Readings for Saturday, May 17 2014; Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Lectionary: 284

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 
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.

Gospel 
John 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.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread, One Body
THEME: SPITTIN' IMAGE

"Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father." –John 14:9

I have an adult son who looks like me, has my height, build, and a similar personality, though he doesn't yet have my gray hair! We are both involved in the same ministry. As a father, I rejoice that my children carry my image. It is a joy beyond description to minister side-by-side with my son.

Jesus "is the Reflection of the Father's glory, the exact Representation of the Father's being" (Heb 1:3). Jesus so conformed Himself to His Father's will that to see Jesus was to see the Father (Jn 14:9). Likewise, we humans are made in the image of our Father (Gn 1:27). In Baptism, we received "a spirit of adoption through which we cry out, 'Abba!' (that is 'Father')" (Rm 8:15). "We are God's children now" (1 Jn 3:2). Like Jesus, we strive to conform our wills to the Father's will. As Jesus prayed, we pray constantly to our Father: "Not my will but Yours be done" (Lk 22:42; see also Mt 6:10).

My son has grown to maturity, and looks like his father now. We also can grow and mature so that we "look like" and reflect our heavenly Father. Jesus said: "My command to you is: love your enemies, pray for your persecutors. This will prove that you are" children "of your heavenly Father" (Mt 5:44-45).

Children of God, let us love our enemies, surrender ourselves to our Father's will, and thereby reflect our Father's glory. May we, His children, always give our Father cause to rejoice over us (Zep 3:17).

PRAYER: Father, may I live in such a way that Your name is hallowed (Mt 6:9) by all who meet me.

PROMISE: "I have made you a light to the nations, a means of salvation to the ends of the earth." –Acts 13:47

PRAISE: Sally put aside her fears and trusted that God was speaking to her through her husband's strong desire to have a fourth child. After a rough pregnancy, God blessed her with a son.

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