Gospel: June 2, 2025
June 2, 2025 (Monday)
7th Week of Easter
Psalter: Week 3
(White/Red)
St. Marcellinus and St. Peter, martyrs
Ps 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
1st Reading: Acts 19:1-8
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and came to Ephesus. There, he found some disciples, whom he asked, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered, “We have not even heard that anyone may receive the Holy Spirit.” Paul then asked, “What kind of baptism have you received?” And they answered, “The baptism of John.” Paul then explained, “John’s baptism was for conversion, but he himself said they should believe in the one who was to come, and that one is Jesus.” Upon hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came down upon them; and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. There were about 12 of them in all. Paul went into the synagogue; and for three months he preached and discussed there boldly, trying to convince them about the kingdom of God.
Gospel: John 16:29-33
The disciples said to him, “Now you are speaking plainly and not in veiled language! Now we see that you know all things, even before we question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “You say that you believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have told you all this, so that in me you may have peace. You will have trouble in the world; but, courage! I have overcome the world.”
Reflection:
“Stay in his presence”
Recently I read “The Escape Artist,” the account of the first two Jews to escape from Auschwitz. The fervent wish of Walter Rosenberg and Fred Wetzler was to communicate the horror of the camp to Jewish leaders so that those in Czechoslovakia would flee before being rounded up and transported on the trains. However, they were astonished to find that although they had presented a detailed report, many people still refused to believe them. They used plain words, and yet the message still did not penetrate. In the Gospel the disciples say that they finally believe that Jesus really has come from God because he is “speaking plainly,” but Christ is not convinced. Just as Walter and Fred realized that many people can’t absorb a message that is too great or too shocking for them, so Jesus already points this out to the disciples. “You say that you believe? The hour is coming, … when you will be scattered, … and you will leave me alone.” Hearing the message of Christ is not enough to believe. We need to stay in his presence in prayer to grow in our knowledge and love of him. If that love grows strong our faith will remain, even in times of suffering or challenge.
