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The Word today, Easter7B

  • Writer: Admin
    Admin
  • May 7, 2024
  • 3 min read

Updated: Sep 27, 2024



May 13 - May 18, 2024



Acts 19:1-8 Pentecost has a long reverberation through the Acts and there are several “mini” Pentecost. Paul triggers one when he baptizes some followers of John the Baptist.


John 16:29-33 Towards the end of the Farewell Discourse, the disciples are shown coming to insight at last about the identity of Jesus. It has been a long journey — longer than you might imagine, because we are “overhearing” the fruits of many decades of prayer, reflection and teaching. Our own journey of faith cannot be different.


St Matthias, apostle


Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 The writer of the Acts has great esteem for the Twelve and, as part of the continuity between the two Testaments, the “college” of the apostles is restored after the betrayal and death of Judas. The prayer of discernment shows great confidence in God’s presence and inspiration.


John 15:9-17 Following Jesus’ own example, our Gospel places at the heart of the Christian project the command to love. We may put “command” in inverted commas: really we are dealing with loving and being loved. In the gentle expression of this Gospel: I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.


St Carthage, bishop


Acts 20:28-38 Paul’s last speech to the elders in Ephesus is full of still valid and good advice and the very last moment is very moving.


John 17:11-19 “Glorify” may sound strange to us, as if Jesus were looking for some kind of vain recognition. In this Gospel, however, to glorify point to the cross; specifically, it means that the heart of God, God’s inner identity, is disclosed in Jesus’ death and resurrection.


St Brendan, abbot


Acts 22:30, 23:6-11 “Divide and conquer” is an old rule and Paul uses it cannily in today’s vignette. Paradoxically, Paul is “rescued” by the very officials who hold him prisoner.


John 17:20-26 This heartfelt prayer will touch us all. Although conflict is normal, at every level, it cannot be normative. Therefore, we strive for forgiveness, reconciliation and true fallowing or oneness. May this great prayer be ours today!



Acts 25:13-21 A key event in the life of Paul is recounted. He was under arrest in Caesarea. As a Roman citizen, he makes appeal to the emperor.


John 21:15-19 Because our reading of John is coming to a close as the Easter Season ends, the lectionary takes us forward to chapter 21. In the background, there is an oblique reminder of his betrayal (charcoal1). But in the foreground stands the high call to love and the fundamental call to follow.


St John I, bishop of Rome, martyr


Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 The closing of the Acts is a marvellous scene. Paul is in Rome and still preaching. It is notable that the very last sentence of the Acts reads as follows (in Greek): proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete freedom and unhindered. A great ending — and a great beginning, because it is up to us the readers to continue the task.


John 21:20-25 Our Gospel is also a closing scene. It was important for the community, dealing with the death of their beloved leader. At the same time, it provide the writer with a second chance to close the whole book, with mixed feelings of exasperation and wonder!


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024ap, May 12). Seventh Sunday of Easter - Ascension. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051224.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/


 
 
 

The Word today, Easter6B

  • Writer: Admin
    Admin
  • May 3, 2024
  • 3 min read


May 06 - May 11, 2024



Acts 16:11-15 Today we hear of the founding of Paul’s first community in Europe. Philippians shows just how warm relationship became after these simple beginnings.


John 15:26-16:4 The word “paraclete,” strange to us, means literally the one who pleads alongside (someone). This is very like the Pauline vision of the Spirit helping us in our weakness. John’s Gospel, however, adds two extra dimensions, noticed in today’s Gospel: witnessing and remembering.



Acts 16:22-34 In biblical language, an earthquake symbolizes the presence and action of God. In this extraordinary story, a truly astonishing reversal takes place.


John 16:5-11 Our Gospel reflects on the meaning of Jesus’ departure (death): it signals and enables the gift of the Spirit in a completely new way.



Acts 17:15, 22-18:1 One expression from this reading is often quoted: it is in him that we live, and move, and have our being. The context for this marvelous affirmation is set-piece confrontation between Paul and the philosophers of Athens.


John 16:12-15 We are more aware, perhaps, than other generations of the importance of memory for our well-being and stability as individuals. It is important for us as believers as well and, fortunately, we are not alone. The Holy Spirit guides us not simply to retain the past but to live the future of our faith.



Acts 18:1-8 We may be tempted to think of Paul as operating on his own, but today we meet some of his wider team. Priscilla and Aquila were great supporters in friendship, hospitality and finance.


John 16:16-20 Our reading today touches a central part of the Farewell Discourse. This kind of writing acknowledges the transition of Jesus, so that he will no longer be with his disciples has he had been. At the same time, it opens to up different relationship after the resurrection. The words of the risen Jesus to Mary Magdalen come to mind: Jesus said to her, “Do not keep holding on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17; NRSV adjusted)


St Comgall, abbot; St John of Ávila, priest


Acts 18:9-18 Enemies try to get the governor of Corinth to act against Paul, but Gallio sees through the ploy and dismisses the case. Gallio was governor from winter AD 51 to spring 52, so this scene helps us to put a date on Paul’s first visit to Corinth. Gallio’s brother was the better known philosopher Seneca.


John 16:20-23 In the Gospel of John there is very little “tension” towards the future, unlike other New Testament documents. Today’s reading, however, is an exception. We even find a standing metaphor from apocalyptic: labour pains. The insistent use of “joy” tells us what the Gospel writing has in mind..



Acts 18:23-28 An important person is introduced in today’s reading: Apollos, a Jew from Alexandria. As a baptized Christian, he was a most eloquent proponent of the Gospel. Some Corinthians much preferred him to Paul, less able as an orator, it would seem.


John 16:23-28 In the Farewell Discourse, Jesus makes provision for his future role as intercessor and mediator. We may note, however, that unlike much traditional intercession, the Father already loves us and there is no need to persuade him to give what he already desires to give us.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024an, May 5). Sixth Sunday of Easter. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050524.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/


 
 
 

The Word today, Easter5B

  • Writer: Admin
    Admin
  • Apr 27, 2024
  • 2 min read


April 29 - May 04, 2024


St Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor


1 John 1:5-2:2 The first letter of John manages to be both inspirational and realistic. We need to keep an eye on both, stay on the path of conversion of heart.


Matthew 11:25-30 This passage contains a great truth: the Gospel is for all and not for some élite group. We can all come to Jesus when we are burdened.


St Pius V, bishop of Rome


Acts 14:19-28 In our attempts at evangelisation today, we can still learn from the example of the first preachers: they took risked, were full of zeal and they knew God was with them all along.


John 14:27-31 Peace—the great gift of the risen Lord —means much more in the Bible than usual and especially here in John. It includes life in abundance, on account of the resurrection and even freedom from death and the fear of death.


St Joseph the Worker


Acts 15:1-6 Early Christians had to make up their minds whether or not to impose the full Jewish Law on new believers. It was not easy, as we see from today’s reading which features supporters on each side.


John 15:1-8 In the Fourth Gospel, there are seven I Am sentences, all echoing the name of God as I am who I am. In the same way, the image of the vine for the people of God is rooted in the Old Testament, as well as in the parable of Jesus. We the branches lives because of him.


St Athanasius, bishop


Act 15:7-21 Our reading takes us to a very important moment in the early church. The issue was how much of the divinely ordained ritual practices of Judaism should be retained. None, really, but a compromise was reached about the consumption of blood, for the sake of communion between Jews and Gentiles.


John 15:9-11 The simply word “remain” is important in the Fourth Gospel: it means to live in, to be part of of, to draw life from. It is not only love but joy which will be completed in us.


St Philip and James, apostles


1 Cor 15:1-8 The apostolic proclamation takes us back to the original experiences of those who encountered the risen Lord. It is not enough, of course, to depend on the past: we have to recognise our own moments of encounter.


John 14:6-14 In our Gospel today, Philips seems to blurt out something inappropriate. However, it leads to deep teaching.


St Conleth, bishop


Acts 16:1-10 Today’s reading is odd and inspiring. It is odd that Paul had someone circumcised, because he was so against it. It is inspiring that the same Paul dreams about the Macedonian Greeks who want him to preach among them. It would remind us of St Patrick and his dream about the Irish calling him.


John 15:18-21 It cannot be that our destiny should be different to that of Jesus. He too did not belong “this world” and he too was hated. It is to be expected that being a believer will incite others against us—a mark that we are on the path of true discipleship.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024al, April 28). Fifth Sunday of Easter. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042824.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/


 
 
 
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