Thursday, May 18, 2006
Friday 5th Week of Easter
May 19, 2006
Friday 5th Week of Easter - Yr II
ACTS 15:22-31
The Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church,
decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul
and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and
Silas, leaders among the brothers. This is the letter delivered by
them: "The Apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers
in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings. Since we
have heard that some of our number who went out without any mandate
from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of
mind, we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to
send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have
dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we are
sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word
of mouth: 'It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place
on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from
meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals,
and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be
doing what is right. Farewell.'" And so they were sent on their
journey. Upon their arrival in Antioch they called the assembly
together and delivered the letter. When the people read it, they were
delighted with the exhortation.
JOHN 15:12-17
Jesus said to his disciples: "This is my commandment: love one another
as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's
life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command
you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what
his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you
everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me,
but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will
remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another."
REFLECTION
John's Gospel narrates the conversation Jesus had with his apostles at
the Last Supper. He was aware of the plotting of Judas and the Jewish
leaders. He would leave the supper room and enter into the hours of his
passion and death. He realized he would be abandoned and denied by his
own disciples. Yet there is no pleading with them "to please support me
in my trials, to stay at my side, to give me of your strength in the
hour of my weakness." Through Chapter 15 of St. John's Gospel we read
that Jesus has a lack of interest for himself; his concern is only for
his disciples and for others.
It's true that while he was in the Garden of Gethsemane a few moments
later, he did ask Peter, James and John to remain awake and to assist
him with their prayers. However, this was the moment at which the
devil's temptation was strongest. For Satan was tempting Jesus to
abandon his values, to refuse his Father's bidding, to turn away from
the path of suffering and death. At that moment Jesus needed the
strength the apostles could win for him through their prayers. He
begged the apostles therefore to remain awake and to pray. Yet even at
that moment, when they failed him and slept while he was being buffeted
by Satan's temptations, his concern for them compelled him to excuse
them. "The spirit is willing," he reflected, "but the flesh is weak."
Throughout the whole of Chapter 15 Jesus is concerned only about these
men, his disciples. Listen to Jesus' words and see where his concern
lay. "Remain in me and let my words remain in you and anything you ask
will be given to you." "Go out and bear much fruit, fruit that will
last and then the Father will give you anything you ask in my name."
"What I command you is to love one another."
If only we could have this total disregard for self and this fullness
of love for one another, what a happy world we could create!
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- good health for Elsa & Paolo
- for the personal intentions of Domingo Alfonso & Family
- Birthday : Allan Alfonso
- Birthday : Romeo Alfonso
- for the speedy recovery of Cadio Perreras.
- for the healing and recovery of Poch Robles.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Justine Bengzon. Eternal
rest grant unto her and may perpetual light shine upon her. May she
rest in peace.
- for the personal intentions of Veronica Yap.
- for the personal intentions of Jeffrey and Ginbee.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Laureana Cabansag Rebosa.
Eternal rest grant unto her and may perpetual light shine upon her.
May she and all the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace.
- Wedding Anniversary: Albert & Lily Uy
- for the personal intentions of Audie Cabrera.
- for the complete healing of Michael O. Logatoc & Lydia Endozo.
- for the personal intentions of Corie.
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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� 2006 Daily-Homily
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