FEAST OF THE APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL

29^th JUNE, SOLEMNITY

 

I Reading: Acts 12:1-11: Herod arrested Peter, but an angel released him from his chains, leading him out of prison and into freedom.

II Reading: 2 Tim 4:6-8.17-18: Paul tells us that he has fought the good fight and finished the race. Now only martyrdom awaits him.

Gospel: Mt 16:13-19: When Jesus asked the disciples what identity people attributed to him, Peter answered on behalf of the Church that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

We celebrate today the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul. Let us thank God for these two apostles the light and strength they needed to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout their life-time, and witnessed to Christ at their death through their shedding of their blood. Both were executed in Rome around the year 67 A.D., that is, some 35 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

These two saints are known as the “Pillars of the Church.” The Church of Christ is built by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ), by the blood of the martyrs and believers. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus. Jesus fixed his eyes on him and said “You are Simon, son of John; you are to be called Cephas, which means a rock (Jn 1:42).” In today’s Gospel Jesus confirmed and strengthened the faith of Peter and gave him the power and authority to carry out the mission of Christ and nothing should destroy or diminish the mission of Christ while proclaiming the Good News of Christ on this earth.

Simon Peter was an ordinary person and illiterate (Jewish mission) where as Paul was the highly educated person (Gentile mission). Both invested their whole energy in Christ and loved him so much and followed him immediately till the end of their lives even unto death. Even persecution and opposition did not stop them spreading the Gospel of Christ. Although they had lots of differences and contrasting characters, still they worked together (Unity) and preached the Good News to the people (diversity) and continued the mission of Christ with a missionary zeal (universal mission for the salvation of souls).

No persecution can destroy the Church of Christ because he has instituted his Church not by any other human persons; whereas the lack of faith, unity and integrity can destroy the lives of the faithful in the church. 

Let us ask for God’s grace to strengthen our faith in Christ and imbibe the spirit of these two saints Peter and Paul to continue the mission of Jesus Christ despite persecution, rejection, opposition and temptations in our lives.

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THE MOST HOLY BODY OF CHRIST-C

I Reading: Genesis 14:18-20: Melchizedek, king and priest, brought bread and wine.

II Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the Lord’s death.

Gospel: Luke 9:11-17: From five loaves and two fish the crowd ate as much as they wanted, and the scraps filled twelve baskets.

Jesus Teaches How to Minister, Lk 9:10-17

God shows his love for people by preparing his gifts well in advance (Heb 7:1-2, Gen 14:17-20; Ps 110:4). Jesus prepared his people wisely and delicately to accept his gift of the Holy Eucharist (Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:30-44; Lk 9:10-17; 22:19;  Jn 6:1-13). For the Eucharist to yield its fruit, the Christian community must celebrate it united in mutual love (1Cor 11:23-25; 15:23; 11: 18,20; Mt 26:26-28; Mk 14:22-24; Lk 22: 19-20).

Jesus’ gift of himself in the Eucharist is intimately connected with that of his own life on the cross; his love for us shines at its best in both gifts. Jesus urges us to repent of our sins and to put ourselves under his Father’s loving rule, to enter into his kingdom and to worthily and gratefully accept his Body and Blood as the nourishment of the Life in the Spirit within us. Mutual union, and concern for our brothers and sisters in the community, are essential conditions to celebrate the Eucharist in a worthy manner.

Jesus once said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to save” (cp. Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45). So it is with the Lord’s disciple. But how the disciple ministers is of vital concern, for how he ministers determines the eternal fate of people and the success or failure of the Lord’s mission. In this passage Jesus teaches His followers how to minister (Mt 14:15-21; Mk 6:30-44).

1. He demonstrated and taught the need for privacy and rest (v.10)

a. The twelve returned and reported to Jesus

b. Jesus sought privacy with the disciple

2. He allowed the needy to interrupt the much needed privacy and rest (v.11)

3. He met both spiritual and physical needs (v.11)

4. He challenged the disciples to meet the people’s needs (v.12-13)

a. The wrong attitude: Let the people take care of themselves

b. The right attitude: let the disciples meet the people’s needs

c. The problem: Inadequate resources

5. He approached needs in an orderly fashion (v.14-15)

6. He looked to God in meeting needs (v.16-17)

a. He thanked God for what he had

b. He broke and gave what he had

c. He utilized all for future ministering and feeding

Thought: The task is enormous. It can be met only by an orderly, organized approach. The lesson is clear for every believer. Once we do our part, God will multiply our resources. There will always be enough to feed all-if we will only confess our inadequate resources, give thanks for what we have, and then give what we have. (Mt 6:33; Mal 3:10; Ps 24:1; 41:1; 50:10; Prov 11:25, 22:9, 28:27; Eccl 11:1; Is 32:8, 58:10; Hag 2:8).

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THE MOST HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY-C

I Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31: Before the earth came into being, Wisdom was born.

II Reading: Romans 5:1-5: To God, through Christ, in the love poured out by the Spirit.

Gospel: John 16:12-15: Everything the Father has is mine; all the Spirit tells you will be taken from what is mine.

The Work of the Holy Spirit, Jn 16:7-15

We are celebrating today the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity that there is only one God but three persons; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. All these three persons are equally wise, equally powerful and equally good, and yet distinct from one another, finally that they are not to be taken as three Gods; but there is only one God. They work as undivided unity, eg. God said, ‘let us’(The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit from the very beginning of creation ) make man(collective noun= adam=mankind) in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves..(Gen 1:26-27). The Spirit led ancient people to gradually learn about God. Jesus came into the world to clearly manifest God’s wisdom, power and love. To help us discover the love of the three Divine Persons for us, Jesus provided us with the best teacher he could give: the Holy Spirit, Himself one of the three Divine persons. Hence the Father created us, the Son redeemed us and the Holy Spirit makes us holy. This has been put in another way: the Father is the power of God, the Son is God’s wisdom and the Holy Spirit is God’s love. Paul teaches us that we must accept the training imparted by the Spirit with courage and with love (Rom 5:5). This is the deepest mystery in our Christian faith.

The clearest revelation of the Holy Spirit is given by our Lord Jesus himself. He had already revealed who the person of the Holy Spirit is (Jn 14:15-26). Now He reveals the work of the Holy Spirit.

1. He helps believers (v.7)

a. His help: for the believer’s good

b. His name: The Counselor, Comforter, the Helper

2. He convicts and convinces the world (v.8-11)

a. He convicts: Of sin, righteousness and judgement

b. He convinces

  1) Of sin: Because they believe not on Jesus

  2) Of righteousness: Because Jesus’ righteousness is proven-He is ascended as Lord

  3) Of judgement: Because Jesus condemned Satan

3. He guides believers (v12-13)

a. Through speaking the truth

b. Through leading into all truth

c. Through showing things to come

4. He glorifies Jesus: He shows the things of Jesus to believers (v.14-15)

Thought: Christ is declaring that there is perfect unity in the Godhead (Jn 10:37-38, 14:10, 17:22).

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PENTECOST SUNDAY-C

I Reading: Acts 2:1-11: They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak.

II Reading: Romans 8:8-17: Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God.

Gospel: John 14:15-16.23-26: The Holy Spirit will teach you everything.

The Holy Spirit: Who He is, 14:15-26

There are three great Scriptures that deal with the doctrine of the Holy Spirit at length.

1. The Identity of the Holy Spirit or who He is (Jn 14:15-26)

2. The work of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:7-15)

3. The Power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:1-17)

The birth of the Church.

Who is the Holy Spirit? He is known as the Advocate, Counsellor, Comforter, Helper, the Spirit of Truth, the Personal Presence of Christ, the manifestation of Christ within the believers, the abiding presence of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit the Teacher.

1.    On his resurrection day: Jesus presented his apostles with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

a)   The first fruit the Spirit brings to a person is FORGIVENESS: Jesus said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven. For those whose sins you retain, they are retained (Jn 20:23)

b)   The Spirit brings PEACE & JOY to heart of a person (Gal 5:22)

2.    The Holy Spirit brought to the Apostles the LIGHT & the STRENGTH they needed to preach the Gospel.

3.    The Spirit is at WORK at all times both in individuals and in the church (Mt 28:20-I am with you always till the end of time). (Jn 3:8-Jesus said to Nicodemus-the wind blows..from where it comes and goes..nobody knows. SPIRIT=Ruah in Hebrew=Breath. In OT-God breathed into the nostrils of Adam and got life. In NT-Jesus breathed on the disciples and got new life, peace and joy.

4.    The Holy Spirit displays absolutely FREEDOM and POWER: According Luke Gospel, the Spirit came like a WIND. The Spirit descended upon the disciples and Mary like FIRE in the form of a tongue. Fire destroys sin, transforms and purifies god or mental and gives warm and love and light. The same way the Spirit does. Eg. Jn 3:8

5.    The Spirit brings UNITY to Christian family. The Spirit gives the gifts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22).

All men and women must be filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit renews the lives of the people and the face of the earth.

 

The greatest help the believers are to receive is the very presence of God Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit. It is this that Jesus now reveals. He reveals the Holy Spirit, His identity, who He is (Jn 16:7-15 where Jesus reveals the work of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit in Rom 8:1-17).

1. Fact: If a person loves Jesus, he will keep His commandments (v.15)

2. He is the Counselor, the Comforter, the other Helper (v.16)

3. He is the Spirit of truth (v.17)

a. The world cannot accept Him

b. The believer does receive Him and know Him

4. He is the personal presence of Christ (v.18-20)

a. A spiritual presence not a physical one

b. A living and eternal presence

c. A living union between God, Christ and the believer

5. He is the very special manifestation of Christ within the believer (v.21-22)

a. The special presence is conditional: Must obey and love Christ

b. The special presence is questioned

6. He is the abiding presence of the Trinity (v.23-24)

a. Is conditional: Must love and obey Jesus

b. Is the love and presence of God and Christ

c. Is not given to those who do not love and obey Christ

d. Is assured by God Himself

7. He is the Holy Spirit, the Teacher (v.25-26)

a. The facts

  1) He is promised

  2) He is given by the Father in the name of Jesus

b. His purpose

  1) To teach the believer all things: both the words and life of Christ, both the truth and the life, both the  Word and how to live the Word, both the theory and practice, both the principles and conduct, both the morality and behaviour.

  2) To help the believer to remember all that has been taught in the Word of God, to help especially in the moments of trail when the truth is needed (1Cor 10:13, 2:13; Lk 12:12; Jn 14:26, 16:13; 1Jn 2:27).

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The Ascension of the Lord-C

I Reading: Acts 1:1-11: He was lifted up while they looked on.

II Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23:He made Him sit at his right hand in heaven.

Gospel: Luke 24:46-53: As he blessed them he was carried up to heaven.

Jesus’ Appearance to the Disciples:

The Great Statements of the Christian Faith, Lk 24:36-49

This was the first appearance of Jesus to all the disciples at once. He shared the two great statements (explanations) of the Christian faith.

1. Statement 1: Jesus is risen (v.36-43)

a. Jesus’ first word: Peace

b. Jesus’ impact

  1) The disciples startled and frightened

  2) The disciples were troubled and questioning

c. Jesus’ proof

  1) He is flesh and bones

  2) He shows them his wounds

  3) He talks

2. Statement 2: All prophetic Scripture must be fulfilled (v.44-49)

a. The forewarning

b. The utter necessity

c. The spiritual insight needed

d. The particular prophecies

  1) Christ must suffer and arise

  2) Repentance and forgiveness must be preached

  3) The Holy Spirit and power must be sent

Jesus’ Last Appearance: The Ascension, Lk 24:50-53

Luke closes his gospel with the ascension of Christ and begins Acts with the ascension of Christ (Acts 1:9-11). The ascension closes the Lord’s earthly ministry, His mission to save the world. On the other hand, the ascension opens the Lord’s heavenly ministry. Therefore the ascension is the beginning of his journey into heaven as the Lord and the Saviour of the world to judge the living and the dead.

1. The purpose of the ascension (v.50-51)

a. To bless

b. To provide a witness and give great assurance

2. The disciples’ response to the ascension (v.52-53)

a. Worshipped Him

b. Were filled with joy

c. Worshipped in the temple-continually

Thought: The Lord ascended to the right hand of God, that is, to the position of sovereignty and power (Mk 16:19; Lk 22:69; Acts 1:9-11;2:36;5:31;Eph 1:20; Ph 2:9-11;Rev 5:12). The ascension assures (proves, confirms) that seven things are absolutely certain.

1. The ascension assures that God is, that He is alive and does exist. The fact that Christ was raised up from the dead and taken up into heaven proves that God is. Only God could do such things.

2. The ascension assures that Christ is God’s Son.

3. The ascension assures that heaven is real (Ph 3:20-31).

4. The ascension assures that the gospel is true.

5. The ascension assures that the Great commission is the call and mission of believers.

6. The ascension assures that power is available to carry out the Great Commission (Mt 28:18; Mk 16:20).

7. The ascension assures that we have a very special Helper in heaven, One who really loves and cares for us.

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