Fifth Week of Easter
04th May 2024 (Saturday)
Psalter: Week 1
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Acts 16:1-10
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Psalm 100:1b-2, 3, 5 (R. 1)
R/. Cry out with joy to the Lord all the earth..
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : John 15:18-21
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Saturday – Fifth Week of Easter
Guidelines: The greatness of faith and the quality of life do not always depend on the success of the mission or the number of positive responses. At times, failures, opposition, and persecution may mark our journey of discipleship
1. One thing that is constantly notable in the life of Jesus and also his apostles is the series of failures along with the successes. Crowds sought and thronged Jesus. The number of faithful increased rapidly during the apostles’ mission. However, they were always opposed, obstructed, and persecuted. But they were undeterred in their mission.
2. Jesus was divinely wise but he always gave priority to the Father’s will. The apostles too were familiar with the situations and were popular. But they always set aside their personal plans. Instead, they allowed themselves to be blocked or guided by the Holy Spirit in their missionary journeys. We see such instances of specific directions by the Holy Spirit in today’s first reading from the Acts.
3. They were not disturbed or upset when they met with hatred. It was because their master already warned them, saying, “The world will hate you and it has hated already hated me before you”. Jesus also clarifies the reason why the world will hate them. It is because they are chosen out of the world and they are not of the world.
4. Therefore, we should be mentally prepared to be persecuted. We must remember that it is the sign and test that we do not belong to the world and that we do not form part of the false ways of the world. We must feel great and happy that we share the same path as our master and continue his noble legacy.
Practice: We should be cautious about our being on good terms with the world or our successes and popularity. We should check and see whether they are the disguises of being of the world and compromising with the values of the world. Success need not be always bearing fruit. It can also be a fruit of compromise
