MONDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 14:21-26) THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
FIRST READING - Acts 14:5-18
"We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God."
A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
5 When there was an attempt by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, to attack and stone them, 6 they realized it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside, 7 where they continued to proclaim the good news.
8 [a]At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth, who had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him, saw that he had the faith to be healed, 10 and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.” He jumped up and began to walk about. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in human form.” 12 They called Barnabas “Zeus”[b] and Paul “Hermes,” because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.
14 The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments[c] when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 15 [d]“Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, ‘who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.’ 16 In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways; 17 yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.” 18 Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Jn 14:21-26
"The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything."
✠From the Gospel according to John
21 Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” 22 Judas, not the Iscariot,[a] said to him, “Master, [then] what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.
25 “I have told you this while I am with you. 26 The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you.
MONDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 14:21-26)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
In today's Word of God, Jesus says to His disciples as well as to all humanity: “Whoever loves Me will keep My commandments. My Father and I will love that person. My Father and I will come to that person and make our dwelling with that person.”
The commandments that God has ordained are:
To love God above all things, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
To obey God in all things, just as Jesus Christ Himself obeyed God the Father—even to the point of willingly accepting death, death upon the Cross.
It was through that obedience that He triumphed over death and conquered Satan.
God always loves humanity and desires to bring about our salvation. He shows humanity the path to attain eternal life: namely, to observe the commandments that Jesus Christ has taught us.
The commandments taught by Jesus Christ do not come from His own will, but from God the Father.
Whatever God the Father commands Jesus to tell mankind, Jesus obeys and does exactly as God the Father commands.
What the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father and the Son are one.
All creations in this world belong to God the Father, for He created them. All people are His children; He makes no distinction between the good and the wicked.
While humans are still living on their earthly pilgrimage, His teachings are the Living Word for all people.
Those who desire to remain in God shall keep the Word He commands, and He will abide in that person.
In today’s Word of God, God also reveals to humanity the mystery of the Holy Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—who are working together in the plan of humanity's salvation.
Before Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit—the Advocate—who would accompany humanity.
This era is the era of the Holy Spirit; He will help humanity further understand God's plan of salvation and the mystery of the Holy Trinity.
The Holy Spirit reveals to humanity that there is but one God.
The revelation of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit to humanity serves to distinguish the names and titles by which we address Him, as well as the distinct stages through which God brings about humanity's salvation; yet, He must never be divided into three separate Gods.
The power of God is manifesting everywhere; thus, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are but one Unique God.
Whoever remains in God the Father, and whoever remains in the Spirit of the Holy Spirit, that person also remains in the love of the Holy Trinity; and shall be saved by God and be rewarded with the eternal Kingdom of Heaven in the life to come.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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