Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
There Is Joy In Giving
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
One of the songs used much in church today says, “There’s joy in giving.” In his farewell address, Jesus told his apostles he wanted to share his joy with them to the full. And Paul, speaking from his own experience, says that there is more happiness in giving than in receiving. The Lord and the apostles gave themselves to others. How far can we do this? And what a joy it would be if we could all be one!
Opening Prayer
Your Son Jesus gave himself totally
to those he loved – that is, to all.
Give us a bit of his unselfish love
that we too may learn from experience
that there is more joy in giving ourselves
than in receiving honours or favours.
May the Spirit make us also so much one
that we graciously share with one another
our God-given riches and gifts as persons.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
First Reading
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock that the Holy Spirit has entrusted to your care. Shepherd the Church of the Lord, which he has bought with his own blood.
I know that after I leave, ruthless wolves will come among you and not spare the flock.
And some from among you will rise up, corrupting the truth and leading the disciples astray.
Be alert, therefore, remembering that for three years, day and night, I did not cease to warn everyone, even with tears.
Now I commend you to God and to his grace-filled word, which can make you grow and inherit the share you will have with all the saints.
I have not sought for anyone’s silver, gold, or clothing.
You, yourselves, know that these hands of mine have provided for both my needs and the needs of those who were with me.
In every way I have shown you that by working hard one must help the weak, remembering the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘Happiness lies more in giving than in receiving.’”
After this conversation, Paul knelt with them and prayed.
Then they all started to weep, embraced him, and kissed him.
They were very upset because he had said they would never see him again.
And they accompanied him all the way to the ship.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab
R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Show forth, O God, your power,
the power, O God, with which you took our part;
For your temple in Jerusalem
let the kings bring you gifts.
R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
chant praise to the Lord
who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.
Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:
“Confess the power of God!”
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Over Israel is his majesty;
his power is in the skies.
Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep those you have given me in your name, so that they may be one as we are one.
When I was with them, I kept them safe in your name; and not one was lost, except the one destined to be lost, and that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Now I come to you; in the world I speak these things so that those whom you gave me may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
I do not ask you to remove them from the world, but protect them from the evil one.
They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.
I have sent them into the world just as you sent me into the world;
and for their sakes I consecrate myself, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.
Prayers of the Faithful
– God, who love us all in Jesus your Son, let the Holy Spirit unite us as people who accept and love one another, we pray:
– God, unite in your Son Jesus all Churches who claim him as their Lord and Savior, we pray:
– God, let your Spirit give an attitude of total acceptance and appreciation for one another of the members of our religious communities, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
Your son was close to people,
As he is close to you now in the eucharist.
Give us his Spirit
that we too may be close
to those you have entrusted to us,
full of attention and understanding,
not drawing attention to ourselves
but to him who is in our midst
and who makes us one in all our diversity,
Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God, it is not shameful to be human
and to feel for others.
This was your Son’s way.
Let it also be ours.
Give us a deep sympathy for people
that we may listen to them,
learn to understand them
and to take them as they are,
As your Son takes us as we are
to raise us above ourselves
and to lead us to you,
our God forever.
Blessing
Psalm 133 says, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) live in unity.” Jesus prayed that we could. Can we? Are we willing? May the Spirit give us the grace to become one. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
John 17:11-19
A vocation to be one in Christ
John reminisces about the final hours of Jesus’ life to tell his community that before he entered into his passion and death, Jesus prayed for them. Jesus does not let himself be overwhelmed by grief; he does not retreat into the bitterness of the defeated; instead, he looks toward his Father.
This is the advice John wants to give to his disciples: when the believing community is persecuted, their cities are invaded by armies, and people flee in fear amid the devastation, he tells them to look up to heaven in hope and prayer. To keep the faith is to keep our gaze fixed on heaven. To keep faith is to refuse to yield to the logic of hatred and vengeance but to keep our gaze fixed on the God of love, who calls us to be brothers and sisters to one another.
In today’s Gospel, we see the second part of Jesus’ “priestly prayer.” The passage expresses Jesus’ concern for his disciples, who could be influenced by the powers of this world. The “evil” present in the world is the spirit of lies, deceit, and death that Jesus himself has experienced. The disciples’ situation is delicate: they must remain uncontaminated.
Today, the message of the Gospel has become all the more relevant. We live in danger of “making faith worldly” and interpreting the scripture according to the criterion of the world. This demands the constant exercise of discernment by the disciple. Our Christian lives can easily be influenced by values and our way of living that are contrary to the Gospel. Therefore, the Gospel invites us to pray for the gift of discernment.
Jesus prays for unity among those who believe in him: “That they may be one just as we are one.” Jesus prayed that we might be one. Do we wish to be? May the Spirit of Jesus give us the grace to become one in Him.