Reading 1 Acts 20:28-38
“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock
of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,
in which you tend the Church of God
that he acquired with his own Blood.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you,
and they will not spare the flock.
And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth
to draw the disciples away after them.
So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day,
I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.
And now I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.
I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
You know well that these very hands
have served my needs and my companions.
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort
we must help the weak,
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
When he had finished speaking
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They were all weeping loudly
as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,
for they were deeply distressed that he had said
that they would never see his face again.
Then they escorted him to the ship.
Responsorial Psalm PS 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab
or:
R. Alleluia.
Show forth, O God, your power,
the power, O God, with which you took our part;
For your temple in Jerusalem
let the kings bring you gifts.
R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
chant praise to the Lord
who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.
Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:
“Confess the power of God!”
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Over Israel is his majesty;
his power is in the skies.
Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia Jn 17:17b-17a
R. Alleluia, alleluia.Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Jn 17:11b-19
“Holy Father, keep them in your name
that you have given me,
so that they may be one just as we are one.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,
and I guarded them, and none of them was lost
except the son of destruction,
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you.
I speak this in the world
so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them,
because they do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world
but that you keep them from the Evil One.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth.
Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them,
so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”
TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES
"I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to guard them from the evil one." –John 17:15
We follow the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth (Jn 16:13). "Since we live by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's lead" (Gal 5:25). As we receive the Spirit ever more deeply during the Pentecost Novena and on Pentecost Sunday, the Spirit will guide us to all truth, if we allow Him (Jn 16:13). We will be prompted to speak the truth in love (see Eph 4:15).
Throughout history, there have always been those who pervert the truth, and so we are compelled to proclaim the truth and defend it, whether in words, actions, or lifestyles. The enemies of the truth will oppose us. Jesus is not going to take us out of the world to shield us from such attacks (Jn 17:15). He places us in the world, like wheat among the weeds (Mt 13:29), to love and convert the weeds, that is, the enemies of the truth.
It is vital to defend the truth and, probably even more important in God's eyes (see Lk 15:7, 10), to lead people to repentance and salvation in Christ. Speak and live the truth in love (Eph 4:15). "Receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20:22), the Spirit of Truth.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I never "do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth" (2 Cor 13:8). |
| PROMISE: | "I commend you now to the Lord, and to that gracious word of His which can enlarge you, and give you a share among all who are consecrated to Him." –Acts 20:32 |
| PRAISE: | Denise answered the call to become a Secular Franciscan, like St. Francis, in but not of the world (see Jn 15:19). |
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