Let me, my Jesus, share in thy suffering, at least one of thy thorns.

 

St. Rita of Cascia, religious

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 15:7-21

As the discussions became heated,

Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that from the beginning, God chose me among you,

so that non-Jews could hear the Good News from me, and believe. God, who can read hearts,

put himself on their side, by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.

He made no distinction between us and them, and cleansed their hearts through faith.

 

So, why do you want to put God to the test? Why do you lay on the disciples a burden

that neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry? We believe, indeed,

that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are."

 

The whole assembly kept silent as they listened to Paul and Barnabas tell of all the miraculous signs

and wonders that God had done, through them, among the non-Jews.

After they had finished, James spoke up, "Listen to me, brothers. Symeon has just explained how God first showed his care,

by taking a people for himself from non-Jewish nations. And the words of the prophets agree with this, for Scripture says,

 

After this I will return and rebuild the booth of David which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again.

Then, the rest of humanity will look for the Lord, and all the nations will be consecrated to my Name.

So says the Lord, who does today what he decided from the beginning.

Because of this, I think that we should not make difficulties for those non-Jews who are turning to God.

 

Let us just tell them not to eat food that is unclean from having been offered to idols;

to keep themselves from prohibited marriages; and not to eat the flesh of animals that have been strangled;

or any blood. For, from the earliest times, Moses has been taught in every place, and every Sabbath his laws are recalled."

 

Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 10 Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

John 15:9-11

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love! You will remain in my love if you keep my commandments,

just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.

I have told you all this, that my own joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"As the Father has loved me

St. Rita became an Augustinian nun after the death of her husband Paolo Mancini.

Both Paolo's life and death were violent, as he was a quick-tempered, immoral man and an abusive husband,

who died in a feud between the Chiqui and Mancini families. Although St. Rita publicly pardoned the perpetrators at Paolo's funeral,

the Augustinian nuns said that St. Rita would only be admitted if she managed to reconcile her family with her husband's murderers,

as members of St. Rita's family were set on revenge. She implored Saints John the Baptist,

Augustine and Nicholas of Tolentino to assist her in bringing peace to Cascia.

 

Saint Rita suffered greatly and is a patron saint of impossible causes. Hers is an example of faith, patience, and reconciliation.

We ask the intercession of Saint Rita that we too might be instruments of peace,

healing the wounds of the past and changing lives for the better. Let us pray for an end to domestic violence,

and for all who suffer this torment. May justice, peace and love reign in our homes, so that by keeping God's commandments we might remain in his love.