FIRST READING
I have accomplished my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 20: 17-27)
In those days: From Miletus Paul went to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the Church. And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you all the time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 68: 1 0-11, 20-21 (R. see 33a)
R. You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.
Or: Alleluia.
You poured down, O God, a generous rain;
when your people languished, you restored their inheritance.
It was there that your flock began to dwell.
In your goodness, O God, you provided for the poor. R.
Day after day, may the Lord be blest.
He bears our burdens; God is our saviour.
This God of ours is a God who saves.
The Lord our Lord provides an escape from death. R.
ALLELUIA John 14:16
Alleluia. I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor, to be with you for ever. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Father, glorify your Son.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 17:1-11a)
At that time: Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made. “I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
In his farewell discourse, Jesus acknowledges that he has accomplished the work given to him by the Father. He now waits for the manifestation of the Father’s glory. Paul also acknowledges in his last testament that he has carried out the whole of God’s purpose entrusted to him, in the midst of difficulties and trials, without faltering. Discover God’s purpose you are called to accomplish on earth. When you finish your work, you receive the crown of glory.