May 5, 2015

May 5

May 5, 2015:  Tuesday, Fifth Week of Easter

See eight connections with
today's readings and celebration?Legend below

Listen

Pope Francis homily
Christians bear tribulations with courage:  The prince of this world tries to tear us away from Jesus, faith, and hope.  Paul often refers to enduring tribulations.  Bearing is more than patience; it's carrying weight on your shoulders.  Jesus tells us to have courage in those times, to go forward in life's difficult moments.
Rely on the Lord in times of trouble:  Christians can face tribulations and persecution by entrusting themselves to the Lord, who alone can give us strength, perseverance, and hope.  To entrust something, a moment, families and friends, or myself to the Lord, I say, "Take care of them; they're yours."  The prayer of entrustment is a beautiful Christian prayer; it's the attitude of trust in the Father's power and tenderness.  When you pray this, he won't disappoint.  Trials make us suffer, but trust gives hope and peace.
The Lord's peace strengthens our faith and hope:  Jesus said, "I leave you my peace":  not a simple peace of mind but peace that goes within, gives strength, and reinforces our faith and our hope.
Tribulations, trust and peace:  Life has tribulations, but we must trust the Lord, and he answers us with peace.  The Father loves us and never disappoints.  May the Lord strengthen our faith and hope and give us the confidence to overcome our trials because he's overcome the world and gives us his peace.
Read
    Peace I bequeath to you
    (animate)
  • Acts 14:19-28  Some Jews stoned Paul and assumed him dead, but when disciples gathered around him, he got up and left to proclaim the good news elsewhere.  They returned and exhorted the disciples to persevere in the faith:  “It is necessary to undergo hardships to enter the Kingdom.”  They appointed presbyters, commended them to God, proclaimed the word on the road, then called the Church together to spend time with the disciples and report on what God had done and how he opened faith's door to the Gentiles.
  • Ps 145:10-13ab, 21  "Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom."  Let your works give you thanks and your faithful ones bless you.
  • Jn 14:27-31a  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you, not as the world gives.  Don't let your hearts be troubled or afraid.  Rejoice that I'm going to the Father.  The ruler of the world is coming, but he has no power over me.  The world must know I love the Father and do as he has commanded.”
Reflect
  • One Bread One Body:  "Perseverance in pain":  After being beaten unconscious, Paul regained consciousness and went back into Lystra, fearless, unstoppable, persevering.  He encouraged the disciples to persevere and had the credibility to do so.  "If only I can finish my race and complete the service the Lord Jesus assigned me...."  "All my attention is on the finish line as I run toward the prize God calls me to...." "I have fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith."  Jesus persevered on the path to Calvary.  Jesus:  "Whoever holds out till the end will escape death."  We can persevere through the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • Passionist:  In the 1st reading, Paul got dragged out of the city, but eventually they made disciples.  “It is necessary for us to undergo hardships to enter the Kingdom.”  Luke didn't got overwhelmed by the negative; he had faith and hope.  Jesus declares peace is his gift to us but also that the world's ruler is coming.  Our ancestors counted success in terms of God’s will.  Growth follows times of persecution.  We don't succeed by reaching particular goals but rather by trusting the One who grafted us onto the vine.
  • DailyScripture.net:  The world tries to avoid trouble and a refuse to face unpleasant things, but Jesus offers peace that conquers our fears and anxieties.  "Peace is serenity of mind, tranquility of soul, simplicity of heart, the bond of love, the fellowship of charity.  It removes hatred, settles wars, restrains wrath, tramples on pride, loves the humble, pacifies the discordant and makes enemies agree.  It is pleasing to everyone.  It does not seek what belongs to another or consider anything as its own.  It teaches people to love because it doesn't know how to get angry, extol itself, or become inflated with pride.  It is meek and humble, possessing rest and tranquility.  When a Christian exercises the peace of Christ, Christ brings it to perfection.  If you love it, you'll be an heir of God.  When Christ was returning to the Father, he left his peace to his followers as their inherited good, teaching them and saying, 'My peace I give to you, my peace I leave with you.'  Anyone who's received this peace should keep it, one who's destroyed it should look for it, and anyone who's lost it should seek it." (St. Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 174)....
Dress legend
  • 'Stone' tie pin:  "They stoned Paul and dragged him out" (1st reading)
  • 'Kneeling person' tie pin: "They commended them to the Lord with prayer and fasting" (1st reading)
  • 'Sailboats' tie:  travel from Antioch/Iconium to Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Antioch, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Attalia, and back to Antioch (1st reading)
  • 'Crown' tie bar:  Your friends make known your kingdom's splendor  (psalm)
  • 'Peace sign' tie bar: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." (gospel)
  • 'Girl with heart' pin: "Don't let your hearts be troubled or afraid." (gospel)
  • 'Ruler' suspenders:  "I won't speak much with you for the world's 'ruler' is coming" (gospel)
  • White shirt and socks:  Easter season
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