| Saturday, May 9th, 2015, 7:00 AM |
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Maranatha, Maranatha,
Come, Oh Lord.
And set us free!
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In Deo Speramus
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(In God We Hope) |
Saint Peter preaching the Gospel in the Catacombs,
Jan Styka, 1902
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While Peter was still speaking these things,
the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.
The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded
that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also.
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As Christ's disciples in Southeastern Wisconsin, we are called to be welcoming to the stranger in our midst. We ask for courage to welcome the 'Saul' who comes to our Church doors.
We pray to the Lord.
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| First Reading ACTS 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him
and, falling at his feet, paid him homage.
Peter, however, raised him up, saying,
"Get up. I myself am also a human being."
Then Peter proceeded to speak and said,
"In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him."
While Peter was still speaking these things,
the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.
The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter
were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit
should have been poured out on the Gentiles also,
for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God.
Then Peter responded,
"Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people,
who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?"
He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord
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Discussion Questions
1. In this reading the gift of the Holy Spirit is poured out on the Gentiles as well as the Israelis. Is grace available to all people? Do you listen to the Holy Spirit on a regular basis, or just now and then? How does the Holy Spirit speak to you? What discernment process do you use on the communication between you and the Holy Spirit?
2. Are there some areas that are off limits or do you invite the Holy Spirit into every part of your life?
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| Second Reading 1 JN 4:7-10 Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
The Word of the Lord
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Discussion Questions
1. How was "the love of God revealed to us?" Had Jesus not come into the world, what would you know about God?
2. So what was the message God sent through Jesus about God's own self? What is your response to that message?
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| Alleluia JN 14:23 Alleluia, alleluia. Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,
and my Father will love him and we will come to him. Alleluia, alleluia. |
| Gospel JN 15:9-17 Jesus said to his disciples:
"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father's commandments
and remain in his love.
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one's life for one's friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another." The Gospel of the Lord |
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Discussion Questions:
1.
The one thing Jesus asks of us is that we love our neighbor. How would you rate this assignment on a "difficulty" scale from 1-10? Explain. What gift (First Reading) does God give you to help with this assignment?
2. According to Pope Francis, how can we get to know and love God?
This is the doctrine of two Commandments: the most important is "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." To get to the first we must ascend the steps of the second: that means that through our love for our neighbor we can get to know God, who is love. Only through loving can we reach love."
Homily at Mass at Casa Santa Marta, January 10, 2015
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Oremus pro invicem
(Let us pray for one another)
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Love one another as I love you.
Jesus,
you know us.
You call us friends.
Rich or poor you love us
with no boundaries, no limits.
Love us when we soar
and, alas, when we
hit bottom. In your name we ask the Father
to send us your Spirit.
Teach us to do
the one
thing
necessary: love God above all things;
love our neighbor
rich and poor,
as you
love
us.
Amen
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| "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then we'll have peace." By: Jimi Hendrix "My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." Abraham Lincoln If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is brought to perfection in us.
1 John 4:12
Deus fit homo ut homo fieret Deus God became human so that humans might become God (Catholicism, Page 2 by Fr. Robert Barron) "The Glory of God is a human being fully alive." Meyers, Robin R. (2009-02-19). Saving Jesus from the Church: How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus (Kindle Location 639). Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
God "dwells in us."
God's love is not meant for us alone;
we must give it away.
Do small things today and for many tomorrows,
with a generous heart.
Give God Away Today!
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Help us then, Lord,
to be so united with the paschal mystery of Jesus,
that through Him the world can become a better place to dwell.
You promise us much for this life
and for our eternal presence with You;
may we live into that promise
each day.
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An interesting thought:
The birth of St. John is celebrated on June 24th, in the moment of the summer solstice. From that point onward, daylight begins to reduce. On the other hand, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated on December 25th, during the winter solstice. From that point onward, daylight begins to grow, to get longer.
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