THE FATHER AND I ARE ONE

SUNDAY FOURTH WEEK IN EASTER

First Reading Acts 13:14,43-52 'We must turn to the pagans'

Paul and Barnabas carried on from Perga till they reached Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went to synagogue on the Sabbath and took their seats. Readings

When the meeting broke up many Jews and devout converts joined Paul and Barnabas, and in their talks with them Paul and Barnabas urged them to remain faithful to the grace God had given them. Lectures

The next sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. ‘We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said:

I have made you a light for the nations,

so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.’ Reflections

It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside.

But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm: We are his people, the sheep of his flock

Second Reading Apocalypse 7:9,14-17

The Lamb will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water

I, John, saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. One of the elders said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and because they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb, they now stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his sanctuary; and the One who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. They will never hunger or thirst again; neither the sun nor scorching wind will ever plague them, because the Lamb who is at the throne will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.’

Gospel John 10:27-30 I know my sheep and they follow me

Jesus said:

‘The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice;

I know them and they follow me.

I give them eternal life; they will never be lost

and no one will ever steal them from me.

The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone, and no one can steal from the Father.

The Father and I are one.’

God my Father, I thank you for your grace in my life. Father help remain faithful in your grace. Make me a light for the nations that your salvation may reach all year creatures.

Father when my eartly pilgrim come to an end may I be among your saints in front of your heavenly throne serving you my God day and night in your sanctuary. May your Son Jesus Christ the One who sits on the throne spread his tent over me. Father in your presence I will never hunger or thirst again. Neither the sun nor scorching wind plague me, because the Lamb on the throne will be my shepherd and He will lead me to springs of living water. My God will wipe away all tears from my eyes.

Lord Jesus Christ my Lord and Shepherd, may I hear your voice each moment of my life. May I listen to you that I may never stray for I belong to you. My Lord I am your lamb no one will ever steal me from you because I am under your protection. I thank God my heavenly Father. I thank Christ my Shepherd for I am under His protection. I believe Chirst will lead me to eternal life. Jesus Christ my loving Shepherd be my light.

Lord Jesus I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. My Guardian Amgel pray for me. Guide, guard and protect me. Go's Holy Angels pray for me.

Pray the Hojy Rosary. Ave Maria. Hail Mary. Hail Holy Queen. Queen of Pace pray for us.

Your Birthday Saint. Saint Peter of Tarentaise, Bishop. May he pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today.

TRUST GOD, TRUST IN ME

Fifth Sunday of Easter 'I am going now to prepare a place for you' First Reading Acts 6:1-7 They elected seven men full of the Holy Spirit About this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews: in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked. So the Twelve called a full meeting of the disciples and addressed them, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food; you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them, and continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.’ The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these to the apostles, who prayed and laid th...

THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN

Tuesday week 3 of Eastertide - ‘I can see heaven thrown open’ First Reading 7:51-8,1 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit' Stephen said to the people, the elders and the scribes: ‘You stubborn people, with your pagan hearts and pagan ears. You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Can you name a single prophet your ancestors never persecuted? In the past they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, and now you have become his betrayers, his murderers. You who had the Law brought to you by angels are the very ones who have not kept it.’ They were infuriated when they heard this, and ground their teeth at him. But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘I can see heaven thrown open’ he said ‘and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they ...

WHO ARE YOU?

I AM NOT THE CHRIST First Reading 1John 2:22-28 The anointing he gave you teaches you everything Beloved: Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well. Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. I write you these things about those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him. And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming. Responsorial Psalm: ...

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