THE PRINCE OF THE WORLD IS ON HIS WAY

TUESDAY WEEK FIVE OF EASTER

PERSEVERANCE THE GATE TO HEAVENLY KINGDOM

First Reading Acts 14:19-28

They gave an account of how God had opened the door of faith to the pagans

Some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium, and turned the people against the apostles. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead. The disciples came crowding round him but, as they did so, he stood up and went back to the town. The next day he and Barnabas went off to Derbe. Readings Lecture

Having preached the Good News in that town and made a considerable number of disciples, they went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. ‘We all have to experience many hardships’ they said ‘before we enter the kingdom of God.’ In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe. Reflections

They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans. They stayed there with the disciples for some time.

Responsorial Psalm: Your friends, O Lord, shall make known the glorious splendour of your reign

Gospel John 14 :27-31 A peace the world cannot give is my gift to you

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me say: I am going away, and shall return. If you loved me you would have been glad to know that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

I have told you this now before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe. I shall not talk with you any longer, because the prince of this world is on his way. He has no power over me, but the world must be brought to know that I love the Father and that I am doing exactly what the Father told me.’

My God, my Father in heaven I thank you for this new day. Father take all honor, glory, worship and adoration through Jesus Christ our Lord. Loving Father your friends, all your creatures shall make known the glorious splendour of your reign for you rule over all creation and your dominion is everlasting dominion.

Father give us your Holy Spirit of discernment for our Lord and Savior mentioned the power of the prince of the world domineering over all your creatures. This we can see through the negative actions of all your creatures of earth. The power of evil prevails in our world. Our Lord Jesus Christ overcame all the evil plots of the worldly prince. Give me the strength to perservere, and courage to overcome evil and temptations.

I ask for your grace loving Father that dominion of the worldly prince may not rule my life, my action nor take control of my being and my spirit. Lord Jesus Christ you are heavenly Prince. The Prince of Peace. The Son of God Most High, the universal King.

Your authority is supreme, you are obedient to God, you do exactly God's command and will, come Lord Jesus be my Prince for I am your subject. Come reign in my life Lord Jesus Christ. Give me peace, may God's Holy Spirit abide in me, your promise from the Father.

Note: Remember Paul's role in the stoning of Stephen. He was equally stoned. Let us be mindful of our actions.

Lord Jesus I trust in you. Blessed Virgin Mary pray for me. Blessed Saint Joseph pray for me. My Angel Guardian pray for me. Protect me, guide and guard me. God's Holy Angels pray for me.

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

Your Birthday Saint. Saint Pascal Baylon, Religious. May he pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today.

gloriahelg

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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