20 May 2011

20 May 2011, Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Reading 1
Acts 13:26-33


When Paul came to Antioch in Pisidia, he said in the synagogue:
“My brothers, children of the family of Abraham,
and those others among you who are God-fearing,
to us this word of salvation has been sent.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him,
and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets
that are read sabbath after sabbath.
For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence,
they asked Pilate to have him put to death,
and when they had accomplished all that was written about him,
they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.
But God raised him from the dead,
and for many days he appeared to those
who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.
These are now his witnesses before the people.
We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you
that what God promised our fathers
he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus,
as it is written in the second psalm,
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.”

2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab
Responsorial PsalmR. (7bc)


You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.”
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish.”
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel
Jn 14:1-6


Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way.”
Thomas said to him,
“Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Meditation: John 14:1-6

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.” (John 14:1)




Lord Jesus, calm my troubled heart with your peace. You have overcome the world, and you have gone to prepare a place for me in heaven. I trust that you are coming back again to bring me to yourself, so that I can be with you forever. I trust in your will for my life and in your timing. Jesus, you invited me to lay all of my burdens at your feet, and so I come to you, trusting that your yoke is easy and your burden is light.

Lord, I trust that you will take care of my family. Around the world, many people are struggling to make ends meet, and I admit to being afraid sometimes that those I love will not be taken care of. Help me not to lose hope during times of uncertainty, but to remember that you are Creator and Provider, worthy of all my trust. Help me to take to heart the psalmist’s encouragement: “When I am afraid, in you I place my trust. God, I praise your promise; in you I trust, I do not fear” (Psalm 56:4-5).

Lord, I entrust my health to you as well as the health of those near to me. Medicine has made many advances, and I am grateful for them. But help me to rely on you as well. Many still suffer from disease, and while you didn’t promise that we would be free from all sickness, you did promise that you would be with us always. When I feel alone and in pain, I will lift my eyes to heaven, because “my help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2).

Lord, I trust that nothing can separate me from your love—not trouble or hardship, not persecution or famine, not terrorism or evil or the spiritual forces of darkness. Help me to trust in your power. Help me to put on the full armor of God: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God.

“Help me, Jesus, never to be discouraged but to be strong in faith and in love. I trust that you have overcome the world and that I can overcome in you. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the power of your love!”

No comments:

Post a Comment