Author: admin

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Gospel: John 14: 6-14

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
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 him, 
“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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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While walking on this earth physically, Jesus lived with one significant limitation:

He could only be in one place at a time.

Although he gave sight to the blind, forgave sinners, and raised people from the dead, he could only do so for one person, one home, one village at a time.

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In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his Apostles that this “limitation” is about to change. “I am going to the Father,” he says.

But, “whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these.”

At Pentecost, the power of the Holy Spirit will come down upon the Apostles – and this power will change the world. 

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Over the last twenty centuries, consider the work the Church has done, filled with the Holy Spirit.

We have founded more schools, universities, hospitals, and soup kitchens than any other institution in history.

We’ve fed, clothed, and sheltered tens of millions of people… if not more.

We’ve sent out more missionaries to foreign shores; made disciples of more nations; cured the sick, the lame, the blind, the mute; and followed in the footsteps of people like Peter, Paul, Mother Teresa and Dorothy Day.

We have been the face, hands, and feet of Jesus Christ not just in one place … but in every place.

Through us the work of God continues, as he promised.

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So, in what ways can I be he hands and feet of Christ today?

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Image credits: (1) Biblia JFA Offline (2) Jesus, Wikipedia (3) My Catholic Prayers

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Acts: 11: 19-26

Those who had been scattered by the persecution
that arose because of Stephen
went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however,
who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well,
proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 
The hand of the Lord was with them
and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord. 
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. 
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.

The Word of the Lord.

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Our first reading describes one of the most important events in human history. But without a careful ear, we’d miss it.

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“Some of them came to Antioch and spoke to the Greeks and told them the good news of the Lord Jesus.”

This is the moment when the Gospel is first shared with the Gentiles. 

Until now, all Christians were converts from Judaism. They either encountered the Risen Lord himself or came to understand Jesus as the fulfillment of the Jewish scriptures through the teaching of the Apostles.

But, all of a sudden, Christians start evangelizing pagans – people who have never heard of the God of Israel before. This giant leap of faith demands courage and creativity as they have to think of ways to lead non-believers to God.

The momentum builds, and by the end of the first century, the Gospel reaches the far ends of the earth.

These early Christians started a movement that changed the world…and we don’t even know their names.

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Perhaps there’s a point in that for us today.

We can be eager to seek the spotlight; to take credit for all of the good things we do.

But the first Christians remind us that it doesn’t matter “who” does “what,” so long as the work gets done…and God gets the glory.

What might that mean for me today?

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Image credits: (1) pursueGOD.org (2) Catholic Exchange (3) Wisdom Hunters

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Gospel: John 10: 11-18

Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Today’s Gospel passage is a continuation of the Good Shepherd discourse from yesterday. Jesus calls himself the, “Good Shepherd,” and we are his, “sheep.”

I find it interesting that out of all of the animals he could’ve chosen, Jesus chose to call us sheep. I would’ve preferred something like a lion cub – strong, full of potential for growth.

But he looks at me and says, “No, Kevin, you’re a sheep. You all are.” 

So, “Why, Lord?”

Because sheep are defenseless.

They have no venom, no claws, no fangs, no paws. No way of defending themselves when attacked. Even butterflies have wings! Snails have shells! Not sheep.

They only have their shepherd.

This is what the Lord reminds us of today. When faced with the trials and tribulations of this world – the greatest being death – we are defenseless.

We find our strength in two ways: by staying with the flock (together), and by remaining close to our shepherd.

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This is the message Our Lady spoke when she appeared to the three children in Fatima. “I am from heaven,” she told them. I will bring you closer to Jesus.

But they – and we – must do one thing: pray the rosary.

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Pause for a moment and call to mind your weaknesses, your fears, wherever you feel in need of a shepherd.

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We place these concerns in the hands of Our Lady as we pray: Hail Mary, full of grace, the LORD is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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Image credits: (1) Restoration Believer, YouTube, 42:03 (2) Daily Theology