FIRST READING
“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 19:1-8)
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptised?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptised with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve of them in all. And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, arguing and pleading about the kingdom of God.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 68:2-3.4-5ac.6-7ab (R. sec 33a)
R. You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
Or: Alleluia.
Let God arise; let his foes be scattered.
Let those who hate him flee from his face.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
like wax that melts before the fire,
so the wicked shall perish at the presence of God. R.
But the just shall rejoice at the presence of God;
they shall exult with glad rejoicing.
O sing to God; make music to his name.
The Lord is his name. R.
Father of orphans, defender of widows:
such is God in his holy place.
God gives the desolate a home to dwell in;
he leads the prisoners forth into prosperity. R.
ALLELUIA Colossians 3:1
Alleluia. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Be of good cheer I have overcome the world.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 16:29-33)
At that time: The disciples said to Jesus, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure! Now we know that you know all things, and need none to question you; by this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
The Psalmist speaks of God as “the Father of the orphan and the Defender of the widow.” This beautiful designation is in consonance with the very essence of God, whose love for is truly indescribable, for He can never disappoint those who place their trust in Him. There are troubles, conflicts, oppressions, hunger, insecurity and all forms if inhumanity in the world, but in all these the Lord Jesus, who is the visible face of the invisible Father, says that we must be of good cheer and remain brave, for He has conquered the world. Send forth Your Spirit on us, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth!