St. John I, pope & martry 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Acts 20:17-27

From Miletus Paul sent word to Ephesus,

Summoning the elders of the Church. When they came to him, he addressed them, “You know how I lived among you from the first day I set foot in the province of Asia, how I served the Lord in humility through the sorrows and trials that the Jews caused me. You know that I never held back from doing anything that could be useful for you; I spoke publicly and in your homes and I urged Jews and non-Jews alike to turn to God and believe in our Lord Jesus.

 But now I am going to Jerusalem, chained by the Spirit, without knowing what will happen to me there. Yet in every city the Holy Spirit warns methat imprisonment and troubles await me. Indeed I put no value on my life, if only I can finish my race and complete the service to which I have been assigned by the Lord Jesus, to announce the good news of God’s grace.

 I now feel sure that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom of God will ever see me again. Therefore I declare to you this day that my conscience is clear with regard to all of you. For I have spared no effort in fully declaring to you God’s will.

 

Ps 68:10-11, 20-21

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

 

   ＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊   

 John 17:1-11a

After saying this, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; give glory to your Son, that the Son may give glory to you. You have given him power over all mortals, and you want him to bring eternal life to all you have entrusted to him. For this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the One you sent, Jesus Christ.

 I have glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to do. Now, Father, give me in your presence the same Glory I had with you before the world began.  I have made your name known to those you gave me from the world. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they kept your word. 

And now they know that all you have given me comes indeed from you. I have given them the teaching I received from you, and they received it and know in truth that I came from you; and they believe that you have sent me.

 I pray for them; I do not pray for the world but for those who belong to you and whom you have given to me – indeed all I have is yours and all you have is mine – and now they are my glory. I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world and I come to you. Holy Father, keep those you have given me in your Name,(that you have given me,) so that they may be one, as we also are.

 

Gospel Reflection：

The right response to a ministry well done is gratitude. Jesus shows His gratitude to the author of all that is good, His Father in heaven. The works of his disciples netted good results. He is filled with joy. Now He can look to the future with hope knowing that those whom He has trained to take over His work someday show great promise.

All He has to do is to keep accompanying them so that their potential and skills will be further honed. And meantime, He will keep reporting to His Father in Heaven. He will share His joys and sorrows, His satisfaction and disappointments, all of the human feelings He shares with us. In that way, the Trinity is updated with what it is to be human.