＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Acts 16:22-34

 So they set the crowd against them

and the officials tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered them to be flogged. And after inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to guard them safely. Upon re­ceiving these instructions, he threw them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

 About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly a severe earthquake shook the place, rocking the prison to its foundations. Immediately all the doors flew open and the chains of all the pri­soners fell off. The jailer woke up to see the prison gates wide open. Thinking that the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword to kill himself, but Paul shouted to him, “Do not harm yourself! We are all still here.”

The jailer asked for a light, then rushed in, and fell at the feet of Paul and Silas. After he had secured the other prisoners, he led them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your household will be saved.” Then they spoke the word of God to him and to all his household.

 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer took care of them and washed their wounds; and he and his whole household were baptized at once. He led them to his house, spread a meal before them and joyfully celebrated with his whole household his newfound faith in God.

 

Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8

Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

John 16:5-11

But now I am going to the One who sent me and none of you asks me where I am going; instead you are overcome with grief because of what I have said.

 Indeed believe me: It is better for you that I go away, because as long as I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go away, it is to send him to you, and when he comes, he will vindicate the truth in face of the world with regard to sin, to the way of righteousness, and to the Judgment.

What has been the sin? They did not believe in me. What is the way of righteousness? I am on the way to the Father, meanwhile you will not see me. What Judgment? The prince of this world has himself been condemned.

 

Gospel Reflection：

 So now the actual persecutions begin, the antagonism towards the message of Jesus bursts out in acts of hatred and violence towards Paul and the rest of the apostolic band. We know, of course, how this will all end for the disciples.

Each one of them safe John the beloved disciples, will be called upon to witness to Jesus with their own blood. And yet all throughout, we see the power and might of God seeing them through. Beaten and jailed, Paul and Silas find themselves freed; they even converted the jailer and baptized his entire household. Once again, the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus had promised strengthened them.

We do not witness to Jesus on our own. The Holy Spirit is always there to strengthen and empower us. In fact, our very capacity to witness to the Good News is a gift of his grace. With such a powerful Advocate what is there for us to fear?

Just as the early Church boldly proclaimed its faith in the Risen Lord, going as far as to shed its blood for the sake of the Gospel, so too must we trust in the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit and, casting away all fear, witness to the faith which we profess.