They also began to speak to the Greeks, announcing that Jesus it is the Lord.
From the Acts of the Apostles Acts 11:19-26
In those days, those who had scattered because of the persecution that broke out because of Stephen had reached as far as Phenicia, Cyprus and Antioch and did not proclaim the Word to anyone except the Jews. But some of them, people of Cyprus and Cyrène, having arrived in Antioch, also began to speak to the Greeks, announcing that Jesus it is the Lord. And the hand of the Lord was with them and so a large number believed and turned to the Lord.
This news reached the ears of the Church of Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, rejoiced and exhorted everyone to remain, with a resolute heart, faithful to the Lord, as a virtuous man as he was and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And a considerable crowd was added to the Lord.
Barnabas then left for Tarsus to look for Saul: he found him and brought him to Antioch. They stayed together for a whole year in that Church and they educated many people. In Antioch the disciples were called Christians for the first time.
R. All you peoples, praise the Lord. Or: R. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
On the holy mountains he founded it; the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the houses of Jacob. Glorious things are said about you, City of God! R.
I will enroll Rahab and Babylon among those who recognize me; here is Philistia, Tire and Ethiopia: there he was born. It will be said of Zion: «The one and the other were born in it and he, the Most High, keeps it firm». R.
The Lord will record in the book of peoples: "He was born there." And dancing they will sing: «All my springs are in you». R.
Gospel acclamation
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord, and I know them and they follow me. (Jn 10:27)
In those days, the Feast of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter. Jesus walked in the temple, in the porch of Solomon. Then the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christtell us openly."
Jesus he answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in the name of Father mio, queste danno testimonianza di me. Ma voi non credete perché non fate parte delle mie pecore.
My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will not be lost forever and no one will snatch them from mine hand.
The Father mine, who gave them to me, is greater than all, and none can snatch them from hand of Father. I and the Father we are one."
The mystery of the Holy Trinity is called by the doctors of the Church la sostanza del Nuovo Testamento, cioè il più grande di tutti i misteri, la sorgente e il fondamento degli altri.
It is to know and contemplate him that angels were created in heaven and men on earth. (…) It is to manifest this mystery more clearly that God stesso è sceso dal soggiorno degli angeli verso gli uomini. (…) L’apostolo Paolo annuncia la Trinità delle persone e l’unità della loro natura quando scrive: “Poiché da lui, grazie a lui e per lui sono tutte le cose.
To him be glory for ever. Amen!" (Rom 11:36). (…) St. Augustine writes, commenting on this passage: “These words are not to be taken by chance. 'From him' designates the Father, 'thanks to him' the Son, ‘per lui’ lo Spirito Santo”.
Rightly so Church has the habit of attributing to Father the works of the Deity where power shines, al Son those where wisdom shines, to the Holy Spirit those where wisdom shineslove. Non che tutte le perfezioni e le opere esteriori non sono comuni alle persone divine: “le opere della Trinità sono indivisibili, come l’essenza della Trinità è indivisibile…” (Sant’Agostino).
But, for a certain comparison, a certain affinity between works and people's properties, works are attributed to single people, to one rather than another. (…) In this way the Father, che è “il principio di tutta la divinità” (S. Agostino), è anche la causa efficiente di ogni cosa, dell’incarnazione del Verbo e della santificazione delle anime: “tutto è da lui”.
But the Son, the Verb, the Word of God and the image of God, is also the model-cause, the archetype; from him all that has been created receives its form and its beauty, order and harmony. He is for us "the way, the truth and the life" (Jn 14:6), the reconciler of man with God: “tutto è grazie a lui”.
The Holy Spirit is the ultimate cause of everything (…), the divine goodness and thelove reciprocal of Father and the Son; for his powerful but gentle strength, he completes thelove reciprocal of Father and the Son; through his powerful but gentle strength, he completes the hidden work of man's eternal salvation and leads it to his perfection: "everything is for him".
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
These words help us understand that no one can be said to be a follower of Jesus, se non presta ascolto alla sua voce.
E questo “ascoltare” non va inteso in modo superficiale, ma coinvolgente, al punto da rendere possibile una vera conoscenza reciproca, dalla quale può venire una sequela generosa, espressa nelle parole «ed esse mi seguono» (v. 27). Si tratta di un ascolto non solo dell’orecchio, ma un ascolto del cuore!”
L 'love of Jesus he is invincible! The evil one, the great enemy of God e delle sue creature, tenta in molti modi di strapparci la vita eterna. Ma il maligno non può nulla se non siamo noi ad aprirgli le porte della nostra anima, seguendo le sue lusinghe ingannatrici.
La Vergine Maria ha ascoltato e seguito docilmente la voce del Buon Pastore.
Help us to welcome the invitation of Jesus to become his disciples, and to always live in the certainty of being in the paternal hands of God. (Regina Caeli, April 17, 2016)
