|
Today's Readings
Reading I
Acts
13:26-33
When Paul came to Antioch in Pisidia, he said in the synagogue:
"My brothers, children of the family of Abraham,
and those others among you who are God-fearing,
to us this word of salvation has been sent.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize
him,
and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets
that are read sabbath after sabbath.
For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence,
they asked Pilate to have him put to death,
and when they had accomplished all that was written about him,
they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.
But God raised him from the dead,
and for many days he appeared to those
who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.
These are now his witnesses before the people.
We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you
that what God promised our fathers
he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up
Jesus,
as it is written in the second psalm,
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you."
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab
R. (7bc) You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:
The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you."
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish."
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
R. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Jn 14:1-6
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way."
Thomas said to him,
"Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."
|
|
|
|
Saint John the Apostle
Died c. 101
May 8
|
|
Son of Zebedee and Salome. Fisherman. Brother of Saint James the Great,
and called one of the Sons of Thunder. Disciple of Saint John the Baptist.
Friend of Saint Peter the Apostle. Called by Jesus during the first year
of His ministry, and traveled everywhere with Him, becoming so close as to
be known as the beloved disciple. Took part in the Last Supper. The only
one of the Twelve not to forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion,
standing at the foot of the cross. Made guardian of Our Lady by Jesus, he
took her into his home. Upon hearing of the Resurrection, he was the first
to reach the tomb; when he met the risen Lord at the lake of Tiberius, he
was the first to recognize Him.
During the era of the new Church, he worked in Jerusalem and at Ephesus.
During Jesus' ministry, he tried to block a Samaritan from their group,
but Jesus explained the open nature of the new Way, and he worked on that
principle to found churches in Asia Minor and baptizing converts in
Samaria. Imprisoned with Peter for preaching after Pentecost. Wrote the
fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and possibly the Book of Revelation.
Survived all his fellow apostles.
Traditional stories:
Emperor Dometian had him brought to Rome, beaten, poisoned, and thrown
into a cauldron of boiling oil, but he stepped out unharmed and was
banished to Patmos instead.
When John was en route to preach in Asia, his ship was wrecked in a storm;
all but John were cast ashore. John was assumed dead, but 2 weeks later
the waves cast him ashore alive at the feet of his disciple Prochoros.
When John denounced idol worship as demonic, followers of Artemis stoned
him; the rocks turned and hit the throwers.
He prayed in a temple of Artemis; fire from heaven killed 200 men who
worshipped the idol. When the remaining group begged for mercy, he raised
the 200 from the dead; they all converted and were baptized.
Drove out a demon who had lived in a pagan temple for 249 years.
Aboard ship, he purified vessels of sea water for drinking.
Ceonops, a magician, pretended to bring 3 dead people come to life; the
"people" were actually demons who mimicked people so the magician could
turn people away from Christ. Through prayer, John caused the magician to
drown and the demons to vanish.
Once a year his grave gave off a fragrant dust that cured the sick.
|
|
