1ST READING
The
Early Church makes it clear that it is led by the Holy Spirit and not
just by a human person. Drawing straws is not normally an advisable way
to determine the outcome of an important decision. However, I think we
can see what it tells us of the nature of the leadership of the early
Christian community. There was a fundamental trust that God would
manifest His will for the Church despite the sinfulness of its members.
Thus, they seemingly left the choosing of Matthias to chance.
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
15 Peter
stood up in the midst of the brothers and sisters (there was a group of
about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said, 16 “My
brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy
Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas,
who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 Judas was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. 20 For
it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his encampment become
desolate, and may no one dwell in it.’ And: ‘May another take his
office.’ 21 Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, 22 beginning
from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from
us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and
Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” 26 Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles.
P S A L M
Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R: The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.
1 Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever. (R) 3 From the rising to the setting of the sun is the name of the Lord to be praised. 4 High above all nations is the Lord; above the heavens is his glory. (R) 5
Who is like the Lord, our God, who is enthroned on high 6 and looks upon the heavens and the earth below? 7 (R) He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor 8 to seat them with princes, with the princes of his own people. (R)
GOSPEL
For
Jesus, the Gospel is all about love. If love is lacking, then what we
are doing is not worth doing at all. This is why we need to reflect upon
the true nature of love and make sure we are not deceived by the many
counterfeit manifestations of love in the modern world. Read through
1Corinthians 13. If our experience of love does not match this
description, then we can be pretty sure that it is not true love.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
John 15:9-17
9 Jesus said to his disciples: As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. 13
No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 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. 16 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. 17 This I command you: love one another.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Joshua 13-16
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