Jesus said," They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me;

and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."

St. Catherine of Siena, virgin & doctor

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Acts 14:5-18

A move was made by pagans and Jews,

Jesus himself speaks of being sent by the Father and speaking on the Father’s behalf.

All things are rooted in the Father’s will, just as the Father sent Jesus, and Jesus sent his disciples.

I may receive light from God and that I may pass it on to the world around me.

In the dark, with darkness comes fear because we don’t know what is going on.

With the light, I could see everything in my room, there is nothing to be afraid of.

Without Jesus, we too are in the dark.

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest & martyr

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

Acts 12:24-13:5a

Meanwhile the word of God

 We have been grafted to Jesus by virtue of our baptism.

Separated from Jesus, we are not able to bear fruit.

“Apart from me, you can do nothing.”

When we abide in him, it is Christ who abides in us all the way.

This is what impelled Paul to say, “It is no longer I who live,

but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20)

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Acts 9:26-31

When Saul came to Jerusalem,

Jesus had already told them many times; but they did not want to believe it,

because his truth wasn’t a convenient one for them.

The political and religious authorities of Israel

are on the lookout for what Jesus is doing.

They are afraid that he will rock the uneasy peace in the land

and their own hold on power and authority.

He need not proclaim who He is. Only His sheep will know.

 St. George, marty

St. Adalbert, bishop & martyr

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 11:19-26

Those who had been scattered,

Thomas had asked: “Lord we do not know where You are going, how can we know the way?”

Jesus answers: “I am the Way, I am Truth and Life! No one can come to the Father except through Me.”

Because it was the life of the Father which appeared in all that He said and did.

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Acts 13:44-52

The following Sabbath

 Only the true Shepherd, even to the point of laying down His own life for their sake.

Jesus calls himself the “gate” in today’s Gospel,

How often do we think of Jesus as someone who is “present” with us, walking with us,

accompanying us, comforting and consoling us, when the storms of life come our way?

Jesus, the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep,

is also the ever-present friend who never leaves us to face our perils alone.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 11:1-18*

News came to the apostles

 The Church refers to Jesus as the “desire of the nations” .

--- lead us from untruth to truth.

--- from darkness to light.

--- from death to eternal life.

Jesus assures His followers,

All they have to do is hold on to His teachings

until the end and their future is secure.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      　

Acts 13:26-33

Brothers, children and descendants

Jesus proclaims himself as the Good Shepherd.

The shepherd faces all adversaries that try to harm the flock.

There is self-sacrifice for the safety of the flock.

It is not conscious of its own dignity and power, but of responsibility and service.

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 4:8-12

Then Peter,

 Mark the Evangelist is traditionally ascribed to be the author of the Gospel of Mark.

His symbol is the winged lion, is most often depicted writing or holding his gospel.

As a teenager, Mark might have been nearby when Jesus was arrested.

“Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body.

They seized him, but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked” (Mark 14:51–52).

Many scholars believe that this young man is Mark.

  ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Peter 5:5b-14

All of you must clothe yourselves with humility,

When he started giving the bread of life discourse, many leave him because the language is hard to believe.

Many disciples leave. Only the twelve with Peter as their spokesperson did not.

They have heard and seen enough to convince them that Jesus is the Holy One Of God.

Jesus, seeking to lead his hearers beyond dependence on earthly bread.

Peter may not understand the full import of what Jesus is saying but he knows what is essential: 'You have the words of eternal life'.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      　

Acts 9:31-42

Meanwhile, the Church had peace.