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.
Gospel
Jn 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.”
Meditation: Psalm 98:1-4
Sing to the Lord a new song. (Psalm 98:1)
Some days it’s hard to sing a new song, isn’t it? We wake up singing the same old one: My spouse doesn’t understand me. I’m afraid. So-and-so hurt me. That old song isn’t always wheezed out in gripes and complaints, either. Sometimes it’s intoned in a dull plainsong lacking any excitement, adventure, or joy—a monotone of routine: Go to work. Do the laundry. Cook the meals. Change the diapers. Pay the bills. Nothing new about any of it.
But every day, one thing is true: God has triumphed! His wondrous deeds and his justice, his kindness and his faithfulness mean victory over every threat to a joyful existence. His compassion and mercy are new every morning as he continually offers us a new heart and a new spirit. All because Jesus was raised from the dead, enabling us to live a new life. We have plenty of reasons to sing a new song to the Lord, a song that declares the wonderful, powerful deeds he has wrought in this world and in our lives.
So go ahead and sing! Sing of the many reasons you have to trust him. Sing a song that proclaims God’s power in your life and his ability to heal you, to relieve your worry, and to free you from the chains of sin and fear. Declare his power—and his desire—to provide for your needs, to forgive your sins, and to lead you in the way of forgiveness. Sing of his generous gifts of wisdom, energy, patience, and whatever else you need to live this Christian life. Sing of that life itself, a life of peace, freedom, joy, trust, hope, confidence, and patient acceptance of things you can’t change.
Sing, speak, or list such things on paper. Rehearse that list daily. Find Scripture passages that state or reinforce your new song. Sing or speak those words aloud during your prayer. Find some truth that has particular meaning in the situations you face, and repeat it frequently, whether in your thoughts or on your lips, throughout the day. Put away the old song, and sing joyfully to the Lord. Break into song! Sing praise!!
“Lord, you are good! You have triumphed over everything that weighs me down. Your faithfulness lifts me up, and your kindness carries me through my day.”
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