May 4, 2013

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Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter 
Lectionary: 290

Reading 1ACTS 16:1-10

Paul reached also Derbe and Lystra

where there was a disciple named Timothy,

the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer,

but his father was a Greek.

The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him,

and Paul wanted him to come along with him.

On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised,

for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

In order to avoid incident with the Jews of Derbe and Lystra, St. Paul had St. Timothy circumcised.  This is the same Timothy to whom St. Paul wrote the Epistles of Timothy.  You might want to read those.  St. Paul appointed him a Bishop even though he was not married (1 Tim 3:2).  This tells us that St. Paul's rule that a Bishop "must" be married, was merely a suggestion.  

We know that St. Paul appointed St. Timothy a Bishop because only Bishops can appoint other Bishops.  And St. Paul instructs St. Timothy to do that very thing in his first epistle.

As they traveled from city to city,

they handed on to the people for observance the decisions

reached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem.

Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith

and increased in number.

The decisions reached by the Apostles in Jerusalem are those we spoke of in the gathering of the first Ecumencial Council in Jerusalem.  When they were discussing that it was no longer necessary for the Gentiles to keep the entire Mosaic Law nor to be circumcised.

They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory

because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit

from preaching the message in the province of Asia.

For some reason, the Holy Spirit did not permit them to go to Asia.  But, never fear, other Saints arrived in Asia and spread the Gospel there.  Most prominent of these is St. Peter, who established the Church in Antioch before he moved to Rome.

When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia,

but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them,

Apparently, they also had a vision of our Lord, Jesus, who also forbade them going into Bithynia.  However, we know that this was also evangelized because St. Peter wrote to the Christian community there:

1 Peter 1:1

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas.

During the night Paul had a vision.

A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words,

“Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

When he had seen the vision,

we sought passage to Macedonia at once, 

concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.

And then they proceeded to Macedonia because St. Paul had a dream which directed them to go there.

Responsorial PsalmPS 100:1B-2, 3, 5

R. (2a) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Let us all, who believe in Him, praise Him and call out to Him for all our needs.  And be ever thankful for He is very good.  Alleluia!

GospelJN 15:18-21

Jesus said to his disciples: 

“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.

If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;

but because you do not belong to the world,

and I have chosen you out of the world,

the world hates you.

Remember the word I spoke to you,

‘No slave is greater than his master.’

If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

And they will do all these things to you on account of my name,

because they do not know the one who sent me.”

It is true that those who love Christ are hated by the world.  What the world can't understand, the world hates.  And the world can't understand the peace that Christ brings.  They want us all to be running around in the rat race of power and stress.  But if we remain unstained by the world, they resent it.  Some, however, pay notice and begin to long for our peace of mind and want to learn how to get it.  Therefore, we must remain in the light so that men may see our good work and give God the glory.