He prunes every branch that bears fruit

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Il-Ħames Ħadd ta’ l-Għid

Messalin B 294

Reading 1  -   Acts 9:26-31

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles, and he reported to them how he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem, and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord. He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists, but they tried to kill him. And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus. The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers. This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Lezzjoni -   mill-Ktieb ta' l-Atti ta' l-Appostli 9, 26-31

F'dak iż-żmien,  meta Sawl wasal Ġerusalemm beda jfittex li jissieħeb mad-dixxipli. Imma  lkoll kienu  jibżgħu minnu, għax ma kinux emmnux li tassew ikkonverta. Imbagħad Barnaba qabdu u ħadu miegħu   għand l-appostli.    Hu qalilhom kif Sawl  kien ra lill-Mulej fit-triq u semgħu jkellmu, u kif f'Damasku kien tkellem  b'wiċċu minn  quddiem fl-isem ta' Ġesu'.   Għalhekk  Sawl  baqa' magħhom, dieħel u ħiereġ f'Ġerusalemm, u  kien jitkellem  bil-miftuħ f'isem il-Mulej.    Kien  jitħaddet mal-Lhud Griegi u jiddiskuti  magħhom; iżda huma kienu jfittxu li joqtluh.  Meta l-aħwa saru jafu b'dan, niżżluh lejn  Ċesarija u bagħtuh Tarsu. Il-Knisja kienet fis-sliem fil-Lhudija u  l-Galililja u s-Samarija kollha;  kienet dejjem  tikber u timxi 'l quddiem fil-biża'  tal-Mulej u  tiżdied fl-għadd  bl-għajnuna tal-Ispirtu s-Santu.              Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm          -- Psalm 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32

R. (26a) I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.  or: Alleluia.

I will fulfill my vows before those who fear the LORD.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
"May your hearts live forever!"                                  R/

All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
all the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.                                      R/

To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
before him shall bend
all who go down into the dust.                                  R/

And to him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.                                            R/

Salm Responsorjali   -    Salm 21 (22)

R/   Mulej, nagħtik  it-tifħir tiegħi f'ġemgħa kbira. Jew Hallelujah,  Hallelujah

Irrodd il-wegħdiet tiegħi

quddiem dawk li jibżgħu minnu.

Jieklu l-fqajrin u jixbgħu;

ifaħħru l-Mulej dawk li jfittxuh.

Ħa tgħix qalbhom għal dejjem!                                R/

Jiftakru t-truf  kollha ta' l-art;

u jerġgħu lura  lejn il-Mulej;

u quddiemu jixteħtu r-razez kollha tal-ġnus.

Lilu  jqimu l-bnedmin, li jmutu;

quddiemu jmil lull min nieżel ġot-trab

U għalih tgħix ir-ruħ.                                                     R/

Lilu jaqdi n-nisel tiegħi.

Ixandru  'l Sidi n-nisel li  għad jiġi,.

ixandru l-ġustizzja tiegħu

lill-poplu li għad jitwieled:

" Dan  għamlu l-Mulej "                                                R/

Reading 2                              1 John 3:18-24

Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts before him in whatever our hearts condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he gave us. This is the Word of The Lord.

 It-Tieni Qari   -    mill-Ewwel Ittra ta' San Ġwann Apposltu 3, 18-24

Uliedi, ma nħobbux bil-kliem u t-tpaċpiċ, imma bl-għemil u bis-sewwa. Minn dan naslu li nagħrfu  li aħna fil-verita', u quddiem Alla nserrħu l-kuxjenza tagħna, jekk  il-kuxjenza ċċanfarna, għax Alla hu aqwa  mill-kuxjenza tagħna, u hu jaf kollox.  Għeżież,  jekk il-kuxjenza tagħna ma ċċanfarniex aħna qalbna qawwija quddiem Alla, u kull ma nitolbu naqilgħuh mingħandu, għax qegħdin inżommu l-kmandamenti tiegħu, u nagħmlu dak li jogħġob lilu. Dan hu l-kmandment tiegħu: li nemmnu fl-isem  ta' Ibnu Ġesu' Kristu, u  nħobbu 'l xulxin, kif  wissiena hu.   Min iżomm  il-kmandamenti tiegħu  jgħammar f'Alla u Alla fih.   B'hekk nagħrfu li hu  jgħammar fina: bl-Ispirtu li hu tana.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                                   John 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples." This is the Word of The Lord.

Evanġelju   -    skond  San Ġwann 15, 1-8

F'dak iż-żmien,  Ġesu' qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: "Jiena d-dielja vera u Missieri l-bidwi.  Kull fergħa fija li  ma tagħmilx frott jaqtagħha;  u kull waħda li tagħmel il-frott jiżborha u jnaddafha, biex tagħmel frott aktar.    Intom ġa ndaf minħabba  fil-kelma li għidtilkom. Ibqgħu fija, u  jien nibqa' fikom.   Kif il-fergħa ma  tistax tagħmel frott  minnha  nfissha jekk ma tibqax  fid-dielja, hekk anqas  intom jekk ma tibqgħux fija.   Jiena d-dielja, intom il-friegħi.   Min jibqa' fija u  jiena fih, dan jagħmel ħafna frott;  għax mingħajri  ma tistgħu tagħmlu xejn.    Jekk wieħed ma jibqax fija,  jintremma  barra  bħal fergħa u jinxef; imbagħad, friegħi  bħal dawn  jiġbruhom u jixħtuhom fin-nar u jinħarqu. Jekk tibqgħu fija u kliemi jibqa' fikom, itolbu kull ma  tridu,  u jingħatalkom.   Din hi l-glorja ta'  Missieri, li  intom tagħmlu ħafna frott u  tkunu dixxipli tiegħi." Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Father Cantalamessa on Pruning

He Prunes Every Branch that Bears Fruit

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit" (John 15:1-2).

In his teaching, Jesus often begins with things that are familiar to those listening to him, things that everyone could see. This time he speaks to us with the image of the vine and the branches.

Jesus sets forth two situations. The first is negative: The branch is dry, it bears no fruit, and so it is cut off and thrown away. The second is positive: The branch is living and healthy, and so it is pruned.

This contrast already tells us that pruning is not a hostile act to the branch. The vinedresser expects much from it; he knows it can bear fruit; he has confidence in it. The same happens on the spiritual plane. God intervenes in our lives with the cross. It does not mean he is irritated with us but, in fact, the opposite.

But, why does the vinedresser prune the branch and make the vine "weep," as is usually said. For a very simple reason: If it is not pruned, the strength of the vine is wasted; it will bear perhaps more bunches than it should, with the consequence that not all will ripen and that the rating of the wine will be lower. If it remains a long time without being pruned, the vine even becomes wild and produces only vine tendrils and wild grapes.

The same happens in our lives. To live is to choose, and to choose is to deny oneself. The person who wants to do too many things in life, or cultivates innumerable interests and hobbies, is dispersed, and will not be outstanding in anything.

One must have the courage to make choices, to put some secondary interests to one side to concentrate on the primary. To prune!

This is even truer in the spiritual life. Holiness is like a sculpture. Leonardo da Vinci defined sculpture as "the art of removing." The other arts consist in adding something: color to the canvas in painting, stone on stone in architecture, note after note in music.

Only sculpture consists of removing, of taking away the pieces of marble that are in excess, so that the figure can emerge that one has in mind. Christian perfection is also obtained like this, by removing and making useless pieces fall off, namely, desires, ambitions, projects, carnal tendencies that disperse us and do not let us finish anything.

One day, Michelangelo walking through a garden in Florence saw a block of marble in a corner protruding from the earth, half covered by grass and mud.

He stopped suddenly, as if he had seen someone, and turning to friends, who were with him, exclaimed: "An angel is imprisoned in that marble; I must get him out." And, armed with a chisel, he began to work on that block until the figure of a beautiful angel emerged.

God also looks at us and sees us this way: as shapeless blocks of stone. He then says to himself: "Therein is hidden a new and beautiful creature that waits to come out to the light; more than that, the image of my own son Jesus Christ is hidden there, I want to bring it out!" We are predestined to "be conformed to the image of his son" (Romans 8:29).

Then, what does He do? He takes the chisel, which is the cross, and begins to work on us. He takes the pruning shears, and begins to prune us.

We must not worry ourselves thinking of what terrible crosses he may send us! Normally, he does not add anything to what life presents us in terms of suffering, effort, tribulations. He makes all these things serve for our purification. He helps us to not waste them.

[Translation by ZENIT]   © Innovative Media Inc.

I am the Good Shepherd

The Fourth Sunday of Easter

Ir-Raba’ Ħadd tal-Għid

Messalin B  289

Reading 1         -             ACTS 4:8-12

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said: “Leaders of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.  There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”  This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Qari  -   mill-Ktieb ta' l-Atti ta' l-Appostli 4, 8-12

F'dak iż-żmien,  Pietru, mimli bl-Ispirtu s-Santu, wieġeb: "Kapijiet tal-poplu u xjuħ, intom illum qegħdin tistħarrġuna fuq il-ġid li għamilna lil wieħed marid, u  biex dan fieq.  Mela kunu afu intom ilkoll, u l-poplu kollu ta' Israel, jekk dan ir-raġel hu hawn quddiemkom qawwi u sħiħ, dan ġara bis-saħħa tal-isem ta' Ġesu' Kristu ta'  Nażaret,  li intom sallabtuh u li Alla qajmu mill-imwiet  Dan Ġesu' hu l-ġebla li intom, il-bennejja,  warrabtu u  li saret  saret il-ġebla tax-xewka.   F'ħadd ħliefu  ma hemm salvazzjoni, għax imkien taħt  is-sema ma  hemmx isem ieħor mogħti lill-bnedmin li  bih aħna għandna nkunu salvi."  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                   PSalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29

R. (22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone or:  Alleluia.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.                                                R.

I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.                                          R.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his kindness endures forever.                             R.

Salm Responsorjali                    -              Salm 117(118) 

R/   Il-ġebla li warrbu l-bennejja saret il-ġeba tax-xewka. Jew   Hallelujah,  Hallelujah,  Hallelujah.

Faħħru 'l-Mulej, għaliex hu tajjeb,

għax għal-dejjem it-tjieba tiegħu!

Aħjar tistkenn fil-Mulej

milli tittama fil-bnedmin.

Aħjar  tistkenn fil-Mulej

milli tittama fil-kbarat.                 R/

Niżżik ħajr talli weġibtni

u kont għalija s-salvazzjoni tiegħi.

Il-ġebla li warrbu l-bennejja

saret il-ġebla tax-xewka.

Bis-saħħa tal-Mulej seħħ dan:

ħaġa tal-għaġeb f'għajnejna.                     R/

Imbierek minn ġej f'isem il-Mulej!

Inberkukom  minn dar il-Mulej.

Alla tiegħi, jien lilek inkabbar..

Faħħru l-Mulej, għaliex hu tajjeb,

għax għal dejjem it-tjieba tiegħu!          R/

Reading 2         -              1 JohN 3:1-2

Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  This is the Word of The Lord.

It-Tieni Qari     -   mill-Ewwel Ittra ta' San Ġwann 3,1-2

Egħżież,  araw b'liema għożża ħabbna l-Missier; nistgħu nissejħu wlied Alla, u  hekk  aħna tassew. Għalhekk id-dinja ma tagħrafniex, għax ma għariftx lilu. Egħżież, issa aħna wlied Alla, imma  x'se nkunu 'l quddiem mhuwiex irrivelat lilna. Madankollu nafu li meta jidher`,  aħna nkunu bħalu, għax narawh kif inhu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                                                                JohN 10:11-18

Jesus said:  “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”  This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Evanġelju  -   skond San Ġwann Appostlu 10, 11-18

F'dak iż-żmien, Ġesu' qal:  "Jiena r-ragħaj it-tajjeb. Ir-ragħaj it-tajjeb jagħti ħajtu għan-nagħaġ tiegħu. Il-mikri, li mhuwiex ir-ragħaj, u li n-nagħaġ mhumiex  tiegħu,   jara l-lupu ġej, u jħalli n-nagħaġ, u jaħrab; u l-lupu jaħtafhom u jxerridhom.   Mikri hu, ma   jħabbilx rasu min-nagħaġ. Jien r-ragħaj it-tajjeb; jiena nagħraf in-nagħaġ tiegħi, u n-nagħaġ tieghi jagħarfu lili,  bħalma l-Missier jagħraf  lili u jiena nagħraf lill-Missier; u għan-nagħaġ tiegħi  nagħti ħajti.    Għandi wkoll nagħaġ oħra, li mhumiex   minn dan il-maqjel: lilhom ukoll jeħtieġ li niġbor, u  huma  jisimgħu leħni, u jkun hemm merħla waħda,  ragħaj wieħed. Għalhekk  iħobbni l-Missieri, għax jiena nagħti  ħajti, biex nerġa' neħodha.   Ħadd ma  jeħodhieli,  iżda jien nagħtija minn rajja.  Għandi setgħa li  nagħtiha, u għandi s-setgħa li nerġa neħodha; din hi  l-ordni li ħadt mingħand Missieri." Il-Kelma  tal-Mulej

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Father Cantalamessa on the Flock of Christ

The Fourth Sunday of Eastertide is called "Good Shepherd Sunday." To understand the importance that the theme of the shepherd has in the Bible, one must go back to history.

The Bedouins of the desert give us today an idea of what was, at one time, the life of the tribes of Israel. In that society the relationship between the shepherd and the flock is not only of an economic type, based on interest. An almost personal relationship was developed between the shepherd and the flock. Days and days were spent together in solitary places, without any one around. The shepherd ended up by knowing everything about each sheep; the sheep recognized the voice of the shepherd, who talked frequently to the sheep, and distinguishes his voice among all others.

This explains why God made use of this symbol to express his relationship with humanity. One of the Psalter's most beautiful psalms describes the security of the believer in having God as shepherd: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

Subsequently the title shepherd is given, by extension, also to those who act for God on earth: kings, priests, leaders in general. But in this case the symbol is divided: It no longer evokes images of protection and security, but also of exploitation and oppression.

Along with the image of the good shepherd appears that of the evil shepherd, of the mercenary. In the prophet Ezekiel we come across a terrible accusation against evil shepherds who only feed themselves, followed by God's promise to look after his flock himself (Ezekiel 34:1ff).

In the Gospel Jesus takes up the idea of the good and evil shepherd, but with a novelty. "I am the good shepherd!" he says. God's promise has become a reality, exceeding all expectations. Christ does what no shepherd does, no matter how good he is: He is prepared to "Give my life for the sheep."

The man of today rejects with contempt the role of the sheep and the idea of a flock, but he does not realize that he is completely inside it. One of the most obvious phenomena of our society is its "massification." We let ourselves be led in a supine manner by all kinds of manipulation and concealed persuasion.

Others create models of well-being and behavior, ideals and objectives of progress, and we follow them; we go behind them, afraid to be out of step, conditioned and kidnapped by advertising. We eat what they tell us, we dress as they show us, we speak as we hear them speak, in slogans. The criteria by which the majority let themselves be led in their choices is "Così fan tutti" (Everybody does it), of Mozartian memory.

Look how the life of the masses develops in a large modern city: It is the sad image of a flock that goes out together, is agitated, and crowds the cars of trains and subways and then, in the evening, returns to the sheepfold empty of self and of freedom. We smile in amusement when we see a people filmed in fast-forward, moving by leaps and bounds, speedily, as puppets, but it is the image we would have of ourselves if we looked with less superficial eyes.

The Good Shepherd, who is Christ, proposes that, with him, we experience liberation. To belong to his flock is not to fall into "massification," but to be preserved from it. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17), says St. Paul.

Here the person emerges, with his unique richness and true destiny. The son of God emerges, still hidden, of which the second letter of this Sunday speaks: "Beloved, now we are children of God, though we do not yet know what we shall be."

[Translation by ZENIT]  © Innovative Media Inc. 

"Have you anything here to eat?"

Third Sunday of Easter

It-Tielet Ħadd ta’ l-Għid

Messalin B 284

Reading 1                        Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

Peter said to the people: "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in Pilate's presence when he had decided to release him. You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses. Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did; but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer. Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away." This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Qari   -   mill-Atti ta' l-Appostli 3, 13-15,17-19

F'dak iż-żmien,  Pietru qal lill-poplu:   "Alla ta' Abraham, Alla ta' Iżakk u Alla ta' Ġakobb, Alla ta' missirijietna, gglorifika lill-qaddej tiegħu, Ġesu', li intom ittradejtuh  u ċħadtuh quddiem Pilatu,  għalkemm dan kien qatagħha li  jitilqu. Intom ċħadtu l-Qaddis u l-Ġust, tlabtu l-ħelsien ta' wieħed qattiel u  qtiltu lill-awtur tal-ħajja.   Imma Alla  qajmu mill-imwiet, u ta' dan aħna xhieda. Issa, ħuti, jien naf li kemm intom u kemm  il-kapijiet tagħkom, għamiltu dan għaliex  ma kontux tafu.  Imma b'hekk Alla temm  dak  li  hu kien ħabbar  sa minn qabel b'fomm  il-profeti, jiġifieri,  li l-Messija tiegħu kellu jbati. Indmu, mela, u erġgħu lura biex dnubietkom  biex jinħafrulkom." Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Responsorial Psalm                                  Ps alm4:2, 4, 7-8, 9

R. (7a) Lord, let your face shine on us.   or:  Alleluia.

When I call, answer me, O my just God,
you who relieve me when I am in distress;
have pity on me, and hear my prayer!                                   R.

 Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;
the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.                     R.

O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!
You put gladness into my heart.                                            R

. As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep,
for you alone, O LORD,
bring security to my dwelling.                                              R

Salm Responsorjali    Salm  4

                R/   Ixħet fuqna, Mulej, id-dawl ta' wiċċek  jew                 Hallelujah

Weġibni, meta nsejjaħlek,

Alla tal-ġustizzja tiegħi;

oħroġni  fil-wisa' meta nkun imdejjaq,

ħenn għalija u isma' t-talbi.                                        R/

Kunu afu li l-Mulej

wera tjieba kbira miegħi;

jismagħna l-Mulej meta nsejjħulu.                         R/

Ħafna jgħidu:  "Min jurina r-riżq?"

Ixħet fuqna, Mulej,  id-dawl ta' wiċċek.

Nimtedd u norqod minnufih fis-sliem,

Għax int waħdek, Mulej, fis-sod tqegħedni.        R/

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Reading 2                        1 John 2:1-5a

My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Those who say, "I know him," but do not keep his commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the Word of The Lord.

It-Tieni Qari   -    mill-Ewwel Ittra ta' San Ġwann 2, 1-5

Uliedi, dan qed niktibhulkom biex ma tindinbux; imma jekk xi ħadd jidneb, aħna għandna  Difensur quddiem il-Missier, lil Ġesu' Kristu, il-Ġust. U hu jħallas għal dnubnietna, mhux għal tagħna biss, iżda wkoll għal dawk tad-dinja kollha. U b'dan nafu li nagħarfuh 'l Ġesu': jekk inżommu il-kmandamenti tiegħu. Min jgħid "Jien nafu" u ma jżommx  il-kmandamenti tiegħu, hu giddieb u  l-verita'  mhijiex fih.   Iżda kull min  iżomm il-kelma tiegħu, fih hemm tassew  l-imħabba ta' Alla fil-milja tagħha.   Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Gospel                                                Luke 24:35-48 

The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them  in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? A nd why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have." And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of baked fish;  he took it and ate it in front of them. He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."  This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Evanġelju   -   skond San Luqa 24, 35-48

F'dak iż-żmien, iż-żewġ dixxipli li reġgħu lura Ġerusalemm minn Għemmaws  kienu qegħdin itarrfu lill-Ħdax u lil dawk  li kienu magħhom xi ġralhom fit-triq, u kif għarfu 'l Ġesu'  fil-qsim tal-ħobż. Kif kienu għadhom jitkellmu, Ġesu' nnifsu waqaf f'nofshom u  qalilhom:  "Is-sliem għalikom!"  Huma twerwru bil-biża', għax  ħasbu li qegħdin jaraw xi fantażma.   Iżda hu qalilhom: "Għaliex  tħawwadtu?  Għaliex dan it-tħassib kollu f'qalbkom?  Araw idejja  u riġlejja.  Jiena Hu!  Missuni, u ifhmuha li l-Ispirtu ma għandux laħam u għadam bħalma qegħdin taraw li għandi jien."Huwa u  jgħidilhom dan, uriehom idejh u riġlejh. Iżda billi huma, fil-ferħ tagħhom, kienu għadhom ma jridux  jemmnu u baqgħu mistagħġba, qalilhom:"Għandkom xi ħaġa  ta' l-ikel hawn?"U ressqulu quddiemu biċċa ħuta mixwija, u hu ħadha, u  kielha quddiemhom. Imbagħad qalilhom:  "Meta kont għadni magħkom għidtilkom  dawn il-kelmiet: jeħtieġ li jseħħ kull ma nkiteb fuqi fil-Liġi ta'  Mose,fil-Profeti u s-Salmi."  Imbagħad  fetħilhom moħħom  biex jifhmu l-Iskrittura.  U qalilhom: "Hekk kien miktub, li  l-Messija jbati u fit-tielet jum jqum mill-imwiet, u li l-indiema  għall-maħfra tad-dnubiet tixxandar f'ismu lill-ġnus kollha,  ibda minn Ġerusalem.  Intom xhud ta' dan.  U jiena,araw,  nibgħat fuqkom lil dak li wiegħed Missieri. Imma intom ibqgħu  fil-belt, sa ma Alla jkun libbiskom bil-qawwa tiegħu."  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Commentary by Fr Raniero Cantalamessa

The Lord Has Risen Indeed!

The Gospel enables us to be present at one of the many apparitions of the Risen One. The disciples of Emmaus have just arrived out of breath to Jerusalem and are recounting what happened to them on the road, when Jesus appears in person in their midst saying: "Peace to you!" At first, fear, as if they saw a spirit; then amazement, disbelief; finally, joy. What is more, disbelief and joy at the same time: "And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered."

Theirs is an altogether special disbelief. It is the attitude of someone who believes (otherwise, there would be no joy) but does not know how to realize it. As someone who says: "Too wonderful to be true." We can call it, paradoxically, an incredulous faith. To convince them, Jesus asks them for something to eat, because there is nothing like eating together to comfort and create communion.

All this tells us something important about the Resurrection. The latter is not only a great miracle, an argument or a proof in favor of the truth of Christ. More than that, it is a new world in which one enters with faith accompanied by wonder and joy. Christ's resurrection is the "new creation."

It is not just about believing that Jesus has risen; it is about knowing and experiencing "the power of the resurrection" (Philippians 3:10).

This more profound dimension of Easter is particularly felt by our Orthodox brothers. For them, Christ's resurrection is everything. In Eastertide, when they meet someone they greet one another saying: "Christ has risen!", and the other replies: "He has risen indeed!"

This custom is so rooted in the people that the following anecdote is told that occurred at the beginning of the Bolshevik Revolution. A public debate had been organized on the resurrection of Christ. First the atheist spoke, demolishing for good, in his opinion, Christians' faith in the resurrection.

When he came down, the Orthodox priest went to the dais, who was to speak in defense. The humble priest looked at the crowd and said simply: "Christ is risen!" Before even thinking, all answered in unison: "He has risen indeed!" And the priest came down from the dais in silence.

We know well how the resurrection is represented in the Western tradition, for example, in Piero della Francesca. Jesus comes out of the sepulcher raising the cross as a standard of victory. His face inspires extraordinary trust and security. But his victory is over his external, earthly enemies. The authorities had put seals in his sepulcher and guards to keep watch, and, lo, the seals are broken and the guards asleep. Men are present only as inert and passive witnesses; they do not really take part in the Resurrection.

In the Eastern image, the scene is altogether different. It is not developed under an open sky, but underground. In the resurrection, Jesus does not come out but descends. With extraordinary energy he takes Adam and Eve by the hand, who were waiting in the realm of the dead, and pulls them with him to life and resurrection. Behind the two parents, an innumerable multitude of men and women who awaited the redemption. Jesus tramples on the gates of hell which he himself has just dislocated and broken. Christ's victory is not so much over visible but over invisible enemies, which are the worst: death, darkness, anguish, the devil.

We are involved in this representation. Christ's resurrection is also our resurrection. Every man who looks is invited to be identified with Adam, and every woman with Eve, and to stretch out their hands to allow themselves to be gripped and pulled by Christ out of the sepulcher. This is the new universal Easter exodus. God has come "with powerful arm and outstretched hand" to liberate his people from a much harsher and universal slavery than that of Egypt.

[Translation from the Italian by ZENIT]

© Innovative Media Inc.

FAITH AS A GIFT

Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday of Divine Mercy

It-Tieni Ħadd ta' l-Għid

Messalin B 279

Reading 1                         -                              ACTS 4:32-35

The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the  apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was  accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of  the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.   This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Qari   -   i mill-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-Appostli 4, 32-35

Il-kotra kbira ta' dawk li emmnu  kienu qalb waħda u ruħ waħda. Ħadd minnhom ma kien igħid li dak li kellu  kien tiegħu, iżda kellhom kollox flimkien.    B'qawwa kbira l-appostli kienu jagħtu  xhieda tal-qawmien tal-Mulej Ġesu',  u kulħadd kien iġibhom ħafna.  Ħadd minnhom ma kien jonqsu  xejn;  għax kull min  kellu oqsma jew djar kien ibigħhom, u l-flus li jdaħħal minnhom, kien imur iqegħeduhom f'riġlejn l-apposlti.  Imbagħad kien jitqassam kollox skont  il-ħtieġa ta' kull wieħed.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                   PSalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:  Alleluia.

Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”                                     R.

I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:                                  R/

The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.                  R/

Salm Responsorjali                                    -              SALM 117 (118)

   R/  Faħħru l-Mulej, għaliex hu tajjeb, għax it-tjieba  tiegħu għal dejjem!

Ħa jgħidu wlied Israel: 

"Għal dejjem it-tjieba tiegħu"!

Ħa tgħid  dar  Aron:

"Għal dejjem it-tjieba tiegħu."

Ħa jgħidu dawk li jibżgħu mill-Mulej:

"Għal dejjem It-tjieba tiegħu."                                 R/

Il-leminija tal-Mulej 'il fuq merfugħa,

il-leminija tal-Mulej għamlet ħwejjeġ ta' ħila.

Ma mmutx, imma nibqa' ngħix,

u nħabbar l-egħmjjel tal-Mulej.

Haqarni  tassew il-Mulej,

imma ma telaqnix għal-mewt.                                 R/

Il-ġebla li warrbu l-bennejja

saret il-ġebla tax-xewka.

Bis-saħħa tal-Mulej seħħ dan:

ħaġa tal-għaġeb f'għajnejna.

Dan hu l-jum li għamel il-Mulej;

ħa nifirħu u nithennew fih!                                          R/

Reading 2                                                                         1 JohN 5:1-6

Beloved:  Everyone who believes that Jesus is the  Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves  the Father loves also the one begotten by him. In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith. Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth.   This is the Word of The Lord.

It-Tieni Qari     -      mill-Ewwel Ittra ta' San Ġwann 5, 1-6

Egħżież,  kull min jemmen li Ġesu' hu l-Messija hu mwieled minn Alla, u kull min iħobb lill-Missier  iħobb lil twieled minnu.    Minn dan nafu li nħobbu  lil ulied Alla, meta nħobbu 'l Alla u nagħmlu l- Kmandamenti tiegħu.   Għax din hi l-imħabba ta' Alla,  li nżommu  l-Kmandamenti tiegħu;u l-Kmandamenti tiegħu  m'humiex tqal: għax kull min hu mwieled minn Alla jegħleb  lid-dinja.   Din hi r-rebħa fuq id-dinja: il-fidi tagħna. Għax min hu dak li jegħleb lid-dinja, jekk mħux min jemmen  li Ġesu' hu l-Iben ta' Alla?   Dan huwa dak li ġie bl-ilma u d-demm,   Ġesu' Kristu;   mhux bl-ilma biss, iżda bl-ilma u d-demm. U l-Ispirtu hu li jixhed, għax l-Ispirtu hu l-verita'.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                                                                                JohN 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas  was with them.Jesus came, although the doors were locked,  and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be  unbelieving, but believe.”Thomas answered and said to him,  “My Lord and my God!”Jesus said to him, “Have you come to  believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have  not seen and have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.But these are written that you may come  to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.   This is the Word of The Lord.

Evanġelju    -     skond San Ġwann 20, 19-31

Dakinhar filgħaxija, fl-ewwel jum tal-ġimgħa,  meta d-dixxipli kienu flimkien imbeżżgħa mil-Lhud,  bil-bibien magħluqa,  ġie Ġesu' u qagħad f'nofshom;  u qalilhom: "Is-Sliem għalikom!"  Kif qal hekk, uriehom idejh u ġenbu.Id-dixxipli ferħu meta raw il-Mulej, Imbagħad Ġesu' tenna jgħidilhom: Is-Sliem għalikom!  Kif il-Missier  bagħat lili, hekk jien nibgħat lilkom." Kif qal hekk, nefaħ fuqhom  u qalilhom: "Ħudu l-Ispirtu s-Santu.  Dawk  li taħfrulhom  dnubiethom  jkunu maħfura. u dawk li  żżommuhomlhom  jkunu miżmuma." Tumas,  wieħed mit-Tnax, jgħidulu t-Tewmi, ma kienx magħhom meta ġie Ġesu'.  Għalhekk  id-dixxipli l-oħra qalulu: "Rajna  lill Mulej".   Iżda hu qalilhom:  "Jekk ma narax f'idejh il-marka  ta' l-imsiemer, u ma nqigħedx sebgħi fuq il-marka  tal-imsiemer u idi fuq ġenbu, jien ma nemminx".  Tmint ijiem wara, id-dixxipli reġgħu kienu ġewwa, u  Tumas  magħhom.   Il-bibien  kienu magħluqa,  imma Ġesu'  daħal, qagħad f'nofshom, u qalilhom: "Is-Sliem għalikom!"   Imbagħad qal lil Tumas: "Ġib sebgħek  hawn u ara idejja, u ressaq idek u  qegħedha fuq ġenbi; tkunnnnnx bniedem bla fidi, iżda emmen."     Wieġb Tumas u qallu: "Mulej tiegħi  u Alla tiegħi!" Qallu Ġesu':  "Emmint għax rajtni!   Ħenjin dawk li ma rawx u emmnu".Hemm ħafna  sinjali oħra li Ġesu' għamel quddiem id-dixxipli tiegħu u li mhumiex imniżżla f'dan il-Ktieb. Iżda dawn inkitbu biex intom temmnu li Ġesu' hu  l-Messija l-Iben Alla, u biex bit-twemmin tagħkom ikollkom il-ħajja f'Ismu.        Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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COMMENTARY:   Father Cantalamessa on:

"Unless I Place My Hand in His Side, I Will Not Believe"

"Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: 'Peace be with you.' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.'"

With the emphasis on the incident of Thomas and his initial incredulity ("Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, I will not believe"), the Gospel addresses the man of the technological age who believes only what he can verify. Among the apostles, we can call Thomas our contemporary.

St. Gregory the Great says that, with his incredulity, Thomas was more useful to us than all the other apostles who believed right away. Acting in this way, so to speak, he obliged Jesus to give us a "tangible proof of the truth of his resurrection." Faith in the resurrection benefited by his doubts. This is true, at least in part, when applied to the numerous "Thomases" of today who are the nonbelievers.

The criticism of nonbelievers and dialogue with them, when carried out in respect and reciprocal loyalty, are very useful to us. Above all they make us humble. They oblige us to take note that faith is not a privilege or an advantage for anyone. We cannot impose it or demonstrate it, but only propose it and show it with our life. "What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?" says St. Paul (1 Corinthians 4:7). In the end, faith is a gift, not a merit, and as all gifts it can only be lived in gratitude and humility.

The relationship with nonbelievers also helps us to purify our faith of clumsy representations. Very often what nonbelievers reject is not the true God, the living God of the Bible, but his double, a distorted image of God that believers themselves have contributed to create. Rejecting this God, nonbelievers oblige us to go back to the truth of the living and true God, who is beyond all our representations and explanations, and not to fossilize or trivialize him.

But there is also a wish to be expressed: that St. Thomas might find today many imitators not only in the first part of his story -- when he states he does not believe -- but also at the end, in that magnificent act of faith that leads him to exclaim: "My Lord and my God!"

Thomas is also imitable because of another fact. He does not close the door; he does not remain in his position, considering the problem resolved once and for all. In fact, we find him eight days later with the other apostles in the Cenacle. If he had not wished to believe, or to "change his opinion," he would not have been there. He wants to see, to touch: Therefore, he is searching. And at the end, after he has seen and touched with his hand, he exclaims to Jesus, not as someone defeated but as victorious: "My Lord and my God!" No other apostle had yet gone out to proclaim Christ's divinity with so much clarity.

© Innovative Media Inc.