1ST READING
The decision that the Gospel was as much for the Gentiles as for the Jews was not something that the Early Church arrived at overnight. It is a well-reflected and considered decision that would have been argued about over a period of time. That it is Peter and not Paul who is presented as the first to take the Gospel to the Gentiles from a reflected position in the Acts of the Apostles only serves to underline our thesis that the obvious candidate for this role would have been Paul. But in the end, giving the role to Peter underlines the fact that this is an official Church decision and not one made by an individual.
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. 26 Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.” 34 Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. 35 Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word. 45 The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, 46 for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded, 47 “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?” 48 He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
P S A L M
Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
R: The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 2 The Lord has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 3 He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. 4 Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R)
2nd READING
John’s first letter is focused on love being at both the heart of the Gospel proclamation and its lived experience. Without love, we are nothing. This is what the life of Jesus teaches us particularly in His efforts to include the poor and marginalized in His mission work. Nothing speaks more strongly of the universality of the Gospel message than this. And at its basis is the call of love — love of God and love of neighbor.
1 John 4:7-10
7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. 8 Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. 10 In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
GOSPEL
We reflected upon this text last week and you might say that it is a waste of time to do so again. No, it isn’t. This is part of the wonder of the Gospels and the Scriptures in general — that we cannot exhaust them when it comes to drawing guidance and inspiration from them. It is important to read the Scriptures as a whole and to seek their contextual meaning. However, there is also a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to be drawn from individual texts. Either way, we will certainly not exhaust their message, even in a lifetime of reflection.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
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.”
1st READING 2nd READING
GOSPEL PSALM
think: Without love, we are nothing.
T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Joshua 9-12
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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