Gospel
Background: Jesus is in the Upper Room with His disciples. He has just instituted the Eucharist and washed the feet of His disciples. He is now sharing his last thoughts with them (Farewell Discourse) before going to Gethsemane, where he will spend the night in prayer and where he will be arrested.
Introduction: In this passage, Jesus uses the allegory of the vine and the branches to illustrate the relationship existing between Him and His followers, and to emphasize the need for them to live in communion with Him.
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.”
1st Reading
Historical Background: Saul of Tarsus, a zealous young Pharisee, had vowed to exterminate the followers of Jesus, wherever they could be found. But while on his way to Damascus “breathing out fury against the believers,” Jesus appeared to him and conquered his heart. Saul was baptized and from that day onward he was a new man.
After spending some time in s seclusion in Arabia and three years of apostolate in Damascus (see Gal 1:18), Saul Decided to go back to Jerusalem.
Introduction: In today’s passage, St. Luke describes the initial difficulties found by the Apostle first among the Chistian community of Jerusalem, and then with the Jews.
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.
2nd Reading
Historical Background: The same as that of the 2nd Reading of the 2nd Sunday of Easter
Introduction: Today’s passage emphasizes the need for deeds of love in the life of a believer. Together with faith in Jesus, this is the condition we have to fulfill in order to keep God’s commandment fully. Then shall we be able to feel that we are in communion with Him and experience in us the presence of His Gift, the Holy Spirit. (See w. 23-24.)
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.
Hibla / Thread
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