Reading 1
Acts 16:1-10
Paul reached also Derbe and Lystra
where there was a disciple named Timothy,
the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer,
but his father was a Greek.
The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him,
and Paul wanted him to come along with him.
On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised,
for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
As they traveled from city to city,
they handed on to the people for observance the decisions
reached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem.
Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith
and increased in number.
They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory
because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit
from preaching the message in the province of Asia.
When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia,
but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them,
so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas.
During the night Paul had a vision.
A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words,
“Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
When he had seen the vision,
we sought passage to Macedonia at once,
concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
100:1b-2, 3, 5
Responsorial Psalm R. (2a)
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Jn 15:18-21
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
and I have chosen you out of the world,
the world hates you.
Remember the word I spoke to you,
‘No slave is greater than his master.’
If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
And they will do all these things to you on account of my name,
because they do not know the one who sent me.”
Meditation: John 15:18-21
If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. (John 15:20)
Poised on the precipice of an agonizing death, Jesus was thinking of what his followers—including us—would face in the times ahead. Hatred, rejection, and persecution might be in store, as they had been for him. Amazing! Jesus was facing a painful end to his life, but he remained focused on the people around him. His entire farewell discourse was other-centered: I love you. I will not leave you alone. I want to keep you from falling away. I will send you another, who will guide you in all truth (John 15:9–16:13).
The writer of Hebrews assures us: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (13:8). Just as Jesus cared on the night before he died, he cares now. He cares about the difficulties that arise for his faithful followers. He knows what is in store for you. He cares about the things you face. Rejection. Exclusion. Gossip and misunderstanding. Nothing that happens in your day comes as a surprise to him. And none of it is out of his power to protect or comfort or empower you to deal with. He has already seen it!
Best of all, he knows you. He knows how much you can bear. He will never allow more to come to you than you can handle. At the same time, he is able to do immeasurably more than you will ever ask or imagine. He knows what you need in every situation and has promised his Holy Spirit to provide it.
Jesus cares for you! And you can know it. You can experience that care and concern right now. This is what he was trying to tell the disciples at the Last Supper, and it’s what he tells us at every Mass. The Holy Spirit who is coming—who has already come to us—wants to guide and teach and comfort everyone, even you. So take some time today to sit quietly with God. Tell him the things that hurt you right now, and ask for his comforting presence. Sit still, and wait for him to give you the peace that only he can give. Expect him to strengthen and encourage you in whatever you’re facing.
“Jesus, I believe that you care about every circumstance of my life, including the difficult ones. Help me to experience your love and reassuring presence as I face them today.”
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