Pentecost is considered the birth of the church. We have been seeing the past seven weeks since the resurrection how the disciples continued the mission of Jesus in Jerusalem, in the surrounding areas, to the farthest parts of the known world, and all the inhabitants of that world, Jew and Gentile alike. Surely Peter, Paul and the other disciples caught the fire of the Holy Spirit and warmed the hearts of those who heard them.

Saturday in the Seventh Week of Easter

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31

Ps 11:4, 5+7

J ohn 21:20-25 Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who  is it that is going to betray you?" (21) When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" (22) Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" (23) The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" (24) This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. (25) But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Meditation by Tom Shanahan, S.J.

B oth of the readings for today’s liturgy are literally last words.  The first reading contains St. Paul’s voice concluding the Acts of the Apostles; and the Gospel of John closes with a question by St. Peter.  Peter and Paul, the disciples most closely associated with spreading the Good News of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is surely a fit ending. What comes to an end today, the season of Easter celebration, culminates in the feast of Pentecost, the sending of the Holy Spirit to the disciples – which we will celebrate tomorrow.

Pentecost, then, is the final segment of God’s plan for rescuing us through the mystery of the resurrection (including the resurrection itself, the ascension of Jesus back to His Father and finally Pentecost).  We have been celebrating throughout the entire Easter season the work of the apostles as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles.  The disciples are lead by the Holy Spirit to share with others the wonders and the joy of Easter.

Pentecost is considered the birth of the church. We have been seeing the past seven weeks since the resurrection how the disciples continued the mission of Jesus in Jerusalem, in the surrounding areas, to the farthest parts of the known world, and all the inhabitants of that world, Jew and Gentile alike. Surely Peter, Paul and the other disciples caught the fire of the Holy Spirit and warmed the hearts of those who heard them.

And so these last words are, from our perspective today, in many respects a kind of beginning. We are invited to be like Peter and Paul: just as they preached the joy of the Christ Risen, so are we invited to receive that same Easter joy and then to share it with those with whom we come in contact. 

And so we pray today at the end of this Easter season: Keep us faithful to your Word which begins in you and comes to us through the preaching of the Apostles. Help us to receive the joy that you desire us to experience in the Risen Christ and to bring that joy to your people as they seek you, the source of their goodness

Supplementary Reading

Protected by Love

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there – James 3:16

A ll throughout scripture, God commands us to love. In fact, 1 Corinthians tells us that love is the greatest thing. Love is all that matters on this earth, and it's all that will last in eternity. But do you realize that we are protected when we walk in love? When we are selfish or self-seeking, the scripture tells us that it opens the door to confusion and every evil work. But when we walk in love, when we choose to put others first, when we choose to be patient and kind and walk in unity, we are protected by love. We close the door to the plans of the enemy in our lives.

Today, check your love walk. Read 1 Corinthians 13 and see if you emulate the characteristics of love. Remember, love is not a feeling; it's a choice. When you choose love, it's like you are covered by a force field of protection that cannot be penetrated.

Father God, I humbly come before You today asking that You search my heart. Remove any selfish way in me and help me to always walk in love. Thank You for protecting me through Your promises. In Jesus' Name. Amen.—Joel and Victoria Osteen

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GOD BLESS US ALL!
O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.