Mary Of The Angelus Association

4-5-2010 Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter Year II

MEDITATION based on the readings for today’s mass.

These readings can be found in your bible or daily missal.

FIRST READING:  A reading from the Acts of the Apostles chapter 14: verses 19 -28

“They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead.  The disciples came crowding round him, but as they did so, he stood up and went back to the town.”

The Pharisees knew very well how to stone a person to death, but the power of Jesus thwarted their murderous plans, and Paul “stood up and went back to town”!  By this amazing miracle the local believers were confirmed in their faith.

The Pharisees had pursued Paul and Barnabas from Antioch and Iconium to Lycaonia, where the pagans believed the miracles worked by the disciples confirmed that they were gods.  Paul and Barnabus pointed to Jesus as the one true god and were able to preach the Good News that Jesus was God of all, pagan and Jew. They continued their ministry in the surrounding towns, appointing elders and founding churches.

On their arrival back in Antioch, “they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans.”

RESPONSE TO THE PSALM:  Your friends tell the glory of your kingship, Lord.

PSALM 144 VERSES 10 – 13.

All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,

To make known to all your mighty deeds and the glorious splendour of your reign.

GOSPEL:  A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John chapter 14 verses 27-31

“Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you,

A peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”

The Master is bequeathing this great gift to his followers – peace.  A bequeath is an inheritance, a gift from the grave to an heir.  The peace of Jesus is our gift, a gift the world cannot give.  What is this peace?  The peace of knowing that no matter what happens, Jesus is there with us.  He is our rock, our foundation on which we can stand.  When we turn our eyes to him in trust, we accept this perfect gift and wear the robe of peace.  It is made of living and eternal light.