*** 1st Reading ***

Acts 14:19-28

 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch

And Iconium and turned the people against them. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, leaving him for dead. But when his disciples gathered around him, he stood up and returned to the town. And the next day he left for Derbe with Barnabas.

 After proclaiming the gospel in that town and making many disciples, they returned to Lystra and Iconium and on to Antioch. They were strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain firm in the faith, for they said, “We must go through many trials to enter the Kingdom of God.” 

In each church they appointed elders and, after praying and fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had placed their faith. Then they traveled through Pisi­dia, and came to Pamphylia. They preached the Word in Perga and went down to Attalia.

 From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had first been commended to God’s grace for the task they had now completed.  On their arrival they gathered the Church together and told them all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the non-Jews. They spent a fairly long time there with the disciples.

 

Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 21

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

 

     **** Gospel ****  

John 14:27-31a

    Peace be with you; I give you my peace. Not as the world gives peace do I give it to you. Do not be troubled; do not be afraid. You heard me say: ‘I am go­ing away, but I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

 I have told you this now before it takes place, so that when it does happen you may believe. It is very little what I may still tell you, for the prince of this world is at hand, although there is nothing in me that he can claim. But see, the world must know that I love the Father and that I do what the Father has taught me to do. Come now, let us go.

 

Gospel Reflection

Peace is the greatest indicator of God's presence. For our God is a God of order and not of chaos. Thus all the elements align and work in perfect tandem when God is around. So Jesus left His peace to His disciples as the abiding indicator of His presence in their lives.

This peace does not mean the absence of disturbances and chaos happening around. Rather, it is an internal sense of peace that is not dislodged when things don't go well on the outside. It is a steady and firm assurance that at the end of it all, even when things are rough, difficult and sometimes painful, all will be well because of Jesus.