“You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.” (J 15:3)
Pruned to bear more fruit. Pruned because of the word that Our Lord spoke to us. He takes care of my fruit and of me. Between the fruit and me is His word. My role is to take care of the word. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you” (J 15:7). In effect, the Father will be glorified, we will bear much fruit and become His disciples. Everything because of the word that He spoke to me.
“Let my mouth be filled with your praise, that I may sing aloud; my lips shall shout for joy, when I sing to you, alleluia.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (J 14:27)
Our Lord’s peace is left for us and given to us. It is not just a gift for us to support us in difficult times.This is His peace. We participate in the same peace He had. We don’t experience it when we accept compromise and agree to do things we don’t really want for the sake of “peace and quiet.” Nor when we force our spouse into doing so. His peace comes when we choose greater, mutual good. With His peace we can stay calm (like water) even in hard times and react with gentleness and respect.
“Sing praise to our God, all you who fear God, both small and great, for now salvation and strength have come, and the power of his Christ, alleluia.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” (J 14, 24)
A very simple way to protect my love for Our Lord: keep His word in my mind, my memory, my daily life. His part is much bigger: Father will love me, They will come to me and make Their dwelling with me. My heart will become His dwelling.
“Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory” (Ps 115)
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table… we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:2. 4)
Among many ways to serve the others, prayer and the ministry of the word are most important. Especially for us, priests, but not only. All believers are participants in the common priesthood. Putting prayer and God’s word in the first place helps me understand His love for me and my role in this world. Helps me be united with Him.
“I am the true vine and ou are the branches, says the Lord. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, bears fruit in plenty, alleluia” (Communion Antiphon).
“… almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.” (Acts 13, 44)
I listen to these words with delight and admiration: “To hear the word of the Lord” and “almost the whole city gathered.” How far our cities are from this? We are more interested to know how many people saw the new movie in its first week in theatres or how to organize ticket for a concert than to gather together to hear the word of the Lord. In His word we can hear about His love, compassion, forgiveness and hope. His word is the Life, the Way and the Truth. Being with Him for a few moments every day means more than we can imagine. And is life-changing.
“If you remain in my word, you will truly by my disciples, and you will know the truth, says the Lord.” (Alleluia versus)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” (J 14:1)
Hearts in trouble. How often are we in trouble. Our world is falling apart. But we are never alone, Our Lord is always with us. “Have faith in God”. There is no situation in which He is not the Lord, and He will show us the solution. In trouble go to Him. And never allow your heart to forget about His presence in your life.
“Christ our Lord was handed over for our transgressions and was raised again for ou justification, alleluia.” (Communion Antiphon)
“Amen, amen I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him” (J 13:16)
A slave and a messenger. A difficult combination. Totally dependent and at the same moment, as a messenger, so independent. He should take care of the content of his message (faithful), of different audiences (flexible) and of his own development (prayerful) How much depends on Him. But because we are chosen and it wasn’t our idea, we are able to carry out our mission..
“Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, alleluia” (Communion Antiphon)
“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. Judas was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. 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”. (Acts 1:16-20).
Our Lord is gone. He’s come back to His Father. For the Apostles every day brings new situations and decisions to be made, but there is no one to ask for advice. He is gone. Fortunately “it is written in the Book of Psalms” and we know how to proceed. He is always present in His word. The more we know His words, the more we know Him. “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ” (St. Jerome).
“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord” (Alleluia versus)
“Those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word…” (Acts 11:19).
Bad people, horrible persecution and at the same moment God’s word is spreading. Persecution is an inseparable companion of the Church. It is not “the persecution” which can stop the Church, but the lack of “preaching the word”. When we meditate on His word daily, when we let the Word to be preached to our hearts, Our Lord will take care of the rest.
“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me. Alleluia” (Alleluia versus)
“…because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on my own” (J 10:17-18).
How often do we blame the circumstances: “I had no time,” “to much work,” “he/she made me angry,” “my wife/husband did not support me” and so on. “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.” Everything looked as if they had taken His life from Him, but He was above the circumstances, He came to fulfill God’s will. He came to lead, to protect, to support and to love each of us.
“Christ, having risen from the dead, dies now no more, death will no longer have dominion over him, alleluia” (Entrance Antiphon)
