＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Acts 18:23-28

After spending some time there,

he left and traveled from place to place through Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the disciples. A certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived at Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker and an authority on the Scriptures, and he had some knowledge of the way of the Lord. With great enthusiasm he preached and taught correctly about Jesus, although he knew only of John’s baptism.

As he began to speak boldly in the synagogue, Priscilla and Aquila heard him; so they took him home with them and explained to him the way more accurately. As Apollos wished to go to Achaia, the believers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly strengthened those who, by God’s grace, had become be­lievers, for he vigorously refuted the Jews, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

 

Ps 47:2-3, 8-9, 10

God is king of all the earth.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

John 16:23b-28

When that day comes you will not ask me anything. Truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my Name, he will give you. So far you have not asked in my Name; ask and receive that your joy may be full.

I taught you all this in veiled language, but the time is coming when I shall no longer speak in veiled language, but will tell you plainly of the Father.

When that day comes, you will ask in my Name and it will not be for me to ask the Father for you, for the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and you believe that I came from the Father. As I came from the Father and have come into the world, so I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

 Just as our knowledge of things accumulates and our mastery of skills and our understanding of life and existence don’t happen all at once but in stages, so the Church’s understanding of the truths that Jesus came to reveal was also not a “one-shot” deal.

Rather, it happened in stages, guided by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration and help. Even while he was with the disciples, Jesus did not teach them everything all at once, rather he taught them gradually, beginning with simple things and then moving on to things that were far more difficult for them to comprehend and embrace, such as his teaching on his Body and Blood, or the fact of the Resurrection.

At times, our desire to know and understand things all at once hinders the work of the Spirit, as we impatiently try to “skip” the initial stages of the journey of faith and the spiritual life in a kind of mad rush to get to our destination, to achieve the results we want. In the face of such hurry, today’s readings encourage us to patiently wait. In God’s own time we will be led to greater clarity and truth.