Entrance Antiphon
O chosen people, proclaim the mighty works of him, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light, alleluia.
Collect
O God, whose Son, at his Ascension to the heavens, was pleased to promise the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, grant, we pray, that just as they received manifold gifts of heavenly teaching, so on us, too, you may bestow spiritual gifts Through our Lord…
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.
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.
Gospel Accl. 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.
Today’s 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.