May 20, 2021 Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
2021년 5월 20일 부활 제7주간 목요일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
<너는 로마에서도 증언해야 한다.>
사도행전. 22,30; 23,6-11
그 무렵 30 천인대장은
유다인들이 왜 바오로를 고발하는지 확실히 알아보려고,
바오로를 풀어 주고 나서 명령을 내려
수석 사제들과 온 최고 의회를 소집하였다.
그리고 바오로를 데리고 내려가 그들 앞에 세웠다.
23,6 의원들 가운데 일부는 사두가이들이고 일부는 바리사이들이라는 것을 알고,
바오로는 최고 의회에서 이렇게 외쳤다.
“형제 여러분, 나는 바리사이이며 바리사이의 아들입니다.
나는 죽은 이들이 부활하리라는 희망 때문에 재판을 받고 있는 것입니다.”
7 바오로가 이런 말을 하자 바리사이들과 사두가이들 사이에 논쟁이 벌어지면서
회중이 둘로 갈라졌다.
8 사실 사두가이들은 부활도 천사도 영도 없다고 주장하고,
바리사이들은 그것을 다 인정하였다.
9 그래서 큰 소란이 벌어졌는데,
바리사이파에서 율법 학자 몇 사람이 일어나 강력히 항의하였다.
“우리는 이 사람에게서 아무 잘못도 찾을 수 없습니다.
그리고 영이나 천사가 그에게 말하였다면 어떻게 할 셈입니까?”
10 논쟁이 격렬해지자 천인대장은 바오로가 그들에게 찢겨 죽지 않을까 염려하여,
내려가 그들 가운데에서 바오로를 빼내어
진지 안으로 데려가라고 부대에 명령하였다.
11 그날 밤에 주님께서 바오로 앞에 서시어 그에게 이르셨다.
“용기를 내어라.
너는 예루살렘에서 나를 위하여 증언한 것처럼 로마에서도 증언해야 한다.”
복음
<이들이 완전히 하나가 되게 해 주십시오.>
요한. 17,20-26
그때에 예수님께서 하늘을 향하여 눈을 들어 기도하셨다.
“거룩하신 아버지, 20 저는 이들만이 아니라
이들의 말을 듣고 저를 믿는 이들을 위해서도 빕니다.
21 그들이 모두 하나가 되게 해 주십시오.
아버지, 아버지께서 제 안에 계시고 제가 아버지 안에 있듯이,
그들도 우리 안에 있게 해 주십시오.
그리하여 아버지께서 저를 보내셨다는 것을 세상이 믿게 하십시오.
22 아버지께서 저에게 주신 영광을 저도 그들에게 주었습니다.
우리가 하나인 것처럼 그들도 하나가 되게 하려는 것입니다.
23 저는 그들 안에 있고 아버지께서는 제 안에 계십니다.
이는 그들이 완전히 하나가 되게 하려는 것입니다.
그리고 아버지께서 저를 보내시고, 또 저를 사랑하셨듯이
그들도 사랑하셨다는 것을 세상이 알게 하려는 것입니다.
24 아버지, 아버지께서 저에게 주신 이들도
제가 있는 곳에 저와 함께 있게 되기를 바랍니다.
세상 창조 이전부터 아버지께서 저를 사랑하시어 저에게 주신 영광을
그들도 보게 되기를 바랍니다.
25 의로우신 아버지, 세상은 아버지를 알지 못하였지만
저는 아버지를 알고 있었습니다.
그들도 아버지께서 저를 보내셨다는 것을 알게 되었습니다.
26 저는 그들에게 아버지의 이름을 알려 주었고 앞으로도 알려 주겠습니다.
아버지께서 저를 사랑하신 그 사랑이 그들 안에 있고
저도 그들 안에 있게 하려는 것입니다.”
May 20, 2021
Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
Reading 1
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
Wishing to determine the truth
about why Paul was being accused by the Jews,
the commander freed him
and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene.
Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.
Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees,
so he called out before the Sanhedrin,
“My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees;
I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.”
When he said this,
a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees,
and the group became divided.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection
or angels or spirits,
while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.
A great uproar occurred,
and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party
stood up and sharply argued,
“We find nothing wrong with this man.
Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
The dispute was so serious that the commander,
afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them,
ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst
and take him into the compound.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage.
For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem,
so you must also bear witness in Rome.”
Responsorial Psalm
R. (1) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
“I pray not only for these,
but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with me,
that they may see my glory that you gave me,
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them.”
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
May they all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you (John 17:21)
As a scholar who studies Catholic schools, one thing that has always interested me is the idea of Catholic schools as faith communities. In these settings, the Holy Spirit moves through a rich network of human relationships to bring a school community to life. And as it is with schools, so too is it with our other faith communities, such as our parishes and our families. Without each other, we have nothing.
Today’s gospel passage reminds us that our faith is broader than any one of us, or even a group of us. Jesus prayed “not only for these, but for those who will believe in [him] though their word so that they may all be one” (John 17:20-21). For this is the beauty of our faith – that we are all part of one body, each playing our individual roles, working together to create the Kingdom of God on Earth. This passage connects us as individuals, and groups of individuals, to the body of the Church in a beautiful and touching way.
As I prayed on this passage, I was moved to think about those moments during which I sought to expand relationships with others to broaden our faith community. It’s not always easy. Evil is at work in all of our lives, leading us to build walls to divide us instead of bridges to connect us. But being a follower of Jesus has always been about these encounters and about how we invite others into relationships of faith.
I hope that as you read this passage, that you too might think for a few moments about what it means to be part of a global faith community. How do our behaviors attract, or drive others away from this faith community? Do we consistently behave in a way that exemplifies all that is good about our faith? Or, does our example send the message that others are not welcome. If you are anything like me, the answer probably lies somewhere in between.
The one thing about Jesus and his ministry that resonates most with me is that Jesus went out of his way to engage those on the margins, cast off by society and forgotten about. Jesus was drawn to them, and through love, they became part of something greater. In the present day, I hope that together we can seek a similar path – inviting those we know who are cast off by society into relationships of love and care, so that they too may be drawn to the light of faith. For it is through these loving relationships that we will truly build the Christ’s Church on Earth.
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
“UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL”
“I pray that they may be [one] in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” —John 17:21
Jesus prays that we would be one as He and the Father are One. Then the world will believe that the Father sent the Son. The people of the world closely observe Christians fighting with each other. The devil showcases to non-Christians our racism, denominations, divisions, and jealousies. This turns them off to the Gospel. Then, with world evangelization stalled through the disunity of Christians, Satan proceeds to massacre babies in the womb, destroy young people, break up marriages, pervert society, promote his kingdom of darkness, and lead people to eternal damnation. We can see why Jesus has prayed for two thousand years that Christians be one.
Jesus’ prayer for unity begins to be answered when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the Source of unity (Eph 4:3). “It was in one Spirit that all of us, whether Jew or Greek, slave or free, were baptized into one body” (1 Cor 12:13). We are “one in the Spirit.” The Spirit reverses divisions which go back to the first sin and were exacerbated at the tower of Babel (see Gn 11:9). By the Spirit of Pentecost, all nations can once again communicate with each other and be restored to the unity of paradise (see Acts 2:5-11). Then, as at the first Christian Pentecost, the Spirit showcases our unity to lead thousands into God’s kingdom (see Acts 2:41), and the strongholds of the devil are destroyed (see 2 Cor 10:4). Come, Holy Spirit of unity, evangelization, and victory.
Prayer: Father, on this seventh day of the novena to the Holy Spirit, may I participate in Mass and receive Holy Communion. May I be in communion and union with You and all people.
Promise: “I find myself on trial now because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” —Acts 23:6
Praise: St. Bernardine re-popularized a unique symbol in honor of Christ - “IHS” - an abbreviation using the first three letters of “Jesus” in Greek. He is the patron saint of respiratory ailments.
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
When you pray what do you ask for - God's help, blessing, guidance, and wisdom? One of the greatest privileges and responsibilities we have been given by God is to pray not only for ourselves, but for others as well. The Lord Jesus lived a life full of prayer, blessing, and gratitude to his Father in heaven. He prayed for his disciples, especially when they were in great need or danger. Mark tells us in his Gospel account (see chapter 6:46-51) that when Jesus was praying alone on the mountain he saw that his disciples were in great distress due to a life-threatening storm that was beating against their boat. Jesus immediately came to their rescue - walking on the waves of the rough waters before he calmed their fears and calmed the raging waters as well! Luke records in his Gospel account the words of Jesus to Simon Peter shortly before Jesus' arrest and Peter's denial of the Lord three times. "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32). Jesus' prayers were personal, direct, and focused on the welfare and well-being of others - especially that they might find peace and unity with God and with one another.
Jesus prays for all Christians to be united as one
The longest recorded prayer of Jesus is found in the Gospel of John, the "high priestly" prayer which Jesus prayed aloud at his last supper meal with his disciples (John 17). This prayer most clearly reveals the heart and mind of Jesus - who and what he loved most - love for his Father in heaven and love for all who believe in him. His prayer focuses on the love and unity he desires for all who would believe in him and follow him, not only in the present, but in the future as well.
Jesus' prayer concludes with a petition for the unity among all Christians who profess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus prays for all men and women who will come after him and follow him as his disciples (John 17:20). In a special way Jesus prays here for each one of us that as members of his body the church we would be one as he and his Father are one. The unity of Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, with the eternal Father is a unity of mutual love, service, and honor, and a oneness of mind, heart, and spirit. The Lord Jesus calls each and every one of his followers into this unity of mutual love, respect, service, honor, and friendship with all who belong to Christ.
To make him known and loved by all
Jesus' prayer on the eve of his sacrifice shows the great love and trust he had for his beloved disciples. He knew they would abandon him in his hour of trial, yet he entrusted to them the great task of spreading his name throughout the world and to the end of the ages. The Lord Jesus entrusts us today with the same mission - to make him known and loved by all. Jesus died and rose again that all might be one as he and the Father are one. Do you love all who belong to Christ and do you recognize and accept all baptized Christians as your brothers and sisters in Christ? The Lord Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, draws each one of us into the unity which he and the Father have together and into the unity he desires for all who belong to him - we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and sons and daughters of our beloved Father in heaven.
The Lord intercedes for us right now
The Lord Jesus Christ included each one of us in his high priestly prayer at the last supper meal with his disciples on the eve of his sacrifice on the cross (John 17:20). And today the Lord Jesus continues his high priestly office as our intercessor before the throne of God in heaven. Paul the Apostle tells us that it is "Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us" (Romans 8:34; see also Hebrews 7: 25). Do you join in Jesus' high priestly prayer that all who profess Jesus as Lord may grow in love and unity together as brothers and sisters who have been redeemed through the precious blood that was shed for us on the cross?
Heavenly Father, have mercy on all your people who have been redeemed by the precious blood of your Son who offered up his life for us on the cross. Pardon our sins and heal our divisions that we may grow in love, unity, and holiness together as your sons and daughters. May all Christian people throughout the world attain the unity for which Jesus prayed on the eve of his sacrifice. Renew in us the power of the Holy Spirit that we may be a sign of that unity and a means of its growth. Increase in us a fervent love, respect, and care for all of our brothers and sisters who believe in Jesus Christ.
Psalm 16:1-2,5-9,11
1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yes, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure.
11 You show me the path of life; in your presence there is fulness of joy, in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Prayer of unity for all who believe, by Cyprian of Carthage - first martyr bishop of Africa, 200-258 A.D.
"The Lord's loving-kindness, no less than his mercy, is great in respect of our salvation in that, not content to redeem us with his blood, he in addition prayed for us. See now what the desire of his petition was, that just as the Father and Son are one, so also we should abide in absolute unity. From this, it may be evident how greatly someone sins who divides unity and peace, since even the Lord himself petitioned for this same thing. He no doubt desired that his people should in this way be saved and live in peace since he knew that discord cannot come into the kingdom of God." (excerpt from THE LORD'S PRAYER 30.1)
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