ACTS 14:19-28

In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God." They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. And when they arrived, they called the Church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Then they spent no little time with the disciples.

JOHN 14:27-31A

Jesus said to his disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me."

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus brings to the attention of his apostles that if they love him, they would rejoice that he is going to the Father. The victory is his. The Kingdom is his and all is turned over to the father.

Often in our lives and in the challenges that we encounter, we begin to take our eyes off these truths, those of which should make us rejoice. Instead we focus on the wind and the waves of life, on the storms and challenges before us. But Jesus is always in control. Therefore our rejoicing should be constant. Our joy should be constant.

The late Pope John Paul II refers to three joys: the joy of being created, the joy of being saved, and the joy of being redeemed. Let us, like him, be a witness of this joy. Jesus tells us that the world needs to know that he loves the Father and that he does what the Father commands.

Love exists. It is stronger than temptation, human weakness and human suffering; love is stronger than death. All this was made known through the passion.

In a world that faces so many struggles, we need to make others know that love exists by the way we live, which is a gift from God. Let us lead others to a love that love.

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Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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