We are, generally, the carpenters of our own crosses.

 

St. Philip Neri, priest

He fulfilling Christ’s twin commandments to love God and neighbor.

He was quick to attend to any soul in need of confession, counsel or pastoral care.

He would instantly leave his solemn prayers to join a soul in need with the saying “we must leave Christ for Christ.” 

 

 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Acts 16:11-15

So, we put out to sea from

Troas and sailed straight across to Samothrace Island; and the next day, to Neapolis.

From there, we went inland to Philippi, the leading city of the district of Macedonia,

and a Roman colony. We spent some days in that city.

 

On the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate, to the bank of the river,

where we thought the Jews would gather to pray. We sat down and began speaking to the women who were gathering there.

One of them was a God-fearing woman, named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth.

As she listened, the Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. After she had been baptized,

together with her household, she invited us to her house, "If you think I am faithful to the Lord,

come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us to accept her invitation.

 

Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a & 9b The Lord takes delight in his people.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

John 15:26-16:4a

From the Father, I will send you the Spirit of truth. When this Helper has come from the Father,

he will be my witness, and you, too, will be my witnesses, for you have been with me from the beginning.

I tell you all this to keep you from stumbling and falling away. They will put you out of the synagogue.

Still more, the hour is coming when anyone who kills you will claim to be serving God;

 

they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. I tell you all these things now so that,

when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them.

I did not tell you about this in the beginning, because I was with you.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Reflection:

"The master of prayer."

Saint Philip Neri was always quick to say that all the miracles done through him were the work of the Holy Spirit.

All his life Philip had a great devotion to the Holy Spirit, in response to his mystical experience of 1544, when,

while praying in the catacombs of Rome, he experienced the Holy Spirit as a ball of fire entering him and filling his heart;

a living flame of love that made his heart swell. Saint Philip, the founder of the Oratorians, described the Holy Spirit

as "the master of prayer," who "causes us to abide in continual peace and cheerfulness, which is a foretaste of Paradise."

 

Led by the Holy Spirit, Philip Neri became renowned for his joy, his sense of humour, his great charity and his passionate preaching,

which focused on encouraging people to lead a good life. In the face of trials or persecution, Saint Philip said

"we must keep our eyes on God." May the Spirit of Truth, the Helper, fill our hearts and minds with truth and love,

so that we might serve God in our neighbour, in peace and cheerfulness.