TUESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER - Jn 14:27-31a - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

READING OF THE DAY

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 14:19-28

In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium

arrived and won over the crowds.

They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,

supposing that he was dead.

But when the disciples gathered around him,

he got up and entered the city.

On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.After they had proclaimed the good news to that city

and made a considerable number of disciples,

they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.

They strengthened the spirits of the disciples

and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,

"It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships

to enter the Kingdom of God."

They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and,

with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord

in whom they had put their faith.

Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.

After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.

From there they sailed to Antioch,

where they had been commended to the grace of God

for the work they had now accomplished.

And when they arrived, they called the Church together

and reported what God had done with them

and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Then they spent no little time with the disciples.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John

Jn 14:27-31a

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give it to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

You heard me tell you,

'I am going away and I will come back to you.'

If you loved me,

you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;

for the Father is greater than I.

And now I have told you this before it happens,

so that when it happens you may believe.

I will no longer speak much with you,

for the ruler of the world is coming.

He has no power over me,

but the world must know that I love the Father

and that I do just as the Father has commanded me."

TUESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER - Jn 14:27-31a

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Before Jesus Christ went to Jerusalem to die, He comforted His disciples, saying: "'My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You have faith in God; have faith also in me."

Jesus always loved His disciples. He always accompanies, guides, and shows the way for His disciples to walk on the path of light, righteousness, and truth to fight Satan. He knew that after He returned to God the Father, Satan would continue to harass His disciples by they will use the people around them to cause division and opposition to lose the disciples' faith in their Divine Master. Satan also caused all the turmoil when the disciples went to preach the word of God, preaching about Jesus Christ who was crucified and resurrected to save people.

Therefore, the Lord instructed His disciples:

-"'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.'" The peace that God gives is not the same as the peace of the world. The peace that God gives is: having God within us.

- Believe in God, because He has absolute power, He can do everything. He will protect and defend everyone from strong winds and waves. He will give courage to help His disciples accept challenges.

-God always loves everyone and calls everyone to come to God, because with God there is peace.

- Believe, and entrust everything to God, and He will help us when we face difficulties and suffering caused by the world. When He gives peace to everyone, it does not mean that everyone will not suffer. Not so! When He gives peace and strength, it means having God in our hearts to help us fight through difficulties, hardships, and challenges, just like Jesus Christ did through the power and strength of God the Father, and by His obedience to God the Father, He conquered Satan.

Now, His children should also obey God and remain in His love, and we will also have God's strength to help us fight, to help us accept the sufferings brought by the world. If we do what God instructs us, we will have peace in the love of God the Father.

Thanks be to God. Amen.