St. Matthias Men's Life Ministry
Saturday, May 13th, 2017, 7:00 AM
" In Deo Speramus "
(In God We Hope)
(Contact First Name)
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Do you not believe
that I am in the Father
and
the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you
I do not speak on my own.
Readings:
Oremus pro invicem
(Let us pray for one another)
Jesus,
why did you
 forego your life for us?
So that we may be where you are?

Wherever you abide: that is the place 
we always want to be--circling 
in eternal, self-giving love,
 with you, the Father, 
and Holy Spirit.

You are
 our way there, 
our truth, and our life.


Amen
First Reading
As the number of disciples continued to grow,
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows
were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
"It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word."
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,
so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,
also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the apostles
who prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread,
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;
even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

The Word of the Lord
Discussion Questions
1. What was the Hellenists' complaint against the Hebrews? Did the twelve decide to neglect prayer and ministry of the word in order to help them? What do you do when you see neglected people? How did the good works of this community build faith? Does that have an effect today?
2.
How did the Church make changes to meet the needs of the times? How important is the ability to make changes? Is anyone you know making changes today, like the leaders in this Reading did, to meet the Church's needs of our times? Who? How do you feel about it?

Second Reading
Beloved:
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings
but chosen and precious in the sight of God,
and, like living stones,
let yourselves be built into a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For it says in Scripture:
Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion,
a cornerstone, chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame.
Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,  and
A stone that will make people stumble,
and a rock that will make them fall.
They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.

You are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people of his own,
so that you may announce the praises" of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

The Word of the Lord
Discussion Questions
1.
St. Peter says that you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own." Do you therefore "announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light"? Do you do this regularly? Sometimes? With words? With works?
2. How would a "royal priesthood or a holy nation" treat sick people, or migrants fleeing oppressors, or prisoners awaiting execution from bad drugs, or homeless people, and those who can't find jobs?

Alleluia, alleluia.
 JN 14:6
I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father, except through me.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way."
Thomas said to him,
"Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him,
"Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father."

The Gospel of the Lord
Discussion Questions
1. The disciples didn't know where Jesus was going and certainly did not want him to leave. Can you relate to this desire to be with the people you love? How is human love a reflection of divine love or a participation in it?
2.
 Does Pope Francis' message about Jesus pitching his tent in our midst help you know The Way? The Truth? How does it help us know the Father?

In him was revealed the grace, the mercy, and the tender love of the Father: Jesus is Love incarnate. He is not simply a teacher of wisdom, he is not an ideal for which we strive while knowing that we are hopelessly distant from it. He is the meaning of life and history, who has pitched his tent in our midst.
... Our Father is patient, he loves us, he gives us Jesus to guide us on the way which leads to the promised land. Jesus is the light who brightens the darkness.


 For what are we born if not to aid one another?

Ernest Hemingway

 

 

"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!
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.

 

 
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.