SOLACE IN THE MIDST OF WOE

Readings for Sunday, May 28, 2023

Pentecost Sunday
Lectionary: 63

Qari tas-Solennità ta’ Għid il-Ħamsin

Reading 1               ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2:1-11

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”

Qari 1                 mill-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-Appostli 2, 1-11

Meta wasal jum Għid il-Ħamsin, huma kienu lkoll flimkien f’post wieħed. F’daqqa waħda ġie mis-sema ħoss bħal ta’ riħ qawwi, u mela d-dar kollha fejn kienu qegħdin. U dehrulhom ilsna qishom tan-nar, li tqassmu u qagħdu fuq kull wieħed minnhom. Imtlew ilkoll bl-Ispirtu s-Santu u bdew jitkellmu b’ilsna oħra, skont ma l-Ispirtu kien jagħtihom li jitkellmu. F’Ġerusalemm kien hemm xi Lhud, nies twajba minn kull nazzjon li hawn taħt is-sema. Malli nstama’ dan il-ħoss, inġabret kotra kbira, ilkoll imħawdin għax kull wieħed minnhom kien jismagħhom jitkellmu bl-ilsien tiegħu. Miblugħin u mistagħġbin, bdew jgħidu: “Dawn li qegħdin jitkellmu mhumiex ilkoll mill-Galilija? Mela kif kull wieħed minna qiegħed jismagħhom jitkellmu bi lsien art twelidu? Partin, Medin u Għelamin, nies mill-Mesopotamja, mil-Lhudija, mill-Kappadoċja, minn Pontu, mill-Asja, mill-Friġja, mill-Pamfilja, mill-Eġittu, mill-inħawi tal-Libja madwar Ċireni, nies li ġew minn Ruma, kemm Lhud u kemm prosèliti, oħrajn minn Kreta u Għarab, aħna lkoll qegħdin nisimgħuhom ixandru bl-ilsna tagħna l-għeġubijiet ta’ Alla!” Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm               PSALM 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
    O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
    the earth is full of your creatures.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
    may the LORD be glad in his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme;
    I will be glad in the LORD.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

If you take away their breath, they perish
    and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
    and you renew the face of the earth.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

Salm Responsorjali                Salm 103 (104), 1ab.24aċ.29bċ-30.31.34

R/. (30): Ibgħat l-Ispirtu tiegħek, Mulej, u ġedded il-wiċċ tal-art

Bierek ruħ tiegħi, lill-Mulej!
Mulej, Alla tiegħi, inti kbir bil-bosta!
Kemm huma kotrana l-għemejjel tiegħek, Mulej!
Mimlija l-art bil-ħlejjaq tiegħek. R/.

Jekk teħdilhom nifishom, imutu,
u lejn it-trab jerġgħu jmorru.
Malli tibgħat in-nifs tiegħek, jinħolqu,
u inti ġġedded il-wiċċ tal-art. R/.

Jibqa’ sebħ il-Mulej għal dejjem!
Jifraħ il-Mulej bl-għemejjel tiegħu!
Ħa togħġbu l-għanja tiegħi,
għax jiena fil-Mulej l-hena tiegħi. R/.

Reading 2                1 CORINTHIANS 12:3b-7, 12-13

Brothers and sisters: No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.  There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;  there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

 Qari 2                 mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 12, 3b-7.12-13

Ħuti, ħadd ma jista’ jgħid: “Ġesù hu l-Mulej!”. jekk mhux imqanqal mill-Ispirtu s-Santu. Hemm imbagħad diversi doni, imma l-istess wieħed hu l-Ispirtu; hemm diversi ministeri, imma l-istess wieħed hu l-Mulej; hemm diversi ħidmiet, imma l-istess Alla, li jaħdem kollox f’kulħadd. Lil kull wieħed tingħata r-rivelazzjoni tal-Ispirtu għall-ġid ta’ kulħadd. Bħalma l-ġisem hu wieħed u fih ħafna membri, u l-membri kollha tal-ġisem, għad li huma ħafna, jagħmlu ġisem wieħed, hekk ukoll Kristu. Għax aħna wkoll, ilkoll tgħammidna fi Spirtu wieħed biex nagħmlu ġisem wieħed, sew Lhud sew Griegi, sew ilsiera sew ħielsa, u lkoll xrobna minn Spirtu wieħed. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

SEQUENCE  - Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.
    You, of comforters the best;
    You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
    Sweet refreshment here below;
    In our labour, rest most sweet;
    Grateful coolness in the heat;
    Solace in the midst of woe.
    O most blessed Light divine,
    Shine within these hearts of yours,
    And our inmost being fill!
    Where you are not, we have naught,
    Nothing good in deed or thought,
    Nothing free from taint of ill.                              
    Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
    On our dryness pour your dew;
    Wash the stains of guilt away:
    Bend the stubborn heart and will;
    Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
    Guide the steps that go astray.
    On the faithful, who adore
    And confess you, evermore
    In your sevenfold gift descend;
    Give them virtue’s sure reward;
    Give them your salvation, Lord;
    Give them joys that never end. 
                Amen.  Alleluia.

Sekwenza

Spirtu s-Santu, ejja fina,
raġġ ta’ dawl qaddis agħtina,
xerrdu f’ruħna mis-smewwiet.
O Missier il-foqra tiegħek,
inti ġġib id-doni miegħek,
tagħni b’dawlek qalb l-ulied.
    Inti l-aqwa faraġ tagħna,
    fik kull hena xħin tkun magħna,
    tħossok fewġa ħelwa r-ruħ.
    Fl-għaja, lejn is-serħ twassalna;
    jekk imħeġġa wisq, trażżanna;
    mill-għajnejn tixxotta d-dmugħ.
    O dawl hieni ta’ qdusija,
    nitolbuk li bik mimlija
     tkun il-qalb ta’ kull fidil.
    Mingħajr dawlek li jmexxina
    ebda ħajr ma jkun hemm fina,
    ebda safa fl-għemil.
    Naddaf kull fejn hemm it-tbajja’,
    fejn hemm nixfa reġġa’ l-ħajja,
    lill-miġruħ agħtih fejqan.
    Rattab fina l-ebusija,
    agħti lill-berdin bżulija,
    għin fit-triq lil min beżgħan.
    Agħti s-seba’ doni tiegħek
    lil min jimxi fidil miegħek
    u li fik jistrieħ kull ħin.
    Agħti ’l kull virtù sabiħa
    ħlas ta’ salvazzjoni sħiħa,
    agħti l-ġenna lit-tajbin. 
            Ammen. Hallelujah.

Gospel                JOHN 20:19-23

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.”

Evanġelju                Qari skond San Ġwann 20, 19-23

Dak il-Ħadd fil-għaxija, fl-ewwel jum tal-ġimgħa, meta d-dixxipli kienu flimkien imbeżżgħa mil-Lhud, bil-bibien magħluqa, ġie Ġesù u qagħad f’nofshom; u qalilhom: “Is-sliem għalikom!”. Kif qal hekk, uriehom idejh u ġenbu. Id-dixxipli ferħu meta raw lill-Mulej. Imbagħad Ġesù 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 ikunu maħfura, u dawk li żżommuhomlhom ikunu miżmuma”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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An 8-minute Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr Anthony Kadavil 

OUR TEACHING AND GUIDING GOD     

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Introduction: 

This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, which literally means 50th. It is a feast celebrated on the 50th day after the Passover feast by the Jews and a feast celebrated on the 50th day after the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus by Christians. The Jewish Pentecost was originally a post-harvest thanksgiving feast. Later, the Jews included in it the remembrance of God’s Covenants with Noah after the Deluge and with Moses at Mt. Sinai.

The event: 

On the day of Pentecost we are reminded of:

1) when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary as tongues of fire;

2) the frightened apostles being transformed into fiery preachers and evangelisers and were given the gift of tongues by a special anointing of the Holy Spirit; 

3) the listeners who experienced a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit through the apostles’ gift of tongues and they heard Peter speaking in their native languages,

4) the early Christians who became powerful witnesses and brave martyrs for their Faith in Jesus. 

The role of the Holy Spirit in our Christian life is for Him to be: 

1) An indwelling God, the Holy Spirit who makes us His Living Temples (I Cor 3:16). 

2) A strengthening God, He strengthens us in our fight against temptations and in our mission of bearing witness to Christ by our transparent Christian lives. 

3) As a sanctifying God, He makes us holy through the Sacraments: 

a) Through Baptism He makes us children of God and heirs of Heaven. 

b) Through Confirmation, He makes us temples of God, warriors, and defenders of the Faith. 

c) Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, He enables us to be reconciled with God by pardoning our sins. 

d) Through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, He gives us spiritual nourishment by changing bread and wine into Jesus’ Body, Blood Soul, and Divinity, through Epiclesis. 

e) Through the Sacraments of the priesthood (Ordination) and matrimony (Marriage), He makes the Church community holy. 

    4) A teaching and guiding God, He clarifies and constantly reminds us of Christ’s teachings and guides the Magisterium of the Church in presenting Christ’s teachings correctly. 

    5) A listening and speaking God, He listens to our prayers, enables us to pray, and speaks to us, mainly through the Bible. 

    6) A Giver of gifts, He pours out on us His gifts, fruits, and charisms, thus enriching the Church.

Life messages: 

We need to permit the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives: 

1) by constantly remembering His Holy Presence and behaving well; 

2) by praying for His daily anointing so that we may fight against our temptations and control our evil tendencies, evil habits, and addictions; 

3) by asking His daily assistance to pray, listening to God through meditative Bible reading, and talking to Him by personal, family and liturgical prayers; and 

4) by asking the help of the Holy Spirit to do good for others and to be reconciled with God and others every day.

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RETURNING TO THE FATHER

 Readings for Sunday, May 21, 2023

The Seventh Sunday of Easter - 
The Ascension of the Lord

Lectionary: 58

Solennità tat-Tlugħ il-Mulej fis-Sema

Reading 1               ACTS IOF 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 nstructions 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 1               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: “M’hijiex 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. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

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. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

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

R/. (6): Tela’ Alla b’għajat ta’ ferħ

Popli kollha, ċapċpu idejkom,
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’għajat 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 2                  mill-Ittra lill-Efesin 1, 17-23

Ħuti, Alla ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu, il-Missier tal-glorja, jagħtikom spirtu ta’ għerf u rivelazzjoni biex tagħrfuh sewwa. Hu jdawlilkom l-għajnejn ta’ qalbkom biex tagħrfu x’inhi t-tama tas-sejħa tagħkom; x’inhu l-għana tal-glorja tal-wirt li takom taqsmu mal-qaddisin. Tagħrfu x’inhu l-kobor bla qjies tas-setgħa tiegħu fina li emminna, skond il-ħila tal-qawwa kbira tiegħu li ħaddem fi Kristu, meta qajmu mill-imwiet u qiegħdu fil-lemin tiegħu fis-smewwiet, ’il fuq minn kull Saltna u Setgħa, minn kull Qawwa u Ħakma, ’il fuq minn kull isem li jissemma, mhux biss għaż-żmien ta’ issa, imma wkoll għal li ġej. Iva, qiegħed kollox taħt riġlejh, u għamlu ras fuq il-Knisja kollha, li hi Ġismu, il-milja ta’ dak li jimla kollox f’kollox. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel               MATTHEW 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Evanġelju               Għeluq tal-Evanġelju skond San Mattew 28, 16-20

F’dak iż-żmien, il-ħdax-il dixxiplu telqu lejn il-Galilija u marru fuq il-muntanja fejn kien ordnalhom Ġesù. Kif rawh, inxteħtu quddiemu, għalkemm xi wħud iddubitaw. Ġesù resaq ikellimhom u qalilhom: “Lili ngħatat kull setgħa fis-sema u fl-art. Morru, mela, agħmlu dixxipli mill-ġnus kollha, u għammduhom fl-isem tal-Missier u tal-Iben u tal-Ispirtu s-Santu, u għallmuhom iħarsu dak kollu li ordnajtilkom jien. U ara, jiena magħkom dejjem, sa l-aħħar taż-żmien”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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An 8-minute Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr Anthony Kadavil 

THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

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Introduction: 

Sunday’s readings describe the Ascension of the Lord Jesus into his Heavenly glory after promising to send the Holy Spirit to the Apostles as the source of Heavenly power and commanding them to bear witness to Him through their lives and preaching throughout the world. But the ascended Jesus is still with us because of His promise, “I am with you always; yes, to the end of time” (Mt 28-20). He is with us at all times and in all places, releasing a new energy upon the earth, the energy of the Holy Spirit.

The Scripture lessons summarized: 

The first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, presents the scene of Jesus’ Ascension, the promise of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ instructions to the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the Power from above, and missionary command to the apostles to bear witness to him. 

Today’s Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 47) suggests that, by his Ascension, the risen Lord “mounts his throne” in glory. In the second reading, Paul teaches us that God revealed His might in the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ and in exalting Him over all angelic forces. Jesus remains accessible to us now in the life-giving Holy Spirit, assuring us that one day we, too, will be ascending to Heavenly glory, provided that, with His grace, we live out our Faith in Him through the mission of loving service He entrusts to us.  

Sunday’s Gospel tells us that, with his return to the Father, Jesus completes his mission on earth. But just before his Ascension, Jesus entrusted to the disciples the mission of preaching the Good News and evangelizing the whole world by bearing witness to him through their lives. It is in his Ascension that we see Jesus entering fully into the life and glory of God. In the descriptions of Christ after his Resurrection, we are given a hint of what life will be like in Heaven. The prospect of sharing that glory should be the driving force of our lives.

Life messages: 

1) We need to be proclaimers and evangelizers: To be a Christian is to be a proclaimer and an evangelizer. There is a difference between preaching and proclaiming. We preach with words, but we proclaim with our lives. Let us ask the guidance of the Spirit of God to bear witness to Jesus by our transparent Christian lives.

2) We have a teaching mission: Jesus taught us lessons of Faith, Hope, Love, forgiveness, mercy, and salvation by his life and his preaching and gave us the same mission for our brothers and sisters. Hence, let us learn about Jesus and his teachings through our daily study of the Bible and the teachings of the Church, experience Jesus in personal prayer, our reception of the Sacraments and our works of charity, and convey to others Jesus whom we experience with the help of the Holy Spirit. 

3) We need Jesus as our source of strength and encouragement in doing His will: We will be able to overcome doubts about our Faith, as well as baseless fears, anxieties, and worries, by meditating on Jesus’ Ascension and the lesson it teaches — that we, too, are called to share his glory in Heaven.

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A QUESTION OF LOVE

 Readings for Sunday, May 14, 2023

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Lectionary: 55

Qari tas-Sitt Ħadd tal-Għid

Reading 1              ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 8:5-8, 14-17

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed or crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 

Qari 1                mill-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-Appostli 8, 5-8.14-17

F’dak iż-żmien, Filippu niżel f’belt tas-Samarija u xandar lil Kristu lin-nies tagħha. Il-folol tan-nies b’fehma waħda kienu joqogħdu attenti għal dak li kien jgħidilhom Filippu, meta kienu jisimgħuh u jaraw il-mirakli li kien jagħmel. Kien hemm nies maħkuma mill-ispirti ħżiena, u dawn b’għajat kbir kienu joħorġu minn ħafna minnhom; u ħafna nies oħrajn, mifluġa jew zopop, kienu jitfejqu. U kien hemm ferħ kbir f’dik il-belt. L-appostli, li kienu Ġerusalemm, semgħu li s-Samarija laqgħet il-kelma ta’ Alla, u bagħtu hemm lil Pietru u lil Ġwanni. Dawn niżlu hemm u talbu biex dawk li emmnu jirċievu l-Ispirtu s-Santu; għax l-Ispirtu s-Santu kien għadu ma niżel fuq ħadd minnhom, imma kienu tgħammdu biss f’isem il-Mulej Ġesù. Imbagħad l-appostli qiegħdu idejhom fuqhom, u huma rċevew l-Ispirtu s-Santu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm               PSALM  66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!"
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

"Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!"
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare
what he has done for me.
Blessed be God who refused me not
my prayer or his kindness!
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Salm Responsorjali               Salm 65 (66), 1-3a.4-5.6-7a.16.20

R/. (1): Għajtu bil-ferħ lil Alla, bnedmin tad-dinja kollha

Għajtu bil-ferħ lil Alla,
bnedmin tad-dinja kollha;
għannu s-sebħ ta’ ismu,
xandru s-sebħ u t-tifħir tiegħu.
Għidu lil Alla: “Kemm int tal-biża’ f’għemilek! R/.

L-art kollha tagħtik qima,
tgħannilek u tgħanni lil ismek”.
Ejjew, araw l-għemejjel ta’ Alla;
tal-biża’ f’għemilu fost il-bnedmin. R/.

Biddel il-baħar f’art niexfa,
għaddew bil-mixi minn nofs ix-xmara.
Għalhekk, nifirħu bih!
Hu jsaltan bil-kobor tiegħu għal dejjem. R/.

Ejjew, isimgħu, u ngħidilkom,
intom ilkoll li tibżgħu minn Alla,
ngħidilkom x’għamel miegħi.
Imbierek Alla, li ma warrabx it-talba tiegħi;
ma warrabx minn fuqi t-tjieba tiegħu! R/.

Reading 2               1 PETER 3:15-18

Beloved: Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit.

Qari 2                  mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Pietru Appostlu 3, 15-18

Għeżież, lill-Mulej Kristu qaddsu f’qalbkom. Kunu dejjem lesti biex tagħtu tweġiba lil kull min jitlobkom il-għala tat-tama li għandkom. Imma wieġbu bil-ħlewwa u bir-rispett. Żommu safja l-kuxjenza tagħkom biex, meta jgħidu fuqkom, dawk stess li jkasbru l-imġiba tajba tagħkom fi Kristu jkollhom għalxiex jistħu. Jekk din tkun ir-rieda ta’ Alla, aħjar tbati għax tkun għamilt it-tajjeb milli għax tkun għamilt il-ħażin. Għax Kristu wkoll miet darba għal dejjem minħabba d-dnubiet; hu li kien ġust, miet għall-inġusti biex iressaqkom lejn Alla; kien mogħti l-mewt fil-ġisem, imma ħa l-ħajja fl-ispirtu.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

Gospel                JOHN 14:15-21

Jesus said to his disciples: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father,  and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and  observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."

Evanġelju                Qari skond San Ġwann 14, 15-21

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Jekk tħobbuni, ħarsu l-kmandamenti tiegħi. U jiena nitlob lill-Missier, u hu jagħtikom Difensur ieħor biex jibqa’ magħkom għal dejjem, l-Ispirtu tal-verità, li d-dinja ma tistax tirċevih, għax hija la tarah u lanqas tagħrfu. Iżda intom tagħrfuh, għaliex jgħammar magħkom, u huwa fikom. Ma nħallikomx iltiema. Nerġa’ niġi għandkom. Ftit ieħor, u d-dinja ma taranix aktar. Iżda intom għad tarawni, għax jiena ngħix, u intom ukoll għad tgħixu. F’dak il-jum intom tagħrfu li jiena f’Missieri, u intom fija u jiena fikom. Min iżomm il-kmandamenti tiegħi u jħarishom, dak hu li jħobbni; u min iħobb lili, iħobbu wkoll il-Missier, u jiena wkoll inħobbu u nurih lili nnifsi”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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An 8-minute Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr Anthony Kadavil 

Who the Divine Advocate really IS!

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Easter VI Sunday - Theme: 

Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit to his apostles - Sunday’s readings explain Who the Holy Spirit is, what His roles are, and how we can experience Him in our daily lives. We Christians have been given the stamina needed by the Holy Spirit and the training by parents, teachers and well-wishers. The question is whether or not we use all this to conquer temptations, avoid sin and practice virtues.

Scripture lesson summarized: 

The first reading describes how the Holy Spirit helped Philip, the Deacon, to preach powerfully and convert the Samaritans in large numbers and how the Holy Spirit helped Peter and John, by giving them a fresh anointing. In the second reading, St. Peter shows us that the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us believers to live God-fearing lives tin the midst of opposition and persecution.

Today’s Gospel, taken from the “Last Supper Discourse,” describes the gift of the Holy Spirit which Jesus is going to give his disciples who obey his commandment of love. Thus, the faithful believers will have the indwelling of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit in their souls.

Role of the Holy Spirit: 

As the Divine Advocate - 

1) The Holy Spirit will instruct us in Jesus’ doctrines and illumine our minds to receive deeper knowledge of our Faith.

2) The Divine Advocate will enable us to defend our Faith powerfully when needed.

3) He will guide us in the proper practice of true Christian love by enabling us to recognize Jesus in the in the poor, in the sick, in the homeless, in the marginalized, in the outcast, in the drug addicts, and even in the criminals (“I was in prison…”), and so to become agents of healing and reconciliation in a broken and divided world.

Life message: 

1) We need to welcome the Holy Spirit, allow Him to act in us and seek His help every day for our steady growth in spiritual life:

a) To conquer temptations from our habitual sins and to avoid the occasions of sins.

b) To remove the blocks caused by our addictions, evil habits, and various forms of abuse which we suffered in our early life, preventing our spiritual growth.

c) To discern and recognize the presence of Jesus in all the people we meet during the day and to do them humble, loving service.

d) To become agents of reconciliation and healing to others in our family and this community, by asking forgiveness from others we have offended, and graciously granting forgiveness to others who continue to hurt our feelings and ill-treat us.

Born human, we have within us capacities to love, learn, choose, work, and so on. But we need the help of parents, teachers and friends to activate and develop these capacities so that we can reach our full human potential. That is why we need the Holy Spirit and why Jesus promised to ask the Father to send Him to us: “I will ask the Father and He will give you another Paraclete – to be with you always; to remain with you and be within you.” 

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HE'LL BE BACK...!

 Readings for Sunday, May , 2023

Fifth Sunday of Easter      Lectionary: 52

Qari tal-Ħames Ħadd tal-Għid

Reading 1               ACTS OF THE APOSTLES  6:1-7

As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Qari 1                  mill-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-Appostli 6, 1-7

F’dawk il-jiem l-għadd tad-dixxipli kien qiegħed jiżdied; għalhekk sar xi tgergir mil-Lhud Griegi kontra l-Lhud, għax dehrilhom li ma kienx hemm min jieħu ħsieb ir-romol tagħhom fil-ministeru ta’ kuljum. Għalhekk it-Tnax sejħu l-ġemgħa tad-dixxipli u qalulhom: “Mhux sewwa li aħna nħallu l-kelma ta’ Alla biex naqdu fl-imwejjed. Mela, l-aħwa, ħudu ħsieb u agħżlu minn fostkom sebat irġiel li għandhom isem tajjeb u li huma mimlijin bl-Ispirtu u bl-għerf, u nħallu din il-ħidma f’idejhom. U aħna nagħtu ruħna għat-talb u għall-ministeru tal-Kelma”.  Dan il-kliem għoġob lill-ġemgħa kollha; u għażlu lil Stiefnu, bniedem mimli bil-fidi u bl-Ispirtu s-Santu, lil Filippu, lil Prokoru, lil Nikanor, lil Timon, lil Parmena, u lil Nikola, prosèlita minn Antijokja. Lil dawn ressquhom quddiem l-appostli, li talbu u qiegħdu idejhom fuqhom. U l-kelma ta’ Alla kienet tixtered dejjem aktar; l-għadd tad-dixxipli kien jiżdied ħafna f’Ġerusalemm, u kotra kbira ta’ qassisin kienu joqogħdu għall-fidi.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm               PSALM 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19

Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Salm Responsorjali                Salm 32 (33), 1-2.4-5.18-19

R/.: Ħa tkun, Mulej, it-tjieba tiegħek fuqna, kif fik hi t-tama tagħna

Għannu, ġusti, bil-ferħ lill-Mulej;
jixirqilhom ifaħħruh in-nies sewwa.
Faħħru l-Mulej bid-daqq taċ-ċetra;
għannulu fuq l-arpa b’għaxar kordi. R/.

Għax sewwa hi l-kelma tal-Mulej,
kollox bil-fedeltà huwa għamel.
Hu jħobb id-dritt u s-sewwa;
bit-tjieba tal-Mulej mimlija l-art. R/.

Ara, għajnejn il-Mulej fuq dawk li jibżgħu minnu,
fuq dawk li jittamaw fit-tjieba tiegħu,
biex jeħilsilhom mill-mewt ħajjithom,
u jaħjihom fi żmien il-ġuħ. R/.

Reading 2               1 PETER 2:4-9

Beloved: Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house  to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it says in Scripture: Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious,  and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame. Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and A stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall. They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.  You are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Qari 2                 mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Pietru 2, 4-9

Għeżież, ersqu lejn il-Mulej, li hu dik il-ġebla ħajja li kienet imwarrba mill-bennejja, imma magħżula minn Alla bħala ġebla għażiża. U intom ukoll, bħal ġebel ħaj, inbnew f’dar spiritwali, saċerdozju qaddis, biex toffru sagrifiċċji spiritwali li jogħġbu lil Alla permezz ta’ Ġesù Kristu. Għax hekk hemm miktub fl-Iskrittura: “Jien inqiegħed f’Sijon ġebla tax-xewka, magħżula u għażiża; min jemmen fiha ma jkollux għax jitħawwad”. Għalikom, mela, li temmnu, dan huwa ġieħ! Għal dawk li ma jemmnux, din l-istess ġebla li warrbu l-bennejja saret il-ġebla tax-xewka, ġebla ta’ tiġrif u tfixkil. Tfixklu għax ma qagħdux għall-kelma ta’ Alla. Għal dan kienu ddestinati. Imma intom ġens maħtur, saċerdozju rjali, nazzjon qaddis, poplu li Alla kiseb għalih, biex ixxandru t-tifħir ta’ dak li sejħilkom mid-dlam għad-dawl tiegħu tal-għaġeb. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                JOHN 14:1-12

Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.  How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these,  because I am going to the Father."  

Evanġelju               Qari skond San Ġwann 14, 1-12

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Tħallux qalbkom titħawwad! Emmnu f’Alla, u emmnu fija wkoll. Fid-dar ta’ Missieri hemm ħafna postijiet. Li ma kienx hekk, kont ngħidilkom: “Sejjer inħejjilkom fejn toqogħdu?”. U meta mmur u nħejjilkom post, nerġa’ niġi biex neħodkom miegħi biex, fejn inkun jien, tkunu intom ukoll. U t-triq għall-post fejn sejjer tafuha”.  Tumas qallu: “Mulej, aħna ma nafux fejn inti sejjer. Kif nistgħu nafu t-triq?”. Wieġbu Ġesù: “Jiena hu t-triq, il-verità u l-ħajja. Ħadd ma jmur għand il-Missier jekk mhux permezz tiegħi. Kieku għaraftu lili, kontu tagħrfu wkoll lil Missieri: minn issa ’l quddiem tagħrfuh, anzi diġa’ rajtuh”. Qallu Filippu: “Mulej, urina l-Missier, u jkun biżżejjed għalina”. Ġesù wieġeb: “Ili daqshekk magħkom, Filippu, u għadek ma għaraftnix? Min ra lili ra lill-Missier. Kif tgħidli: “Urina l-Missier?”. Ma temminx li jiena fil-Missier u l-Missier fija? Il-kliem li ngħidilkom jien, ma ngħidux minn moħħi iżda l-Missier li jgħammar fija qiegħed jagħmel l-opri tiegħu.  Emmnuni! Jiena fil-Missier u l-Missier huwa fija. Jekk mhux għal ħaġ’oħra, emmnuni minħabba dawn l-opri stess. Tassew tassew ngħidilkom, min jemmen fija hu wkoll għad jagħmel l-opri li qiegħed nagħmel jien, u akbar minnhom għad jagħmel, għax jiena sejjer għand il-Missier”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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An 8-minute Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr Anthony Kadavil 

JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD

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Introduction: 

Sunday’s readings tell us how the early Church accepted the challenge of keeping Jesus’ memory alive by remaining a dynamic Christian community, bearing witness to Christ by their unity, fidelity in worship and spirit of loving, humble service. Today’s Gospel introduces Jesus as the Way to God, the Truth to be accepted, and the Life to be shared and lived.

Scripture lessons: 

The first reading, taken from Acts, shows us the early Church as a loving, serving, and worshipping community (Acts 6:1-7). Hence, it easily solved a problem of perceived discrimination by instituting the diaconate for the service of the community. In the second reading, St. Peter advises the early Christians to renew the memory of Jesus by allowing God to make of them ”living stones” and build them into a spiritual edifice, a community of believers, with Christ for its “Living Cornerstone” (I Pt 2:4-5). Peter praises Christians, both Gentile and Jewish, as “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s own people.” 

In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus consoles his apostles (who are sad and disheartened at His announcement that He will be leaving them soon), by assuring them that he is going to prepare an everlasting accommodation for them in his Father’s House in Heaven. He gives them the assurance that he will come back to take them to their Heavenly abodes. It is then that Thomas says, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus answers Thomas’ question with, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” 

The basic doctrine of Judaism is that Yahweh is the Wa, the Truth and the Life. Hence, Jesus is making a revolutionary claim that he is equivalent to Yahweh. Jesus also declares that he, himself, is the safest and surest way to God, discrediting the notions that all religions are equally sure ways to reach God, and that no organized religion but only living a good life of sharing love is necessary to reach God. But Jesus is the Way which he calls narrow because it is the way of focused, loving, humble, sacrificial service. 

Jesus is the Truth who teaches revealed truths about God and God’s relation to man. Jesus also teaches moral truths and demonstrates them in his life. Jesus is the Life because, as God, he possesses the eternal life of God and shares his Divine life with his disciples through the Word of God and the Sacraments. In short, Jesus reveals the Father in the Way he lives, in the Truth of his word and in the new Life that he brings.

Life messages: 

We need to accept Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life: 

1) We accept Jesus as the Way by walking his narrow way of loving, humble, sacrificial service. 

2) We accept Jesus as the Truth by learning and practicing what he has taught us, as given in the Bible and in the teachings of the Church.

3) We accept Jesus as the Life by sharing in the Divine Life of God in His Church, making use of the means Jesus has established. 

4) We do all of this...  

a) by actively participating in the Eucharistic celebration and properly receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion; 

b) by the worthy reception of the other Sacraments; 

        c) by the meditative, daily reading of the Word of God; 

        d) by allowing the Holy Spirit living in the Church and within us to guide and strengthen us; and 

        e) by communicating with God the Source of Life, in personal and family prayers.

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