The Return of Jesus

May 13, 2021, Thursday
Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter (White)
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA (White or Blue)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 294

Reading I
Acts 18:1-8

Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus,
who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla
because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.
He went to visit them and, because he practiced the same trade,
stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
Every sabbath, he entered into discussions in the synagogue,
attempting to convince both Jews and Greeks.
When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia,
Paul began to occupy himself totally with preaching the word,
testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
When they opposed him and reviled him,
he shook out his garments and said to them,
“Your blood be on your heads!
I am clear of responsibility. 
From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
So he left there and went to a house
belonging to a man named Titus Justus, a worshiper of God;
his house was next to a synagogue.
Crispus, the synagogue official, came to believe in the Lord
along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians
who heard believed and were baptized. 

Responsorial Psalm
98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

R.    (see 2b)  The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

or:    

R.    Alleluia.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
    for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
    his holy arm.

R.    The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

The LORD has made his salvation known:
    in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
    toward the house of Israel.

R.    The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
    break into song; sing praise.

R.    The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

Alleluia
See Jn 14:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord;
I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Jn 16:16-20

Jesus said to his disciples: 
"A little while and you will no longer see me,
and again a little while later and you will see me."
So some of his disciples said to one another,
"What does this mean that he is saying to us,
'A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me,'
and 'Because I am going to the Father'?"
So they said, "What is this 'little while' of which he speaks?
We do not know what he means." 
Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them,
"Are you discussing with one another what I said,
'A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me'?
Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy."

REFLECTION:

Our sorrow also will turn to joy. We interpret the troubles of our lives in this way, in the light of the cross. Sorrow is an opportunity to enter into the experience of the cross as the way to eternal life with Christ.

PRAYER:

Reflecting on my life, I realize that there have been times of light and shade. I pray for all of those who are in the darkness just now; that they may draw hope from Jesus' promises: I pray that all who rejoice may give thanks for God's blessings.