Liturgical Readings for : Tuesday, 23rd April, 2024
Tuesday, Fourth Week of Easter
Optional Memorials of Ss George, martyr and Adalbert, bishop and martyr
The Good News is preached for the first time to the pagans at Antioch
and the disciples are first called ‘Christians’ and receive the promise of ‘Eternal Life’.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 11:19-26
They started preaching to the Greeks proclaiming the Lord Jesus.
Those who had escaped during the persecution that happened because of Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, but they usually proclaimed the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, who came from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch where they started preaching to the Greeks, proclaiming the Good News of the Lord Jesus to them as well. Lord helped them, and a great number believed and were converted to the Lord.
The church in Jerusalem heard about this and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. There he could see for himself that God had given grace, and this pleased him, and he urged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with heartfelt devotion; for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a large number of people were won over to the Lord.
Barnabas then left for Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. As things turned out they were to live together in that church a whole year, instructing a large number of people. It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians’.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 86
Response O praise the Lord, all you nations!
Or Alleluia!
1. On the holy mountain is his city cherished by the Lord.
The Lord prefers the gates of Zion to all Jacob’s dwellings.
Of you are told glorious things, O city of God! Response
2. ‘Babylon and Egypt I will count among those who know me;
Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia, these will be her children
and Zion shall be called “Mother” for all shall be her children.’ Response
3. It is he, the Lord Most High, who gives each his place.
In his register of peoples he writes: ‘These are her children’
and while they dance they will sing: ‘In you all find their home.’ Response
Gospel Acclamation Jn 10:127
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord; I know them and they follow me.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 10:22-30 Glory to you, O Lord
The Father and I are one.
It was the time when the feast of Dedication was being celebrated in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the Temple walking up and down in the Portico of Solomon. The Jews gathered round him and said,
‘How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.‘
Jesus replied:
‘I have told you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name are my witness; but you do not believe, because you are no sheep of mine.
The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from me.
The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone,
and no one can steal from the Father.
The Father and I are one.’
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Tuesday,2 May Fourth Week of Easter John 10:22-30
The first reading describes a significant moment in the life of the early church, the preaching of the gospel to pagans for the first time, in the city of Antioch. Up until that moment, all the disciples of Jesus were Jews. The leaders of the church in Jerusalem had to discern whether this new development in Antioch was the work of the Holy Spirit, or just a human aberration. As part of their discerning, they sent one of their members, Barnabas, to check out what was happening in Antioch. He was sent because he was known to be a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. A person filled with the Holy Spirit was likely to discern whether or not this novelty was the work of the Spirit. Barnabas immediately recognized that God was at work here. He not only gave them all every encouragement, he set out for Tarsus to bring Paul to Antioch, because he could see that this new development in Antioch was ripe for Paul’s gifts. Paul and Barnabas went on to spend twelve months together in that church.
According to the reading, it was in Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first called ‘Christians’. People began to see that this movement wasn’t just a particular branch of Judaism. The Lord is always doing something new among us, and we all need to discern the ways the Lord is leading the church, especially in these times. To do that well, we need a listening ear, an ear that is open to the surprising ways of the Spirit. As Jesus says in the gospel reading, those ‘who belong to me listen to my voice’. People like Barnabas who are in tune with the working of the Spirit among us are an invaluable asset as we try to discern where the Lord is leading us. The Lord will always provide such people at times of transition, like the present time. Indeed, he invites each of us to become such a person.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd.
