“I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.” (JN 12: 46-47)
Every one of us has difficult situations and moments of darkness when we are not sure what to do, where to go or how to respond; we feel like we “remain in darkness.” Our Lord is the answer for all of these situations: “I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.” He is present in our churches (in the Blessed Sacrament); He is present in our hearts (after Holy Communion we are like living tabernacles), and He is present in our homes, especially in the Bible—His word. When we listen to Him daily and when we “hear His words and observe them,” we receive His light, but even if we don’t do this, we are still loved and supported because He “did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.”
“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch…” (ACTS 11:19)
God can use different ways to send His apostles anywhere. Using persecution or using prosperity—they were spreading the Good News. Our home is in Heaven, here we are pilgrims. Our mission is to spread the Good News.
“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“This is why the Father loves me, 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. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.” (JN 10: 17-18)
It wasn’t an “accident” or “misunderstanding”—it was His decision—“no one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.” He did it for us and for our salvation “in order” to fulfill God’s love for us.
“I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 PT 2: 23-24)
Our Lord gives us an example of how to protect our relationships and how to grow together. The most important part is to be independent and free in our reactions: “when He was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten.” In marriage and family life, we are so connected, and sometimes it is so easy to answer the same way—we respond with malice for malice or with anger for anger. When we can stop these responses in ourselves, we can bring more peace and freedom to our families. And when we are wounded, we can bring our wounds to Him: “by His wounds we have been healed.”
“I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”” (JN 6: 66-69)
Our Lord respects our freedom. When He comes with His grace and presence, He is still very gentle and does not force us to accept Him or His teaching: “as a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him.” We prefer to say with Simon Peter: “Master, to Whom we shall go? You have the words of eternal life.” We are weak, we are sinners, we fall, but we believe that Our Lord is “the Holy One of God” and that His words are “Spirit and life.”
“Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.” (Gospel Accalamation)
“Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” (ACTS 9: 15-16)
Rejected by people but chosen by God, St. Paul became one of the best evangelizers ever. This persecutor of the Church became “a chosen instrument of Our Lord to carry His name before Gentiles.” Probably our mission is much less spectacular than St. Paul’s mission, but we are also chosen instruments of God, to carry His name before Gentiles. Different mission, but the same rejection. When we are united, we become stronger.
“Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood, remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him.” (ACTS 8: 34-35)
This Scripture passage and many others in the Acts of the Apostles are the beginnings of street evangelization. Philip, open to the Holy Spirit, followed an angel’s directions and was ready to proclaim Jesus. We also have many occasions to do the same. Maybe less spectacular, maybe more in our homes—to our children or spouses, maybe more simple in form, but for sure we are invited to evangelize.
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (JN 14: 6-7)
With every page of the Bible, we learn who Our Lord is. And knowing Him we immediately “will also know His Father.” Jesus is perfectly transparent—through His words, His miracles and His life, He shows us His Father and His love for us.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord; Philip, whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (JN 6: 32-33)
The real bread is “the bread of God… which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world,” the only one who is able to satisfy our hungers, put light into our darkness, give us strength and lead us to heaven. Only in Our Lord, “the bread of life,” we have answers to our questions and are recognized as God’s children, unconditionally loved forever.
“I am the bread of life, says the Lord; whoever comes to me will never hunger.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (JN 6:27)
Our daily activities are based on our concern to “work for food,” which is self-understanding—we need to take care of our bodies. But we are not only bodies. We are also souls–we exist as an “incarnate spirit,” and we need to remember “the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give us.” The Eucharist and “every word that comes from the mouth of God” protect us from being focused only on this life.
“One does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes froth from the mouth of God.” (Gospel Acclamation0)
