Gospel: May 20, 2025
May 20, 2025 (Tuesday)
5th Week of Easter
St. Bernardine of Siena, priest
Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 21
Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
1st Reading: Acts 14:19-28
Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and turned the people against them. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, leaving him for dead. But, when his disciples gathered around him, he stood up and returned to the town. And the next day, he left for Derbe with Barnabas. After proclaiming the gospel in that town and making many disciples, they returned to Lystra and Iconium, and on to Antioch. They were strengthening the disciples, and encouraging them to remain firm in the faith; for they said, “We must go through many trials to enter the kingdom of God.” In each church they appointed elders and, after praying and fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they had placed their faith. Then they traveled through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. They preached the word in Perga and went down to Attalia. From there, they sailed back to Antioch, where they had first been commended to God’s grace, for the task they had now completed. On their arrival, they gathered the Church together, and told them all that God had done through them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the non-Jews. They spent a fairly long time there with the disciples.
Gospel: John 14:27-31a
Peace be with you! My peace I give to you; not as the world gives peace do I give it to you. Do not be troubled! Do not be afraid! You heard me say, ‘I am going away, but I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you this now before it takes place, so that when it does happen you may believe. There is very little left for me to tell you, for the prince of this world is at hand, although there is nothing in me that he can claim. But see, the world must know that I love the Father, and that I do what the Father has taught me to do.
Reflection:
“Jesus Savior of Men”
The 15th century Italian Franciscan and missionary preacher Saint Bernardine of the 15th century. Although he had a weak or hoarse voice, he was considered one of the greatest preachers of his time because he used lots of imagery and everyday language instead of a formal style, challenging people to steer clear of vanity, coarse talk and factions. Indeed, seeking to replace the insignia of factions in towns, his great devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus led him to devise the symbol IHS—the first three letters of Jesus in Greek, and later used as a Latin abbreviation for Jesus Saviour of Men. Paul and Barnabas keep going despite the challenges, and proclaim the message of conversion and life in Christ. Bernardine did the same in his day, and now in our day, we are called to keep moving, too, and not to consider our part in the work of the Kingdom to be ever finished. Let us walk forward in faith, always calling on the Name of Jesus. “Come now, let us go.”
