SATURday 06 MAY

Blessed François de Laval

He was the first bishop of New France. He founded a seminary and had schools and churches built. He resigned his bishopric in 1684 but remained in New France and acted as deputy to his successor.

Entrance Antiphon: Cf. 1 Pt 2: 9           

O chosen people, proclaim the mighty works of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light, alleluia.

Collect         

O God, who in the celebration of Easter graciously give to the world the healing of heavenly remedies, show benevolence to your Church, that our present observance may benefit us for eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

First reading: Acts 13:44-52     

The next Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. “We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said: ‘I have made you a light for the nations, so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.’” It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside.  But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 97(98):1-4

R/ All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders. His right hand and his holy arm have brought salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation; has shown his justice to the nations. He has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord, all the earth, ring out your joy.

Gospel Acclamation: Rm6:9    

Alleluia, alleluia! Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again. Death has no power over him anymore. Alleluia!

Gospel: John 14:7-14      

Jesus said to his disciples: “If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.” “Have I been with you all this time, Philip,” said Jesus to him, “and you still do not know me? To have seen me is to have seen the Father, so how can you say, ‘Let us see the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason. I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask for in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.”

Prayer over the Offerings          

Graciously sanctify these gifts, O Lord, we pray, and, accepting the oblation of this spiritual sacrifice, make of us an eternal offering to you. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Jn 17: 24        

Father, I wish that, where I am, those you gave me may also be with me, that they may see the glory that you gave me, alleluia.

Prayer after Communion           

We have partaken of the gifts of this sacred mystery, humbly imploring, O Lord, that what your Son commanded us to do in memory of him may bring us growth in charity. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation.

He who has seen me has seen the Father. This is one of the most important statements in the New Testament: Jesus tells us: the best way to know the Father is to look at him. When we see his goodness, his closeness to sinners and those marginalized by society, when we see how willing he is to share our human condition, we see the Father. This may surprise us at times, but it certainly opens our heart. Thank God for letting us to know him so easily. Jesus said to him: “I have been with you all this time, Philip, and you still don’t know me?” These words are being addressed to us today. I have been with Jesus for so many years, but do I really know him? Like any other relationship, my relationship with Jesus can grow, but it takes commitment and time. Thank Jesus for the quality of your relationship, and ask him to help you get to know him even better.