Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Lectionary: 299
Reading 1ACTS 20:28-38
At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus:
“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock
of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,
in which you tend the Church of God
that he acquired with his own Blood.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you,
and they will not spare the flock.
And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth
to draw the disciples away after them.
So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day,
I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.
And now I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.
I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
You know well that these very hands
have served my needs and my companions.
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort
we must help the weak,
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
When he had finished speaking
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They were all weeping loudly
as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,
for they were deeply distressed that he had said
that they would never see his face again.
Then they escorted him to the ship.
“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock
of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,
in which you tend the Church of God
that he acquired with his own Blood.
St. Paul was speaking to the priests of the Diocese of Ephesus. He told them to be disciplined in how they behave and to discipline their congregations which God had given them and which Jesus purchased with His own life.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you,
and they will not spare the flock.
And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth
to draw the disciples away after them.
After St. Paul's departure, men will come who will preach error and induce many to abandon the true faith of Jesus Christ.
So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day,
I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.
And now I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.
And so, St. Paul warns them to be aware of this and thus take precautions. Meanwhile, he will pray to Gld that they will be protected and receive the reward of salvation.
I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
You know well that these very hands
have served my needs and my companions.
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort
we must help the weak,
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Then St. Paul gives a different version of the Golden Rule. One which is not recorded elsewhere in Scripture. It is better to give than to receive. In other words, focus on doing good for your fellow man and you will keep the Law of God.
When he had finished speaking
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They were all weeping loudly
as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,
for they were deeply distressed that he had said
that they would never see his face again.
Then they escorted him to the ship.
Then they prayed and cried together because St. Paul said he would never see them again. And when they were through, they walked him to the ship which would take him away.
Responsorial PsalmPS 68:29-30, 33-35A, 35BC-36AB
R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Show forth, O God, your power,
the power, O God, with which you took our part;
For your temple in Jerusalem
let the kings bring you gifts.
R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
chant praise to the Lord
who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.
Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:
“Confess the power of God!”
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Over Israel is his majesty;
his power is in the skies.
Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or: R. Alleluia.
Creation shows forth the power of God. The power of the winds and rain, the oceans and rivers. They are nothing compared to the power of God who created them. Praise God all you people! Recognize His glory! Alleluiah! God loves us! Praise God!
GospelJN 17:11B-19
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:
“Holy Father, keep them in your name
that you have given me,
so that they may be one just as we are one.
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.
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.”
“Holy Father, keep them in your name
that you have given me,
so that they may be one just as we are one.
Jesus Christ prayed that we, His sheepfold, would be united to each other as Jesus is united to the Father.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.
Jesus protected the Apostles, disciples and the Church and the only one that was lost was the one who was prophecied, Judas Iscariot.
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.
Now, Jesus was returning to the Father, but He had taught the Apostles and the world hated them as much as it hated Jesus. But we are not of the world just as Jesus is not of this world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world
but that you keep them from the Evil One.
And Jesus prayed for the protection of all whom Jesus had taught.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.”
To consecrate is to set something apart for holy purposes. Jesus asks the Father to set the Church apart, to consecrate the Church and set it apart from the rest of the world. And then Jesus sent the Church into the world to teach the truth. Just as He had been sent by the Father to the world to teach the truth. And the Church continues this mission to this day.
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