＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Acts 16:1-10

Paul traveled on to Derbe and then to Lystra.

A disciple named Timothy lived there, whose mother was a believer of Jewish origin but whose father was a Greek. As the believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him, Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him. So he took him and, because of the Jews of that place who all knew that his father was a Greek, he circumcised him.

As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions of the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, for the people to obey. Meanwhile, the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number every day.

 They traveled through Phrygia and Galatia, because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to do this. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.

There one night Paul had a vision. A Macedo­nian stood before him and begged him, “Come over to Ma­ce­donia and help us!” When he awoke, he told us of this vision and we understood that the Lord was call­ing us to give the Good News to the Macedonian people.

 

Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 5

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊  

John 15:18-21

If the world hates you, remember that the world hated me before you.   This would not be so if you belonged to the world, because the world loves its own. But you are not of the world since I have chosen you from the world; because of this the world hates you.

 Remember what I told you: the servant is not greater than his master; if they persecuted me, they will persecute you, too. If they kept my word, they keep yours as well.  All this they will do to you for the sake of my name because they do not know the One who sent me.

 

Gospel Reflection：

When one follows the Lord, one inherits His life plan. Jesus spent His life trying to bring back the world to God's original plan. The greater part of the world tried hard to resist. Only a handful responded to Jesus’ initiative.

They in turn became a target of the world’s hostility. In tHis gospel, Jesus did not mince His words when He frankly tells His disciples the lot they will face in the future. It would be a hard life. THis frank speech of the Lord will inform the decision of each one whether to remain with Him or walk away.

If our love for God is less than our fear of the world’s anger, then it is better for us to walk away than to remain always afraid of our future to come.