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Extracted from the Acts of the Apostles 20:28-38

Paul addressed these words to the elders of the church of Ephesus:

           ‘Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you the overseers, to feed the Church of God which he bought with his own blood.

I know quite well that when I have gone fierce wolves will invade you and will have no mercy on the flock. Even from your own ranks there will be men coming forward with a travesty of the truth on their lips to induce the disciples to follow them.

So be on your guard, remembering how night and day for three years I never failed to keep you right, shedding tears over each one of you. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace that has power to build you up and to give you your inheritance among all the sanctified.

           ‘I have never asked anyone for money or clothes; you know for yourselves that the work I did earned enough to meet my needs and those of my companions. I did this to show you that this is how we must exert ourselves to support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”’

             When he had finished speaking he knelt down with them all and prayed. By now they were all in tears; they put their arms round Paul’s neck and kissed him; what saddened them most was his saying they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.

Construct the Opposite from the aforesaid and you will get the answer:

‘We’re careless of all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made us the overseers; we have refused / failed to feed the Church of God which Jesus bought with his own blood.

I have always asked people for money or clothes; you know for yourselves that the work I did is not enough to meet my needs and those of my companions. I did this to show you that this is how we must exert ourselves to oppress the weak ...’

You asked, ‘If I meet a big bad wolf, what should I do?’

The answer is obvious: ignore him and quickly escape to avoid being swallowed up like that Easter Turkey.

You decide if they are “hazards” against Christ’s work who wants you to “have life and have it to the full” (cf. John 10:10).

Are the Political & Religious Leaders good shepherds to the people?

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8 June 2014

Seventh Sunday of Easter, First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 1:12-14

After Jesus was taken up into heaven the apostles went back from the Mount of Olives, as it is called, to Jerusalem, a short distance away, no more than a sabbath walk; and when they reached the city they went to the upper room where they were staying; there were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Jude son of James.

All these joined in continuous prayer, together with several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Seventh Sunday of Easter, Responsorial: Psalm 27:1,4,7-8

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

or

Alleluia!

 

The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink?

 

There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long,

to live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life,

to savour the sweetness of the Lord, to behold his temple.

 

O Lord, hear my voice when I call; have mercy and answer.

Of you my heart has spoken: ‘Seek his face.’

Seventh Sunday of Easter, Second Reading: First letter of Saint Peter 1 Peter 4:13-16

If you can have some share in the sufferings of Christ, be glad, because you will enjoy a much greater gladness when his glory is revealed.

It is a blessing for you when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ, because it means that you have the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God resting on you.

None of you should ever deserve to suffer for being a murderer, a thief, a criminal or an informer; but if anyone of you should suffer for being a Christian, then he is not to be ashamed of it; he should thank God that he has been called one.

 

Gospel Acclamation

cf. John14:18

Alleluia, alleluia!

I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord;

I will come back to you,

and your hearts will be full of joy.

Alleluia!

Seventh Sunday of Easter: Holy Gospel according to Saint John 17:1-11

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Father, the hour has come:  glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you;

and, through the power over all mankind that you have given him,

let him give eternal life to all those you have entrusted to him.

And eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God,

and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

I have glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to do.

Now, Father, it is time for you to glorify me

with that glory I had with you before ever the world was.

I have made your name known to the men you took from the world to give me.

They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

Now at last they know  that all you have given me comes indeed from you;

for I have given them the teaching you gave to me,

and they have truly accepted this, that I came from you,

and have believed that it was you who sent me.

I pray for them; I am not praying for the world

but for those you have given me, because they belong to you:

all I have is yours and all you have is mine,

and in them I am glorified.

I am not in the world any longer, but they are in the world,

and I am coming to you.’

 

Sharing:  

 

It was the Seventh Sunday of Easter on 1 June 2014.

 

The Readings that were read in the Eucharistic Celebrations all over the world on the same day are shown above:

 

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 1:12-14,

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 4, 7-8,

Second Reading: 1 Peter 4:13-16 &

Gospel Reading: John 17:1-11.

 

We have extracted the Homilies of Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI & Pope Francis I based on the aforesaid Readings to share with you, so that you could similarly be encouraged:

 

 

EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION ON THE OCCASION
OF THE WORLD MEETING "RECONCILIATION IN CHARITY"

HOMILY OH HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II

Sunday, 16 May 1999

 

1. “I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Responsorial Psalm).

 

These words of the responsorial psalm echo the touching testimonies that have preceded this Eucharistic celebration, illustrating with the power of lived experience the guiding theme of this world meeting: “reconciliation in charity”. In every situation, even the most tragic, the Christian makes his own the invocations of the psalmist: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? ... My heart says to you, ‘Your face, O Lord, I seek. Hide not your face from me’ ” (Psalm 26:1 8-9). They instil courage, nourish hope and spur us to spend all our energy so that the Lord's face may shine like light in our lives. To seek the face of God, therefore, means to long for full communion with him; it means to love him above all and with all one's strength. The most concrete way to meet him, however, is to love human beings, in whose face shines the Creator's.

A few moments ago several testimonies were given in this square, showing the marvels that God accomplishes through the generous service of the many men and women who make their lives a gift to others, a gift which continues to be given even when it is not accepted. These brothers and sisters, along with many other volunteers in every corner of the earth, show by their example that loving one's neighbour is the way to find God and to make him known even in this world of ours which is so distracted and indifferent.

 

 

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