6TH WEEK OF EASTER
Psalter: Week 2 / (White)
St. Philip Neri, priest
Ps 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
God is king of all the earth.
1st Reading: Acts 18:9-18
One night, in a vision, the Lord said to Paul, ”Do not be afraid, but continue speaking and do not be silent, for many people in this city are mine. I am with you, so no one will harm you.” So Paul stayed a year and a half in that place, teaching the word of God among them.
When Gallio was governor of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the court. And they accused him, ”This man tries to persuade us to worship God in ways that are against the law.”
Paul was about to speak in his own defense when Gallio said to the Jews, ”If it were a matter of a misdeed or vicious crime, I would have to consider your complaint. But since this is a quarrel about teachings and divine names that are proper to your own law, see to it yourselves: I refuse to judge such matters.” And he sent them out of the court.
Then the people seized Sosthenes, a leading man of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal; but Gallio paid no attention to it.
Paul stayed on with the disciples in Corinth for many days; he then left them and sailed off with Priscilla and Aquila for Syria. And as he was no longer under a vow he had taken, he shaved his head before sailing from Cenchreae.
Gospel: Jn 16:20-23
Jesus said to his disciples: ”Truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. A woman in childbirth is in distress because her time is at hand. But after the child is born, she no longer remembers her suffering because of her great joy: a human being is born into the world.
”You feel sorrowful now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice; and no one will take your joy from you. When that day comes you will not ask me anything. Truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.”
REFLECTION:
Joy, especially those that lasts forever are usually preceded by sorrow. Sorrow lends a back drop where the joy that will come afterward becomes poignant and clear. This is why Jesus prepares His own. He shows them that there is nothing to fear when sorrow visits. It usually does not stay forever. It just prepares the heart to receive the incoming joy.
The joy that comes from God is a joy that no one can take away from us. It is a guaranteed joy. That is why we must be ready for such joy. If sorrow is part of the price we pay, then that sorrow is part of the process of joy. We cannot have one without the other. May we see Christian sorrow in a new light knowing that it is but a precursor of the greater thing that is to come, God‘s joy shared with us.
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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