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by on May 21, 2022
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Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Lectionary: 290

Reading I 

Acts 16:1-10

Paul reached also Derbe and Lystra
where there was a disciple named Timothy,
the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer,
but his father was a Greek.
The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him,
and Paul wanted him to come along with him.
On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised,
for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
As they traveled from city to city,
they handed on to the people for observance the decisions
reached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem.
Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith
and increased in number.

They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory
because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit
from preaching the message in the province of Asia.
When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia,
but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them,
so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas.
During the night Paul had a vision.
A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words,
“Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
When he had seen the vision,
we sought passage to Macedonia at once,
concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
 

Responsorial Psalm

100:1b-2, 3, 5

R.        (2a)  Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
            serve the LORD with gladness;
            come before him with joyful song.
R.        Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
Know that the LORD is God;
            he made us, his we are;
            his people, the flock he tends.
R.        Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
The LORD is good:
            his kindness endures forever,
            and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R.        Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Alleluia

Col 3:1

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If then you were raised with Christ,
seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Jn 15:18-21

Jesus said to his disciples:
“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
and I have chosen you out of the world,
the world hates you.
Remember the word I spoke to you,
‘No slave is greater than his master.’
If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
And they will do all these things to you on account of my name,
because they do not know the one who sent me.”
 

/// Commentary by Bishop Robert Barron: 

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus warns us to expect persecution. But do not be afraid, because in Jesus Christ, we are connected to the very power of God, to that which is here and now creating the universe. No matter how much violence and mayhem is going on, we have a place of safety.

How wonderfully Jesus expresses this: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." The body passes, but the soul, that place where you are in contact with the living God, lasts forever. So get your fears in right order: "Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna."

Now think of the saints, especially the martyrs. They might be defined as those rare human beings who had rightly prioritized their fears. Of whom were they afraid? Not the wickedest human beings around them. Rather, they feared God. They worried not about what people wanted them to do but about what God wanted them to do.

None of these great figures lived a serene life, a life free of worry, threat, persecution. Instead, they found courage in the struggle. Their courage got them through the negativity.

Posted in: Prayer Warrior
Topics: bible study
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