Sixth Week of Easter
07th May 2024 (Tuesday)
Psalter: Week 2
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Acts 16:22-34
In those days: The crowd of Philippians joined in attacking Paul and Silas, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
Psalm 138:1-2a, 2bcd-3, 7c-8 (see 7c)
R/. With your right hand you save me, O Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. I will send the Helper of truth to you, says the Lord; he will guide you into all the truth.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : John 16:5-11
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Tuesday – Sixth Week of Easter
Guidelines: There are times in our life when we feel that God has gone away from us, that He is far from us. But this sense of “disappearance” is for our good
1. The more the apostles were zealous and faithful, the more they had to suffer. They were attacked, torn of clothes, beaten with rods, thrown into prison, and had their feet fastened in the stocks. All these experiences were apparently signs of “distance” and “abandonment” of God.
2. These experiences would make one sorrowful as Jesus says in the gospel that his going away would fill their hearts with sorrow. But nothing could discourage them. They never give up their trust, courage, fervour, and loyalty.
3. They continue praying and praising God even in prison. They were totally confident in Jesus’ assurance that He would never leave them unaccompanied and unguided.
4. They believed that the Holy Spirit would continue the spirit and mission of their Master. They believed in the “convicting” mission of the Holy Spirit. It is to lay bare the culpability of the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. The world is under sin because it does not believe. It fails in righteousness and is liable to judgment. All this is because the world is under the sway of Satan.
5. The unfailing fidelity of the apostles is rewarded. They are miraculously released from their imprisonment. The prison doors were opened. But they did not run away. They converted and baptized the jailor and his household.
Practice: The Lord allows at times experiences of distance and desolation. It is only to grow and mature us in order to keep us humble and forbearing
