Readings for Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 14:19-28
Once again we are given a reading from Acts used just a few days ago (last Sunday). In the first part, not heard on Sunday, Paul is beaten and stoned but his zeal is not dampened. The remainder of this commentary is from Sunday:
“This first reading recounts the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. It describes the model of how the church was built. Paul and Barnabas would enter a region and proclaim the Good News. They would then identify leaders among the converted, entrust the word to them and then move on. Since the scripture says those converted were Gentiles we assume they did not, as the tried in Antioch, begin with the Synagogues.”
Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 21
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Psalm 145 is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving. The link we are given is back to the first reading as the psalmist proclaims: “May my mouth speak the praise of the Lord, and may all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.” We give thanks for St. Paul and the other evangelists who fearlessly proclaimed Christ and him crucified.
Gospel Jn 14:27-31a
We hear Jesus continue his monologue to the disciples at the Last Supper. They are afraid because of what he has told them and now he calms their fears. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.” He explains once more that he is returning to the Father so that the world might know his love for God and his faithfulness to the Father’s will.
Reflection:
Anyone who has lost a loved one knows the feelings the disciples are experiencing in this passage from St. John’s Gospel. While some of their feelings are concern for their teacher and friend, much of what they are feeling is fear for themselves and concern for their own future.
Into their agitated state comes the words of the master; "Peace". The gentle reassuring voice that explains that it is not as the world gives (that is not just a salutation – Shalom) but the peace of the knowledge that salvation flows from the one who offers it. There could be no peace for them or for us at such times if we did not believe that the one who offers this peace is indeed returning to the Father. He is not leaving them, he is not gone forever, but returning to the Father and there he waits for us to join him. What comfort he offers!
For us that word of peace comes back to us with power when we face situations in life were we have either lost a loved one in death or we ourselves face the end of our existence here. If it is a loved one, we know the grief of personal loss. It is not for the soul of the one who has left that we grieve, but for ourselves who must continue in this life without that person. Rational knowledge that all must die does not enter into that dark time. But what must enter is that thought, that prayer that the Lord himself left – “peace”. The person for whom we grieve is lost to us for only a little time. He has promised us the new resurrection and at that time we will be reunited. Peace, he offers us his consolation just as he did his disciples.
And when it is ourselves who face that final journey, his peace comes to us as well. There is no sting of death to snatch us away. The Lord of Life has defeated death and now rules over the Kingdom of Light and he sends us peace. Peace that makes our final days and hours a place to say our good-bys and prepare ourselves to meet the Father from whom we came. What a wonderful gift he gives today.
Pax
[1] After Links Expire
[2] The image presented today is “Peace” by Théodore Chassériau, 1844-48
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis
Commentary:
Reading 1 Acts 14:19-28
Once again we are given a reading from Acts used just a few days ago (last Sunday). In the first part, not heard on Sunday, Paul is beaten and stoned but his zeal is not dampened. The remainder of this commentary is from Sunday:
“This first reading recounts the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. It describes the model of how the church was built. Paul and Barnabas would enter a region and proclaim the Good News. They would then identify leaders among the converted, entrust the word to them and then move on. Since the scripture says those converted were Gentiles we assume they did not, as the tried in Antioch, begin with the Synagogues.”
Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 21
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Psalm 145 is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving. The link we are given is back to the first reading as the psalmist proclaims: “May my mouth speak the praise of the Lord, and may all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.” We give thanks for St. Paul and the other evangelists who fearlessly proclaimed Christ and him crucified.
Gospel Jn 14:27-31a
We hear Jesus continue his monologue to the disciples at the Last Supper. They are afraid because of what he has told them and now he calms their fears. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.” He explains once more that he is returning to the Father so that the world might know his love for God and his faithfulness to the Father’s will.
Reflection:
Anyone who has lost a loved one knows the feelings the disciples are experiencing in this passage from St. John’s Gospel. While some of their feelings are concern for their teacher and friend, much of what they are feeling is fear for themselves and concern for their own future.
Into their agitated state comes the words of the master; "Peace". The gentle reassuring voice that explains that it is not as the world gives (that is not just a salutation – Shalom) but the peace of the knowledge that salvation flows from the one who offers it. There could be no peace for them or for us at such times if we did not believe that the one who offers this peace is indeed returning to the Father. He is not leaving them, he is not gone forever, but returning to the Father and there he waits for us to join him. What comfort he offers!
For us that word of peace comes back to us with power when we face situations in life were we have either lost a loved one in death or we ourselves face the end of our existence here. If it is a loved one, we know the grief of personal loss. It is not for the soul of the one who has left that we grieve, but for ourselves who must continue in this life without that person. Rational knowledge that all must die does not enter into that dark time. But what must enter is that thought, that prayer that the Lord himself left – “peace”. The person for whom we grieve is lost to us for only a little time. He has promised us the new resurrection and at that time we will be reunited. Peace, he offers us his consolation just as he did his disciples.
And when it is ourselves who face that final journey, his peace comes to us as well. There is no sting of death to snatch us away. The Lord of Life has defeated death and now rules over the Kingdom of Light and he sends us peace. Peace that makes our final days and hours a place to say our good-bys and prepare ourselves to meet the Father from whom we came. What a wonderful gift he gives today.
Pax
[1] After Links Expire
[2] The image presented today is “Peace” by Théodore Chassériau, 1844-48
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