Todays Readings & Reflection: Wednesday, June 4, 2014 (Memorial of St. Francis Caracciolo) ACTS 20:28-38 (1st Reading) At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus: “Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the Church of God that he acquired with his own Blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them. So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day, I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears. And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated. I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You know well that these very hands have served my needs and my companions. In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” When he had finished speaking he knelt down and prayed with them all. They were all weeping loudly as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him, for they were deeply distressed that he had said that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship. Responsorial Psalm: (PS 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab) R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. 1) Show forth, O God, your power, the power, O God, with which you took our part; For your temple in Jerusalem let the kings bring you gifts. R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth. 2) You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, chant praise to the Lord who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens. Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power: “Confess the power of God!” R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. 3) Over Israel is his majesty; his power is in the skies. Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. Gospel: John 17:11b-19 (THE FATHERS WORD IS TRUTH) Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.” REFLECTION: KEEP THEM IN YOUR NAME. The name marks a persons individuality, distinguishing one from another. In biblical language, it speaks for the whole person. Thus, when we are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we are inserted into the life and mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. When Jesus says that he protects his disciples in the name of the heavenly Father, he means that he cares for them in the person of and with the authority of God himself. With his return to the Father, he asks the Father to continue protecting the disciples from the dangers of the world and keeping them from sin. Jesus leaves his disciples with the awareness that they will undergo trials. But in these trials they are consecrated, set aside for holiness. They are not spared from suffering on account of their faith in Jesus. But through these tribulations, they will be saved. The clouds that cover the sunshine, they cannot banish the sun. And the earth shines out the brighter when the weary rain is done (Anonymous). - 365 days w/ the Lord (Liturgical Biblical Diary 2014) Good morning!
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 21:56:26 +0000
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