Reading 1 ACTS 13:14, 43-52 Paul and Barnabas continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered the synagogue and took their seats. Many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.
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 PS 100:1-2, 3, 5 R.(3c) We are his people, the sheep of his flock. or: R. Alleluia. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song. R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock. or: R. Alleluia. Know that the LORD is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. R.We are his people, the sheep of his flock. or: R. Alleluia. The LORD is good: his kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations. R.We are his people, the sheep of his flock. or: R. Alleluia. Reading 2 REV 7:9, 14B-17 I, John, had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Then one of the elders said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
“For this reason they stand before God’s throne and worship him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them. They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them. For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Alleluia JN 10:14 R. Alleluia, alleluia. I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel JN 10:27-30 Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
FAUSTI - Jesus is the Beautiful Shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep. His opponents cannot believe in Him: they do not follow Him, the High Shepherd, but another shepherd who is death. To believe or not to believe is not a theoretical question, but a practical one: it is an act of our freedom, in which we decide which foundation to choose for our existence. Man, however, lives by faith, and believes in what he trusts in his life, whatever it is: things, ideas or people. If he does not entrust himself to the One who gives his life, he entrusts himself to his idols, who take it away from him. But the Son does not interrupt the dialogue with his brethren. Even those who do not believe are called to follow Him. In fact, all of us are of Him, destined to be children in the Son. Jesus explicitly invites those who do not believe so they may see their own blindness and desire the light. This is a reference to the previous speech on the Shepherd Even opponents are called to listen to His voice. He is talking just to them. Whoever believes in the Son sent by the Father, has eternal life (3:16): the Son's own life, which He came to make accessible to all, so that nothing that the Father has given Him may die (6:39). It is a Life that overcomes death (8,519), a spring of Living-water spray (4,14) offered to those who thirst and come to Him (7,37). Nor does anyone kidnap his sheep from his hand: the hand indicates strength, power and the capacity to act. The Beautiful Shepherd reassures his sheep: his hand, which is the same as that of the Father, effectively defends them from thieves, mercenaries and wolves. As Jesus was in the grip of the enemies of Him and of the flock, He strengthened His disciples. They will be shocked by his death and by the difficulties that they will encounter", he said: "I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered" (Zk 13:7). But the Risen One will gather them together after Easter. Then they will understand that His hand is all-powerful because it is nailed to the wood of the cross, which is the culmination of Jesus' revelation. The Father and the Son are full communion of Love, one being and acting, understanding and wanting. It is the mystery of God who is "One", but not Alone. It is the perfect unity between Father and Son.
FRANCIS POPE – FROM THE HOMILIES S. MARTA But at a certain point Jesus said, referring to His sheep: "My Father, who gave them to me..." (Gv 10.29). This is very important, it is a profound mystery, not easy to understand: if I feel attracted to Jesus, if His voice warms my heart, it is thanks to God the Father, who has put within me the desire for love, truth, life, beauty... and Jesus is all this in fullness! (Regina Coeli, 21 April 2013)
Reading 1 ACTS 13:14, 43-52
RispondiEliminaPaul and Barnabas continued on from Perga
and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered the synagogue and took their seats.
Many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism
followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them
and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.
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 PS 100:1-2, 3, 5
R.(3c) We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R.We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R.We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading 2 REV 7:9, 14B-17
I, John, had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Then one of the elders said to me,
“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
“For this reason they stand before God’s throne
and worship him day and night in his temple.
The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.
They will not hunger or thirst anymore,
nor will the sun or any heat strike them.
For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne
will shepherd them
and lead them to springs of life-giving water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Alleluia JN 10:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel JN 10:27-30
Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.
The Father and I are one.”
FAUSTI - Jesus is the Beautiful Shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep. His opponents cannot believe in Him: they do not follow Him, the High Shepherd, but another shepherd who is death.
RispondiEliminaTo believe or not to believe is not a theoretical question, but a practical one: it is an act of our freedom, in which we decide which foundation to choose for our existence. Man, however, lives by faith, and believes in what he trusts in his life, whatever it is: things, ideas or people.
If he does not entrust himself to the One who gives his life, he entrusts himself to his idols, who take it away from him.
But the Son does not interrupt the dialogue with his brethren. Even those who do not believe are called to follow Him.
In fact, all of us are of Him, destined to be children in the Son.
Jesus explicitly invites those who do not believe so they may see their own blindness and desire the light. This is a reference to the previous speech on the Shepherd
Even opponents are called to listen to His voice. He is talking just to them.
Whoever believes in the Son sent by the Father, has eternal life (3:16): the Son's own life, which He came to make accessible to all, so that nothing that the Father has given Him may die (6:39).
It is a Life that overcomes death (8,519), a spring of Living-water spray (4,14) offered to those who thirst and come to Him (7,37).
Nor does anyone kidnap his sheep from his hand: the hand indicates strength, power and the capacity to act.
The Beautiful Shepherd reassures his sheep: his hand, which is the same as that of the Father, effectively defends them from thieves, mercenaries and wolves.
As Jesus was in the grip of the enemies of Him and of the flock, He strengthened His disciples.
They will be shocked by his death and by the difficulties that they will encounter", he said: "I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered" (Zk 13:7).
But the Risen One will gather them together after Easter.
Then they will understand that His hand is all-powerful because it is nailed to the wood of the cross, which is the culmination of Jesus' revelation.
The Father and the Son are full communion of Love, one being and acting, understanding and wanting.
It is the mystery of God who is "One", but not Alone.
It is the perfect unity between Father and Son.
FRANCIS POPE – FROM THE HOMILIES S. MARTA
RispondiEliminaBut at a certain point Jesus said, referring to His sheep: "My Father, who gave them to me..." (Gv 10.29). This is very important, it is a profound mystery, not easy to understand: if I feel attracted to Jesus, if His voice warms my heart, it is thanks to God the Father, who has put within me the desire for love, truth, life, beauty... and Jesus is all this in fullness! (Regina Coeli, 21 April 2013)