오늘의 복음

April 30, 2021 Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Margaret K 2021. 4. 30. 06:22

2021년 4월 30 부활 제4주간 금요일  


오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp 

1독서

<하느님께서는 예수님을 다시 살리시어 약속을 실현시켜 주셨습니다.>

사도행전. 13,26-33
그 무렵 바오로가 피시디아 안티오키아에 가 회당에서 말하였다.
26 “형제 여러분, 아브라함의 후손 여러분,
그리고 하느님을 경외하는 여러분,
이 구원의 말씀이 바로 우리에게 파견되셨습니다.
27 그런데 예루살렘 주민들과 그들의 지도자들은
그분을 알아보지 못하고 단죄하여,
안식일마다 봉독되는 예언자들의 말씀이 이루어지게 하였습니다.
28 그들은 사형에 처할 아무런 죄목도 찾아내지 못하였지만,
그분을 죽이라고 빌라도에게 요구하였습니다.
29 그리하여 그분에 관하여 성경에 기록된 모든 것을 그들이 그렇게 다 이행한 뒤,
사람들은 그분을 나무에서 내려 무덤에 모셨습니다.
30 그러나 하느님께서는 그분을 죽은 이들 가운데에서 다시 일으키셨습니다.
31 그 뒤에 그분께서는 당신과 함께 갈릴래아에서 예루살렘으로 올라간 이들에게
여러 날 동안 나타나셨습니다.
이 사람들이 이제 백성 앞에서 그분의 증인이 된 것입니다.
32 그래서 우리는 여러분에게 이 기쁜 소식을 전합니다.
우리 선조들에게 하신 약속을,
33 하느님께서는 예수님을 다시 살리시어
그들의 후손인 우리에게 실현시켜 주셨습니다.
이는 시편 제이편에 기록된 그대로입니다.
‘너는 내 아들. 내가 오늘 너를 낳았노라.’” 


복음

<나는 길이요 진리요 생명이다.>

요한. 14,1-6
그때에 예수님께서 제자들에게 말씀하셨다.
1 “너희 마음이 산란해지는 일이 없도록 하여라.
하느님을 믿고 또 나를 믿어라.
2 내 아버지의 집에는 거처할 곳이 많다.
그렇지 않으면 내가 너희를 위하여 자리를 마련하러 간다고 말하였겠느냐?
3 내가 가서 너희를 위하여 자리를 마련하면,
다시 와서 너희를 데려다가 내가 있는 곳에 너희도 같이 있게 하겠다.
4 너희는 내가 어디로 가는지 그 길을 알고 있다.”
5 그러자 토마스가 예수님께 말하였다.
“주님, 저희는 주님께서 어디로 가시는지 알지도 못하는데,
어떻게 그 길을 알 수 있겠습니까?”
6 예수님께서 그에게 말씀하셨다. “나는 길이요 진리요 생명이다.
나를 통하지 않고서는 아무도 아버지께 갈 수 없다.” 

April 30, 2021

 Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter 


Daily Readings — Audio

Daily Reflections — Video

http://www.usccb.org/bible/ 

Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass 


Reading 1

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.”

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

 The end of the semester is upon us and Creighton undergraduates are getting ready for final exams that start next week.  (Dental and Law schools have already started theirs.)  Anxiety levels are high across campus.  Students worry (some justifiably) that they have not studied enough, and even the best prepared are nervous that they will have missed something along the way.  Study time becomes more focused as they ask – sometimes in class, sometimes in their own heads – “Will this be on the test?” and “What is the right answer?”  Faculty, hoping they have adequately prepared the students, spend the last class sessions and office hours clarifying confusing concepts and trying to make sure that the essential points are understood.  Students listen closely to faculty suggestions for exam prep strategies, but they (universally) disregard the advice: “Don’t worry.  You know this.”

In today’s Gospel reading, I see echoes of Final Exam time for Jesus and the disciples.  The setting is Jerusalem in the days before the crucifixion (although the disciples did not yet grasp what would happen).  In John 12, we witness Jesus triumphantly entering Jerusalem.  In John 13, we see Jesus washing feet, a Passover meal, Judas leaving to betray Jesus, and a prediction of Peter’s denial.  With that in mind, we can eavesdrop on the conversation that Jesus has with the remaining disciples at the start of chapter 14.

The teacher starts with “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”  He stresses the need for faith and then reminds them of things he has told them previously, finishing with the encouragement “you know the way.”  The response of Thomas (the student in class who asks the question that everyone else is thinking) is essentially, “I am worried I have missed something.  Just tell me the right answer.”  The teacher patiently responds: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

We often find ourselves anxious and uncertain about so many things in our lives, and those moments are even more stressful when there is no clear solution to a problem.  These are times for a quick review of the basic points from the opening verses of John 14.  Be calm.  Trust in Jesus.  Remember His promises.  Follow Him.

In other words:  Don’t worry.  You know this.

 http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp

 

GOING HOME

“I am indeed going to prepare a place for you, and then I shall come back to take you with Me, that where I am you also may be.” —John 14:3

The great “I Am” (Ex 3:14) — the awesome Creator of the world, Who has created universes and quasars millions of light-years away — God Himself, wanted to adopt “little old you.”

It seems unbelievable, but it’s true. He paid an inestimable price for you by sending His only begotten Son to give His life. By faith, you accepted God’s adoption of you. Your Father God loved, fed, protected, healed, guided, and provided for you. He was always there. Because the Father lived in heaven, you could never see Him, but the joy of your life was to talk to Him and see His wondrous works. The Spirit cried out in you, “Abba!” (Gal 4:6) Your deepest desire was to someday go home and see Abba. However, that was impossible, but nothing’s impossible for Jesus. He’s the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Him (Jn 14:6). Everyone who comes through Him gets to go home and see Abba. Then He “shall wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, crying out or pain, for the former world has passed away” (Rv 21:4).

Thank You, Father, for adopting me. Thank You, Jesus, for being the Way home. Thank You, Spirit, for crying out in my heart, “Abba.”

Prayer:  Abba, I love You.

Promise:  “God raised Him from the dead, and for many days thereafter Jesus appeared to those who had come up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are His witnesses now before the people.” —Acts 13:30-31

Praise:  Pope St. Pius V led church reform at the time of the Protestant Reformation. He challenged cardinals to abandon their often luxurious lifestyle and mandated bishops reside within their diocese.

 http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/

  Do you allow any troubles to rob you of God's peace? As much as we try to avoid it, we all inevitably encounter trouble and difficulties. Jesus knew his disciples would have to face trials and persecution after he left them to return to his Father in heaven. Adversity can make us lose hope and become discouraged, or it can press us closer to God and to his promises for us.

"It is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you or forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:8).

A place for you in my Father's house
Just as God, who appeared as a Pillar of Cloud by day and a Pillar of Fire by night, went ahead of Moses and the Israelites to lead them safely through the wilderness to the promised land, Jesus tells his disciples that he is going ahead through his ascension into heaven to prepare a place for them in his Father's house - a place of lasting peace, friendship, and happiness with God. God's house is never closed nor over-crowded - there is plenty of room for everyone who believes in God and in his beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The greatest fear in this present life - whether it be the separation and loss of a loved one or the threat to one's own life - is put to rest by Jesus' promise that we will live forever with him and the eternal Father. There we will be joined with a great company of saints and angels who will be our friends forever as well.

Do you know the way to the Father's house in heaven? Jesus expected his disciples to know where his life was headed - to dwell in everlasting glory with his Father in heaven. And he expected that his disciples would recognize that this was their ultimate destination as well. Thomas, who was both a doubter and a realist, spoke for all the disciples when he said, "we neither know where you are going nor how we shall get there on our own?" Thomas was a very practical "down to earth" kind of person who wanted to see the map and landmarks showing the exact path that would lead the way to the desired haven. Jesus assured Thomas that he would not only give him everything he needed to complete the journey, he would be Thomas' personal guide as well.

Traveling alone in unfamiliar or uncharted places can be unnerving and bewildering without a companion or guide. And some places are impossible to pass through without the right person who knows the way and who can guarantee a safe passage. Several years ago I was invited by Christian friends to visit their community in Lebanon. They were in the middle of a civil war that would last for 15 years (1975-1990). Months and years of hardship, exposure to danger, and the uncertainty of the war's outcome, as well as being physically cutoff from outside contact with friends, was weighing heavily. I was eager to visit to offer some support. Since I had never traveled there before, nor spoke the local language, I knew that I was helpless without a trustworthy guide. Fortunately a close Christian friend from Lebanon met me half-way on my journey and personally guided me through some unfamiliar territory, including check-points, road-blocks, physical danger, and some social, religious, and political hurdles as well. My guide got me safely to my destination. I literally owed my life to his safe-keeping. The Lord Jesus promised his followers that he would be their personal guide and friend who would lead them to the source of lasting peace, enduring friendship, and abundant life.

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
The disciples were surprised that Jesus was going to his Father's house and would return to take them with him. And they were even more surprised when Jesus said he expected them to know the way to the Father's house. Jesus' answer to there question, "show us the way", was both a reminder that his disciples should trust their Master and Teacher to show them the way, and a challenge for them to recognize that Jesus had intimate knowledge of God and where God came from. Jesus made a statement that invoked the very name which God had revealed to Moses, "I am who I am" (Exodus 3:14), and he made three claims which only God could make. He stated unequivocally to his disciples: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6)

Jesus proclaims: I am the Way (John 14:6). He alone knows the way to the Father because he has been with the Father from the beginning - before time and creation ever existed. The Lord Jesus gives us more than a road map and guide book. He personally is the way to the Father's kingdom, and we cannot miss it if we follow him. He accompanies us on our daily journey and watches over us as the good shepherd who leads and sustains us each and every step of the way. Are you in step with the Lord and do you trust in his guiding hand for your life?

Jesus proclaims that he is the Truth (John 14:6). Many can say, "I have taught you the truth." Only Jesus can say, I am the Truth. He possesses in himself the fulness of truth. Jesus claims to be one with the Father and to speak the truth which proceeds from the Father. Jesus promised his disciples that if they continued in his word, they would learn the truth and the truth would set them free" (John 8:31). The truth which Jesus proclaims has power to set us free from ignorance, deception, and sin. The words which Jesus speaks are true because there is no lie or falsehood in him. Moral truth requires more than mere words or ideas because the person who speaks them must be true - true in thought, speech, deed, example, and action. Jesus embodies the truth in his person.

Jesus proclaims that he is the Life (John 14:6). He not only shows us the path of life (Psalm 16:11); he gives the kind of life which only God can give - abundant life that lasts forever. Is there any trouble, fear, or distraction that keeps you from the perfect peace and joy of a life surrendered to Jesus Christ?

Lord Jesus, you fill us with the joy of your saving presence and you give us the hope of everlasting life with the Father in Heaven. Show me the Father that I may grow in the knowledge of your great love and truth.

Psalm 2:6-11a

6 "I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill."
7 I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my son, today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, with trembling rejoice.

Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Walk by faith in the truth, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Persevere now in walking by faith in the truth, that you may succeed in coming at a definite and due time to the sight of the same truth. For as the apostle says, 'While staying here in the body, we are away from the Lord. For we are walking by faith, not by sight' (2 Corinthians 5:6-7). We are led to the direct sight and vision of the Father by Christian faith. That is why the Lord says, 'No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (excerpt from SERMON 12.5)

 

 

More Homilies

May 8, 2020 Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter