It was about a certain Jesus, dead, who Paul claimed was alive.
From the Acts of the Apostles Acts 25:13-21
In those days, King Agrippa and Berenice arrived in Caesarea and came to greet Festus. And as they remained several days, Festus brought charges against Paul before the king, saying:
«There is a man, left prisoner here by Felix, against whom, during my visit to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews came forward to ask for his condemnation. I answered them that the Romans do not use to hand over a person before the accused is confronted with his accusers and has the opportunity to defend himself against the accusation.
So they came hither and I without delay sat in court the next day and ordered that man brought there. Those who blamed him gathered around him, but they brought no accusation of those crimes that I imagined; they had with him some matters relating to their religion and to a certain Jesus, dead, who Paul claimed was alive.
Perplexed by such controversies, I asked if he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be judged there of these things. But Paul appealed to have his case reserved for the judgment of Augustus, and so I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar.'
Bless the Lord, my soul, all that is in me bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, do not forget all its benefits. R.
Because as high as the sky is on the earth, so his mercy is mighty upon those who fear him; how far is the east from the west, thus he removes our faults from us. R.
The Lord has placed his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules the universe. Bless the Lord, his angels, powerful executors of his commands. R.
Gospel acclamation
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything; it will remind you of all that I have told you. (Jn 14:26)
Alleluia.
today's Gospel
Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.
The Word of May 26, 2023 4
From the Gospel according to John Jn 21:15-19
At that time, when [He was manifested to the disciples and] they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son di Giovanni, mi ami più di costoro?».
He replied: "Of course, Lord, you know that I love you". She said to him, "Feed my lambs." He said to him again, for the second time: «Simone, son of John, do you love me?». She replied: "Of course, Lord, you know that I love you". She said to him, "Feed my sheep."
He said to him for the third time, "Simon, son di Giovanni, mi vuoi bene?». Pietro rimase addolorato che per la terza volta gli domandasse “Mi vuoi bene?”, e gli disse: «Signore, tu conosci tutto; tu sai che ti voglio bene».
She answered him Jesus: «Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I tell you: when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and another will clothe you and take you where you do not want.
This he said to indicate by what death he would glorify God. And having said this, he added: "Follow me."
Word of the Lord.
Saint John Chrysostom (ca 345-407)
priest in Antioch then bishop of Constantinople, doctor of the Church
2nd homily on the inscription of the book of the Acts of the Apostles
« Do you love me?… Feed my sheep »
Imitiamo la virtù degli apostoli, e non saremo a loro inferiori in nulla. Infatti non i miracoli li hanno resi apostoli, bensì la santità della loro vita.
From this we recognize a disciple of Christ. Questo segno ci è stato chiaramente dato dal Signore. Quando egli ha voluto tracciare il ritratto dei suoi discepoli e rivelare il segno che avrebbe distinto i suoi apostoli, ha detto: “Da questo tutti sapranno che siete miei discepoli”.
Quale segno? Fare miracoli? Risuscitare i morti?
Not at all! From what then? “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:35). now thelove it is not a miracle, but a work, an act. “Full fulfillment of the law is thelove” (Rm 13,10)…
So have thelove in you and you will be among the apostles, indeed in the first places among them! Do you want another proof of this teaching? Feel like Christ he turns to Peter: “Peter, do you love me more than these?” There is nothing that can make us obtain the kingdom of heaven except love Christ come merita…
What will we do to love him more than the apostles?… Let's listen Christ, the one we must love: "If you love me more than these, feed my sheep"... The zeal, the compassion, the concern of the pastoral office are acts, not miracles.
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
The first, the look of the election, with the enthusiasm to follow Jesus; the second, the look of repentance at the moment of that very grave sin of having denied Jesus; il terzo sguardo è lo sguardo della missione: “Pasci i miei agnelli…” […]
We too can think: what is today's gaze Jesus about me? How he looks at me Jesus? Con una chiamata?
He always looks at us with love, asks us something, forgives us something and gives us a mission. (Homily Santa Martha, May 22, 2015)
