The Paraclete

MAY 16, 2022, MONDAY
Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter (White)
CYCLE C - YEAR II
Lectionary: 285

Reading I
Acts 14:5-18

There was an attempt in Iconium
by both the Gentiles and the Jews,
together with their leaders,
to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.
They realized it,
and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe
and to the surrounding countryside,
where they continued to proclaim the Good News.

At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth,
who had never walked.
He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him,
saw that he had the faith to be healed,
and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.
He jumped up and began to walk about.
When the crowds saw what Paul had done,
they cried out in Lycaonian,
The gods have come down to us in human form.”
They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,”
because he was the chief speaker.
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city,
brought oxen and garlands to the gates,
for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.

The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments
when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,
“Men, why are you doing this?
We are of the same nature as you, human beings.
We proclaim to you good news
that you should turn from these idols to the living God,
who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.
In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;
yet, in bestowing his goodness,
he did not leave himself without witness,
for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,
and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.”
Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds
from offering sacrifice to them.

Responsorial Psalm
115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16

R.        (1ab)  Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us
            but to your name give glory
            because of your mercy, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say,
            “Where is their God?”

R.        Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Our God is in heaven;
            whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
            the handiwork of men.

R.        Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

May you be blessed by the LORD,
            who made heaven and earth.
Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,
            but the earth he has given to the children of men.

R.        Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Alleluia
Jn 14:26

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel
Jn 14:21-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,
“Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us
and not to the world?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my name --
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”


GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Loving God and doing what God wants are essentially linked. ‘Love is proved in deeds not words' was the ending Saint Ignatius gave to people after a thirty-day retreat. We love the Lord by keeping God's word, by doing what that word indicates to us. In doing the will of God we grow at the same time in our relationship with God and our knowledge of God. In times of prayer we can recall our working for God in the past and consider our working with God in the future.

I am the focus of a great love. The Spirit of divine love comes to abide in me. Does the Spirit find a warm welcome in me or do I ignore my guest? Am I a good pupil who wants to learn? What is the Spirit teaching me right now in this period of prayer?

PRAYER:

Lord, I often feel my life is shapeless and going nowhere. Thank you for the gift of the great Spirit of God, who is by my side, defending me, consoling me and teaching me the ways of love. ‘Come, Holy Spirit, enkindle in me the fire of your love.’


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