Reading 1
Acts 14:21-27
After Paul and Barnabas had proclaimed the good news
to that city
and made a considerable number of disciples,
they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the kingdom of God.”
They appointed elders for them in each church and,
with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord
in whom they had put their faith.
Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.
After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.
From there they sailed to Antioch,
where they had been commended to the grace of God
for the work they had now accomplished.
And when they arrived, they called the church together
and reported what God had done with them
and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Reading 2
Rev 21:1-5a
Then I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.
He will dwell with them and they will be his people
and God himself will always be with them as their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,
for the old order has passed away.”
The One who sat on the throne said,
“Behold, I make all things new.”
Gospel
Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35
When Judas had left them, Jesus said,
“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
If God is glorified in him,
God will also glorify him in himself,
and God will glorify him at once.
My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.
I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”
Meditation: Revelation 21:1-5
Behold, I make all things new. (Revelation 21:5)
In the beginning, God created a world free of sadness and pain. And in that world, he placed man and woman, calling them to serve him and one another. But then humankind turned inward to self-seeking ambitions and desires. Thus, sin and corruption entered the world. And from the first moment of our fall from grace, we have had to live with the result of this sin.
But the story doesn’t end with our fall into sin and separation. God has made it possible for us to live in harmony, peace, and perfection once again. He gave up his only Son so that this kind of life could be ours—eternal life in heaven. The problem is that we can be so distracted with the demands of life in this world that we spend little time reflecting on our true home.
Let’s agree to let the Holy Spirit open our eyes. Then we will find him filling us with the desire for more of Jesus. We will find a new sense of hope and expectation for our heavenly home. Not only will our lives be different—the entire world will change for the good!
Jesus deeply wants to make all things new. He loves to take what is “old” in our lives—habits of sin and lack of belief—and replace them with the newness of his love, his power, and his joy. He loves you and is completely committed to making you ready for heaven. He is completely committed to making you into part of his wonderful, new creation. This is something he does in each of us as he lifts us up and gives us glimpses of the heaven he has prepared for us. He knows that the more fully we see his perfect plan for us, the more deeply we will want to be with him—and the more readily we will repent of anything that hinders that plan.
“Almighty Father, I hear your call to join you for eternity. I praise you for your goodness and your mercy toward me!”
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Questions for Individual Reflection or Group Discussion
Acts 14:21-27; Psalm 145:8-13; Revelation 21:1-5; John 13:31-35
1. In the first reading, Paul and Barnabas prayed and fasted for those who were chosen to be leaders in the Church. Are you willing to pray and fast for the leaders of the Church and your parish? What concrete steps can you take to better support your pastor and his work?
2. The responsorial psalm sings of the graciousness, mercy, and kindness of God. Share the ways in which you have personally experienced these wonderful graces in your life. What are the ways in which you can demonstrate your appreciation to God for his graciousness, mercy, and kindness?
3. In the second reading, St. John tells us that the “old order has passed away” and God is making “all things new”. What are the old patterns of behavior you are still holding on to? What steps can you take to allow God to replace them with “new” patterns?
4. In the Gospel reading, we are told that “all will know you are my disciples, if you have love one for another” (John 13:35). What do you think these words mean? Why is “love” the identifying characteristic of what it means to be a Christian? Who are the people in your parish, or at your workplace, to whom you need to show more love?
5. In the meditation, we hear these words, “Jesus deeply wants to make all things new. He loves to take what is “old” in our lives—habits of sin and lack of belief—and replace them with the newness of his love, his power, and his joy. He loves you and is completely committed to making you ready for heaven. He is completely committed to making you into part of his wonderful, new creation.” Do you believe this? Why or why not?
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