FRIDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 21:15-19) THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
FIRST READING - Acts 25:13b-21
"His accusers stood around him, but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected."
A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
13 When a few days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice[a] arrived in Caesarea on a visit to Festus. 14 Since they spent several days there, Festus referred Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There is a man here left in custody by Felix. 15 When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation. 16 I answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge. 17 So when [they] came together here, I made no delay; the next day I took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 His accusers stood around him, but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected. 19 Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive. 20 Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these charges. 21 And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Jn 21:20-25
"It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them,[c] and we know that his testimony is true."
From the Gospel according to John
20 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?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come?[a] What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” 23 [b]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?]”
24 It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them,[c] and we know that his testimony is true. 25 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.
FRIDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 21:15-19)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
Today's Word of God recounts the event of the risen Christ's appearance to the apostles.
During this appearance, Jesus asked Saint Peter three times: "Do you love Me?”
He asked three times to test Saint Peter's faith in God.
And Saint Peter's response to Jesus was: "Yes, Lord; You know everything, You know that I love You."
After Saint Peter answered three times to profess his faith in God, he was granted the privilege by God to continue the mission of Jesus Christ—to tend to God's sheep. Jesus appointed Saint Peter as the head and representative of God to care for and preserve the Church that He established. And to this day, the Church has always remained holy, pure, and always connected to Jesus Christ as its head; and there is only one Church, one God, and one Jesus Christ.
God always desires that all His sheep be gathered into one fold, which is His Church. However, living in this earthly world, humans cannot escape the temptations and snares of Satan, which are gradually dividing His Church. Nevertheless, that division does not diminish the beautiful image of His Church as the body of Christ.
Through today's Word of God, God reveals to humanity another special aspect of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection event: He appeared to choose, call, and entrust the apostle Peter with the mission of being Christ's representative in this world.
Through this, it is shown that:
When God chooses people, He does not look for those with high position, power, status, or profound knowledge.
Rather, He looks for a person who always knows how to love God above all things and love their neighbor as themselves, for that is what pleases God.
When Jesus lovingly chooses and calls the apostles, He will always accompany and remain with them.
This also shows that, whether in the past or the future, all those who have been chosen and called by Him to follow God's path, He will always protect and accompany them in all places and at all times. Therefore, He calls upon humanity to go forth in peace along the path of Jesus Christ, which is the path of carrying the cross up to Mount Calvary, to die with the Lord and to be resurrected with Him.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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