FIRST READING
He lived in Rome, preaching the kingdom of God.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 28: 16-20.30-31)

When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier that guarded him. After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brethren, though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar — though I had no charge to bring against my nation. For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” And he lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unhindered.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalms 11:4.5and7(R.7b)
R/. The upright shall behold your face, O Lord.
or:  Alleluia.

The Lord is in his holy temple;
The throne of the Lord is in heaven.
His eyes behold the world;
His gaze probes the children of men. R.

The Lord inspects the just and the wicked;
The lover of violence he hates.
For the Lord is just and loves deeds of justice;
The upright shall behold his face. R.

ALLELUIA  John 16:7.13
Alleluia. I will send the Spirit of truth to you, says the Lord; he will guide you into all the truth. Alleluia.

GOSPEL               
“This is the disciple who has written these things, and his testimony is true.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 21:20-25)

At that time: Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
Not all that Jesus did and said is exhaustive in the Sacred Scripture because the scripture itself attested to this. The Gospel of John tells us that there are also many other things which Jesus did that no single book can contain (John 21:25). The Sacred Scripture is the written tradition. There is also the oral tradition. The scripture itself reveals it, “so then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth [oral tradition] or by letter [written tradition]”  (2 Thess. 2:15). Let us hold firm to the traditions we received. Let us not be deceived by those who say, “Scripture alone”.

FIRST READING
“Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 25: 13b-21)

In those days: Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus. And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix; and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews gave information about him, asking for sentence against him. I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up any one before the accused met the accusers face to face, and had opportunity to make his defence concerning the charge laid against him. When therefore they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man brought in. When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed; but they had certain points of dispute with him about their own superstition and about one Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.”

The word of the Lord

RESPONSORIAL PSALM   Psalm 103:1-2.11-12.19-20ab (R. 19a)
R. The Lord has fixed his throne in heaven.
Or: Alleluia.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
and all within me, his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and never forget all his benefits. R.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so strong his mercy for those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far from us does he remove our transgressions. R..

The Lord has fixed his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom is ruling over all.
Bless the Lord, all you his angels,
mighty in power, fulfilling his word. R.

ALLELUIA John 14:26
Alleluia. The Holy Spirit will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Alleluia.

GOSPEL                                                       
“Feed my lambs, tend my sheep.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 21: 15-19)

When [Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and] they had finished breakfast, he said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you fastened your own belt and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will fasten your belt for you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
Love is something to give and receive. It is good to love and allow yourself to be loved. One should dispose oneself to receive love. To love without having a disposition to receive love is selfishness. One can love without being lustful and receive love without defiling the body. Some people are so closed-up that they do not allow anyone to show them love. By this very gesture of Peter’s reassurance of his love to Jesus today, Jesus also shows through this encounter with Peter that one who loves should allow himself or herself to be loved. Do not resist love. To love is not enough, we should also allow ourselves to be loved.

FIRST READING
Apollos showed by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 18:23-28)

After spending some time in Antioch, Paul departed and went from place to place 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, well versed 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 and expounded to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully confuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM   Psalm 47:2-3.8-9.1 0 (R. 8a)
R/. God is king of all the   earth.
Or: Alleluia.

All peoples, clap your hands.
Cry to God with shouts of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome,
the great king over all the earth. R.

God is king of all the earth.
Sing praise with all your skill.
God reigns over the nations. 
God sits upon his holy throne. R.

The princes of the peoples are assembled
with the people of the God of Abraham.
The rulers of the earth belong to God,
who is greatly  exalted. R.

ALLELUIA  John 16:28
Alleluia.I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father. Alleluia.

GOSPEL               
My Father loves you because you have loved me and believed in me.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 16:23b-28)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. Until now you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. I have said this to you in figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures but tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in my name; and I do not say to you that I shall ask the Father for you; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from the Father. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

REFLECTION
Anyone who loves Jesus and believes that he came from the Father to save the world has access to divine provisions through the name of Jesus. Any disciple of Jesus is entitled to anything he asks in the name of Jesus. However, entitlement does not automatically mean possession. Jesus tells us that we are entitled to have anything if we ask. We shall possess whatever we ask the Father in the name of Jesus because we are entitled to ask and receive. Paul, Apollos, and many others were answered prayers of the disciples of Jesus. Let us ask God for the grace to be, to have, and to love in the name of Jesus.

FIRST READING       
“The lot fell on Matthias, and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:15-17, 20-26)

In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry. For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation become desolate and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘His office let another take.’ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us — one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM  Psalm113:lb-2.3-4.5-6.7-8 (R. see 8)
R/. The Lord made them sit with the princes of his people.
Or:  Alleluia.

Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blest
both now and for evermore! R.

From the rising of the sun to its setting,
praised be the name of the LORD!
High above all nations is the Lord,
above the heavens his glory. R.

who is like the Lord, our God,
who dwells on high
who lowers himself to look down
upon heaven and earth? R.

From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the ash heap he raises the poor,
to set them in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people. R.

ALLELUIA John 15:16
Alleluia. I chose you from the world that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit shall abide, says the Lord. Alleluia.

GOSPEL         
“You did not choose me, but I chose you.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 15:9- 17)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. This I command you, to love one another.”
 

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection
Every good position is a choice of God. It is a call and choice of God. He chooses one person for one thing and another for something else. He picks one from the dust and sets him in the company of princes. He gives hope to the hopeless. The Psalmist tells us that “He [God] raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people” (Psalm 113:7-8). He picked Matthias from the crowd and made him an apostle when the apostles prayed. Let us thank God for making us friends. Let us make more friends for Jesus.

FIRST READING
“As they were looking on, he was lifted up. ”
The beginning of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:1-11)

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me, for John baptised with water, but before many days you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 47:2-3.6-7.8-9 (R. 6)
R/. God has gone up with shouts of joy.
The Lord goes up with trumpet blast.
Or: Alleluia.

All peoples, clap your hands.
Cry to God with shouts of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome,
the great king over all the earth. R.

God goes up with shouts of joy.
The Lord goes up with trumpet blast.
Sing praise for God; sing praise!
Sing praise to our king; sing praise! R.

God is king of all the earth.
Sing praise with all your skill.
God reigns over the nations.
God sits upon his holy throne. R.

SECOND READING
“The measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 4:1-13)

*Brethren: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy for the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all the and through all and in all.  But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.*

Therefore, it is said, “When he ascended on high the led a  host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended.” What does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?  He who descended is he who also ascended for above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

*And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipment of the saints, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

The word of the Lord*
Shorter form: Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13. Read between*

ALLELUIA Matthew 28:19a, 20b
Alleluia. Go and make disciples of all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, to the close of the age. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“He was taken up to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

At that time: (Jesus appearing to the Eleven) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe:  in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.  And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the sign that attended it. Amen.

The Gospel of the Lord

Today’s Reflection

Forty days after His glorious resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus, conqueror of sin and death, ascended to heaven in triumph.  On this solemnity the Church commemorates the first and irreversible entry of humanity into divine glory, when Jesus takes His human nature, which is inseparable from His divine nature, into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. “Jesus ascends not to distance Himself from us, but to draw us to Himself. He is the first fruit from the dead and the only way to heaven.  This reality illustrates the fact that we who have truly followed Christ and live by His standards will enter into the beatific vision with glorified bodies at the final resurrection.  May Jesus, who has gone to prepare a place for us, send us power from on high!