DEDICATED TO THE GOSPEL
Introduction
The books that have been our main companions throughout the Easter Season end with the committed, enthusiastic witness to the Good News of Jesus: Paul in his captivity, and Peter, whose martyrdom is predicted, and John, the beloved apostle, who has given a true testimony of Jesus in his Gospel.
What is the witness we can give to Jesus today? Does our way of life show that we believe in him and love him?
Opening Prayer
Lord, our God,
like Mary, the women and the apostles
on the day before the first Pentecost,
we are gathered in prayer.
Let the Holy Spirit come down also upon us,
that we may become enthusiastic believers
and faithful witnesses to the person
and the Good News of Jesus.
May our way of living bear witness
that Jesus is our light and life,
now and forever. Amen!
1 Reading: ACTS 28:16-20, 30-31
When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, “My brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me, because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty. But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation. This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains.” He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Responsorial PSALM: 11:4, 5 AND 7
R. (cf. 7b) The just will gaze on your face, O Lord. or: Alleluia.
The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold,
his searching glance is on mankind. R.
The LORD searches the just and the wicked;
the lover of violence he hates.
For the LORD is just, he loves just deeds;
the upright shall see his face. R.
Alleluia: JOHN 16:7, 13
Alleluia, alleluia.
I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;
he will guide you to all truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: JOHN 21:20-25
Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?” It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.
Commentary
Gazing Sideways
Old habits die hard! The simmering competitiveness that the disciples had suffered from still refuses to die out in Peter. And with good reason! After all, here is John known to be the “favourite” of the Master, even if there is no truth in such perception. (“Daddy/Mommy always loved you more than me”—isn’t this one of the perennial complaints among siblings even into their adult days?) We all have a natural and often excessive curiosity to know what destiny awaits the other, and a secret wish that it be no better than ours! As we climb up the ladder, we often look back over the shoulders, not always to help out the one behind, but to ensure that he/she does not overtake us! Jesus nips Peter’s undue curiosity in the bud by an equivalent of “leave it to me; It’s none of your business.” Our call is to follow the Lord, period. Too much of lateral gaze can drown us, as it once happened to Peter on the waters.
Intercessions
– That Pentecost may be for the Church, not something that happened in the past but a repeated renewal in the forgiveness and the life of Christ, we pray:
– That by the power of the Holy Spirit, we may be faithful to our faith and commitment to all that Jesus taught us, we pray:
– That the Holy Spirit may keep recreating us anew in the love of God and the love of people, we insistently pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Our loving, faithful God,
in these signs of bread and wine,
we want to celebrate the memory
of Jesus, our Lord and our Saviour.
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
make us one heart and soul in him.
May our love and concern for one another
express a strong faith in Jesus’ person and message,
and bear witness that he is alive among us
and that we are united in Jesus, our Lord. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
Lord, our God,
in this Eucharist,
Jesus has nourished us
with his word and his body.
Allow us to go with him
in our journey through life,
strong and confident through the Holy Spirit,
that we will build up your kingdom
of love and justice,
and that we will reach our destiny
of happiness without end.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen!
Blessing
May the Church be an open book in which people can read the Word of God. The Lord be in your hearts and on your lips, that you may worthily proclaim his Gospel, in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!