment of time, to bring all things together in Christ, from the heavens and from the earth. 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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| A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here. |
| Canticle | Magnificat |
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| My soul rejoices in the Lord | |
| My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. 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. |
| A concluding prayer may follow here. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
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Monday, May 15, 2006 Meditation Acts 14:5-18 It’s a good thing Barnabas and Paul’s enthusiasm for preaching was grounded in Christ and not in the way their message was received! Imagine the mood swings they would have experienced if they had been going by public opinion when they brought the gospel to Lystra (Acts 14:6). In just one day, they experienced the extremes of praise and persecution. The two men were on a mission to urge people to turn to the living God. They never intended to turn their audience’s attention to the messengers themselves. This is what happened, though, after Paul perceived that a man who was lame and was soaking in his every word had the faith to be healed. What frustration he must have felt when the crowd took the healing not as a confirming sign of God’s power but as evidence that Paul and Barnabas were gods (Acts 14:11-13)! And how humorous that they pegged Paul for Hermes, the messenger, simply because he couldn’t stop talking! We may chuckle at the scene where even the priest of Zeus wanted to offer sacrifice to the two missionaries, but it was no laughing matter to Paul and Barnabas. To be idolized was the very opposite of what they sought. “Not to us, O Lord, . . . but to your name give glory” (Psalm 115:1). Soon enough, though, the mood changed. Swayed by outsiders, the fickle crowd changed their minds. Instead of worshipping Paul and Barnabas, they stoned them and left them for dead (Acts 14:19). In the course of our daily lives, we may not experience the ups and downs of the Christian life to the same degree that Paul and Barnabas did. But their example of stubborn faithfulness speaks to us all. None of us can control the reactions we will receive when we try to witness to the Lord. Some people will love us, others will hate us, some may even idolize us. But the only question we should ask is whether we have held fast to the calling God has given us. God can sort out everything else. “Lord Jesus, help me to stay always at your feet and to be firmly rooted in you. In season and out, may I receive your words of everlasting life and bring them to others.” Psalm 115:1-4, 15-16; John 14:21-26 |
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| Jn 14:21-26 | ||
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| # | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
| 21 | He that hath my commandments and keepeth them; he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him and will manifest myself to him. | qui habet mandata mea et servat ea ille est qui diligit me qui autem diligit me diligetur a Patre meo et ego diligam eum et manifestabo ei me ipsum |
| 22 | Judas saith to him, not the Iscariot: Lord, how is it, that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world? | dicit ei Iudas non ille Scariotis Domine quid factum est quia nobis manifestaturus es te ipsum et non mundo |
| 23 | Jesus answered, and said to him: If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him. | respondit Iesus et dixit ei si quis diligit me sermonem meum servabit et Pater meus diliget eum et ad eum veniemus et mansiones apud eum faciemus |
| 24 | He that loveth me not, keepeth not my words. And the word which you have heard, is not mine; but the Father's who sent me. | qui non diligit me sermones meos non servat et sermonem quem audistis non est meus sed eius qui misit me Patris |
| 25 | These things have I spoken to you, abiding with you. | haec locutus sum vobis apud vos manens |
| 26 | But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. | paracletus autem Spiritus Sanctus quem mittet Pater in nomine meo ille vos docebit omnia et suggeret vobis omnia quaecumque dixero vobis |
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Father Altier Assigned to Nursing Home
