Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter

LECTIONARY
296

FIRST READING

Acts 18:23-28

After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

PSALM

47:2-3, 8-9, 10

Response: God is king of all the earth.

All you peoples, clap your hands;
shout to God with cries of gladness.
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.

For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.

The princes of the peoples are gathered together
with the people of the God of Abraham.
For God’s are the guardians of the earth;
he is supreme.

GOSPEL

Jn 16:23-28

In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

Daily Reflection

The entrance antiphon sets the theme of proclamation, ‘O chosen people proclaim the mighty works of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light!’

An eloquent and informed speaker – Apollos – teaches about Jesus. Though his knowledge is sound, he is still open to learning and experience; he travels and interacts with listeners to uphold Jesus as the Messiah. The psalmist shouts out the Good News: ‘All peoples clap your hands, cry to God with shouts of joy…God is king of all the earth.’

In the Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples that joy exists in communication with the Father. The intimacy between God and the believer is intensified and faith grows strong. This knowledge is necessary because Jesus is about to leave his disciples, and he wants them to know that he will still be with them - and us - in the Eucharist, in the gatherings of believers, in the proclamation of the Word, in the action of the Holy Spirit, and in those whom we serve.

It is only when we encounter Him that we can exult and rejoice in our God!