May 6, 2021 Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
2021년 5월 6일 부활 제5주간 목요일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
<내 판단으로는, 다른 민족들 가운데에서 하느님께 돌아선 이들에게 어려움을 주지 말아야 합니다.>
사도행전. 15,7-21
그 무렵 7 오랜 논란 끝에 베드로가 일어나 사도들과 원로들에게 말하였다.
“형제 여러분,
다른 민족들도 내 입을 통하여 복음의 말씀을 들어 믿게 하시려고
하느님께서 일찍이 여러분 가운데에서 나를 뽑으신 사실을
여러분은 알고 있습니다.
8 사람의 마음을 아시는 하느님께서는 우리에게 하신 것처럼
그들에게도 성령을 주시어 그들을 인정해 주셨습니다.
9 그리고 그들의 믿음으로 그들의 마음을 정화하시어,
우리와 그들 사이에 아무런 차별도 두지 않으셨습니다.
10 그런데 지금 여러분은 왜 우리 조상들도 우리도 다 감당할 수 없던 멍에를
형제들의 목에 씌워 하느님을 시험하는 것입니까?
11 우리는 그들과 마찬가지로
우리도 주 예수님의 은총으로 구원을 받는다고 믿습니다.”
12 그러자 온 회중이 잠잠해졌다.
그리고 바르나바와 바오로가 하느님께서 자기들을 통하여
다른 민족들 가운데에서 일으키신 표징과 이적들에 대하여
이야기하는 것을 들었다.
13 그들이 말을 마치자 야고보가 이렇게 말하였다.
“형제 여러분, 내 말을 들어 보십시오.
14 하느님께서 처음에 다른 민족들 가운데에서
당신의 이름을 위한 백성을 모으시려고 어떻게 배려하셨는지,
시몬이 이야기해 주었습니다.
15 이는 예언자들의 말과도 일치하는데,
성경에 이렇게 기록되어 있습니다.
16 ‘그 뒤에 나는 돌아와 무너진 다윗의 초막을 다시 지으리라.
그곳의 허물어진 것들을 다시 지어 그 초막을 바로 세우리라.
17 그리하여 나머지 다른 사람들도,
내 이름으로 불리는 다른 모든 민족들도 주님을 찾게 되리라.
주님이 이렇게 말하고 이 일들을 실행하니
18 예로부터 알려진 일들이다.’
19 그러므로 내 판단으로는,
다른 민족들 가운데에서 하느님께 돌아선 이들에게 어려움을 주지 말고,
20 다만 그들에게 편지를 보내어,
우상에게 바쳐 더러워진 음식과 불륜과
목 졸라 죽인 짐승의 고기와 피를 멀리하라고 해야 합니다.
21 사실 예로부터 각 고을에는, 안식일마다 회당에서
모세의 율법을 봉독하며 선포하는 이들이 있었습니다.”
복음
<너희 기쁨이 충만하도록 너희는 내 사랑 안에 머물러라.>
요한. 15,9-11
그때에 예수님께서 제자들에게 말씀하셨다.
9 “아버지께서 나를 사랑하신 것처럼 나도 너희를 사랑하였다.
너희는 내 사랑 안에 머물러라.
10 내가 내 아버지의 계명을 지켜 그분의 사랑 안에 머무르는 것처럼,
너희도 내 계명을 지키면 내 사랑 안에 머무를 것이다.
11 내가 너희에게 이 말을 한 이유는,
내 기쁨이 너희 안에 있고 또 너희 기쁨이 충만하게 하려는 것이다.”
May 6, 2021
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
Reading 1
Acts 15:7-21
After much debate had taken place,
Peter got up and said to the Apostles and the presbyters,
“My brothers, you are well aware that from early days
God made his choice among you that through my mouth
the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe.
And God, who knows the heart,
bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit
just as he did us.
He made no distinction between us and them,
for by faith he purified their hearts.
Why, then, are you now putting God to the test
by placing on the shoulders of the disciples
a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved
through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.”
The whole assembly fell silent,
and they listened
while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders
God had worked among the Gentiles through them.
After they had fallen silent, James responded,
“My brothers, listen to me.
Symeon has described how God first concerned himself
with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name.
The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written:
After this I shall return
and rebuild the fallen hut of David;
from its ruins I shall rebuild it
and raise it up again,
so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord,
even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked.
Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,
known from of old.
It is my judgment, therefore,
that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God,
but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols,
unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.
For Moses, for generations now,
has had those who proclaim him in every town,
as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath.”
Responsorial Psalm
R. (3) Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
“I have told you this so that
my joy might be in you and
your joy might be complete.”
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Spring here in the Midwest is a glorious time as flowers and trees bloom and nature comes to life. The warmer temperatures encourage us to spend more time outside enjoying exercise and safely socializing. This time of year also brings the ritual of Spring cleaning which inspired me to do some major organizing of my bookshelves. As I was digging through old favorites and titles I have been wanting to read, a book on the Sabbath fell off the shelf to the floor. As I picked up the book I wondered when I would ever have time to take an entire day for a Sabbath. Then I stepped back to admire by beautifully organized bookshelf.
Today’s Gospel from John evokes contrasting emotions from me. The assurance of the love of Jesus is so comforting. Yet as soon as Jesus mentions the commandments I begin to feel fear as I have always found the commandments a bit intimidating. As the gospel reading continues , Jesus is inviting me to feel joy. That gives me the encouragement to spend some time in prayer with the commandments.
My heart was drawn to the third commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. Happily a sense of curiosity came over me and I remember the book that had fallen to the floor during my recent Spring cleaning of my bookshelf. The author of Sabbath: Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest, Wayne Muller, writes: Sabbath time can be a revolutionary challenge to the violence of overwork, mindless accumulation, and accomplishments. Sabbath is a way of being in time where we remember who we are, remember what we know, and taste the gifts of spirit and eternity.
In addition to a sacred day of the week, Sabbath can be framed as a way of being. How often I pray for the grace to hear the voice of God. The commandment of keeping the Sabbath holy is not an obligation but rather a generous gift of time and space to be with and for God. Muller offers many ways to honor the Sabbath around the themes such as rest, rhythm, time, happiness and wisdom. Being guided by the commandments is how we can experience the complete joy that Jesus wants for us. This invitation to reimagine my time and energy in the frame of the Sabbath is a true gift from God.
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
DEAD SILENCE
“At that the whole assembly fell silent.” —Acts 15:12
After St. Peter talked, the whole assembly was silent. This was probably a “dead silence.” Peter had just dropped a bombshell on them, and they were shocked. Peter declared that God no longer made any distinction between Jews and Gentiles (Acts 15:9), that Gentiles were also included in God’s chosen people, and that they didn’t even need to be circumcised. Jesus had clearly made a distinction between Jews and Gentiles (see Mt 7:6; 10:5; 15:24), but said that this would change (see Mt 28:19). Peter stated that the time for the change was now. This was such a shocking revelation that its acceptance by the Jewish Christian leaders in Jerusalem was truly miraculous. Although riots later broke out over related issues (see Acts 21:30ff), the Church, which was originally all-Jewish, set forth on a course toward becoming almost all-Gentile.
When the Lord says something to you which is absolutely shocking, when your reaction is “dead silence,” do you respond as did the Jewish Christian leaders in Jerusalem? Do you obey the Lord? Or are there certain things the Lord could never get through to you? Would you be a priest or a religious if God said so? Would you be open to reconciliation with an ex-spouse? Would you repent of a sin you have rationalized for years? Would you sell what you have and give to the poor? (Mk 10:21) After “dead silence” comes either the life of obedience or the death of sin. Go from silence to obedience.
Prayer: Father, give me the silence of awe and love of You (see Rv 8:1).
Promise: “All this I tell you that My joy may be yours and your joy may be complete.” —Jn 15:11
Praise: Paula spends an hour or two a week silently in Eucharistic adoration.
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
Do you know the love that no earthly power nor death itself can destroy? The love of God the Father and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ is a creative, life-giving love that produces immeasurable joy and lasting friendship for all who accept it. God loves the world so much because he created it to reflect his glory. And he created each one of us in his own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). He wants us to be united with himself in an inseparable bond of unity, peace, and joy that endures for all eternity. That is why the Father sent his Son, the Lord Jesus, into the world, not to condemn it, but to redeem it from the curse of sin and death (John 3:16-17). Paul the Apostle tells us that we can abound in joy and hope because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the gift of the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:5).
Through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, God offers pardon for all of our sins and failings, and he calls us to lay aside everything that might hold us back from loving him above all else. We owe him a debt of gratitude and love in return. We can never outmatch God because he has loved us first and has given himself to us without measure. Our love for him is a response to his exceeding mercy and kindness towards us. In God's love alone can we find the fulness of abundant life, peace, and joy.
A new commandment of love
The Lord Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment - a new way of love that goes beyond giving only what is required or what we think others might deserve. What is the essence of Jesus' new commandment of love? It is love to the death - a purifying love that overcomes selfishness, fear, and pride. It is a total giving of oneself for the sake of others - a selfless and self-giving love that is oriented towards putting the welfare of others ahead of myself.
There is no greater proof in love than the sacrifice of one's life for the sake of another. Jesus proved his love by giving his life for us on the cross of Calvary. Through the shedding of his blood for our sake, our sins are not only washed clean, but new life is poured out for us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We prove our love for God and for one another when we embrace the way of the cross. What is the cross in my life? When my will crosses with God's will, then God's will must be done. Do you know the peace and joy of a life fully surrendered to God and consumed with his love?
Lord Jesus, may I always grow in the joy and hope which your promises give me. Inflame my heart with love for you and your ways and with charity and compassion for my neighbor. May there be nothing in my life which keeps me from your love.
Psalm 96:1-3,10
1 O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established, it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity."
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Joy in rejoicing over us, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"And what else is Christ's joy in us except that he is pleased to rejoice over us? And what is this joy of ours that he says is to be made full, but our having fellowship with him?... His joy, therefore, in us is the grace he has bestowed on us, and that is also our joy. But he rejoiced over this joy even from eternity when he chose us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Nor can we rightly say that his joy was not full. For God's joy was never at any time imperfect. But that joy of his was not in us. For we, in whom that joy could exist, had as yet no existence. And even when our existence commenced, it began not to be in him. But in him it always was, who in the infallible truth of his own foreknowledge rejoiced that we should yet be his own. Accordingly, he had a joy over us that was already full when he rejoiced in foreknowing and foreordaining us. And there could hardly be any fear intermingling in that joy of his that might imply a possible failure in what he foreknew would be done by himself." (excerpt from TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 83.1)
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