We are His witnesses

<< Sunday, June 2 >>

The Ascension of the Lord
Lectionary: 58

Solennità tat-Tlugħ il-Mulej fis-Sema

Reading 1        Acts of the Apostles  1:1-11

In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."

Qari I       Bidu tal-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-Appostli  1, 1-11

Fl-ewwel rakkont tiegħi, Teofilu, tkellimt fuq dak kollu li Ġesù kien għamel u għallem minn mindu beda sal-jum li fih kien meħud fis-sema, wara li, permezz tal-Ispirtu s-Santu, ta l-ordnijiet tiegħu lill-appostli li hu kien għażel. Wara l-passjoni tiegħu dehrilhom u tahom ħafna provi li hu ħaj; f’erbgħin jum rawh kemm-il darba u kellimhom fuq il-ħwejjeġ tas-Saltna ta’ Alla. Meta kien għadu magħhom, ordnalhom biex ma jitilqux minn Ġerusalemm, imma joqogħdu jistennew sa ma sseħħ il-wegħda tal-Missier, “li fuqha – qalilhom – smajtu x’kont għedtilkom: Ġwanni għammed bl-ilma, imma intom, fi ftit jiem oħra titgħammdu bl-Ispirtu s-Santu”. Kif kienu flimkien staqsewh: “Mulej, hu dan iż-żmien li fih int se terġa’ twaqqaf is-Saltna ta’ Iżrael?”. Hu weġibhom: “Mhijiex biċċa tagħkom li tkunu tafu l-waqt u ż-żmien li l-Missier għażel bis-setgħa tiegħu. Imma meta jiġi fuqkom l-Ispirtu s-Santu, intom tirċievu l-qawwa, u tkunu xhieda tiegħi f’Ġerusalemm, fil-Lhudija kollha u s-Samarija u sa truf l-art”. Wara li qal dan, huma u jħarsu lejh, kien meħud ’il fuq, u sħaba ħadithulhom minn quddiem għajnejhom. Waqt li kienu b’għajnejhom fis-sema jħarsu lejh sejjer, f’daqqa waħda dehru ħdejhom żewġt irġiel libsin l-abjad, u qalulhom: “Irġiel tal-Galilija, x’intom tħarsu lejn is-sema? Dan Ġesù, li kien meħud minn magħkom lejn is-sema, għad jerġa’ jiġi kif rajtuh sejjer”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm    PSALM 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.

 R. Alleluia.

God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.

 R. Alleluia.

For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
R. Alleluia.

Salm Responsorjali      Salm 46 (47), 2-3.6-7.8-9

R/. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Popli kollha, ċapċpu jdejkom,

għajtu b’leħen ta’ ferħ lil Alla!

Għax il-Mulej, l-Għoli, hu tal-biża’,

sultan kbir fuq l-art kollha. R/.

Tela’ Alla b’għajjat ta’ ferħ,

il-Mulej bid-daqq tat-trombi.

Għannu lil Alla, għannu,

għannu lis-sultan tagħna, għannu. R/.

Għax Alla s-sultan tal-art kollha:

għannulu bis-sengħa għanja sabiħa.

Isaltan Alla fuq il-ġnus kollha,

joqgħod Alla fuq it-tron imqaddes tiegħu. R/.

Reading 2    Ephesians 1:17-23

Brothers and sisters: May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might: which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Qari II        mill-Ittra lil-Lhud 9, 24-28; 10, 19-23

Kristu ma daħalx f’santwarju magħmul b’idejn il-bnedmin li hu biss xbieha tas-santwarju veru, imma daħal fis-sema stess, biex issa jidher għalina quddiem Alla. U daħal hemm mhux biex minn żmien għal żmien joffri lilu nnifsu bħalma l-qassis il-kbir jidħol kull sena fis-santwarju biex joffri demm ħaddieħor. Li kieku kien hekk, kien ikollu jbati ħafna drabi sa mill-ħolqien tad-dinja. Iżda issa deher darba għal dejjem, meta waslet il-milja taż-żminijiet, biex ineħħi d-dnub bis-sagrifiċċju tiegħu nnifsu. U kif hu miktub għall-bnedmin li għandhom imutu darba biss, u wara dan isir il-ġudizzju, hekk ukoll Kristu, wara li offra lilu nnifsu darba biss biex jitgħabba bid-dnubiet tal-kotra, għad jerġa’ jidher darb’oħra, mhux biex ineħħi d-dnubiet, imma biex isalva lil dawk li qegħdin jistennewh bil-ħerqa. Ladarba, ħuti, għandna l-fiduċja li nidħlu fis-Santwarju bissa ħħa tad-demm ta’ Ġesù billi ngħaddu mit-triq, ġdida u ħajja, li hu fetħilna ’l ġewwa mill-velu, li hu l-ġisem tiegħu stess; u ladarba għandna dan il-qassis il-kbir imqiegħed fuq il-familja ta’ Alla, ejjew nersqu b’qalb sinċiera u b’fidi sħiħa, bi qlubna mnaddfin minn kuxjenza ħażina u l-ġisem tagħna maħsul b’ilma safi. Inżommu sħiħ fl-istqarrija qawwija tat-tama tagħna, għax ta’ kelmtu huwa dak li għamlilna l-wegħda.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel     Luke 24:46-53

Jesus said to his disciples: "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. And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.

Evanġelju      skont San Luqa 24, 46-53

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Hekk kien miktub, li l-Messija jbati u fit-tielet jum iqum mill-imwiet, u li l-indiema għall-maħfra tad-dnubiet tixxandar f’ismu lill-ġnus kollha, ibda minn Ġerusalemm. 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”. Imbagħad ħadhom sa ħdejn Betanja, u rafa’ jdejh u berikhom. U ġara li, huwa u jberikhom, infired minnhom u kien meħud fis-sema. Huma nxteħtu fl-art jagħtuh qima, u mimlijin b’ferħ kbir reġgħu lura lejn Ġerusalemm, u qagħdu l-ħin kollu fit-tempju jbierku lil Alla. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Father Cantalamessa on Witness

Here is a translation of a commentary by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, on the readings from this Sunday’s liturgy.

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You Will Be My Witnesses
Ascension of the Lord

If we do not want the Ascension to be a sad “farewell,” but rather a true feast, then we must understand the radical difference between a disappearance and a departure. With the ascension, Jesus has not departed, he has not become absent; he has only disappeared from our sight. Those who leave are no longer here; those who only go out of our sight, however, can still be near us — it is only that something prevents our seeing them. Jesus does disappear from the apostles’ sight at the ascension but he does so to be present in another more intimate way.

He is no longer outside them but within them. This is similar to the Eucharist. So long as the host is outside of us we see it, we adore it; when we receive the host we no longer see it, it has disappeared, but it has disappeared to be within us. It is present in a new, more powerful way.

But it will be asked: If Jesus is no longer visible, how will men come to know of his presence? The answer is that he wants to make himself present through his disciples! In his Gospel and in the Acts of the Apostles, the Evangelist Luke closely links the Ascension with the theme of testimony: “You are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48). 

The “you” indicates in the first place the apostles who were with Jesus. After the apostles, this “official” testimony — official because it is connected to their office — passes to their successors, the bishops and priests. But the “you” also regards all the baptized and believers in Christ. “Each individual layman,” says a document of the Second Vatican Council, “must stand before the world as a witness to the resurrection and life of the Lord Jesus and a symbol of the living God” (“Lumen Gentium,” 38).

Pope Paul VI has famously said that “the world needs witnesses more than it needs teachers.” It is relatively easy to be a teacher. It is much less easy to be a witness. In fact, the world is full of both true and false teachers, but has few witnesses. Between the two roles there is the same difference as that between saying and doing. “Actions,” an English proverb says, “speak louder than words.”
The witness is one who speaks with his life. A believing father and mother must be “the first witnesses of faith” for their children. (The Church asks this for them from God in the blessing that follows the rite of matrimony).

Let us give a specific example. At this time of year many children are preparing for first Communion and confirmation. A believing mother or father can help the child review the catechism, explain the meaning of the words to him, and help him memorize the responses. Such parents are doing a beautiful thing and if only there were more who did this!

But what would a child think if after all that his parents said and did for his first Communion, they never go to Mass on Sunday, they never make the sign of the cross and never pray? They have been teachers, but they haven’t been witnesses. 

Naturally, the testimony of the parents must not limit itself to the time of the first Communion or confirmation of their children. With the way they correct and forgive the child and forgive each other, with the way they speak with respect of those who are not present, with the way they conduct themselves before a poor person begging for alms, with the comments they make in the presence of the children when they are listening to the news, parents have the possibility of bearing witness to their faith every day.

The souls of children are like sheets of photographic film: Everything they see and hear in the years of childhood leaves a trace and one day the “film” will be “developed” and will bear its fruits — for good or for bad. 

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Shalom - Peace

May 26, 2019

Sixth Sunday of Easter
Lectionary: 57

 Is-Sitt Ħadd tal-Għid

Reading 1     Acts 15:1-2, 22-29

Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved." Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. The apostles and elders, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers. This is the letter delivered by them: "The apostles and the elders, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings. Since we have heard that some of our number who went out without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind, we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth: 'It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right.  Farewell.'"

Qari I         mill-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-Appostli 15, 1-2.22-29

F’dak iż-żmien, niżlu xi wħud mil-Lhudija u bdew jgħallmu lill-aħwa: “Jekk ma toqogħdux għaċ-ċirkonċiżjoni skont id-drawwa li ġejja minn Mosè, ma tistgħux issalvaw”. Pawlu u Barnaba qamu kontra tagħhom u ħaduha magħhom bis-sħiħ; għalhekk qatgħuha li Pawlu u Barnaba u xi wħud oħra minnhom jitilgħu Ġerusalemm ikellmu lill-appostli u l-presbiteri fuq din il-kwistjoni. Imbagħad l-appostli u l-presbiteri, flimkien mal-Knisja kollha, dehrilhom li kellhom jagħżlu lil xi wħud minnhom u jibagħtuhom Antjokja ma’ Pawlu u Barnaba. Dawn kienu Ġuda, jgħidulu Barsaba, u Sila, li kienu minn ta’ quddiem fost l-aħwa. U bagħtu magħhom din l-ittra: “L-appostli u l-presbiteri, ħutkom, lill-aħwa ta’ Antjokja, tas-Sirja u taċ-Ċiliċja, li ġew mill-ġnus; is-sliem għalikom! Aħna smajna li xi wħud min-nies tagħna, mingħajr ebda ordni tagħna, ġew ħawdukom u qallbulkom moħħkom bi kliemhom. Għalhekk aħna qbilna lkoll bejnietna u dehrilna li kellna nagħżlu lil xi wħud u nibagħtuhom għandkom flimkien mal-għeżież tagħna Barnaba u Pawlu, nies li ddedikaw ħajjithom għall-isem ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu. Għalhekk bgħatnielkom lil Ġuda u ’l Sila, biex jgħidulkom bi kliemhom l-istess ħaġa. Għax lill-Ispirtu s-Santu u lilna dehrilna li aħna ma għandna ngħabbukom b’ebda piż ieħor aktar minn dak li hu meħtieġ, jiġifieri, li titbiegħdu mill-ikel issagrifikat lill-idoli, mid-demm, mil-laħam tal-annimali fgati u miż-żwieġ ħażin. Tagħmlu tajjeb jekk tħarsu rwieħkom minn dawn. Saħħa!”  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm     PSALM 67:2-3,5,6,8
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.:
R. Alleluia.

May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
. Alleluia.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!:
R. Alleluia

Salm Responsorjali    Salm 66 (67), 2-3.5.6 u 8

R/. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

Iħenn għalina Alla, u jberikna;

idawwar għal fuqna d-dija ta’ wiċċu!

Biex jingħarfu fuq l-art triqatek,

fost il-ġnus kollha s-salvazzjoni tiegħek. R/.

Jithennew il-ġnus u jgħannu bil-ferħ,

għax trieġi l-popli bis-sewwa,

u l-ġnus fuq l-art inti tmexxihom. R/.

Ifaħħruk il-popli, o Alla,

ifaħħruk il-popli kollha.

Iberikna Alla, u tibża’ minnu

l-art kollha minn tarf għall-ieħor! R/..

Reading 2    Revelations 21:10-14, 22-23

The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendour of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the  names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west.
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light,  and its lamp was the Lamb.

Qari II     mill-Ktieb tal-Apokalissi 21, 10-14.22-23

L-anġlu ħadni fl-ispirtu fuq muntanja kbira u għolja, u wrieni l-Belt il-Qaddisa, Ġerusalemm, nieżla mis-sema mingħand Alla, bil-glorja ta’ Alla fiha, tiddi bħal ħaġra mill-aktar prezzjuża, bħal ġaspru jleqq daqs il-kristall. Għandha ħajt kbir u għoli, bi tnax-il bieb fih, u tnax-il anġlu fil-bibien li fuqhom hemm miktuba ismijiet, l-ismijiet tat-tnax-il tribù ta’ wlied Iżrael. Tlieta minn dawn il-bibien jagħtu għan-naħa tal-Lvant, tlieta għan-naħa tat-Tramuntana, tlieta għan-naħa tan-Nofsinhar, u tlieta għan-naħa tal-Punent. U l-ħajt tal-Belt għandu tnax-il pedament, li fuqhom hemm it-tnax-il isem tat-tnax-il appostlu tal-Ħaruf. Ebda tempju ma rajt fiha, għax il-Mulej hu t-tempju tagħha, Alla li jista’ kollox, u l-Ħaruf.  U l-Belt ma teħtieġ la xemx u lanqas qamar biex idawluha, għax biex iddawwalha għandha l-glorja ta’ Alla, u l-musbieħ tagħha l-Ħaruf. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel    John 14:23-29

Jesus said to his disciples: "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. "I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe."

Evanġelju         Qari skont San Ġwann 14, 23-29

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Jekk xi ħadd iħobbni, iħares kelmti, u Missieri jħobbu, u aħna niġu u ngħammru għandu. Min ma jħobbnix ma jħarisx kliemi. U l-kelma li qegħdin tisimgħu mhijiex tiegħi, imma tal-Missier li bagħatni. Għedtilkom dan meta għadni magħkom. Imma d-Difensur, l-Ispirtu s-Santu, li l-Missier jibgħat f’ismi, jgħallimkom kollox u jfakkarkom dak kollu li għedtilkom. Jiena nħallilkom is-sliem; nagħtikom is-sliem tiegħi; ma nagħtihulkomx kif tagħtih id-dinja. Tħallux qalbkom titħawwad u anqas titbeżża’. Smajtu x’għedtilkom: “Jiena sejjer u nerġa’ niġi għandkom”. Kieku kontu tħobbuni, kontu tifirħu li sejjer għand il-Missier, għax il-Missier hu akbar minni. U għedtilkom dan minn issa qabel ma jseħħ, biex meta jseħħ temmnu”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Father Cantalamessa on Peace

Here is a translation of a commentary by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, on the readings from this Sunday’s liturgy.

* * *

My Peace I Give to You

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27). What peace does Jesus speak of in this Gospel passage? He is not talking about an external peace that would consist in an absence of wars and conflicts between different people or nations. He speaks of that peace on other occasions, for example, when he says: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

In today’s Gospel passage he speaks of another peace, an interior peace of the heart, of the person with himself and with God. This much is clear from what Jesus immediately adds in this passage from John: “Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” This is the most fundamental peace. Without this peace, no other peace can exist. A billion drops of dirty water do not make a clean ocean and a billion troubled hearts do not make up a human race at peace.

The word that Jesus uses is “shalom.” The Jews greeted each other with this word and still do; Jesus himself greeted the disciples with it on Easter evening and he orders the disciples to greet people in the same way: “In whatever house you enter say first, ‘Peace be to this house'” (Luke 10:5-6).

To understand the meaning of the peace that Christ gives we have to look to the Bible. In the Bible “shalom” says more than simple absence of war and disorder. It positively indicates well-being, rest, certainty, success, glory. The Scriptures speak indeed of “the peace of God” (Philippians 4:7) and of the “God of peace” (Romans 15:32). Peace does not mean only what God gives but also what God is. In one of her hymns the Church calls the Trinity “ocean of peace.”

This tells us that the peace of heart that we all desire can never be totally and stably possessed without God, outside of him. In the “Divine Comedy” Dante Alighieri synthesized all of this in that verse that many consider the most beautiful in this work: “In his will is our peace.”

Jesus makes us understand what is opposed to this peace — worry, anxiety, fear: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Easy to say — someone might object. How do we placate anxiety and disquiet, the worry that devours us all and keeps us from enjoying peace? Some people are by temperament more disposed than others to these things. If there is some danger, they blow it out of proportion, if there is some difficulty, they increase it by 100%. Everything becomes a reason for anxiety.

The Gospel does not promise a remedy for all these problems; to a certain extent they are part of our human condition, exposed as we are to forces and dangers much bigger than ourselves. But the Gospel does indicate some remedy. The chapter from which Sunday’s Gospel passage is taken begins: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and have faith in me too” (John 14:1). Trusting in God is the remedy.

After World War II, a book was published by the title “Last Letters from Stalingrad.” They were letters by German soldiers who were awaiting the final Russian assault on Stalingrad, in which all were killed. The letters went with the last plane that was able to make it out of the city. In one of the letters, found after the end of the war, a young soldier wrote to his parents: “I am not afraid of death. My faith gives me this beautiful certainty.”

Now we know what we are wishing each other at Mass at the kiss of peace. We wish each other well-being, health, good relationships with God, with ourselves and with our neighbor. In other words, we are wishing each other a heart filled with “the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding.”   

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