Saturday, May 24, 2014

May 25, 2014

6th Sunday of Easter

First Reading: Acts 8:5-8,14-17
   Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city. Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm: 66:1-3.4-5.6-7.16,20
Response: Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
   Shout joyfully to God, all the earth, sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!” (Response)
   “Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you, sing praise to your name!” Come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. (Response)
   He has changed the sea into dry land; through the river they passed on foot; therefore let us rejoice in him. He rules by his might forever. (Response)
  Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me. Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness! (Response)

Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18
   Beloved: Sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.

Gospel Reading: John 14:15-21
   Jesus said to his disciples: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Jesus has come into this world to give us the presence of God always. He himself is Immanuel (God with us). Now he is saying that he is going to ask the father and the Holy Spirit is going to be with the disciples always. The followers are not going to b left as orphans. Jesus himself is going to be with the followers. And the followers will realize his presence in them. Presence of Jesus will not be seen by the world but the followers will feel his presence.
   The presence of Jesus is like the presence of the father in Jesus and how Jesus himself is present in the father. The indwelling of the father in Jesus is invisible but certain. The disciples themselves should live so with the realization that Jesus is with them living and working. This indwelling is further strengthened by the presence of the spirit. This indwelling of the father in the son and the son in the followers is confirmed by the love.

Friday, May 16, 2014

May 18, 2014

5th Sunday of Easter

First Reading: Acts 6:1-7
   As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Responsorial Psalm: 33:1-2.4-5.18-19
Response: Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
   Exult, you just, in the LORD; praise from the upright is fitting. Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises. (Response)
   Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy. He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full. (Response)
   See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, To deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. (Response)

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-9
   Beloved: Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it says in scripture: "Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame." Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and "A stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall." They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny. But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Gospel Reading: John 14:1-12
   Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Jesus’ final discourse is filled with expressions the values that are essential for the life of a follower. Being in the world, the disciples are troubled. Jesus’ answer to their anxiety is to have faith in god and in him. It is faith that removes all anxiety. Faith in god is essential and added to that to faith in Jesus as the mediator. Jesus as the true and only son of God mediates between God and people and that is the reason that he is able to say that I am the way the truth and the life.
   It is true that faith is essential and faith in God can do wonders and faith can lead one to greater heights. However knowledge of God is also important. This knowledge of God is made available in Jesus. Jesus came in to the world to communicate the experiential knowledge of God to the people around him. This knowledge is made available in the person of Jesus. To know Jesus; to hear Jesus; to feel Jesus is to know God. God is in Jesus and that is why Jesus is God.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

May 11, 2014

4th Sunday of Easter

First Reading: Acts 2:14,36-41
   Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: "Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What are we to do, my brothers?" Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call." He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.
Responsorial Psalm: 23:1-3.3-4.5.6
Response: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
   The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. (Response)
  He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. With your rod and your staff that give me courage. (Response)
 You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Response)
   Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. (Response)

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:20-25
   Beloved: If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Gospel Reading: John 10:1-10
   Jesus said: "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   A thief and a robber is the one who does not enter through the gate. For him, the sheep do not have any other value but their usefulness (material). Shepherd enters through the gate and the gatekeeper is familiar with him and also the sheep. Sheep recognize his voice; they follow him; he walks ahead of them. The close relationship between between the sheep and the shepherd is important. Sheep are not things to be used in fact they are persons (he calls them by name). There is personal and familiar and close relationship.
   The shepherd is familiar with the sheep. The gatekeeper is the one who guards the sheep and protects the sheep from being stolen. Jesus is the shepherd and that gate(keeper). In him and through him there is life, salvation and protection. The sheep that enter through him and follow him and listen to his voice have protection, salvation and life. Jesus is the only shepherd: there has never been one before (because all those who came before him were thieves and robbers); and there will not be another after him.

Friday, May 2, 2014

May 4, 2014

3rd Sunday of Easter

First Reading: Acts 2:14,22-33
   Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, "You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. For David says of him: 'I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh, too, will dwell in hope, because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.' My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption. God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you both see and hear."
Responsorial Psalm: 16:1-2,5.7-8.9-10.11
Response: Lord, you will show us the path of life.
   Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.” O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. (Response)
  I bless the LORD who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (Response)
  Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. (Response)
   You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. (Response)

Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-21
   Beloved: If you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Gospel Reading: Luke 24:13-35
   That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?" And he replied to them, "What sort of things?" They said to him, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see." And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Jesus was very personal in dealing with his disciples and he never forced his way through. When these two were on their way home Jesus also took the same road along with them. He pretended even to go the same way and further on. He listened to their woes and allowed them to talk and express themselves fully. He did not straight away tell them that they were foolish or that they were wrong in their thinking and calculations. He did not go there to received honours and degrees but to make the disciples realize that the scriptures were fulfilled in Jesus.
   Jesus was very obliging. When the disciples asked him to stay with them he took the chance immediately and stayed with them. Since his main concern was the disciples he was ready to go even that length to please them. He went along with them and he obliged them to make them feel that they were almost right. He let them do as they wished. As soon as the job was done Jesus was not there anymore. Since Jesus revealed to them and then vanished from their sight they ran back to Jerusalem to announce to the other disciples what they had experienced.