Mass Readings for : Friday, 17th May, 2024

Friday, Seventh Week of Easter

Liturgical Readings for : Friday, 17th May, 2024

Friday, Seventh Week of Easter

Paul is now on his way to Rome. Jesus foretells Peter’s last days which will be in Rome.

FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
A dead man called Jesus whom Paul alleged to be alive

King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus. Their visit lasted several days, and Festus put Paul’s case before the king. ‘There is a man here’ he said ‘whom Felix left behind in custody, and while I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and elders of the Jews laid information against him, demanding his condemnation. But I told them that Romans are not in the habit of surrendering any man, until the accused confronts his accusers and is given an opportunity to defend himself against the charge. So they came here with me, and I wasted no time but took my seat on the tribunal the very next day and had the man brought in. When confronted with him, his accusers did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected; but they had some argument or other with him about their own religion and about a dead man called Jesus whom Paul alleged to be alive. Not feeling qualified to deal with questions of this sort, I asked him if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem to be tried there on this issue. But Paul put in an appeal for his case to be reserved for the judgement of the august emperor, so I ordered him to be remanded until I could send him to Caesar.’

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 102(103):1-2,11-12,19-
Response The Lord has set his sway in heaven.

or Alleluia!

My soul, give thanks to the Lord all my being, bless his holy name.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord and never forget all his blessings. Response

For as the heavens are high above the earthso strong is his love for those who fear him.

As far as the east is from the west so far does he remove our sins. Response

The Lord has set his sway in heaven and his kingdom is ruling over all.

Give thanks to the Lord, all his angels, mighty in power, fulfilling his word. Response

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

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 21:15-19 Glory to you, O Lord
Feed my lambs, feed my sheep

Jesus showed himself to his disciples, and after they had eaten he said to Simon Peter,
‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’

He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’
A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’
He replied, ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Look after my sheep.’
Then he said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’
Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and said,
‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.

‘I tell you most solemnly, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked

but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you

and take you where you would rather not go.’

In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God.
After this he said, ‘Follow me.’

The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Reflections for Friday, Seventh Week of Easter, John 21:15-19
At the last supper, according to the gospel of John, Jesus announced to his disciples that he loved them as the Father loved him. Jesus went on to call on his disciples to remain in his love. Jesus would love them to the end; his love for them would be faithful. He asked in return that their love for him would be faithful. However, Peter did not remain in Jesus’ love; his love for Jesus did not turn out to be faithful, as he denied Jesus three times. That is the context for the risen Lord asking Peter the question three times, in today’s gospel reading, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Jesus was giving Peter the opportunity to renew his love, to come home to the Lord’s love, and remain in his love once more. Only then could Peter be given the responsibility of the pastoral care of the Lord’s flock, the other disciples. Jesus made no mention of Peter’s denials. He simply invited him to renew his love. The Lord does not hold our failings against us. When we drift out of his love, when we deny him by our way of life, he always gives us the opportunity to renew our love for him. He personally asks us the same question he asked Peter, ‘Do you love me?’ and, in prayer, we can give the answer Peter gave, ‘Lord, you know I love you’. The Lord then asks us to express our love for him by taking care of others, by acting as a good shepherd to those who need our pastoral care. The Lord needs us all to share in some way in his work of pastoral care, but, firstly, he needs us to keep renewing our own personal love of him. It is our loving communion with the Lord that allows him to work through us.
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