THURSDAY SEVENTH WEEK IN EASTER: COURAGE
First Reading Acts Acts 22:30,23:6-11 'You have borne witness in Jerusalem:
Since the tribune wanted to know what precise charge the Jews were bringing, he freed Paul and gave orders for a meeting of the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin; then he brought Paul down and stood him in front of them.
Now Paul was well aware that one section was made up of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, so he called out in the Sanhedrin, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees. It is for our hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.’
As soon as he said this a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was split between the two parties. For the Sadducees say there is neither resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, while the Pharisees accept all three. The shouting grew louder, and some of the scribes from the Pharisees’ party stood up and protested strongly, ‘We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?’ Feeling was running high, and the tribune, afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered his troops to go down and haul him out and bring him into the fortress.
Next night, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem, now you must do the same in Rome.’
Responsorial Psalm: Preserve me Lord I take refuge in you
Gospel John 17:20-26 Father, may they be completely
one
Jesus raised his eyes to
heaven and said:
‘Holy Father, I pray not only
for these, but for those also who through their words will believe in me. May
they all be one. Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in
you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.
I have given them the glory
you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one. With me in them and you in
me, may they be so completely one that the world will realise that it was you
who sent me and that I have loved them as much as you loved me.
Father, I want those you have
given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you
have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Father, Righteous One, the
world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you
have sent me. I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it
known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and so that I
may be in them.’
Heavenly Father I thank you for the new day. Father preserve me for I take refuge in you. Give me courage to face the challenges of today. Father may your Holy Spirit abide in me. Father may you take all the glory. Bring peace to our world. Unite all your children.
Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you. Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us. Saint Joseph pray fpr us. God's Holy Angels and Saints pray for us. My Angel Guardian pray for me. Pprotect me, guide and guard me. Defend me.
Pray the Holy Rosary: Hail Mary.
Your Birthday Saints: Saints Marcellinius and Peter, Martyr. May they pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today.
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