Reading 1
Acts 13:13-25
From Paphos, Paul and his companions
set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia.
But John left them and returned to Jerusalem.
They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats.
After the reading of the law and the prophets,
the synagogue officials sent word to them,
“My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation
for the people, please speak.”
So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said,
“Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen.
The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors
and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt.
With uplifted arm he led them out,
and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert.
When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,
he gave them their land as an inheritance
at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.
After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet.
Then they asked for a king.
God gave them Saul, son of Kish,
a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
Then he removed him and raised up David as their king;
of him he testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.
From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’“
Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27
Responsorial PsalmR. (2)
For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong.”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Jn 13:16-20
When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.
I am not speaking of all of you.
I know those whom I have chosen.
But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.
From now on I am telling you before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
Meditation: Acts 13:13-25
“God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.” (Acts 13:23)
Sometimes we miss the forest for the trees. We focus on the little things right in front of us—our everyday concerns and preoccupations—and lose sight of the big picture of God’s plan for our lives.
This can be true even with our acts of faith. For example, we can be so focused on getting to Mass on Sunday and saying our prayers that we miss their significance or power. Or we can be so intent on getting God to answer a particular prayer that we fail to see how much he has already done for us and how much he promises to do for us if we stay close to him.
In today’s passage from Acts, Paul is showing the people in Pisidia the big picture. He outlines succinctly how God’s plan has unfolded over thousands of years, culminating in the sending of Jesus as Savior. And by doing this, Paul shows how God has fulfilled his promises.
Just what has God promised? That if we believe in his Son, we will have eternal life (John 5:24). That all things do work for our good (Romans 8:28). That he will be with us for ever, in this life and for all eternity (Matthew 28:20).
This is the big picture that we need to focus on in the midst of our everyday concerns and obligations. God keeps his promises! He has a plan for us! No matter what the specific circumstances of our lives are, his overall vision for us never changes. Whatever hardships and suffering we may be experiencing now, however our lives are unfolding, we need to keep God’s love and his purposes in the forefront of our minds.
Through Jesus, God has fulfilled his promises. He loves us, he forgives us, and he invites us to spend all eternity with him. Let this vision inspire you when you rise in the morning and when you go to sleep at night. Let it remain with you throughout the day. Everything else in your life fits into this plan—a plan not just for today or tomorrow but for all eternity!
“Father, thank you for fulfilling your promise to send your Son. Help me to see every aspect of my life as part of your plan for me.”
No comments:
Post a Comment