DAILY GOSPEL: 27/04/2010
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68
Tuesday of the Fourth week of Easter
Acts of the Apostles 11:19-26.
Those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however, who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the Lord Jesus.
The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas (to go) to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
Psalms 87(86):1-3.4-5.6-7.
A psalm of the Korahites. A song. The LORD loves the city founded on holy mountains,
Loves the gates of Zion more than any dwelling in Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you, O city of God! Selah
From Babylon and Egypt I count those who acknowledge the LORD. Philistia, Ethiopia, Tyre, of them it can be said: "This one was born there."
But of Zion it must be said: "They all were born here." The Most High confirms this;
the Lord notes in the register of the peoples: "This one was born here." Selah
So all sing in their festive dance: "Within you is my true home."
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 10:22-30.
The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."
Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand.
The Father and I are one."
Those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however, who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the Lord Jesus.
The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas (to go) to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
Psalms 87(86):1-3.4-5.6-7.
A psalm of the Korahites. A song. The LORD loves the city founded on holy mountains,
Loves the gates of Zion more than any dwelling in Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you, O city of God! Selah
From Babylon and Egypt I count those who acknowledge the LORD. Philistia, Ethiopia, Tyre, of them it can be said: "This one was born there."
But of Zion it must be said: "They all were born here." The Most High confirms this;
the Lord notes in the register of the peoples: "This one was born here." Selah
So all sing in their festive dance: "Within you is my true home."
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 10:22-30.
The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."
Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand.
The Father and I are one."
Jn 10,22-30
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), founder of the Missionary Sisters of Charity
No Greater Love
"My sheep hear my voice"
You will think praying is difficult if you don't know how to go about it. We all have to help ourselves pray: first of all by having recourse to silence since we can't place ourselves in God's presence if we don't practise silence, interior as well as exterior. Becoming silent within isn't easy but the effort is indispensable. It is only in silence that we will find new strength and real union. God's strength will become our own so that we can do everything as it has to be done, and it will be the same regarding the union of our thoughts with his thoughts, our prayers with his prayers, our actions with his actions, our life with his life. Union is the fruit of prayer, humility and love.
God speaks in the silence of the heart. If you place yourself before God in silence and prayer, God will speak to you. Then you will know that you are nothing. It is only when you know your nothingness and emptiness that God can fill you with himself. The great souls of prayer are souls of great silence.
Silence causes us to see everything differently. We need silence if we are to touch the souls of others. The important thing is not what we say but what God says – what he says to us and what he says through us. In a silence like this he will listen to us; in silence like this he will speak to our souls and we will understand his voice.
God speaks in the silence of the heart. If you place yourself before God in silence and prayer, God will speak to you. Then you will know that you are nothing. It is only when you know your nothingness and emptiness that God can fill you with himself. The great souls of prayer are souls of great silence.
Silence causes us to see everything differently. We need silence if we are to touch the souls of others. The important thing is not what we say but what God says – what he says to us and what he says through us. In a silence like this he will listen to us; in silence like this he will speak to our souls and we will understand his voice.
St. Zita of Lucca, Virgin (1218-1278)
SAINT ZITA
Virgin
(1218-1278)
Virgin
(1218-1278)
Zita lived for forty-eight years in the service of Fatinelli, a citizen of Lucca. During this time she rose each morning, while the household were asleep, to hear Mass, and then toiled incessantly till night came, doing the work of others as well as her own.
Once Zita, absorbed in. prayer, remained in church past the usual hour of her bread-making. She hastened home, reproaching herself with neglect of duty, and found the bread made and ready for the oven. She never doubted that her mistress or one of her servants had kneaded it, and going to them, thanked them; but they were astonished. No human being had made the bread. A delicious perfume rose from it, for angels had made it during her prayer.
For years her master and mistress treated her as a mere drudge, while her fellow-servants, resenting her diligence as a reproach to themselves, insulted and struck her. Zita united these sufferings with those of Christ her Lord, never changing the sweet tone of her voice, nor forgetting her gentle and quiet ways.
At length Fatinelli, seeing the success which attended her undertakings, gave her charge of his children and of the household. She dreaded this dignity more than the worst humiliation, but scrupulously fulfilled her trust. By her holy economy her master's goods were multiplied, while the poor were fed at his door. Gradually her unfailing patience conquered the jealousy of her fellow-servants, and she became their advocate with their hot-tempered master, who dared not give way to his anger before Zita. In the end her prayer and toil sanctified the whole house, and drew down upon it the benediction of Heaven.
She died in 1272, and in the moment of her death a bright star appearing above her attic showed that she had gained eternal rest.
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