(Optional Memorial for Saint Rita of Cascia, Religious)
Alternate readings may be taken from The Common of Holy Men and Women (Religious)
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| “The Descent of the Holy Ghost” by Vecellio Tiziano, 1545 |
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 16:11-15
We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace,
and on the next day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi,
a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.
We spent some time in that city.
On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river
where we thought there would be a place of prayer.
We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there.
One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth,
from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened,
and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention
to what Paul was saying.
After she and her household had been baptized,
she offered us an invitation,
"If you consider me a believer in the Lord,
come and stay at my home," and she prevailed on us.
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Commentary on Acts 16:11-15
This passage recounts how St. Paul and his companions leave for Philippi in Macedonia. We hear of the conversion of Lydia and her family. It is not clear if Lydia is part of the Jewish community of that region or, like the eunuch converted by Philip (Acts 8:26-40), a “God-fearer” who embraced the concept of monotheism. It appears that she gives St. Paul a base from which the rest of the community can be evangelized.
CCC: Acts 16:15 1226, 1252
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
Psalm 149 is a communal song of praise, rejoicing in God’s kingship and inviting the faithful to celebrate his saving works. We rejoice because God brings victory to the lowly and hope to the oppressed. The psalmist calls to the faithful to give praise in the assembly of the people – to give witness to their faith publicly – communally, as God’s chosen ones.
Gospel: John 15:26—16:4a
Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,
he will testify to me.
And you also testify,
because you have been with me from the beginning.
"I have told you this so that you may not fall away.
They will expel you from the synagogues;
in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you
will think he is offering worship to God.
They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.
I have told you this so that when their hour comes
you may remember that I told you."
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Commentary on Jn 15:26—16:4a
Jesus continues the theme of the strength to be given in the “Advocate,” the “Spirit of truth,” the Holy Spirit (see commentary on John 14:15-21). In this instance, he predicts to his friends that, once they begin to spread the Good News he gives them, they will face serious condemnation from their own faith community.
Jesus tells them they will be martyred by people who believe they are doing God’s will. Their attackers do this because they do not know Jesus, or understand that the Father is in him and he is in the Father, and he is in his disciples, so his disciples are also in the Father. This foreknowledge is intended to strengthen them when their hour comes. (“I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”)
CCC: Jn 15:26 244, 248, 263, 692, 719, 729, 1433, 2671
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Reflection:
With only two more weeks to go before Pentecost, we are already looking forward to our celebration of the great gift of the New Advocate. Holy Scripture reminds us of that impending event and gives us more information about what it can do for us if we are open to its guidance. We also get a pretty clear idea that, to our logical minds, following the guidance of that Holy Spirit might not be the safest thing to do.
Jesus tells his disciples that when they start spreading the Lord’s story of God’s salvation to the Jewish people, the Jews will not accept that Jesus was the fulfillment of all the Law and Prophets. They will reject the disciples, expel them from the Synagogues, and kill them. St. John tells this story as the only Apostle not martyred but sent into exile. All of this probably would not have come to pass if the Lord had not left them the Holy Spirit to strengthen them. (Remember how they cowered in the locked room following Jesus’ passion and execution?)
In the reading from the Acts of Apostles, we see the Holy Spirit acting again as Lydia hears St. Paul’s words. We note that their fame (infamy) must have preceded them since they are not speaking in synagogues. Lydia hears the Word and confesses her faith, being baptized with her whole household, and invites St. Paul and his companions to use her house while they are in Philippi. We know the result of that visit, as we later see St. Paul craft a letter to the church he establishes there.
We are reminded by these events that, as we leave our doors today, we enter Mission Territory, and are called to be a voice for the Lord in that sometimes hostile land. We pray once more for the strength we were given in the Holy Spirit, who will be our advocate and guide today.
Pax
[1] The picture used is “The Descent of the Holy Ghost” by Vecellio Tiziano, 1545
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only
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