Entrance Antiphon Ps 47:2
All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy, alleluia.
Collect
Grant graciously to your Church, O merciful God, that, gathered by the Holy Spirit, she may be devoted to you with all her heart and united in purity of intent. Through our Lord…
FIRST READING
I commend you to God, who is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 20:28-38)
In those days: Paul said to the elders of the Church of Ephesus, “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you guardians, to feed the Church of the Lord which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”’ And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they all wept and embraced Paul and kissed him, sorrowing most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they brought him to the ship.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm68:33-35a.35b and 36b (R. cf. 33a)
R/. You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
Summon forth your might, O God;
your might, O God, which you have shown for us.
From your temple high in Jerusalem,
kings will come to you bringing their tribute. R.
You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, praise the Lord
who rides on the heavens, the ancient heavens.
Behold, he thunders his voice, his mighty voice.
Come, acknowledge the power of God. R.
His glory is on Israel;
his might is in the skies.
Blest be God! R.
ALLELUIA John 17: 17b.a
Alleluia. Your word, O Lord, is truth; sanctify us in the truth. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
May they be one, as we are one!
*A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 17: 11b-19)
At that time: [Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and prayed, saying,] “Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Are there godly visions, purposes, missions, and assignments you have received? Prepare to pass it on. It is an obligation for us to make our God-given vision to endure. Jesus knew when it was time to go. He passed on his vision to his disciples and blessed them. Every believer is a leader and every leader has an obligation to pass on the gospel legacy to others. Teach someone what you are doing. Let someone receive your blessing.