SAINT QUOTE OF THE DAY : Saturday - May 19, 2018

Saturday - May 19, 2018

Do you wish to rise?

Begin by descending.

You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds?

Lay first the foundation of humility. 

~~Saint Augustine

 

May 19, 2018

 

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Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter - Mass in the Morning 
Lectionary: 302

Reading 1ACTS 28:16-20, 30-31

When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself,
with the soldier who was guarding him.

Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews.
When they had gathered he said to them, "My brothers,
although I had done nothing against our people
or our ancestral customs,
I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.
After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me,
because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty.
But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar,
even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation.
This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you
and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel
that I wear these chains." 

He remained for two full years in his lodgings.
He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance
and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God
and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Responsorial PsalmPS 11:4, 5 AND 7

R. (see 7b) The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD's throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold,
his searching glance is on mankind.
R. The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD searches the just and the wicked;
the lover of violence he hates.
For the LORD is just, he loves just deeds;
the upright shall see his face.
R. The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

AlleluiaJN 16:7, 13

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;
he will guide you to all truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelJN 21:20-25

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved,
the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper
and had said, "Master, who is the one who will betray you?"
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"
Jesus said to him, "What if I want him to remain until I come?
What concern is it of yours? 
You follow me."
So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die.
But Jesus had not told him that he would not die,
just "What if I want him to remain until I come?
What concern is it of yours?"

It is this disciple who testifies to these things
and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.
There are also many other things that Jesus did,
but if these were to be described individually,
I do not think the whole world would contain the books
that would be written.

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YOU FOLLOW ME!!

In this Saturday’s Gospel reading, John proclaims himself, "the disciple whom Jesus loved." He knew himself deeply loved by God, and it is this security in God’s love which allows John to be a faithful witness - a witness who, no matter what happens, will be firm in his convictions, in his beliefs, in his actions according to the Truth.

How did John know that Jesus loved him? Did they talk alone when Jesus showed his affection as a friend, as a brother? Was there any special sign performed by Jesus which showed John how much Jesus loved him? No, nothing special. But, yes! Everything Jesus did told John of his great love, not only for him, but for all the people around him!

Because John opened his whole being to the Holy Spirit, he could see in all Jesus’ gestures the great love he has for each and every one of us. John could see Jesus’ great love in the dead he raised, the paralyzed he made walk, the deaf he made hear, the blind he made see. He could recognize Jesus’ great love in his heartfelt tears for his friend Lazarus, in his gentle washing of the apostles’ feet, and in countless other ways that, as he himself said at the end of his Gospel, "the whole world wouldn’t be able to hold the books that could be written."

Through a reprimand from Jesus, John learned not to worry about the future when he and his brother disputed the places in heaven. By watching an encounter between Jesus and Peter, John learned not to let curiosity about others overshadow Jesus’ message (John 21:20). John learned to pay close attention to the true words of Jesus, so that he could correct those who distorted his words (John 21:23). It was the love of Jesus "to the end" that conquered John, inspired him to fall in love, and compelled him to follow Jesus to the Cross.

How important it is to feel loved! Only then can we follow our Master. Only by feeling his deep love for us “to the end” will we be able to make the signs that he made “and even greater” (John 14:12). God is anxious to show us his love, and it is the Holy Spirit who is in charge of doing this. It is the Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus from the Father, who will fill our being with the peace that the world cannot give but cannot take away, the peace and love that only Jesus can give us.

“Who do you say that I am?” This question in Matt. 16:13-23 is what Jesus asks each of us. We especially need to answer this whenever our relationship with him needs to improve. Or isn’t that everyday?

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God Bless You.....

Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”