First reading Acts 13:44-52
Since you have rejected the word of God, we must turn to the pagans
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.
Responsorial Psalm 97(98):1-4
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God
O sing a new song for 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 deliverance to the nations.
He has remembered his merciful love
and his truth 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;
break forth into joyous song,
and sing out your praise.
Gospel John 14:7-14
To have seen me is to have seen the father
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.’
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Mirror of God’s love
Jesus is the perfect reflection of God the Father, revealing the Father’s love through His words and actions. Today, we are also called to reflect the face of God the Father through the love we share with others, the choices we make for peace, and the kindness we extend to those who are vulnerable in our society.
In the Gospel, Jesus says, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me”, revealing the source of His strength. He is able to live a life of love and remain steadfast even in the face of rejection and opposition from others because He knows He is never alone. His life flows from a constant union with God the Father. Everything He says, everything He does, comes from this relationship of love. This is an invitation for us. In times of feeling misunderstood or unappreciated, when we try to love like Jesus, let us remain in God and allow Him to remain in us. Our joy and peace should not depend on how others respond to us. Instead, we should draw them from a deeper source.
Reflective question:
How can I strengthen my relationship with God so that my love remains constant, unaffected by external circumstances or others’ responses?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
