Readings for Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 13:44-52
On the following sabbath
almost the whole city
gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy
and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.
Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,
"It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,
but since you reject it
and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,
we now turn to the Gentiles.
For so the Lord has commanded us,
I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
that you may be an instrument of salvation
to the ends of the earth."
The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this
and glorified the word of the Lord.
All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,
and the word of the Lord continued to spread
through the whole region.
The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers
and the leading men of the city,
stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas,
and expelled them from their territory.
So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them
and went to Iconium.
The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 13:44-52
This excerpt is part of Paul’s first missionary trip. His encounter with the Jewish Community in Antioch begins with his exhortation about Jesus the Messiah to the members of that community. Much of what is said in the verses missing from this reading relate to how the Lord came in fulfillment of the scriptures.
We pick up in the second part of the reading were the Jews refuse Paul’s logical apology. He then turns to the Gentiles of the region who embrace the faith with great fervor, upsetting the Pharisaic community which then forces Paul to leave.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
Psalm 98 (much like Ps. 96) is a song of thanksgiving for God’s salvation. Once again, as the Hebrews saw this as salvation for the people of Israel from its enemies, we see the deeper expression of God’s love as he sent his Son for salvation and justice for the whole world.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 14:7-14
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to Jesus,
"Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen 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?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 14:7-14
In this passage from St. John’s Gospel, part of the “Many Dwellings” discourse, we find a rare glimpse of the confusion in some of the disciples. Here St. Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father. This request is a platform for Jesus to once again remind them that He (Jesus) and the Father are one that they have seen him and they have seen the Father.
He concludes this passage with a clear statement about the power of faith in Him (Jesus), saying that whatever is asked for in his name will be granted. Note especially that Jesus says these prayers (requests) will be granted for the glory of the Father.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it
At first blush, this pair of verses from the Gospel of St. John seems to be saying the Lord is always going to answer our prayers the way we want them answered as long as we ask it in his name. While that is clearly not what is intended, at least literally, it does give us pause to remember that we always pray to the Father through the Son.
We pray only through Jesus Christ. Of course we can also ask Jesus who is God to help us. But it is instructive to note that when we conclude our prayer during our various rites, chaplets, and devotions, it is, as we begin, in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The usual conclusion being;” We ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever.” Notice the conclusion is pointed at the Father in the name of the Son.
There are intercessors that we frequently call upon as well. This is often misunderstood by some Christians in other denominations as well as people of other faiths (including of course atheists who do not believe in God but, as one scholar put it “…will believe in anything.”). We use intercessors, like the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Michael the Archangel and all the Saints, because we can more closely identify with them. We feel a kinship with them and believe that these Holy Ones have special access to God, who “…follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the firstfruits of the human race for God and the Lamb. On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.”(Revelations 14:4-5) We ask that they join with us in our prayers and find them to be an expression of God’s great consolation.
In the end, the most important exhortation is that we must speak to God in prayer. He gave us grace to do so. But as the opening statement implied, all our prayers are not answered in the affirmative just because we ask in the name of Jesus. There is of course a catch.
The catch is, our Father sees into our heart and knows all our motives. Notice in the quote used at the beginning, Jesus tells us; “…so that the Father may be glorified in the Son…” If what we ask does not do so, that is if what we ask for does not bring glory to the Father, we must also understand that the prayer we utter will not be answered in a positive way. We recall a line from the movie Patton were George C. Scott is ordering his chaplain to “come up with a weather prayer.” The chaplain responded with something like; “I’m not sure how God would feel about a prayer for clear weather so we can go out and kill our fellow man.”
The answers to our prayers are not always obvious at the time. God has a way of doing things that we only recognize later as having answered a prayer or heartfelt wish. That is why we must always be examining our lives and looking for those fingerprints God leaves in them.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “Christ taking leave of his apostles” by Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308-11
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 13:44-52
On the following sabbath
almost the whole city
gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy
and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.
Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,
"It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,
but since you reject it
and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,
we now turn to the Gentiles.
For so the Lord has commanded us,
I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
that you may be an instrument of salvation
to the ends of the earth."
The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this
and glorified the word of the Lord.
All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,
and the word of the Lord continued to spread
through the whole region.
The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers
and the leading men of the city,
stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas,
and expelled them from their territory.
So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them
and went to Iconium.
The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 13:44-52
This excerpt is part of Paul’s first missionary trip. His encounter with the Jewish Community in Antioch begins with his exhortation about Jesus the Messiah to the members of that community. Much of what is said in the verses missing from this reading relate to how the Lord came in fulfillment of the scriptures.
We pick up in the second part of the reading were the Jews refuse Paul’s logical apology. He then turns to the Gentiles of the region who embrace the faith with great fervor, upsetting the Pharisaic community which then forces Paul to leave.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
Psalm 98 (much like Ps. 96) is a song of thanksgiving for God’s salvation. Once again, as the Hebrews saw this as salvation for the people of Israel from its enemies, we see the deeper expression of God’s love as he sent his Son for salvation and justice for the whole world.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 14:7-14
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to Jesus,
"Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen 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?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 14:7-14
In this passage from St. John’s Gospel, part of the “Many Dwellings” discourse, we find a rare glimpse of the confusion in some of the disciples. Here St. Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father. This request is a platform for Jesus to once again remind them that He (Jesus) and the Father are one that they have seen him and they have seen the Father.
He concludes this passage with a clear statement about the power of faith in Him (Jesus), saying that whatever is asked for in his name will be granted. Note especially that Jesus says these prayers (requests) will be granted for the glory of the Father.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it
At first blush, this pair of verses from the Gospel of St. John seems to be saying the Lord is always going to answer our prayers the way we want them answered as long as we ask it in his name. While that is clearly not what is intended, at least literally, it does give us pause to remember that we always pray to the Father through the Son.
We pray only through Jesus Christ. Of course we can also ask Jesus who is God to help us. But it is instructive to note that when we conclude our prayer during our various rites, chaplets, and devotions, it is, as we begin, in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The usual conclusion being;” We ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever.” Notice the conclusion is pointed at the Father in the name of the Son.
There are intercessors that we frequently call upon as well. This is often misunderstood by some Christians in other denominations as well as people of other faiths (including of course atheists who do not believe in God but, as one scholar put it “…will believe in anything.”). We use intercessors, like the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Michael the Archangel and all the Saints, because we can more closely identify with them. We feel a kinship with them and believe that these Holy Ones have special access to God, who “…follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the firstfruits of the human race for God and the Lamb. On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.”(Revelations 14:4-5) We ask that they join with us in our prayers and find them to be an expression of God’s great consolation.
In the end, the most important exhortation is that we must speak to God in prayer. He gave us grace to do so. But as the opening statement implied, all our prayers are not answered in the affirmative just because we ask in the name of Jesus. There is of course a catch.
The catch is, our Father sees into our heart and knows all our motives. Notice in the quote used at the beginning, Jesus tells us; “…so that the Father may be glorified in the Son…” If what we ask does not do so, that is if what we ask for does not bring glory to the Father, we must also understand that the prayer we utter will not be answered in a positive way. We recall a line from the movie Patton were George C. Scott is ordering his chaplain to “come up with a weather prayer.” The chaplain responded with something like; “I’m not sure how God would feel about a prayer for clear weather so we can go out and kill our fellow man.”
The answers to our prayers are not always obvious at the time. God has a way of doing things that we only recognize later as having answered a prayer or heartfelt wish. That is why we must always be examining our lives and looking for those fingerprints God leaves in them.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “Christ taking leave of his apostles” by Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308-11
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
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