No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. John 15: 15 In his classic spiritual text on Spiritual Friendship, Aelred of Rievaulx writes: “But…[read more]
And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them [the Gentiles] the Holy Spirit just as he did us. He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts. Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a…[read more]
I am the true vine and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit. . . . Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself…[read more]
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14: 22 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.…[read more]
And he said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16: 15-16 The gospel reading today comes from one of the added endings to the gospel of Mark. The first readers…[read more]
“And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me.” John 14: 4-6 How…[read more]
I know whom I have chosen; it is that the scripture may be fulfilled. . . . Amen, amen I say to you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. John 13: 18, 20 Today’s gospel continues to speak of the mission of Jesus…[read more]
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13: 2 And whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. John 12:45 As presented in Acts, the dynamic growth of the church in its…[read more]
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. John 10: 27-8 The teaching of Jesus in the gospels often emerges out of a dramatic conflict with those who cannot…[read more]
“When he [the shepherd] has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow,; but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not…[read more]
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