Sixth Week of Easter
10th May 2024 (Friday)
Psalter: Week 2
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Acts 18:9-18
[When Paul was in Corinth,] the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” And he drove them from the tribunal. And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.
Psalm 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (R. 8a)
R/. God is king of all the earth.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/.Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and enter into his glory.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : John 16:20-23a
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Friday – Sixth Week of Easter
Guidelines: For a true follower of Christ, suffering and sorrow are never wrong things or negative signs. Suffering becomes a means of witness and thus assurance of deep joy
1. The world often rejoices in the wrong. But the followers of Christ must rejoice in the right. However, this walking in the right will involve a lot of opposition and suffering. This is testified in the life of Jesus and all his apostles and followers.
2. But the disciples need not lose heart. They shall be joyful because all sorrow is only a pathway to greater glory. It is worth suffering for God and good. Now, why should we be joyful even amidst suffering?
3. First of all, the object of all our suffering is for God’s sake. It is a sign of our fidelity to Him. It is a fitting way of following our master who too walked the same way of suffering.
4. Further, suffering is the only and best way to bear witness to Him. It is the price that we pay for our loyalty. We shall be joyful because our suffering is destined for glory. It is like the travail of a woman.
5. She bears immense anguish. But once the child is delivered, anguish is no more remembered. All her pain turns into joy. The joy of a new birth and a new child gives the woman strength in pain.
6. Still further, we shall be joyful because God is with us. God assures Paul: “Do not be afraid but go on…. for I am with you”. Jesus says, “You will have sorrow now but I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you”.
Practice: We must always remember that our discipleship is precious and strenuous. But it is not futile. It is destined for eternal joy. God is always with us
