Reading I
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
Some who had come down from
"Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved."
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to
about this question.
The apostles and elders, in agreement with the whole church,
decided to choose representatives
and to send them to
The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,
and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
This is the letter delivered by them:
"The apostles and the elders, your brothers,
to the brothers in
of Gentile origin: greetings.
Since we have heard that some of our number
who went out without any mandate from us
have upset you with their teachings
and disturbed your peace of mind,
we have with one accord decided to choose representatives
and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So we are sending Judas and Silas
who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:
'It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us
not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,
namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,
from blood, from meats of strangled animals,
and from unlawful marriage.
If you keep free of these,
you will be doing what is right. Farewell.'"
Responsorial
Psalm
Ps 67:2-3, 5,
6, 8
R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Rv
21:10-14, 22-23
The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy city
coming down out of heaven from God.
It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a massive, high wall,
with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were inscribed,
the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.
There were three gates facing east,
three north, three south, and three west.
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed the twelve names
of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
I saw no temple in the city
for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.
The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gave it light,
and its lamp was the Lamb.
Gospel
Jn 14:23-29
Jesus said to his disciples:
"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,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
'I am going away and I will come back to you.'
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe."
Commentary
In today’s First Reading, Luke tells of Paul’s
return to
In the Second Reading, the new Jerusalem is
described. It represents the final gathering place for all who belong to the
Lamb. The description of the city walls seems to be taken from imagery found in
Ezekiel 40:5; 48:31-35. Where in Ezekiel’s vision the gates represent the
twelve tribes of
In today’s Gospel Reading, Jesus says his farewell (so to speak). He has established his community which will continue God’s work on earth and encourages them to rejoice at his return to the Father. He wants the disciples to remain firm in their faith despite the events that will unfold. In order for the disciples to clearly understand the implication of Jesus’ teachings, the Paraclete (Holy Spirit) will be come. A difficult verse then follows which was used by the supporters of the Arian heresy to claim that Jesus was subservient of the Father: “the Father is greater than I”. John’s Gospel, more than any other, makes it clear that Jesus (the Son) and the Father are one. The statement is pointing at Jesus as God’s agent who has acted in perfect obedience to the will of the Father.
Reflection
“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” These words from John’s Gospel strike me as perhaps some of the most important for our lives as Christians. Without love for Jesus and the word he preached the peace he offers is unattainable. Jesus’ word is unchanging just as God is unchanging, and Jesus spoke of love for everyone. Sure, I love my wife Zeny, and my children, and my parents, sisters, grandparents, in-laws, the list could go on. But what about those people who make my life impossible because of what they say and do? What about those people who have a total disregard for human life? How can I love those who support abortion, or those who commit atrocities against humanity. Just this week, the western world was shocked to see the brutal beheading of an American citizen at the hands of Al Qaeda. After viewing the entire horrific and cold-blooded murder I was left extremely disturbed to the point that I had great difficulty sleeping that night. As I lay awake in bed, I could not help but ask: “How am I supposed to love people like those who committed this heinous crime?” I admit my feelings were anything but love for these people.
Despite my anger and despite my desire to keep from loving these people, I realize that Jesus allowed himself to be nailed to a cross for everyone, including those who would commit such acts, and those who deny his existence. What’s more, while hanging from the cross Jesus’ love for us overflows to the point of forgiveness for everyone including those who were torturing him. This is perhaps the most difficult part of being a true disciple of Christ – to love as Christ loved. Sure it’s easy to be a disciple of Christ within the circle of faith that we belong to – our prayer groups or bible study group – but it is quite another to be a disciple of Christ in the real world. The real world places emphasis on the self (what I want, what I deserve, what I need) and cannot or even refuses to see the other. To keep Christ’s word is to empty ourselves of the “I” in order to make room for Jesus.
Biblical References
New American Bible; Brown, R. K., and Comfort, P. W. (trans.) and Douglas, J. D., (ed.) “The New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament”; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Hengel, M., “Acts and the History of Earliest Christianity”; Maddox, R., “The Purpose of Luke-Acts”; Marshall, I. H., “The Acts of the Apostles”; Wilson, S. G., “The Gentiles and the Gentile Mission in Luke-Acts”; Barclay, W., “The Revelation of John”; Mounce, R. H., “The Book of Revelation”; Barrett, C. K., “The Gospel According to John”; Brown, R. E., “The Community of the Beloved Disciple”; Schnackenburg, R., “The Gospel According to St. John”; Segovia, F. F., “Love Relationships in the Johannine Tradition”; “The Collegeville Bible Commentary”; Brown, Raymond E., S.S., “Introduction to the New Testament”; Brown, Fitzmyer, and Murphy (ed.) “The New Jerome Biblical Commentary”.
Reflection by
Deacon Lazaro J. Ulloa