Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
God Living in Us
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
In the first reading, Luke shows Paul working the same signs among pagans as Peter among the Jews (here the cure of a crippled person), and preaching the same message.
In the Gospel, Christ speaks of God’s indwelling. In the Old Testament, God’s dwelling place was first the Tent and the Ark of the Covenant, then later, the Temple. The Temple was the sign that God lived among and with his people. This was taken too often and almost magically. God’s presence was more interior, i.e., through his wisdom found in the hearts of the just, said the wisdom books. Christ says that God’s presence is much more intimate: he lives by love in the hearts of those who love him and keep his word, a presence known only to one who loves.
Christ will manifest his presence among us now in the Eucharist.
Opening Prayer
Lord God, loving Father,
we look for your presence
in the temple of nature
and in churches built by our hands,
and you are there with your people.
But above all, you have made your temple
right here in our hearts.
God, give us eyes of faith and love
to recognise that you live in us,
with your Son and the Holy Spirit,
If we keep the Word of Jesus Christ,
Your Son and our Lord forever.
First Reading
Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, plotted to harm the apostles and to stone them.
But Paul and Barnabas learned of this and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe, as well as the surrounding countryside,
where they kept preaching the Good News. Paul and Barnabas spent a significant amount of time in Lystra.
In Lystra
There was a crippled man in Lystra who had never been able to stand or walk.
One day, as he was listening to the preaching, Paul looked directly at him and saw that he had the faith to be healed.
So he said loudly: “Stand upright on your feet.” The man leaped up and began to walk.
When the people saw what Paul had done, they cried out in the language of Lycaonia:
“The gods have come to us in human likeness!”
They named Barnabas Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.
Even the priest of the temple of Zeus, which stood outside the town, brought oxen and garlands to the gate; along with the people, he wanted to offer a sacrifice to them.
When Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their garments to show their indignation and rushed into the crowd, shouting:
“Friends, why are you doing this? We are human beings, with the same weaknesses you have, and we are now telling you to turn away from these useless things to the living God who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.
In past generations, he allowed each nation to go its own way,
although he never stopped making himself known; for he is continually doing good, giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, providing you with food and filling your hearts with joy.”
Even these words could hardly stop the crowd from offering sacrifices to them.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (1ab) Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory
because of your mercy, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say,
“Where is their God?”
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,
but the earth he has given to the children of men.
R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Whoever keeps my commandments is the one who loves me. If he loves me, he will also be loved by my Father; I too shall love him and reveal myself to him.”
Judas—not Judas Iscariot—asked Jesus:
“LORD, how can it be that you will show yourself clearly to us and not to the world?”
Jesus answered him:
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him; and we will come to him and live with him.
But if anyone does not love me, he will not keep my words; yet these words that you hear are not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
I told you all this while I am still with you.
From now on, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of all that I have told you.
Prayers of the Faithful
– That we bear witness that we are disciples of Jesus by loving one another deeply and sincerely, we pray:
– Now that Christ is no longer physically among us, we may discover his presence in every human face, we pray:
– That the Holy Spirit may teach us to live by the Word we have heard from Christ speaking to us in the Gospel, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, our God, loving Father,
your Son Jesus Christ is here with us
as we are gathered in his name
in this Eucharistic assembly.
Give him to us now
as our bread and wine, our food and drink,
that where we are, you may be present,
because your Son is alive in us,
he who lives with you and in us forever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, loving Father,
we thank you for giving us your Son
and for letting him live in us.
Help us to live the kind of life
he lived and wants us to live,
a life of obedience to your will
and of dedication to people and to our task in life.
Through us, you may be present
in this cold, calculating world
and bring to it the warmth of love,
of friendship and compassion,
through Christ who lives in us now,
we hope and pray, forever.
Blessing
Jesus assures us that we are certain that our Father in heaven loves us and lives in us if we live according to his words. We hear his words and we know them. Let us live accordingly, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTION
John 14:21-26
The Spirit keeps the memory alive
The Lord's promise is huge: When we love Jesus and keep his Word, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit will come and live within us. It is the Holy Spirit who helps us grow in Jesus' love continually. Pope Francis says, “Faith is not static; it develops. It grows as trees grow larger and bear fruit, but the tree is always the same.
“The Holy Spirit will remind you of all that I have told you" (26). He is like a memory; He keeps us always awake in the things of the Lord. Have we not experienced a voice deep within us telling us, “Go ahead! This is what the Lord wants you to do,” or “Watch out! The Lord would not want you to do this?” This is the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Listening to catechumens preparing for baptism, a common story emerges: "I studied in a Catholic school, or I had an affinity for the Church and faith at some point, but then I got busy with work and strayed off course. Now, I feel it's time to return to Jesus..." They remember the initial love or spark they felt towards Jesus when they were young, and now they want to come back. According to Pope Francis, "This is the Holy Spirit's memory in one's life. He brings you to the memory of what Jesus taught."
The Holy Spirit reminds us of our life's journey and helps us to distinguish between what is right and wrong, even in minor decisions and provides us with the necessary support during our decision-making process.
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John 14: 21-26
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
In today’s Gospel, the Lord consoles us with a great promise: “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I told you” (Jn 14:26). Jesus speaks these words before His Passion, at a time of sadness and uncertainty for the disciples. Yet even then, He does not leave them alone — and He does not leave us alone. He sends us the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the Gift of God, to stay with us forever.
Pope Francis in one of his homilies during the Easter Season in 2020 explained this passage this way: “The Holy Spirit is our companion, our support. He teaches us: not with new ideas, but by making Jesus’ words alive in us. Faith is not static, it grows like a tree — always rooted, but reaching higher, bearing fruit. The Spirit helps us understand, little by little, the greatness of Christ’s love.
The Spirit also reminds us — He awakens the memory of our hearts. He reminds us of all that the Lord has done in our lives so that we do not forget that we are loved, chosen, and saved.
The Holy Spirit helps us discern in our daily choices, lighting the way and helping us choose what is right and good. If we call on Him, He will not fail us. He is the quiet voice guiding us, the gentle hand lifting us when we fall.
The Holy Spirit is the great Gift of God. Let us not leave this Gift unopened! Let us welcome Him into our hearts, allowing ourselves to be taught, reminded, and guided by the Spirit, so that, even amid the storms of life, we may always walk forward with the joy and hope of the Risen Lord.