" If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God. "

                                      May the word of God direct us. 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

 Acts 13:44-52

The following Sabbath

Almost the entire city gathered to listen to Paul, who spoke a fairly long time about the Lord.

But the presence of such a crowd made the Jews jealous. So they began to oppose with insults whatever Paul said.

Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out firmly, saying, "It was necessary that God's word be first proclaimed to you,

but since you now reject it, and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we turn to non-Jewish people.

For thus we were commanded by the Lord: I have set you as a light to the pagan nations, so that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

 

Those who were not Jews rejoiced when they heard this, and praised the message of the Lord;

and all those, destined for everlasting life, believed in it. Thus the word spread throughout the whole region.

Some of the Jews, however, incited God-fearing women of the upper class, and the leading men of the city as well,

and stirred up an intense persecution against Paul and Barnabas. Finally, they had them expelled from their region.

The apostles shook the dust from their feet in protest against this people, and went to Iconium, leaving the disciples filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

 

Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Gospel: John 14:7-14

If you know me, you will know the Father also; indeed, you know him, and you have seen him."

Philip asked him, "Lord, show us the Father and that is enough." Jesus said to him,

"What! I have been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever sees me sees 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?

 

All that I say to you, I do not say of myself. The Father who dwells in me is doing his own work.

Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; at least believe it on the evidence of these works that I do.

Truly, I say to you, the one who believes in me will do the same works that I do; and he will even do greater than these,

for I am going to the Father. Everything you ask in my name, I will do,

so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Indeed, anything you ask, calling upon my name, I will do it.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Proclaim the Good News to all the nations."

Christ identified with the prophecies of Isaiah that describe the Suffering Servant,

the one who will heal the people through his own wounds. However, his saving mission was not confined to the people of Israel.

As it says in Isaiah, "It is not enough that you be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob...

I will make you the light of the nations, that my salvation will reach to the ends of the earth" (Is 49:6).

Now it is the turn of Christ's Body, the Church, to continue this saving mission.

 

And so, formerly Paul and Barnabas had limited their preaching to the Jews,

but now they address their preaching to the pagans too, since God has told them,

"I have set you as a light to the pagan nations, so that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

They and the Church throughout the ages are called therefore to proclaim the Good News to all the nations,

but to do so always in imitation of Christ, the Suffering Servant, who is meek and humble of heart.

The Gospel is to be proclaimed not with arrogance or triumphalism, but always with love.