Mass Readings for : Friday, 10th May, 2024

Catholic Ireland

Liturgical Readings for : Friday, 10th May, 2024

Friday, Sixth Week of Easter

Optional memorials of St Comgall, abbot, and St John of Availa, priest and doctor of the Church

These are the final days of Easter time and the disciples are waiting for the Holy Spirit to come to us at Pentecost.

FIRST READING

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 18:9-18
I have so many people on my side in this city.

At Corinth one night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision,
‘Do not be afraid to speak out, nor allow yourself to be silenced:
I am with you. I have so many people on my side in this city that no one will even attempt to hurt you.’
So Paul stayed there preaching the word of God among them for eighteen months.

But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a concerted attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal.
‘We accuse this man’ they said ‘of persuading people to worship God in a way that breaks the Law.’
Before Paul could open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews,
‘Listen, you Jews. If this were a misdemeanour or a crime, I would not hesitate to attend to you; but if it is only quibbles about words and names, and about your own Law, then you must deal with it yourselves-I have no intention of making legal decisions about things like that.’
Then he sent them out of the court, and at once they all turned on Sosthenes, the synagogue president, and beat him in front of the court house. Gallio refused to take any notice at all.

After staying on for some time, Paul took leave of the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had his hair cut off, because of a vow he had made.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm   Ps 46: 2-7
Response   God is king of all the earth.
Or   Alleluia!

1. All peoples clap your hands, Cry to God with shouts of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, we must fear, great king over all the earth. Response

2. He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet.
Our inheritance, our glory, is from him, given to Jacob out of love. Response

3. God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.
Sing praise for God, sing praise, sing praise to our king, sing praise. Response

Gospel Acclamation Jn 14:26
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.
Alleluia!

or Lk 24:46.26
Alleluia, Alleluia!
It was ordained that the Christ should suffer and rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory.
Alleluia!

or
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Christ has risen and shone upon us whom he redeemed with his blood.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 16:20-23 Glory to you, O Lord
No one shall take your joy from you.

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I tell you most solemnly, you will be weeping and wailing while the world will rejoice;
you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.

A woman in childbirth suffers, because her time has come; but when she has given birth to the child she forgets the suffering in her joy that a man has been born into the world.
So it is with you: you are sad now, but I shall see you again,
and your hearts will be full of joy, and that joy no one shall take from you.
When that day comes, you will not ask me any questions.’

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel Reflection Friday, Sixth Week of Easter John 16:20-23

In the gospel reading, Jesus reflects upon a woman’s experience of giving birth to a child to cast light for his disciples on his forthcoming passion and death. The pain a woman experiences in giving birth is the necessary prelude to the unique joy of holding for the first time her new born child. In the joy experienced at holding this new life the pain of childbirth is, at least momentarily, forgotten. Jesus is saying that the pain of his coming passion and death for himself and his disciples is the prelude to the new life of Easter in which he and his disciples will rejoice within three days of his death. For the disciples, the sadness of death, of Jesus’ departure, will give way to the joy of his new life, his coming to them again. Whereas the sadness of Calvary will be overcome by the joy of Easter, the joy of Easter will never be overcome, ‘that joy no one shall take from you’.

From the first Easter Sunday onwards, they will continue to live in the light of Easter and there will be a joy in that experience, even in the difficult and troubling moments that lie ahead, of which there will be many. The Lord is reminding us that we always walk in the light of Easter, even when we are experiencing some dark valley or other. We can taste something of the joy of Easter, the Lord’s own joy, even when deep sadness comes over us, because the risen Lord is always with us. This light and joy of Easter which cannot be taken form us is the foretaste of the eternal light and unending joy of the kingdom of heaven. The light and joy of Easter in the here and now can empower us to be channels of the Lord’s light and joy to others, especially to those who struggle to find it.