"PROMISE OF PEACE AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT"
First Reading : Acts 15:1-2,22-29
Second Reading: Apocalypse 21:10-14, 22-23
Gospel Reading: John 14:23-29
*First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. This passage describes the problems faced by the early Christian community and how the Apostles resolved them through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Many gentiles (non-Jews) became believers in the Lord as a result of the preaching of Paul and Barnabas. But the question was how much of the mosaic law was applicable to the new converts? The first council of the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit gave a decision which was far reaching. It is not the external circumcision that matters but rather the internal disposition of the heart that really matters.
* Second reading is from the book of Apocalypse. This passage describes a majestic picture of the new Jerusalem- the heavenly Church of the future where God's Kingdom will come in its glory. The image of the Holy city of Jerusalem as the bride of the Lamb points to the heavenly origin of the Church.
"Jesus expresses His love and promises Holy Spirit and peace"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. This passage contains a part of the farewell discourse of Jesus at the Last Supper. At the onset of the discourse Jesus expresses His love for His beloved disciples. They in turn are asked to love Him by keeping His commandments. Then Jesus promises a Councilor the Holy Spirit who will be sent by the Father. He promised them that the Holy Spirit will teach all things and bring to remembrance what Jesus Himself taught them. Finally Jesus promises His peace to His disciples. He gave the assurance that they are not to be afraid of anything or to be worried about anything because He is going to the heavenly Father. Jesus' unshakable faith in the Father is the basis and the source of the promised peace. Jesus offers the same peace to each one of us. Let the peace of the Risen Lord remain in our hearts and minds which the world cannot give us.
"When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others" - M.K. Gandhi.
"If we have no peace , it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
First Reading : Acts 15:1-2,22-29
Second Reading: Apocalypse 21:10-14, 22-23
Gospel Reading: John 14:23-29
*First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. This passage describes the problems faced by the early Christian community and how the Apostles resolved them through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Many gentiles (non-Jews) became believers in the Lord as a result of the preaching of Paul and Barnabas. But the question was how much of the mosaic law was applicable to the new converts? The first council of the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit gave a decision which was far reaching. It is not the external circumcision that matters but rather the internal disposition of the heart that really matters.
* Second reading is from the book of Apocalypse. This passage describes a majestic picture of the new Jerusalem- the heavenly Church of the future where God's Kingdom will come in its glory. The image of the Holy city of Jerusalem as the bride of the Lamb points to the heavenly origin of the Church.
"Jesus expresses His love and promises Holy Spirit and peace"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. This passage contains a part of the farewell discourse of Jesus at the Last Supper. At the onset of the discourse Jesus expresses His love for His beloved disciples. They in turn are asked to love Him by keeping His commandments. Then Jesus promises a Councilor the Holy Spirit who will be sent by the Father. He promised them that the Holy Spirit will teach all things and bring to remembrance what Jesus Himself taught them. Finally Jesus promises His peace to His disciples. He gave the assurance that they are not to be afraid of anything or to be worried about anything because He is going to the heavenly Father. Jesus' unshakable faith in the Father is the basis and the source of the promised peace. Jesus offers the same peace to each one of us. Let the peace of the Risen Lord remain in our hearts and minds which the world cannot give us.
"When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others" - M.K. Gandhi.
"If we have no peace , it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
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