“  No time is ever lost by prayer,

          for those who pray are workers together with God.  “

 

 St. Isidore, farmer

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 13:13-25

From Paphos,

Paul and his companions set sail and came to Perga in Pamphylia. There,

John left them and returned to Jerusalem while they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia.

On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the law and the prophets,

the officials of the synagogue sent this message to them, "Brothers,

if you have any word of encouragement for the assembly, please speak up."

 

So Paul arose, motioned to them for silence and began,

"Fellow Israelites and also all you who fear God, listen. The God of our people Israel chose our ancestors;

and after he had made them increase during their stay in Egypt, he led them out by powerful deeds.

For forty years he fed them in the desert; and after he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,

he gave them their land as an inheritance. All this took four hundred and fifty years.

After that, he gave them Judges, until Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king;

and God gave them Saul, son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin; and he was king for forty years.

 

After that time, God removed him and raised up David as king, to whom he bore witness saying:

I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all I want him to do.

It is from the descendants of David that God has now raised up the promised Savior of Israel, Jesus.

Before he appeared, John proclaimed a baptism of repentance for all the people of Israel.

As John was ending his life's work, he said: 'I am not what you think I am, for, after me, another one is coming whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.

 

Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 & 27 For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

John 13:16-20

Truly, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his master, nor is the messenger greater than he who sent him.

Understand this, and blessed are you if you put it into practice.

I am not speaking of you all, because I know the ones I have chosen,

and the Scripture has to be fulfilled which says: The one who shares my table will rise up against me.

 

I tell you this now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you may know that I am He.

Truly, I say to you, whoever welcomes the one I send, welcomes me;

and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the One who sent me."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Ordinary life can lead to holiness."

Saint Isidore, patron saint of farmers, day laborers and agriculture, as well as bricklayers,

is honoured in Spain and around the world. Many festivals take place throughout the Philippines to celebrate the feast of Saint Isidore the Farmer,

and to give thanks to God for a bountiful harvest. Saint Isidore spent his life as a hired hand to a wealthy Madrid landowner,

and although he and his wife had very little, he shared what they had with those in want, feeding many people who would come to their door.

Miraculously, the little pot of stew didn't run out even when there was a large number to feed.

 

The life of Saint Isidore is a reminder of the importance of love and generosity, of the dignity of work,

and that ordinary life can lead to holiness. His miracles also point to the importance of prayer and that even in a life of hard work there is time for prayer each day.

Jesus reminds us that when we welcome others, we are welcoming Christ. Moreover,

"the servant is not greater than his master." Instead, we are to grow like our Master, and learn his way of love and service, like Isidore.