1st reading: Acts of the Apostles 1:15-17.20-26.
During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said,
“My brothers, 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.
He 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.’
Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us,
beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.”
Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
Psalms 103(102):1-2.11-12.19-20.
Of David. Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, my soul; do not forget all the gifts of God,
As the heavens tower over the earth, so God’s love towers over the faithful.
As far as the east is from the west, so far have our sins been removed from us.
The LORD’S throne is established in heaven; God’s royal power rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you angels, mighty in strength and attentive, obedient to every command.
2nd reading: First Letter of John 4:11-16.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 17:11-19.
And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one.
They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.
Sermon Thoughts:
In today’s gospel passage we meet Jesus in 2 stages.
The first stage is his preparation for “departure”.
“I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world”
So he asks his “Holy Father” to keep them in his name”,
so that they may be one.
Man – God Union is mentioned here.
Jesus could happen it to some extend. Jesus asserts that he protected them except Judas, “in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. “
And is disturbed by the difficulties, his followers have to face.
He is anticipates the denial of the Word and its followers in the world, as he says: “I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.“
Jesus took the form of a man by this Word. He lived and suffered for it. His Life was the “word”. Finally Jesus achieved his victory through the “Word”. The suffering is still alive and Jesus is disturbed, how his followers are going to suffer for it. His concern regarding his followers is mirrored in this passage.
In order to face this big challenge,
to be in the world and still behave not like,
Jesus mediates for them. He prays to,
“Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. “
There are many prayers of Jesus.
Our father is the famous one. He also prays in Gethsemane and on the cross.
But this prayer is centered on the Sanctification of his followers and of the church surely.
Jesus’ concern is really expressive in the words in the repeated use of some words.
Jesus proves, he is the “shepherd” through this passage.
Jesus calls St. Peter to lead his sheep. But this part is somehow ignored in many parts of the churches. So we experience so many reports against churches and its institutions. This happens only when we ignore this “pastoral” aspect of our mission.
In these days, we came across with the tragic events that happened from Ireland. The misuse of the children, both physically and mentally-was reported in the European media.
( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8059973.stm )
Such incidents will never glorify the church. On the contrary it will mislead the people from the church.
May be we can say it may lead us to “sanctification”, having a rethinking on the various policies of the hierarchy. But the “injuries” will be present in the many victims.
Why there are increased numbers of such incidents in the church?
I think first of all many are lacking the pastoral care.
Jesus’ prayers was one that of a real pastor.
He cared his disciples as his own and even he could separate from them only with such a heavy mind.
Jesus expresses his human nature of concern, his humanity here.
Many- yes, sad to confess that, many priests and nuns and persons who have dedicated their lives for serving the people and God, are some times far away from the humanity. Some are unable to understand their needs. Now we are not analyzing its reasons. But it must be revised seriously and urgently.
Today Jesus prays not only for the external danger to his Church, his sheep.
But he is deeply irritated and worried and afraid of the danger from its followers.
We can decide ourselves what kind of Church we need.
A Church without human concerns or a Church of controversies?
I think Jesus would prefer a church, praying together for each other,
Protecting each other, looking with concern each other.
Together with Jesus let us pray to “consecrate us” in his Love. Amen
During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said,
“My brothers, 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.
He 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.’
Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us,
beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.”
Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
Psalms 103(102):1-2.11-12.19-20.
Of David. Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, my soul; do not forget all the gifts of God,
As the heavens tower over the earth, so God’s love towers over the faithful.
As far as the east is from the west, so far have our sins been removed from us.
The LORD’S throne is established in heaven; God’s royal power rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you angels, mighty in strength and attentive, obedient to every command.
2nd reading: First Letter of John 4:11-16.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 17:11-19.
And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one.
They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.
Sermon Thoughts:
In today’s gospel passage we meet Jesus in 2 stages.
The first stage is his preparation for “departure”.
“I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world”
So he asks his “Holy Father” to keep them in his name”,
so that they may be one.
Man – God Union is mentioned here.
Jesus could happen it to some extend. Jesus asserts that he protected them except Judas, “in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. “
And is disturbed by the difficulties, his followers have to face.
He is anticipates the denial of the Word and its followers in the world, as he says: “I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.“
Jesus took the form of a man by this Word. He lived and suffered for it. His Life was the “word”. Finally Jesus achieved his victory through the “Word”. The suffering is still alive and Jesus is disturbed, how his followers are going to suffer for it. His concern regarding his followers is mirrored in this passage.
In order to face this big challenge,
to be in the world and still behave not like,
Jesus mediates for them. He prays to,
“Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. “
There are many prayers of Jesus.
Our father is the famous one. He also prays in Gethsemane and on the cross.
But this prayer is centered on the Sanctification of his followers and of the church surely.
Jesus’ concern is really expressive in the words in the repeated use of some words.
Jesus proves, he is the “shepherd” through this passage.
Jesus calls St. Peter to lead his sheep. But this part is somehow ignored in many parts of the churches. So we experience so many reports against churches and its institutions. This happens only when we ignore this “pastoral” aspect of our mission.
In these days, we came across with the tragic events that happened from Ireland. The misuse of the children, both physically and mentally-was reported in the European media.
( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8059973.stm )
Such incidents will never glorify the church. On the contrary it will mislead the people from the church.
May be we can say it may lead us to “sanctification”, having a rethinking on the various policies of the hierarchy. But the “injuries” will be present in the many victims.
Why there are increased numbers of such incidents in the church?
I think first of all many are lacking the pastoral care.
Jesus’ prayers was one that of a real pastor.
He cared his disciples as his own and even he could separate from them only with such a heavy mind.
Jesus expresses his human nature of concern, his humanity here.
Many- yes, sad to confess that, many priests and nuns and persons who have dedicated their lives for serving the people and God, are some times far away from the humanity. Some are unable to understand their needs. Now we are not analyzing its reasons. But it must be revised seriously and urgently.
Today Jesus prays not only for the external danger to his Church, his sheep.
But he is deeply irritated and worried and afraid of the danger from its followers.
We can decide ourselves what kind of Church we need.
A Church without human concerns or a Church of controversies?
I think Jesus would prefer a church, praying together for each other,
Protecting each other, looking with concern each other.
Together with Jesus let us pray to “consecrate us” in his Love. Amen
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