4TH WEEK OF EASTER
Psalter: Week 4 / (White)
Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7
All you nations, praise the Lord.
1st Reading: Acts 11:19-26
Those who had been scattered, because of the persecution over Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, proclaiming the message, but only to the Jews. But there were some natives of Cyprus and Cyrene among them who, on coming into Antioch, spoke also to the Greeks, giving them the good news of the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them so that a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
News of this reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the manifest signs of God‘s favor, he rejoiced and urged them all to remain firmly faithful to the Lord; for he, himself, was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. Thus large crowds came to know the Lord.
Then Barnabas went off to Tarsus, to look for Saul; and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they had meetings with the Church and instructed many people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
Gospel: Jn 10:22-30
The time came for the feast of the Dedication. It was winter, and Jesus walked back and forth in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around him and said to him, ”How long will you keep us in doubt? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, ”I have already told you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father‘s name proclaim who I am, but you don‘t believe because, as I said, you are not my sheep.
”My sheep hear my voice and I know them; they follow me and I give them eternal life. They shall never perish, and no one will ever steal them from me. What my Father has given me, is greater than all things else. To snatch it out of the Father‘s hand, no one is able! I and the Father are One.”
REFLECTION:
There are people who find it hard to understand until it is clearly spelled out to them. This becomes even more glaring when the people in question do not share our horizon. Talking with them becomes a heavy task.
Jesus had His share of these kind of encounters. People press Him for a clear articulation of His Person so that their mind would be at ease. They are too lazy to unravel the mystery of who He is. They want to know not for the sake of faith but to have an information that would put them at ease. Thus Jesus pointed to them His works. These are the clearest proofs of who He is but still they could not understand. They do not have the disposition of a follower to grasp the meaning of Jesus‘ work. It is because of this that He will not tell them who He is. It is useless. They will probably ask for more explanations rather than believe.
Daily Reflection
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Readings and Reflections
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