First reading Acts 12:24-13:5
‘I want Barnabas and Saul set apart’
The word of God continued to spread and to gain followers. Barnabas and Saul completed their task and came back from Jerusalem, bringing John Mark with them.
In the church at Antioch the following were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. One day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast, the Holy Spirit said, ‘I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them.’ So it was that after fasting and prayer they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
So these two, sent on their mission by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. They landed at Salamis and proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; John acted as their assistant.
Responsorial Psalm 66(67):2-3,5-6,8
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
or
Alleluia!
O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help.
Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples,
you guide the nations on earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
May God still give us his blessing
till the ends of the earth revere him.
Gospel John 12:44-50
I, the light, have come into the world
Jesus declared publicly:
‘Whoever believes in me
believes not in me
but in the one who sent me,
and whoever sees me,
sees the one who sent me.
I, the light, have come into the world,
so that whoever believes in me
need not stay in the dark any more.
If anyone hears my words and does not keep them faithfully,
it is not I who shall condemn him,
since I have come not to condemn the world,
but to save the world.
He who rejects me and refuses my words has his judge already:
the word itself that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.
For what I have spoken does not come from myself;
no, what I was to say,
what I had to speak,
was commanded by the Father who sent me,
and I know that his commands mean eternal life.
And therefore what the Father has told me
is what I speak.’
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Light of Christ
“I, the light, have come into the world, so that whoever believes in me need not stay in the dark anymore.” Jesus likened His presence in the world to the presence of light in the midst of darkness. Through our faith in Him, our paths in life are enlightened and guided by His light. “Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illuminates their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Christ, the morning star which never sets” (Pope Francis, Lumen Fidei 1).
Are there areas in our lives where we need the guidance of Jesus’ light? For example, in difficult moments of pain and suffering, in life’s decision making moments, in relationship matters, etc. In these situations, let us turn to Jesus, the Light of the World. We ask Him to speak His word, which illuminates our minds so that we can see the next step to take with greater clarity. We ask for the assurance of His love that gives our hearts the calm and confidence needed to act with faith. Let us trust that we are not alone in the journey, for Jesus is leading us.
Reflective question:
Is my life illuminated and guided by Jesus?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
