READING OF THE DAY
A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 20:28-38
At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus:
“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock
of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,
in which you tend the Church of God
that he acquired with his own Blood.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you,
and they will not spare the flock.
And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth
to draw the disciples away after them.
So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day,
I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.
And now I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.
I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
You know well that these very hands
have served my needs and my companions.
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort
we must help the weak,
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
When he had finished speaking
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They were all weeping loudly
as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,
for they were deeply distressed that he had said
that they would never see his face again.
Then they escorted him to the ship.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to John
Jn 17:11b-19
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:
“Holy Father, keep them in your name
that you have given me,
so that they may be one just as we are one.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,
and I guarded them, and none of them was lost
except the son of destruction,
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you.
I speak this in the world
so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
because they do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world
but that you keep them from the Evil One.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth.
Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them,
so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”
Wednesday of VII WEEK of Easter
(John 17:11b-19)
GOD'S TEACHINGS
Contemplation
Dear People of God,
Today's Word of God tells of Jesus talking with God the Father. He prayed, talked to God the Father as if two people were present in front of him to dialogue with each other. What does Jesus say to the Father in the story? Say that:
First: Jesus presents all the disciples to God the Father. He asked the Father to protect, preserve and let them know how to become one like us. The "we" here is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity united into one. Now, Jesus Christ also asks God the Father to send the gift of the Holy Spirit to unite his disciples, as well as his church today, to become one like God.
Second thing: He offered all His disciples to God the Father. May the Father protect his disciples, as well as his children, from the evil spirit, from the dominion power of Satan. But, Jesus did not ask God the Father to take away from His disciples the difficulties and trials brought by the world.
Therefore, life on this earth is a spiritual, long-term battle with the forces of darkness, until God comes a second time to save people. This spiritual struggle is also to test man's loyalty to God the Father. However, God always sends down God's own grace, power, and strength on his disciples, as well as all of his children, to keep them safe from the forces of darkness and against the power of Satan. .
But on the contrary, people must also respond to invitations and teachings by: obeying the Word of God through the Ten Commandments, which are summed up in two things, which Jesus himself came down to earth to fulfill, that is: : Love God above all else and love your neighbor as yourself. God gives power to keep man from evil forces, but man must also respond with obedience and self-sacrifice for God the Father, becoming conformed to Christ. , becoming a servant of God the Father, like Jesus, the Teacher of each person. Only then can we fight the power of Satan.
The Lord invites all the disciples to trust, to be faithful to God, because Jesus himself was hated by the world when he obeyed God the Father to bring the Word of the Father down to mankind. Now all those who are living and doing God's Word will also be hated by the world, but do not fear the world! Fear God and obey God's Word, and we will be happy with God the Father in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
