The Apostle Paul, Enduring Everything for the Gospel.

He would endure any obstacle so that the good news could reach others.

who faithfully endured countless hardships, beatings, sacrificial serviceand,

imprisonments to spread the Christian message across the world.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 20:17-27

From Miletus,

Paul sent word to Ephesus, summoning the elders of the Church. When they came to him, he addressed them, "

You know how I lived among you, from the first day I set foot in the province of Asia;

how I served the Lord in humility, through the sorrows and trials that the Jews caused me.

You know, that I never held back from doing anything that could be useful for you;

I spoke publicly and in your homes; and I urged Jews, and non-Jews, alike,

to turn to God and believe in our Lord Jesus.

 

But now, I am going to Jerusalem, chained by the Spirit, without knowing what will happen to me there.

Yet, in every city, the Holy Spirit warns me, that imprisonment and troubles await me.

Indeed, I put no value on my life; if only I can finish my race; and complete the service to which I have been

assigned by the Lord Jesus, to announce the good news of God's grace.

I now feel sure that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom of God,

will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you, this day,

that my conscience is clear with regard to all of you. For I have spared no effort in fully declaring to you God's will.

 

Ps 68:10-11, 20-21

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

John 17:1-11a

After saying this, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come!

Give glory to your Son, that the Son may give glory to you. You have given him power over all humanity,

so that he may give eternal life to all those you entrusted to him. For this is eternal life:

to know you, the only true God, and the One you sent, Jesus Christ.

I have glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to do. Now, Father,

give me, in your presence, the same glory I had with you before the world began.

 

I have made your name known to those you gave me from the World. They were yours,

and you gave them to me, and they kept your word. And now they know that whatever you entrusted to me,

is indeed from you. I have given them the teaching I received from you, and they accepted it,

and know in truth that I came from you; and they believe that you sent me.

I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those who belong to you, and whom you have given to me.

Indeed, all I have is yours, and all you have is mine; and now they are my glory.

I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I come to you.

Holy Father, keep those you have given me in your name, so that they may be one, as we also are.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

We are all called to serve the Lord faithfully.

Life generally consists of arrivals and departures, of coming and going. In the first reading,

St. Paul expressed his parting words to the elders of Ephesus. It was a sad occasion for him as he left his mission area.

Although heartbreaking, what mattered most to him was that he shared the Gospel with them.

He gave an example of his life, as he considered himself an open book for all to read, with nothing to hide.

 

He served the Lord faithfully, enduring tears and trials. He suffered everything for the sake of sharing the Gospel.

Paul might agree with the saying, "Life consists of arrivals and departures," but the in-between is more critical for him.

We are still in between. It involves doing our best to share the Gospel with others

and to live a Christian life despite our sins. Like St. Paul, we are also missionaries in our own ways.

We are all called to serve the Lord faithfully, with tears and trials.