First reading Acts 5:27-33
We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit
When the officials had brought the apostles in to face the Sanhedrin, the high priest demanded an explanation. ‘We gave you a formal warning’ he said ‘not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt of this man’s death on us.’ In reply Peter and the apostles said, ‘Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel. We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’
This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death.
Responsorial 33(34):2,9,17-20
R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor
I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the Lord is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
The Lord confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the Lord delivers him.
Gospel John 3:31-36
The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to him
John the Baptist said to his disciples:
‘He who comes from above is above all others;
he who is born of the earth is earthly himself
and speaks in an earthly way.
He who comes from heaven
bears witness to the things he has seen and heard,
even if his testimony is not accepted;
though all who do accept his testimony
are attesting the truthfulness of God,
since he whom God has sent
speaks God’s own words:
God gives him the Spirit without reserve.
The Father loves the Son
and has entrusted everything to him.
Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life,
but anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life:
the anger of God stays on him.’
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Listening with full attention
“Obedience to God comes before obedience to men…” (1st reading). At its root, the word ‘obedience’ means to listen with full attention. This is the central invitation of today’s passages. In the first reading, the apostles urged the Jews to listen attentively to God. In the gospel, John the Baptist invited his disciples to listen to the one who comes from above, Jesus Himself.
Do we listen to God first among the many things we listen to during the day? After the Resurrection, the apostles’ priority of being attentive to God gave them the passion, courage, and joy needed to continue proclaiming the Good News. Today, let us we desire the same ears of faith that seek to listen attentively to Jesus. He is the one who speaks God’s own words to us: words of love that revive us and bring us to live with Him throughout the day.
Reflective question:
What is Jesus’ message for me today?
What is Jesus’ message for me today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
