First Reading

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (14:21-27)

After Paul and Barnabas had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in faith, saying, "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." They appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith.

Then they traveled to Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. And when they arrived, they called the church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (145:8-9,10-11,12-13)

(R) I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. (R)

Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. (R)

Let them make known your might to the children of Adam, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the Book of Revelation (21:1-5)

Then, I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race. He will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away."

The One who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (13:31-33a, 34-35)

When Judas had left them, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once.

My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

Forgetfulness is a normal and universal human experience. We all forget things sometimes. However, it's true that we forget more often as we get older. A research on forgetfulness by Karen Bolla has revealed that there are a few things that people most often forget: 83% of people forget names, 60% of people forget where something is, 57% of people forget telephone numbers, 53% of people forget words, 49% of people forget what was said, 42% of people forget faces and 38% of people forget what they have just done.

The findings may not be entirely accurate. But if we take the last finding into account, it can be said that if you can't remember what you have just heard or read - Jesus' new commandment: love one another - in today's gospel, then you join the 38% of population. Another thing we all tend to forget is our history. Our history helps us to connect with our past, understand our roots, and know how we got to where and who we are today as individuals and societies, especially as Christian Catholics.

Today, we may proudly claim that the Catholic Church is one of the largest and most organized religious institutions in the world. The recent peaceful and orderly election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV and a relatively smooth transition of leadership for centuries, particularly in the last few centuries, are testaments to the Church's organizational structure and established tradition. It has survived over 2000 years despite facing numerous challenges, persecutions, internal conflicts and external pressures.

But let us not forget that it all began with just twelve apostles and a few followers of Jesus who - after receiving from Jesus shortly before His ascension the Great Commission, "to go to all nations, baptize them, and teach them to obey all His commands" - started preaching the gospel of Jesus at first in Jerusalem, Matthew (28:16-20). They then expanded their mission to other regions of Israel, including Judea and Samaria, and ultimately, to the ends of the earth, Acts (1:8). Besides preaching the gospel and spreading the message of salvation, they established small Christian communities, commonly described as "house churches", where the believers regularly gathered for prayer, worship, study, shared meals and fellowship.

Today's First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (14:21-27) recounts a part of the early church's efforts, particularly of Paul and Barnabas, who embarked on their first missionary journey from Antioch in Syria and travelled to Cyprus and then to various cities in modern-day Turkey, and then back to Antioch. Throughout the journey, they proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ, first to the Jews, emphasizing that He was the promised Messiah, the Lord, and Savior who came to fulfil the prophesies of the Old Testament. Then they preached it to the Gentiles and called them to repentance, faith, and baptism. Their preaching led a great number of people to believe in Jesus and accept Him as their Lord.

While they saw many conversions, they also encountered opposition from both Jews and Gentiles. This, however, didn't deter them from preaching the gospel, bearing witness to Jesus and establishing churches. They even revisited the places they had previously preached, not just to gain new converts, but also to strengthen and encourage the believers who had already accepted the gospel, and to ensure the churches they had established were healthy and growing.

It was at this juncture that the Apostles:

Encouraged the believers by saying that it is necessary for them to "undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God", Acts (14:22). In other words, the new believers needed to be reminded that trials, hardships and persecutions were an expected part of their faith to enter the kingdom of God.
Appointed elders for the churches to ensure their growth in faith and stability in the face of hardships. By appointing elders, they equipped each church with the leadership capable of teaching, guiding, and supporting all believers through difficult times, Acts (14:23a).
Recognized the hardships in their ministry, including threats, misunderstandings, and even persecutions, they entrusted the elders to the Lord through fasting and prayer, Acts (14:23b).
Before sailing back to Antioch, they once again entrusted to God's grace the successful completion of their task, indicating that their successes and accomplishments were not solely due to their own effort but to divine favour and empowerment, Acts (14:25).
Lastly, after arriving in Antioch, they gathered the local church together and shared their experiences and the wonderful works God had done. Particularly, they reported how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, thereby indicating God's active role in their ministry, the success of their missionary journey, and the extension of the gospel beyond Jewish believers to those of other nations.

What is the message for us?

While our relationship with God is personal, our faith is personal and communitarian. We can enjoy an intimate relationship with God through personal prayer and devotion, but it is also essential, as Catholics, to nurture our relationship with God through a church or a community of believers because we are called to live in relationship with God and each other. A church or a community provides space for mutual support, encouragement, and understanding of faith. It helps us develop our spiritual gifts, live out our faith more effectively and experience the transforming power of God's love.

Therefore, let us not stand alone in faith but belong to a church or a community, the "body of Christ," where we can worship, fellowship, and grow together in faith. Let us regularly attend services in order to remain in touch with the community. Sadly, some believers too often switch churches. They move from one church to another without a sense of belonging in any church. This can sometimes lead to feelings of disappointment, dissatisfaction, disconnection, and a sense of being "out of sync" with God, others and ourselves.
In today's gospel, Jesus gives us a parting message emphasizing the importance of love. He tells us to love one another as He has loved us. Jesus further states that by our love for each other, other people will know that we are His followers. Loving others includes actively seeking the good of others and sharing one's faith. The apostles and the early Church exemplified love for others by actively sharing their faith in Jesus, gathering for fellowship, sharing meals (breaking bread), caring for each other's needs, offering mutual support and praying. Let us also demonstrate our love for others beyond material things, by acts of service, kindness, and compassion.

Sharing our faith can bring about a mixed response. While some may respond positively and accept faith, others may ridicule, resist, question, or even oppose it. Remember! This is the common experience for people of faith. Yet, we must have the courage to continue sharing our faith and the gospel of Jesus with others, especially our own children and those who are dear to us, regardless of hardships and challenges, including potential rejection, misunderstanding, and even persecution. Because the act of sharing faith is the best way to uplift and guide others in this earthly life, leading them to a relationship with God and showing them a path to eternal life.
Prayer is crucial for seeking God's guidance, sustaining the impact of our sharing, and making it fruitful. Therefore, it is not enough to simply share the faith and proclaim the gospel of Jesus; we must also pray for those involved in sharing the faith, either through preaching, or teaching, or simply sharing their faith, and also for those who receive the sharing. We shall pray that the sharers of faith may have the wisdom and discernment in knowing how to share their faith authentically and effectively and the receivers of faith may be receptive to the message and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, leading them to spiritual growth and transformation. Besides prayer, just like the Apostles, we can also use "fasting" the other spiritual practice to seek God's wisdom, guidance, and blessings.

Let's not wait until the Lenten Season for fasting but rather observe fasting any time of the year for any specific need, particularly for spiritual growth and conversion. Prayer and fasting, when practiced together, can deepen our relationship with God, our spiritual growth, and our understanding of God's will.
God is the ultimate source of all good things even when we exert our efforts and utilize our knowledge, talents, or abilities. No matter our accomplishments, big and small, ultimately, it's God who enables everything. Therefore, whenever something is accomplished let us not take credit for ourselves, but instead acknowledge God's grace and power by giving Him thanks and praise.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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