Reading 1 Acts 9:26-31

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples,
but they were all afraid of him,
not believing that he was a disciple.
Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles,
and he reported to them how he had seen the Lord,
and that he had spoken to him,
and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.
He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem,
and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord.
He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,
but they tried to kill him.
And when the brothers learned of this,
they took him down to Caesarea
and sent him on his way to Tarsus.

The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace.
It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,
and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32

R. (26a) I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear the LORD.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
“May your hearts live forever!”
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
all the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
before him shall bend
all who go down into the dust.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And to him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 1 Jn 3:18-24

Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.
Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God
and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.

Alleluia Jn 15:4a, 5b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain in me as I remain in you, says the Lord.
Whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Roman officer, Christian martyr, patron of Fire Fighters, endured torture, including fire, before death by drowning.
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Saint Peter Chanel the protomartyr of the South Seas. St. Peter Chanel was born in 1803 at Clet in the diocese of Belley, France. His intelligence and simple piety brought him to the attention of the local priest, Father Trompier, who saw to his elementary education. Entering the diocesan Seminary, Peter won the affection and the esteem of both students and professors. After his ordination he found himself in a rundown country parish and completely revitalized it in the three year span that he remained there.

However, his mind was set on missionary work; so, in 1831, he joined the newly formed Society of Mary (Marists) which concentrated on missionary work at home and abroad. To his dismay, he was appointed to teach at the seminary at Belley and remained there for the next five years, diligently performing his duties.

In 1836, the Society was given the New Hebrides in the Pacific as a field for evangelization, and the jubilant St. Peter was appointed Superior of a little band of missionaries sent to proclaim the Faith to its inhabitants. On reaching their destination after an arduous ten month journey, the band split up and St. Peter went to the Island of Futuna accompanied by a laybrother and an English layman, Thomas Boog.

They were at first well received by the pagans and their king Niuliki who had only recently forbidden canabalism. However, the kings jealousy and fear were aroused when the missionaries learned the language and gained the people’s confidence; he realized the adoption of the Christian Faith would lead to the abolition of some of the prerogatives he enjoyed as both highpriest and sovereign.

Finally, when his own son expressed a desire to be baptized, the king’s hatred erupted and he dispatched a group of his warriors to set upon the saintly head of the missionaries. Thus, on April 28, 1841, three years after his arrival, St. Peter was seized and clubbed to death by those he had come to save. And his death brought his work to completion – within five months the entire island was converted to Christianity.
Photo credit: Ian S via Wikimedia Commons

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Reading 1 Acts 13:44-52

On the following sabbath
almost the whole city
gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy
and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.
Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,
“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,
but since you reject it
and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,
we now turn to the Gentiles.
For so the Lord has commanded us,
I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
that you may be an instrument of salvation
to the ends of the earth.”

The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this
and glorified the word of the Lord.
All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,
and the word of the Lord continued to spread
through the whole region.
The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers
and the leading men of the city,
stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas,
and expelled them from their territory.
So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them
and went to Iconium.
The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

R.    (3cd)  All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R.    All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R.    All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R.    All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R.    Alleluia.

Alleluia Jn 8:31b-32

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 14:7-14

Jesus said to his disciples:
“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 Jesus,
“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.
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Saint Florian

Roman officer, Christian martyr, patron of Fire Fighters, endured torture, including fire, before death by drowning.
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Model and heavenly patroness of domestic servants, born early in the thirteenth century of a poor family at Montsegradi, a little village near Lucca, in Tuscany; died at Lucca, 27 April, 1271.

A naturally happy disposition and the teaching of a virtuous mother, aided by Divine grace, developed in the child’s soul that sweetness and modesty of character and continual and conscientious application to work which constituted her especial virtues. At the age of twelve she entered the service of the Fatinelli family of Lucca. Her piety and the exactitude with which she discharged her domestic duties, in which she regarded herself as serving God rather than man, even supplying the deficiencies of her fellow servants, far from gaining for her their love and esteem and that of her employers rather brought upon her every manner of ill-treatment of both the former and, through their accusations, of the latter. The incessant ill-usage, however, was powerless to deprive her of her inward peace, her love of those who wronged her, and her respect for her employers. By this meek and humble self-restraint she at last succeeded in overcoming the malice of her fellow-servants and her employers, so much so that she was placed in charge of all the affairs of the house.

In her position of command over all the servants she treated all with kindness, not exacting from them any reckoning for the wrongs she had for so many years suffered from them. She was always circumspect, and only severe when there was a question of checking the introduction of vice among the servants. On the other hand, if any of them had been guilty of shortcomings, she took upon herself to excuse or defend them to their employers. Using the ample authority given her by her employers, she was generous in almsgiving, but careful to assist only those really in need. After her death numerous miracles were wrought at her intercession, so that she came to be venerated as a saint in the neighbourhood of Lucca, and the poets Fazio degli Uberti (Dittamonde, III, 6) and Dante (Inferno, XI, 38) both designate the city of Lucca simply as “Santa Zita”. The office in her honour was approved by Leo X.

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**This reflection has been reposted from Diocesan Archives.**

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is sharing with his disciples that if they know Him, then they know the Father. Philip goes on to say, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” I’m glad that Philip said this, for it is why Jesus expands on the fact that He and the Father are one. He shares that the very words He speaks are not on His own, but with the Father, who dwells within Him. 

Jesus goes on to say that whoever believes in Him will do even greater works since He is going to the Father. He said that whatever you ask in His name, He will do so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. He said, “If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

What does this good news mean for you and me today? As I’m sure you know, there is much suffering and fear of the unknown in the world today. Personally, the unknown aspect can really get to me. I’m someone who loves having a plan or an idea of what the future can or should look like. I constantly have to remind myself that God is in control as I loosen my grasp on these plans or ideas of life. 

When I reflected on this Gospel passage and how it is good news today, I found that Jesus is comforting us in His word. He expands upon the reality that He is completely united to the Father and anything we ask in His name, He will do it. Does that mean He will give me anything I ask for? I’m not too sure about that, but I know He gives us what we need. So today, what do you need? Comfort, strength, courage? Ask for a particular need or grace in His name. We can trust that His Word is true. He is faithful to His promises, and He always pulls through for us.

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Reading I Acts 13:26-33

When Paul came to Antioch in Pisidia, he said in the synagogue:
 “My brothers, children of the family of Abraham,
and those others among you who are God-fearing,
to us this word of salvation has been sent.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him,
and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets
that are read sabbath after sabbath.
For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence,
they asked Pilate to have him put to death,
and when they had accomplished all that was written about him,
they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.
But God raised him from the dead,
and for many days he appeared to those
who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.
These are now his witnesses before the people.
We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you
that what God promised our fathers
he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus,
as it is written in the second psalm,
     You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.”

Responsorial Psalm 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab

R.        (7bc)  You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
“I myself have set up my king
            on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:
            The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
            this day I have begotten you.”
R.        You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
“Ask of me and I will give you
            the nations for an inheritance
            and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
            you shall shatter them like an earthen dish.”
R.        You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
And now, O kings, give heed;
            take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
            with trembling rejoice.
R.        You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Alleluia Jn 14:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 14:1-6

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.”

 

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Roman officer, Christian martyr, patron of Fire Fighters, endured torture, including fire, before death by drowning.
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Pope Saint Cletus (sometimes Anacletus), the third Pope, governed the Roman Church from about 76 to about 88 during the reigns of the Emperor Vespasian and of Domitian.

St. Cletus has given earlier historians some trouble because of his name. Two of the early lists of the popes, the so-called “Liberian Catalogue” and the “Poem Against Marcion” list an Anacletus as well as a Cletus. Most ancient lists, however, give the papal succession as Peter, Linus, Cletus, Clement; and modern scholars agree that this is the correct listing. Anacletus is a variant of Cletus, and this seems to have caused the difficulty.

The “Liber Pontificalis” says that his father was Emelianus and that Cletus was a Roman by birth, and belonged to the quarter known as the Vicus Patrici. It also tells us that he ordained twenty-five priests, and was buried in Vaticano near the body of St. Peter. St. Cletus’ feast is celebrated along with that of St. Marcellinus on the twenty-sixth of April.

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Last fall I began working at a Christian facility with a homey, country feel to it. The basic structures were all built in a log cabin style and the grounds were truly an oasis. One of their favorite lines is “It’s the best place to do nothing.” But as the fall became winter, those wooden structures began to feel awfully chilly. Something had to be done to keep our fingers from freezing on our keyboards. 

During these days I grew in appreciation for an old fashioned wood fire. My first time trying to make one was a big fail, but after learning a few pointers from my coworkers, I got it to burn for an hour or so. I loved watching those flames dance around and enjoyed the instant warmth that accompanied it. Around the same time, my toddler had learned a new word, which fit so well. “Mommy, that’s so cozy!” she would tell me as I wrapped a blanket around her and read to her on my lap. The fire was indeed cozy as well. 

But it also got me thinking about the fire within. As we read from the Acts of the Apostles during this Easter season, we witness again and again how their hearts burned within them. Nothing stopped them from preaching and teaching, sharing and caring. They tirelessly traveled miles upon miles by horseback or on foot, by land or sea to reach those who had not yet heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

How is your fire burning? Is it like mine was those first couple tries? Does it ignite right away only to snuff out just as quickly? Does it take a little coaxing but eventually burn brightly? Is it a steady blaze that brings warmth to all around it? 

Let us heed Jesus’ invitation today: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” God can turn our flame into a burning fire. Our faith should be something we live, move and breathe. It should dictate our daily decisions and our everyday actions, for Jesus clearly states: “I am the way, and the truth and the life.” 

May your flame burn brightly today and each day, so that others may feel the warmth of God’s love in you and glorify Him. 

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The texts of Acts and several epistles in the New Testament suggest that the individual named John Mark is the same as Mark referenced by St. Paul and St. Peter. Ancient sources do not dispute their identity. The connection is reinforced by Mark being the cousin of Barnabas, with whom the Mark of Acts had a significant relationship. Further, the Mark whom St. Peter calls his “son” likely refers to the son of Mary, a close associate of the Apostle in Jerusalem. In Roman contexts, he was predominantly known by the name Marcus. His mother played a pivotal role in the early Christian community in Jerusalem, hosting many gatherings, including a prayer meeting Peter attended after his prison release.

During the famine around AD 45-46, after serving in Jerusalem, Mark returned to Antioch with Barnabas and Saul. His role during their travels is described ambiguously as a helper, possibly even in preaching. However, Mark eventually left them, returning to Jerusalem, perhaps due to the hardships involved. His departure caused a rift between Paul and Barnabas, leading to their separation. Mark then appears alongside Paul and Peter in Rome years later, reinforcing his significance in early Christian missions.

St. Paul, while imprisoned in Rome around AD 59-61, mentions Mark as present and possibly planning to visit Asia Minor. Mark’s role was affirmed by Paul shortly before his death, requesting Timothy to bring Mark to Rome for his helpfulness in ministry. St. Peter also mentions Mark, calling him his son in a letter to churches in Asia Minor, indicating Mark’s established reputation and possible evangelistic work there.

Papias, as cited by Eusebius around AD 130, records that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and transcribed his teachings, albeit not in chronological order. This role is significant in understanding the origins of the Gospel attributed to Mark. Despite earlier ambiguities about his activities and role, later traditions, including those by Eusebius and Jerome, suggest that Mark founded the Church in Alexandria and eventually died there, though the exact circumstances of his death remain unclear. His symbol in Christian art is a lion, and his feast is celebrated on 25 April.

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It’s great to see some results for the work you put in. 

For example, if you are trying to get to a healthier weight, it’s quite rewarding to know that your efforts to improve diet and increase exercise are working. If you’re trying to make a certain grade in school and get the “A”, it’s rewarding to know you put the work in to study and know the material. If you ace a presentation at work and are rewarded with a hard-earned raise, it’s great to know that the hours you put in were worth it. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus commands the Apostles to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world and to baptize new followers of Christ. Then Jesus gives an outline for how to know it’s being done correctly: demons will be cast out in his name, and many will be healed. If their hands fall upon a serpent or a poison, it won’t kill them. 

Jesus knew the work of spreading the Gospel would be difficult. He knew it would cost all the Apostles, except John, their lives, and while some are still asked to give up their life for the sake of the Gospel today, it’s much fewer and far between, especially in the developed world. Still, the world finds plenty of ways for us to “pay” for spreading the Gospel: the loss of job and professional prospects, political persecution, loss of freedom of speech in some countries. 

We know we are doing good things for the Kingdom of God, even when persecuted, but it’s still great to experience those “mountaintop” events in which we have confirmation we are doing great things for God. For example, when someone new joins the RCIA program, a child receives First Holy Communion, or someone surrenders their life to God after horrific pain. 

As humans, we often need some encouragement to keep going. Jesus laid it all out for us, and even today, we still see not-quite-as-literal signs taking place. How are you spreading the Gospel? What signs do you see even today that God is still at work in the world? Let’s carry Jesus’ Great Commission forward, and be encouraged by the signs that God is at work even in a world of wars, famine, pain and sorrow. 

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Roman officer, Christian martyr, patron of Fire Fighters, endured torture, including fire, before death by drowning.
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