Fourth Week of Easter
24th April 2024 (Wednesday)
Psalter: Week 4
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Acts 12:24 – 13:5a
In those days: The word of God increased and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark. Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.
Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8 (R. 4)
R/. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : John 12:44-50
At that time: Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Wednesday – Fourth Week of Easter
Guidelines: The power of God is like the fire that keeps on burning and cannot be extinguished by any wind. Those who are filled and guided by such power cannot be stopped in their work
1. Jesus was always committed to his mission. He never stopped his mission of preaching and healing. This is the mission of salvation. He came to save and not to condemn. The Jews in their unfaith, jealousy, and obstinacy continually opposed and troubled him. They rejected him. But he was never shaken in his mission.
2. All this undauntedness was because of his rootedness in God. He was inseparably united with the Father. He is intimate with the Father. He sees the Father and hears Him. He shows what he sees from the Father and speaks what he hears from the Father. He does the works that the Father enables him to do. Thus the Son has no other life or will or work other than that of the Father.
3. This is the same power that is transmitted to his disciples as well. The apostles and the disciples of the Lord were on an unstoppable mission of preaching and establishing believing communities. Their mission was sustained and authenticated by signs and wonders. But the greatest testimony was their life itself. It was a life rooted in worship, prayer, and fasting.
4. They were open to the direction, light, and power of the Spirit. Even in their times of popularity or authority, they never leaned on their human capacities. They never sought self-glory or self-interests. Further, their mission was always a collective work. There was a perfect spirit of cooperation and coordination.
Practice: Any ministry is bound to fail when it is not in communion with God and others. Division and rivalry are the marks of the devil while unity and mutual acceptance and support are the signs of the divine
