4TH WEEK OF EASTER
St. Peter Chanel, priest & martyr /
St. Louis-Marie de Montfort, priest
Psalter: Week 4 / (White/Red)
Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
All the ends of the earth have seen
the saving power of God.
1st Reading: Acts 13:44-52
As Paul and Barnabas withdrew, they were invited to speak again on the same subject the following Sabbath. After that, when the assembly broke up, many Jews and devout God-fearing people followed them; and to these, they spoke, urging them to hold fast to the grace of God.
The following Sabbath, almost the entire city gathered to listen to Paul, who spoke a fairly long time about the Lord. But the presence of such a crowd made the Jews jealous. So they began to oppose, with insults, whatever Paul said.
Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out firmly, saying, “It was necessary, that God’s word be first proclaimed to you, but since you now reject it, and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we turn to non-Jewish people. For thus we were commanded by the Lord: I have set you as a light to the pagan nations, so that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Those who were not Jews rejoiced when they heard this, and praised the message of the Lord; and all those destined for everlasting life believed in it. Thus the word spread, throughout the whole region.
Some of the Jews, however, incited God-fearing women of the upper class, and the leading men of the city as well, and stirred up an intense persecution against Paul and Barnabas. Finally, they had them expelled from their region. The apostles shook the dust from their feet, in protest against this people, and went to Iconium, leaving the disciples, filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Gospel: Jn 14:7-14
“If you know me, you will know the Father also; indeed you know him, and you have seen him.”
Philip asked him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that is enough.” Jesus said to him, “What! I have been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever sees me sees the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
“All that I say to you, I do not say of myself. The Father who dwells in me is doing his own work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; at least believe it on the evidence of these works that I do.
“Truly, I say to you, the one who believes in me will do the same works that I do; and he will even do greater than these, for I am going to the Father. Everything you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Indeed, anything you ask, calling upon my name, I will do it.“
Reflections
EVERYTHING YOU ASK IN MY NAME, I WILL DO.
This is a promise that Jesus made and he always fulfills what he promises. Some may object and say “I prayed and prayed for something, but I did not get it.” There is also a saying that goes: Be careful what you ask, you may actually get it and will be sorry you got it. The thing is God knows what is good for us more than we do. I remember when I was just a young Sister, I was enjoying my teaching in St. Scholastica’s Manila and I was a bit disappointed when I was told I was going to be transferred to St. Agnes in Legazpi. And yet looking back, those two years in Legazpi are where I really grew up and learned not only to be a real teacher but to take care of young girls since I was appointed in charge of the boarders. I also learned to make speeches for the contestants to the BACS meet or mini Olympics of the schools of the region. It is where I learned to be creative and innovative. God does answer our prayers, not just in the way we want it.
Daily Reflection 2018
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