Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter
The Test Of Suffering And Renewal
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
Jesus was going to pass through his passion and death on the way to the joy of his resurrection. In him, a newly risen and glorious life would be born from his sufferings. The disciples would have to pass through the pains of separation from Jesus, and so their faith would be violently tested, giving birth to a renewed faith and a new presence of the Lord. Similarly, the Church has constantly to pass through the childbirth of renewal, to return again and again to Christ and to the heart of his gospel, so as to be more authentically Christ to the world today. Pain is childbirth, delivery – literally, a liberation – opening the way to new life and joy.
Opening Prayer
Lord God, merciful Father,
It is hard for us to accept pain,
for we know that you have made us
for happiness and joy.
When suffering challenges us
with a provocative “why me?”
help us to discover the depth
of our inner freedom and love
and of all the faith and loyalty
of which we are capable,
together with, and by the power of,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
First Reading
One night, in a vision, the Lord said to Paul:
“Do not be afraid, but continue speaking and do not be silent,
for many people in this city are mine. I am with you so that no one will harm you.”
So Paul remained for a year and a half in that place, teaching the word of God among them.
When Gallio was governor of Achaia, the Jews unified their attack on Paul and brought him before the court. And they accused him:
This man attempts to persuade us to worship God in illegal ways.
Paul was about to defend himself when Gallio told the Jews:
“If it were a matter of wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have to consider your complaint.
But since this is a dispute over teachings and divine names that are specific to your law, deal with it yourselves: I refuse to judge such matters.”
And he sent them out of the court.
Then the people seized Sosthenes, a leading man of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal; but Gallio paid no attention.
Paul stayed with the disciples in Corinth for many days; then he left them and sailed with Priscilla and Aquila to Syria. Since he was no longer under a vow he had taken, he shaved his head before sailing from Cenchreae.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (8a) God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
R. God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He brings people under us;
nations under our feet.
He chooses for us our inheritance,
the glory of Jacob, whom he loves.
R. God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R. God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead,
and so enter into his glory.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.
A woman in childbirth is in distress because her time has come. But after the child is born, she no longer remembers her suffering because of her great joy: a child has been born into the world.
You feel sorrowful now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice; and no one will take your joy away from you.
When that day comes, you will not ask me anything. Truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.
Prayers of the Faithful
– May the Holy Spirit give us peace and serenity in times of pain and trial, for God has made us for joy and happiness, we pray:
– May the Spirit give us the wisdom and strength to let suffering and contradiction help us to grow in the likeness of Christ, we pray:
– May the Spirit keep us anchored in faith and joy when we are groping in the dark of misunderstanding and loneliness, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, loving Father,
we share in this eucharist
in the saving death and resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Give us your Son as the bread of life,
that by the strength of his Spirit
We may face pain and suffering
without revolt or refusal.
Let it be for us too
the liberating pain of birth
for new life and fresh joy
That will last forever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord God, loyal Father,
you do not ask from us the impossible
and we know that you love us.
Help us to accept the realities of life
and the demands of loyalty and love
With the strength of your Son.
Give us the courage not to refuse
the pains of renewal
in Christ and in his gospel,
that our hearts may be full of joy
that can never be taken away,
For your Son is our Lord forever.
Blessing
We have the assurance of Jesus that if we ask anything from the Father in his name, he will give it. If we had enough faith, we would never doubt or worry. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
John 16:20-23
Your sorrows will turn into joy
“You will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice” (16:20-23). What’s more, they will mock you. Jesus warns his disciples about their future. History describes how the first martyrs were forced to die in the Colosseum of Rome while spectators were entertained, saying: “This is how these fools who believe in the Risen One end up”. For many, Christian martyrdom “was a party — to see how they die!” Thus, it happened exactly as Jesus told his disciples: “The world will rejoice” while “you will be sorrowful”.
Faith in Jesus is for the brave and not for the weak-hearted. The late Pope Francis had explained this passage and said, “not all of Christian life is a party, there is so much pain, and we often cry!” There are many difficult situations in life — for example, when you are sick, when you have a problem in your family, with a son or daughter, with your husband or wife. When you see that your wages don’t last to the end of the month, when you have a sick child, or you see that you can’t pay the mortgage and you lose your house, or external forces dictate to you what to believe, what food to eat and what clothes to put on. We have so many problems. Yet Jesus tells us: “Do not be afraid!”.
If you are faithful, your sorrows will become joy. This is the key point: “Christian joy is hopeful joy.” But in moments of trial, we do not see it. Indeed, it is a joy purified by everyday trials. ”
The Lord says: “Your sorrow will turn into joy”. During the liturgy in this season, the Church celebrates the moment in which the Lord left the disciples alone. At that moment, perhaps some of them felt afraid. But everyone had hope that their fears and sorrows would turn to joy. To make us understand this, the Lord gives the example of a woman who suffers in childbirth. However, she forgets all her pain when the baby is with her.
The Church’s message for her children is of hope and encouragement: Do not be afraid, be brave in suffering; the Lord suffers with you; he brings you joy and peace. This peace”, according to Pope Francis, “is the seed of hopeful joy. When everyone is enjoying your pain, it is a clear sign that you have the seed of the hopeful joy that will come”.