The image on the cover of our Parish Blog post today is simply drawing attention to the memorial day of St Matthias. He’s the character in our faith story of course, who we hear of in the passage from the Acts of the Apostles that is the first reading set down for today’s Mass. In the post today, I’ve just shared a few reflections leading from this choice of Matthias – into our own discernments in the journey of life and faith – picking up on the themes about God’s nature and motive towards us that we see evident in today’s Gospel passage from John. See the voice recording that’s inserted below after these readings from the Mass of the day. Blessings for your own reflections on these readings and themes – and wishing you an encouraging day.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (1:15-17,20-26)
One day Peter stood up to speak to the brothers – there were about a hundred and twenty persons in the congregation: ‘Brothers, the passage of scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit, speaking through David, foretells the fate of Judas, who offered himself as a guide to the men who arrested Jesus – after having been one of our number and actually sharing this ministry of ours. Now in the Book of Psalms it says:
Let his camp be reduced to ruin,
Let there be no one to live in it.
And again:
Let someone else take his office.
‘We must therefore choose someone who has been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was travelling round with us, someone who was with us right from the time when John was baptising until the day when he was taken up from us – and he can act with us as a witness to his resurrection.’
Having nominated two candidates, Joseph known as Barsabbas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias, they prayed, ‘Lord, you can read everyone’s heart; show us therefore which of these two you have chosen to take over this ministry and apostolate, which Judas abandoned to go to his proper place.’ They then drew lots for them, and as the lot fell to Matthias, he was listed as one of the twelve apostles.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 112(113):1-8
Response> Alleluia
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore!
R> Alleluia
From the rising of the sun to its setting
praised be the name of the Lord!
High above all nations is the Lord,
above the heavens his glory.
R> Alleluia
Who is like the Lord, our God,
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down,
to look down upon heaven and earth?
R> Alleluia
From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the dungheap he raises the poor
to set him in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
R> Alleluia
Gospel Acclamation (cf John 15:16)
Alleluia, alleluia!
I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord,
to go and bear fruit that will last.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (15:9-17)
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
I have told you this
so that my own joy may be in you
and your joy be complete.
This is my commandment:
love one another, as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love
than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends,
if you do what I command you.
I shall not call you servants any more,
because a servant does not know
his master’s business;
I call you friends,
because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.
You did not choose me:
no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you
to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
and then the Father will give you
anything you ask him in my name.
What I command you
is to love one another.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
RECORDED HOMILY SHARED FROM TODAY
>>Click on the triangle play button to access the reflection<<
See you in the next Parish Blog post and ..
with friendship in God’s mission,
fr Paul
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Patrick Gleeson
3 years ago
Hello Paul I once again a lovely slate on the scriptures thank you so much for the hard work you’re putting out there for us God bless you Patrick
Hello Paul I once again a lovely slate on the scriptures thank you so much for the hard work you’re putting out there for us God bless you Patrick
Thanks a lot Patrick. Glad it’s helpful