It is necessary that you bear witness also in Rome.
From the Acts of the Apostles At 10.30pm; 23,6-11
In those days, [the commander of the court,] wanting to know the reality of the facts, that is, the reason why Paul was being accused by the Jews, had him unchained and ordered that the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin meet; he had Paul brought down and brought him before them.
Paul, knowing that a part was of Sadducees and a part of Pharisees, he said in a loud voice in the Sanhedrin: "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, son of Pharisees; I am arraigned because of the hope in the resurrection of the dead."
No sooner had he said this than a dispute broke out between Pharisees and Sadducees and the assembly was divided. Indeed, the Sadducees affirm that there is no resurrection, neither angels nor spirits; the Pharisees instead they profess all these things. There was then a great uproar and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees si alzarono in piedi e protestavano dicendo: «Non troviamo nulla di male in quest’uomo.
Perhaps a spirit or an angel spoke to him." The dispute heated up to such an extent that the commander, fearing that Paolo would be lynched by them, ordered the troops to get off, take him away and bring him back to the fortress.
The following night the Lord came to his side and said to him: «Courage! As you testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary that you also testify in Rome."
Protect me, o God: in you I take refuge. I said to the Lord: «You are my Lord». The Lord is my inheritance and my cup: in your hands is my life. R.
I bless the Lord who gave me advice; even at night my mind instructs me. I always put the Lord before me, stand on my right, I will not be able to falter. R.
For this my heart rejoices and my soul rejoices; even my body rests safe, why won't you abandon my life in hell, nor will you let your faithful one see the pit. R.
You will show me the path of life, full joy in your presence, endless sweetness to your right. R.
Gospel acclamation
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Let them all be one, as you, Father, you are in me and I in you, for the world to believe that you sent me. (Jn 17:21)
Alleluia.
Today's Gospel
Let them be perfect in unity.
The Word of May 25, 2023 4
From the Gospel according to John Jn 17:20-26
During that time, [Jesus, alzàti gli occhi al cielo, pregò dicendo:]
«I do not pray only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word: for all to be one thing; as you, Father, you are in me and I in you, they are also in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me.
And the glory that you gave me, I gave it to them, so that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me, for them to be perfect in unity and for the world to know that you sent me and that you loved them as you loved me.
FatherI want those you have given me to also be with me where I am, so that they may contemplate my glory, the one you have given me; for you loved me before the creation of the world.
Father right, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and they have known that you sent me. And I have made known to them your name and will make it known, because thelove with which you have loved me both in them and I in them."
Word of the Lord.
Blessed Maria Eugene of the Child Jesus (1894-1967)
ChristJesus, in his priestly prayer before the Passion, makes a single request for the apostles and for those who will believe in their word: That they may be one with him, like him and his Father sono uno (Gv 17,21), affinché possano vedere la sua gloria (Gv 17,24).
And this ChristJesus he demands it as the price of his sacrifice. Unity is the goal of the Incarnation and Redemption. It is vital for souls and for the Church. (…) The Church is Christ widespread, or Christ scattered in the members. She prolongs it by giving him humanity in which he explains the riches of his grace and with which he continues his priestly mission here below. Divine grace, which comes to us only for Christ, binds us to Christ and makes us belong to Christ.
So we are of Christ and Christ and of God. (…) Here is the plan of God about us and the design that he wants to realize in us and for us. Or are we from Christ o non avremo la vita soprannaturale; saremo Figli col Verbo incarnato in seno alla Trinità santa o saremo esclusi dal regno dei cieli.
They are truths that must not only fuel our contemplation. Since they guide all the divine work of Redemption and the organization of Church, devono presiedere alla cooperazione richiestaci a quest’opera divina.
These lofty truths are among the most practical for the spiritual life and for the apostolate.
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
“We must be one, one thing, like Jesus and the Father sono una sola cosa.
This is precisely the challenge of all of us Christians: leave no room for division among us, do not let the spirit of division, the father della menzogna entri in noi. Cercare sempre l’unità. […]
Jesus pray because we are one, only one thing. And the Church he needs so much this prayer of unity”. And one more tip that Jesus ha dato in questi giorni di congedo è di rimanere in Lui: ‘Rimanete in me’.
And he asks for this grace […] 'Father, voglio che quelli che mi hai dato, anch’essi siano con me dove sono io’. Cioè, che questi rimangano là, con me.
The stay in Jesus, in this world, ends up staying with Him 'so that they may contemplate my glory'. (Homily Santa Martha, May 21, 2015)
