Daily Gospel for Thursday, 14 May 2015

Daily Gospel for Thursday, 14 May 2015
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."[John 6:68]
The Ascension of the Lord - Solemnity - Year B
Feast of the Church:

ST. MATTHIAS
Apostle

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle

Lectionary: 564

Reading 1 Acts 1:15 During this period, when the group of believers numbered about 120, Kefa stood up and addressed his fellow-believers: 16 “Brothers, the Ruach HaKodesh spoke in advance through David about Y’hudah, and these words of the Tanakh had to be fulfilled. He was guide for those who arrested Yeshua — 17 he was one of us and had been assigned a part in our work.”

20 “Now,” said Kefa, “it is written in the book of Psalms,

‘Let his estate become desolate,

let there be no one to live in it’;[a]

and

‘Let someone else take his place as a supervisor.’[b]

21 Therefore, one of the men who have been with us continuously throughout the time the Lord Yeshua traveled around among us, 22 from the time Yochanan was immersing people until the day Yeshua was taken up from us — one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.”

23 They nominated two men — Yosef Bar-Sabba, surnamed Justus, and Mattityahu. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over the work and the office of emissary that Y’hudah abandoned to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they drew lots to decide between the two, and the lot fell to Mattityahu. So he was added to the eleven emissaries.[Footnotes:

Acts 1:20 Psalm 69:26(25)

Acts 1:20 Psalm 109:8]

Responsorial Psalm 113:1 Halleluyah!

Servants of Adonai, give praise!

Give praise to the name of Adonai!

2 Blessed be the name of Adonai

from this moment on and forever!

3 From sunrise until sunset

Adonai’s name is to be praised.

4 Adonai is high above all nations,

his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like Adonai our God,

seated in the heights,

6 humbling himself to look

on heaven and on earth.

7 He raises the poor from the dust,

lifts the needy from the rubbish heap,

8 in order to give him a place among princes,

among the princes of his people.

Gospel John 15:9 “Just as my Father has loved me, I too have loved you; so stay in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will stay in my love — just as I have kept my Father’s commands and stay in his love. 11 I have said this to you so that my joy may be in you, and your joy be complete.

12 “This is my command: that you keep on loving each other just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than a person who lays down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is about; but I have called you friends, because everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, I chose you; and I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that whatever you ask from the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This is what I command you: keep loving each other!

After our blessed Lord's Ascension his disciples met together, with Mary his mother and the eleven apostles, in an upper room at Jerusalem.

The little company numbered no more than one hundred and twenty souls. They were waiting for the promised coining of the Holy Spirit, and they persevered in prayer. Meanwhile there was a solemn act to be performed on the part of the Church, which could not be postponed. The place of the fallen Judas must be filled up, that the elect number of the apostles might be complete.

St. Peter, therefore, as Vicar of Christ, arose to announce the divine decree. That which the Holy Spirit had spoken by the mouth of David concerning Judas, he said, must be fulfilled. Of him it had been written, "His bishopric let another take." A choice, therefore, was to be made of one among those who had been their companions from the beginning, who could bear witness to the Resurrection of Jesus.

Two were named of equal merit, Joseph called Barsabas, and Matthias. Then, after praying to God, who knows the hearts of all men, to show which of these he had chosen, they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, who was forthwith numbered with the apostles.

It is recorded of the Saint, thus wonderfully elected to so high a vocation, that he was above all remarkable for his mortification of the flesh. It was thus that he made his election sure.

Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
Saints of the day:

SAINT THEODORE GUERIN 
Foundress of the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary of the Woods 
(1798 - 1856)

"What strength the soul draws from prayer! In the midst of a storm, how sweet is the calm it finds in the heart of Jesus. But what comfort is there for those who do not pray?" These words, written by Mother Theodore Guérin after surviving a violent storm at sea, perhaps best exemplify her life and ministry. Truly, Mother Theodore drew strength from prayer, from conversations with God, with Jesus and with the Blessed Virgin Mary. Throughout her life, she encouraged prayer as she sought to share the love of God with people everywhere.

Mother Theodore-Anne-Thérèse Guérin-was born Oct. 2, 1798, in the village of Etables, France. Her devotion to God and to the Roman Catholic Church began when she was a young child. She was allowed to receive her First Communion at the age of 10 and, at that time, told the parish priest that someday she would be a nun.

The child Anne-Thérèse often sought solitude along the rocky shore near her home, where she devoted hours to meditation, reflection and prayer. She was educated by her mother, Isabelle Guérin, who centered lessons on religion and Scripture, thus nurturing the child's love of God. Anne-Thérèse's father, Laurent, who served in Napoleon's navy, was away from home for years at a time. When Anne-Thérèse was 15 years old, her father was murdered by bandits as he traveled home to visit his family. The loss of her husband nearly overwhelmed Isabelle and, for many years, Anne-Thérèse bore the responsibility of caring for her mother and her young sister, as well as the family's home and garden.

Through those years of hardship and sacrifice, indeed through all the years of her life, Mother Theodore's faith in God neither wavered nor faltered. She knew in the depths of her soul that God was with her and always would be with her, a constant companion.

Anne-Thérèse was nearly 25 years old when she entered the Sisters of Providence of Ruillé-sur-Loir, a young community of women religious serving God by providing opportunities for education to children and by caring for the poor, sick and dying.

While teaching and caring for the sick in France, Mother Theodore, then known as Sister St. Theodore, was asked to lead a small missionary band of Sisters of Providence to the United States of America, to establish a motherhouse, to open schools and to share the love of God with pioneers in the Diocese of Vincennes in the State of Indiana. Humble and prone to feelings of unworthiness, Mother Theodore could not imagine that she was suitable for such a mission. Her health was fragile. During her novitiate with the Sisters of Providence, she became very ill. Remedies cured the illness but severely damaged her digestive system; for the remainder of her life she was able to consume only soft, bland foods and liquids. Her physical condition added to her doubts about accepting the mission. Nevertheless, after hours of prayer and lengthy consultations with her superiors, she accepted the mission, fearing that if she did not, no one would venture to the wilderness to share the love of God.

Equipped with little more than her steadfast desire to serve God, Mother Theodore and her five companion Sisters of Providence arrived at the site of their mission at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, the evening of October 22, 1840, and immediately hastened along a muddy, narrow path to the tiny log cabin that served as the chapel. There, they knelt in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament to thank God for their safe journey and to ask for God's blessings for the new mission.

Here, on this hilly, ravine-cut, densely forested land, Mother Theodore would establish a motherhouse, a school and a legacy of love, mercy and justice that continues to this day.

Throughout years of sorrow and years of peace, Mother Theodore relied upon God's Providence and her own ingenuity and faith for counsel and guidance. She urged Sisters of Providence to "Put yourself gently into the hands of Providence." In letters to France, she stated, "But our hope is in the Providence of God, which   has protected us until the present, and which will provide, somehow, for our future needs."

In the fall of 1840, the mission at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods consisted only of a tiny log cabin chapel that also served as lodging for a priest, and a small frame farmhouse, where Mother Theodore, the sisters from France and several postulants lived. During that first winter, harsh winds blew from the north to rattle the little farmhouse The sisters were often cold and frequently hungry. But they transformed a porch into a chapel and were comforted by the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the humble motherhouse. Mother Theodore said, "With Jesus, what shall we have to fear?"

During the early years at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Mother Theodore encountered numerous trials: prejudice against Catholics and, especially, against Catholic women religious; betrayals; misunderstandings; the separation of the Congregation in Indiana from the one in Ruillé; a devastating fire that destroyed an entire harvest leaving the sisters destitute and hungry, and frequent life-threatening illnesses. Still she persevered, desiring only that "In all and everywhere may the will of God be done." In correspondence to friends, Mother Theodore acknowledged the tribulations. She wrote: "If ever this poor little Community becomes settled, it will be established on the Cross; and that is what gives me confidence and makes me hope, sometimes even against hope."

Less than a year after arriving at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Mother Theodore opened the Congregation's first Academy and, in 1842, established schools at Jasper, Indiana, and St. Francisville, Illinois By the time of her death on May 14, 1856, Mother Theodore had opened schools in towns throughout Indiana, and the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence was strong, viable and respected. Always, Mother Theodore attributed the growth and success of the Sisters of Providence to God and to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, to whom she dedicated the ministry at Saint Mary-of-the- Woods.

Mother Theodore's holiness was evident to people who knew her, and many described her simply as "saintly". She possessed the ability to draw out the best in people, to enable them to attain more than they thought possible. Mother Theodore's love was one of her great hallmarks. She loved God, God's people, the Sisters of Providence, the Roman Catholic Church and the people she served. She did not exclude anyone from her ministries or her prayers, for she dedicated her life to helping people know God and live better lives.

Mother Theodore knew that alone she could do nothing, but that all things were possible with God. She accepted trials, trouble and occasions when she was treated unjustly as part of her life. In the midst of persecution, Mother Theodore remained true, a faithful woman of God.

Mother Theodore died sixteen years after she arrived at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. During those fleeting years, she touched a countless number of lives-and continues to do so today.

The gift she gives to each succeeding generation is her life as a model of holiness, virtue, love and faith.

She was beatified on October 25, 1998 by John Paul II and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 15, 2006 in Rome. - Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana 

The Ascension of the Lord - Solemnity - Year B

Acts of the Apostles 1:1 Dear Theophilos:

In the first book, I wrote about everything Yeshua set out to do and teach, 2 until the day when, after giving instructions through the Ruach HaKodesh to the emissaries whom he had chosen, he was taken up into heaven.

3 After his death he showed himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. During a period of forty days they saw him, and he spoke with them about the Kingdom of God.

4 At one of these gatherings, he instructed them not to leave Yerushalayim but to wait for “what the Father promised, which you heard about from me. 5 For Yochanan used to immerse people in water; but in a few days, you will be immersed in the Ruach HaKodesh!”

6 When they were together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore self-rule to Isra’el?” 7 He answered, “You don’t need to know the dates or the times; the Father has kept these under his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Ruach HaKodesh comes upon you; you will be my witnesses both in Yerushalayim and in all Y’hudah and Shomron, indeed to the ends of the earth!”

9 After saying this, he was taken up before their eyes; and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 As they were staring into the sky after him, suddenly they saw two men dressed in white standing next to them. 11 The men said, “You Galileans! Why are you standing, staring into space? This Yeshua, who has been taken away from you into heaven, will come back to you in just the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Psalms 47:2 (1) Clap your hands, all you peoples!

Shout to God with cries of joy!

3 (2) For Adonai ‘Elyon is awesome,

a great king over all the earth.

6 (5) God goes up to shouts of acclaim,

Adonai to a blast on the shofar.

7 (6) Sing praises to God, sing praises!

Sing praises to our king, sing praises!

8 (7) For God is king of all the earth;

sing praises in a maskil.

9 (8) God rules the nations;

God sits on his holy throne.

Letter to the Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner united with the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called.

2 Always be humble, gentle and patient, bearing with one another in love, 3 and making every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit gives through the binding power of shalom. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as when you were called you were called to one hope. 5 And there is one Lord, one trust, one immersion, 6 and one God, the Father of all, who rules over all, works through all and is in all.

7 Each one of us, however, has been given grace to be measured by the Messiah’s bounty. 8 This is why it says,

“After he went up into the heights,

he led captivity captive

and he gave gifts to mankind.”[a]

9 Now this phrase, “he went up,” what can it mean if not that he first went down into the lower parts, that is, the earth? 10 The one who went down is himself the one who also went up, far above all of heaven, in order to fill all things. 11 Furthermore, he gave some people as emissaries, some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers. 12 Their task is to equip God’s people for the work of service that builds the body of the Messiah, 13 until we all arrive at the unity implied by trusting and knowing the Son of God, at full manhood, at the standard of maturity set by the Messiah’s perfection.[Footnotes:

Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:19(18)]

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 16:15 Then he said to them, “As you go throughout the world, proclaim the Good News to all creation. 16 Whoever trusts and is immersed will be saved; whoever does not trust will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who do trust: in my name they will drive out demons, speak with new tongues, 18 not be injured if they handle snakes or drink poison, and heal the sick by laying hands on them.”

19 So then, after he had spoken to them, the Lord Yeshua was taken up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God.[a] 20 And they went out and proclaimed everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the message by the accompanying signs.[Footnotes:

Mark 16:19 Psalm 110:1]

The Ascension of the Lord - Solemnity - Year B
Commentary of the day:
The Syrian Liturgy
“Rejoice with me for I have found the sheep that was lost” (Lk 15,6)
On the day of your Ascension, O Christ our King,
angels and men cry out:
“You are holy, O Lord, for you descended to earth and saved Adam,
the man of dust (Gn 2,7),
from the abyss of sin and death,
and by your holy Ascension, O Son of God,
heaven and earth entered into peace.
Glory to him who sent you!”
The Church saw her Spouse in glory
and forgot the sufferings endured on Golgotha.
In place of the weight of the cross that he bore,
he is borne upon a cloud of light.
See how he rises, clothed in splendor and glory!
Today a great wonder takes place on the Mount of Olives:
who can tell it?...
Our Master came down in search of Adam
and when he had found him who was lost
he bore him on his shoulders
and carried him gloriously into heaven in his company (cf. Lk 15,4f.).
He came and revealed to us that he is God;
he put on humanity and revealed himself a man;
he descended into hell and revealed that he was dead;
he rose and was exalted and revealed his greatness.
Blessed be his exaltation!
Mary rejoices on the day of his birth;
earth trembles on the day of his death;
hell is dismayed on the day of his resurrection;
earth exults on the day of his ascension.
Blessed be his Ascension!
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