WE CAN BEAR MUCH FRUIT

 Readings for Sunday, April 28, 2024 

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Lectionary: 53 

Il-Hames Ħadd tal-Għid

Reading 1                 Acts of the Apostles  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.

QARI 1                 mill-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-Appostli 9, 26-31

F’dak iż-żmien, meta Sawl wasal Ġerusalemm beda jfittex li jissieħeb mad-dixxipli. Imma lkoll kienu jib!għu minnu, għax ma kinux emmnu 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’ Ġesù.  Għalhekk Sawl baqa’ magħhom, dieħel u ħiereġ 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-Galilija u s-Samarija kollha; kienet dejjem tikber u timxi ’l quddiem bil-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

I will fulfil 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. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

or: R. Alleluia.

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

To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
before him shall bend
all who go down into the dust.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or: R. Alleluia.

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

SALM RESPONSORJALI                  Salm 21 (22), 26b-27.28.30.31-32

R/. 26 (a): Mulej, nagħtik it-tifħir tiegħi f’ġemgħa kbira
jew R/. Hallelujah, 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 tal-art,
u jerġgħu lura lejn il-Mulej;
u quddiemu jinxteħtu r-razez kollha tal-ġnus.
Lilu jqimu l-bnedmin, li jmutu;
quddiemu jmil kull min nieżel ġot-trab.
U għalih tgħix ruħi. R/.

Lilu jaqdi n-nisel tiegħi.
Ixandru ’l Sidi lin-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.

QARI 2                   mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Ġwann Appostlu 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-verità, 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-kmandament tiegħu: li nemmnu fl-isem ta’ Ibnu Ġesù 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."

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skont San Ġwann 15, 1-8

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù 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 l-kelma li għedtilkom. Ibqgħu fija, u jiena nibqa’ fikom. Kif il-fergħa ma tistax tagħmel frott minnha nfisha 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, jintrema 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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An 8-minute Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr Anthony Kadavil 

PRODUCING THE SPIRIT'S FRUITS 

Introduction: 

Sunday’s Scripture selections emphasize the need for Christians to abide in Christ as a condition for producing the Spirit’s fruits of kindness, mercy, charity, and holiness.

The scripture lessons summarized:  

The first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, testifies to the abundance of spiritual fruits yielded by the apostles because of their close bond with the risen Lord.  The reading tells us how the Lord pruned the former fanatical Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus, who had persecuted the Church, to produce a fruit-bearing branch called Paul, the zealous Apostle to the Gentiles, a man now entirely dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel.  Even Paul’s forced return to Tarsus for a brief period is an example of God’s pruning of the vine to bring forth a greater harvest, namely, the mission to the Gentiles. 

In Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm we sing the end of Ps 22, “ … to Him My soul shall live … let the coming generation be told of the Lord that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born the Justice Hs has shown,”  drawing our strength  from Jesus’ courage and trust in His Father. In today’s second reading, John, in his first letter to the Church, explains that only if we remain united with Christ by putting our Faith in him and drawing our spiritual strength from him, will we be able to obey God’s commandments, especially the commandment of love. 

In the Gospel, taken from the Last Supper discourse, Jesus uses God’s Old Testament image of the vine and branches to help his disciples to understand the closeness of their relationship with him and the necessity of their maintaining it.  They are not simply rabbi and disciples.  Their lives are mutually dependent – as close as a vine and its branches.  In fact, in using this image, Jesus is explaining to them and to us what our relationship with him should become.

Sunday’s reading describes the aftermath of his transformation from enemy of the early Christian movement to God’s chosen instrument for bringing the Gospel to non-Jews. Jesus himself pruned away the former Saul — the Saul who had persecuted the Church — to make Paul, a man whose life was entirely dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel.  But when Paul, after preaching in Damascus for “a long time” (v 23), came to Jerusalem, the disciples in Jerusalem were afraid of him. Finally, they recognized the transforming power of the Spirit of God operating in Paul and gave their full support to him. Because Paul had become a vigorous witness for Christ, the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews), tried to kill him.  When Paul’s life was threatened, the other apostles helped him to leave Jerusalem and return to Tarsus.  But even this setback in Paul’s missionary work turned out to be just one more example of God’s pruning of Paul – the vine-branch – to bring forth a greater harvest: the mission to the Gentiles.

Life messages: 

1) We need pruning in our Christian life. Cutting out of our lives everything that is contrary to the spirit of Jesus and renewing our commitment to Christian ideals in our lives every day is the first type of self-imposed pruning expected of us. A second means of pruning is practicing self-control over our evil inclinations, sinful addictions and aberrations. Cordial mingling in our neighborhood and society with people of different cultures, races, religions and orientations enables us, with God’s grace, to prune away our selfish, judgmental, prejudicial tendencies so that we can treat others in our society with Christian charity and openness. Jesus prunes, purifies and strengthens us by enabling us to face with the courage of our  Christian convictions, the pain and sufferings, contradictions and difficulties which He permits to enter our lives.

2) Let us abide in Christ and let Christ abide in us: The four Gospels teach us how to become true disciples of Jesus and how to abide in him as branches abide in the main trunk of the vine and how to draw their life from the vine.  Personal and liturgical prayers, frequenting of the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation, daily and meditative reading of the Bible, and selfless, loving acts of kindness, mercy and mutual loving forgiveness, all the fruits  of God’s Grace acting within us,  assist us in abiding in Jesus, the true Vine, as fruit-bearing branches.

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WE ARE TIMID AND HELPLESS, LIKE SHEEP

 Readings for Sunday, April 21, 2024 

Fourth Sunday of Easter
Lectionary: 50

Qari tar-Raba’ Ħadd tal-Għid

Reading 1           ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 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."

QARI 1                mill-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-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’ Iżrael: jekk dan ir-raġel hu hawn quddiemkom qawwi u sħiħ, dan ġara bis-saħħa tal-isem ta’ Ġesù Kristu ta’ Nazaret, li intom sallabtuh u Alla qajmu mill-imwiet. Dan Ġesù hu l-ġebla li intom, il-bennejja, warrabtu u li saret il-ġebla tax-xewka. F’ħadd ħliefu ma hemm salvazzjoni, għax imkien taħt is-sema ma hemm 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

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

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

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

SALM RESPONSORJALI                 Salm 117 (118), 1.8-9.21-23.26.28ċd.29

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

Faħħru l-Mulej, għaliex hu tajjeb,
għax għal dejjem it-tjieba tiegħu!
Aħjar tiskenn fil-Mulej
milli tittama fil-bnedmin.
Aħjar tiskenn 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.

QARI 2                  mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Ġwann Appostlu 3, 1-2

Għeżież, araw b’liema għożża ħabbna l-Missier; nistgħu nissejħu wlied Alla, u hekk aħna tassew. Għalhekk id-dinja ma tagħrafniex, għax ma għarfitx lilu. Għeżież, issa aħna wlied Alla, imma x’se nkunu ’l quddiem mhuwiex irrivelat lilna. Madankollu nafu li meta jidher hu, 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 la y 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." 

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skont San Ġwann 10, 11-18

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù 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, u ma jħabbilx rasu min-nagħaġ. Jiena r-ragħaj it-tajjeb; jiena nagħraf in-nagħaġ tiegħi, u n-nagħaġ tiegħi jagħrfu 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-Missier, għax jien nagħti ħajti, biex nerġa’ neħodha. Ħadd ma jeħodhieli, iżda jien nagħtiha 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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An 8-minute Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr Anthony Kadavil 

LET US BECOME GOOD SHEPHERDS 

Introduction: 

On the Fourth Sunday of Easter, called Good Shepherd Sunday, we continue to reflect on the meaning of the Resurrection. This is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Today, we celebrate the risen Lord as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. The priest in charge of a parish is called pastor because “pastor” means shepherd. As shepherd, he leads, feeds, nurtures, comforts, corrects, and protects Christ’s sheep, the people of the parish. 

The earliest Christians saw Jesus as the fulfilment of the ancient Jewish dream of a Good Shepherd. They also wished to include the Gentiles as part of God’s flock. Scripture lessons: In today’s first reading, Peter asserts unequivocally before the Jewish assembly that there is no salvation except through Christ, the Good Shepherd — the one whom the Jewish leaders have rejected and crucified and in whose name the apostles preach and heal. 

In the second reading, St. John tells us how Yahweh, the Good Shepherd of the Old Testament, expressed His love for us through His Son Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by making us His children. 

In Sunday’s Gospel Jesus introduces himself as the “Good Shepherd.” Jesus claims that as Good Shepherd he knows his sheep and loves them so much he is ready to die for them. The Gospel text offers us both comfort — the Good Shepherd knows us, provides for us, and loves us – and a double challenge: to become good shepherds to those entrusted to our care and good sheep in our parish, the sheepfold of Jesus the Good Shepherd.

Life messages: 

1) Let us become good shepherds: Everyone who is entrusted with the care of others is a shepherd. Hence Bishops, pastors, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, government officials, bosses, and politicians are all shepherds. We become good shepherds by loving those entrusted to us, praying for them, spending our time, talents, health, and wealth for their welfare, and guarding them from physical and spiritual dangers. Parents must be especially careful of their duties as shepherds, becoming role models for their children by leading exemplary lives.

 2) Let us be good sheep in the fold of Jesus, our Good Shepherd: 

a) by hearing and following the voice of our shepherds through their homilies, Bible classes, counselling and advice; 

b) by taking the spiritual food given by our pastors through regular and active participation in the Holy Mass and by frequenting the sacraments, prayer services, renewal programs, and missions; 

c) by cooperating with our pastors, giving them positive suggestions for the welfare of the parish, encouraging them in their ministry by prayer and presence, by offering them praise and thanks for all they are doing for us, and occasionally by making constructive suggestions for changes; 

d) by cooperating as good stewards in the activities of various councils, ministries, and parish associations. 

3) Let us pray that we may all both receive and accept God’s offered vocations to the Priesthood, the diaconate and the consecrated life as well as to Marriage and the single state, so that we may have more holy and Spirit-filled shepherds to lead, feed, and protect a receptive Catholic community. Christ Jesus is the Priest in the full sense because He is the one mediator between God and humanity who offered Himself, a unique sacrifice, on the cross. The universal priesthood of all believers, the sharing of all the baptized in the priesthood of Christ, has received special emphasis since Vatican II. 

Those who are called to make a lifelong commitment to serve as ordained ministers share the ministerial priesthood of Jesus. On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations we are asked to encourage and pray for our young men to respond to God’s call to serve His Church in the ministerial priesthood and for all of us that we may live out our vocations as He wills.

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https://frtonyshomilies.com

PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS

Readings for Sunday, April 14, 2024 

Third Sunday of Easter
Lectionary: 47

Qari tat-Tielet Ħadd tal-Għid

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." 

QARI 1                 mill-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-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, Ġesù, 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, jiena 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 minn dnubietkom biex jinħafrulkom”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

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. Lord, let your face shine on us.
or:  R. Alleluia.

Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;
the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
or:  R. Alleluia.

O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!
You put gladness into my heart.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
or:  R. Alleluia.

As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep,
for you alone, O LORD,
bring security to my dwelling.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
or:  R. Alleluia.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                Salm 4:2,4,7,9

R/. (7a): Ixħet fuqna, Mulej, id-dawl ta’ wiċċek.
Jew -  R/. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Weġibni, meta nsejjaħlek,
Alla tal-ġustizzja tiegħi;
oħroġni fil-wisa’ meta nkun imdejjaq,
ħenn għalija u isma’ talbi. R/.

Kunu afu li l-Mulej
wera tjieba kbira miegħi;
jismagħni l-Mulej meta nsejjaħlu. 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/.

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. 

QARI 2                  mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Ġwann Appostlu 2:1-5a

Uliedi, dan qiegħed niktibhulkom biex ma tidinbux; imma jekk xi ħadd jidneb, aħna għandna Difensur quddiem il-Missier, lil Ġesù Kristu, il-ġust. U hu jħallas għal dnubietna, mhux għal tagħna biss, iżda wkoll għal dawk tad-dinja kollha. U b’dan nafu li nagħrfu ’l Ġesù: jekk inżommu l-kmandamenti tiegħu. Min jgħid: “Jiena nafu” u ma jżommx il-kmandamenti tiegħu, hu giddieb u l-verità mhijiex fih. Iżda kull min iżomm il-kelma tiegħu, fih hemm tassew l-imħabba ta’ Alla fil-milja tagħha. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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? And why do questions arise in your hearts? L ok 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."

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skont 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 kienu għarfu lil Ġesù fil-qsim tal-ħobż! Kif kienu għadhom jitkellmu, Ġesù 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 tal-ikel hawn?”. Huma ressqulu quddiemu biċċa ħuta mixwija, u hu ħadha u kielha quddiemhom. Imbagħad qalilhom: “Meta kont għadni magħkom għedtilkom dawn il-kelmiet: jeħtieġ li jseħħ kulma nkiteb fuqi fil-Liġi ta’ Mosè, fil-Profeti u fis-Salmi”. Imbagħad fetħilhom moħħhom biex jifhmu l-Iskrittura. U qalilhom: “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”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  

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

THE CHALLENGE TO ADJUST   

Introduction: 

The common theme of today’s readings is the challenge to adjust our lives to the living presence of the risen Lord as we grow daily more aware of the presence of His Holy Spirit within us and surrounding us. This awareness should strengthen our hope in His promises, bring us to true repentance for our sins and the renewal of our lives, and lead us to bear witness to Christ by our works of charity. The readings also remind us that the purpose of the suffering, death, and Resurrection of Jesus was to save us from our sins.

Scripture lessons: 

The first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, gives us Peter’s second sermon addressing the Jewish assembly at the Portico of Solomon in Jerusalem. Peter forcefully shows how the messianic prophecies have been fulfilled in the crucified and risen Jesus and challenges the Jews to repent and turn toward God so that their sins may be wiped away.  In the second reading, John answers doubts raised by the heretics of his time, asserting the fundamental Christian doctrine that Jesus’ death was a sacrifice offered as expiation for our sins. 

Sunday’s Gospel describes Jesus’ appearance on the evening of His Resurrection to his apostles who were in the locked Upper Room, the Cenacle. We see Jesus remove the doubts of his apostles about his Resurrection by inviting them to touch him and by eating a piece of cooked fish. Jesus explains how the prophecies have been fulfilled in him. Then he commissions them to bear witness to him and preach “repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name” after receiving the Holy Spirit.

Life messages: 

1) We need to share the apostles’ “Upper Room Experience” in the Holy Mass: The same Jesus who, in the Upper Room, the Cenacle, prepared the disciples for their preaching and witnessing mission, is present with us in the Eucharistic celebration. In the “Liturgy of the Word” of God, Jesus speaks to us. In the “Liturgy of the Eucharist,” Jesus becomes our spiritual food and drink. Thus, today’s Gospel scene is repeated every Sunday on our parish altars. Like the early disciples, we come together to repent of our sins, express our gratitude for blessings received, listen to God’s word, and offer our lives to God along with our petitions and His gifts of consecrated Bread and Wine. We also consume the spiritual food Jesus supplies, thus gaining the strength necessary for sharing Christ’s message with the entire world, mainly by living transparent Christian lives. 

2) Jesus needs us as witnesses to continue his mission. Jesus needs Spirit-filled followers to be his eyes, ears, hands, and feet, to bear witness to his love, mercy and forgiveness by our interactions with our brother and sisters.

3) Our daily lives are meant to serve as a means for us to experience and share the risen Lord with others. Just as the disciples experienced the risen Lord in their community, let us learn to recognize the presence of Jesus in our own homes, social service centers, nursing facilities, hospitals, workplaces, and schools. Jesus wants us to be a community which shares and cares, a community which knows how to recognize Jesus in the poor, the marginalized, the sick – that is, in everyone.

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OUR GOD OF EVERLASTING MERCY

Reading for Sunday, April 7, 2024

Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday of Divine Mercy
Lectionary: 44

Qari tat-Tieni Ħadd tal-Għid 
Il-Ħadd tal-Ħniena Divina

Reading 1                 ACTS OF THER APOSTLES 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 favour 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.

QARI 1                 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 jgħid li l-ġid li kellu kien tiegħu, iżda kellhom kollox flimkien. B’qawwa kbira l-appostli kienu jagħtu xhieda tal-qawmien tal-Mulej Ġesù, 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 iqegħedhom f’riġlejn l-appostli. Imbagħad kien jitqassam kollox skont il-ħtieġa ta’ kull wieħed. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

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

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

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

SALM RESPONSORJALI                Salm 117(118), 2-4,16ab-18,22-24

R/. (1): Faħħru l-Mulej, għaliex hu tajjeb, għax it-tjieba tiegħu għal dejjem!

Jew:  R/. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.  

Ħa jgħidu wlied Iżrael: “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-għemejjel tal-Mulej.
Ħaqarni tassew il-Mulej,
iżda ma telaqnix għall-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, hat 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.

QARI 2                   mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Ġwann Appostlu 5:1-6

Għeżież, kull min jemmen li Ġesù hu l-Messija hu mwieled minn Alla, u kull min iħobb lill-Missier iħobb lil min 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 mhumie x 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 mhux min jemmen li Ġesù hu l-Iben ta’ Alla? Dan huwa dak li ġie bl-ilma u d-demm, Ġesù Kristu; mhux bl-ilma biss, iżda bl-ilma u d-demm. U l-Ispirtu hu li jixhed, għax l-Ispirtu hu l-verità. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Sequence -- optional -  Victimae paschali laudes

Christians, to the Paschal Victim
            Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems;
            Christ, who only is sinless,
            Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
            The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring
            What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
            The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
bright angels attesting,
            The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
            to Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
            Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
            Amen. Alleluia.

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 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.

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skont San Ġwann 20:19-31

Dakinhar filgħaxija, 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”. Tumas, wieħed mit-Tnax, jgħidulu t-Tewmi, ma kienx magħhom meta ġie Ġesù. Għalhekk id-dixxipli l-oħra qalulu: “Rajna lill-Mulej”. Iżda hu qalilhom: “Jekk ma narax f’idejh il-marka tal-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 Ġesù daħal, qagħad f’nofshom, u qalilhom: “Is-sliem għalikom!”. Imbagħad qal lil Tumas: “Ġib sebgħek hawn u ara jdejja, u ressaq idek u qegħedha fuq ġenbi; tkunx bniedem bla fidi, iżda emmen”. Wieġeb Tumas u qallu: “Mulej tiegħi u Alla tiegħi!”. Qallu Ġesù: “Emmint għax rajtni! Henjin dawk li ma rawx u emmnu”. Hemm ħafna sinjali oħra li Ġesù għamel quddiem id-dixxipli tiegħu u li mhumiex imniżżla f’dan il-ktieb. Iżda dawn inkitbu sabiex intom temmnu li Ġesù hu l-Messija l-Iben ta’ Alla, u biex bit-twemmin tagħkom ikollkom il-ħajja f’ismu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej. 

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

GOD'S WISH TO SANCTIFY US

Introduction: 

The readings for this Sunday show us our need for God’s Divine Mercy, which is offered to us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the forgiveness of our sins, and through each celebration of the Sacraments (all instituted to sanctify us), when we receive them in trusting Faith.

The opening prayer addresses the Father as “God of everlasting Mercy.” In first section of the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 118), we repeat three times, “His mercy endures forever!” God revealed His mercy, first and foremost, by sending His only begotten Son to become our Savior and Lord by His suffering, death, and Resurrection.

Scripture lessons: 

The first reading (Acts 2:42-47) tells us how the early Church grew every day because of the acts of mercy — sharing, sacrificial agápe love — practiced by the early Christians. In the second reading (1 Pt 1:3-9), St. Peter glorifies God, the Father of Jesus Christ, for showing us His mercy by granting His Son Jesus Resurrection from the dead and a glorious Ascension into Heaven, thus giving us the assurance of our own resurrection.Today’s Gospel vividly reminds us of how Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a sacrament of Divine Mercy. The risen Lord gave his Apostles the power to forgive sins with the words, “Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain, they are retained” (Jn 20:19-23). Presenting the doubting Thomas’ famous profession of Faith, “My Lord and my God,” the Gospel illustrates how Jesus showed his mercy to the doubting apostle and emphasizes the importance of Faith for everyone.

Life messages: 

1) We need to accept God’s invitation to celebrate and practice mercy in our Christian lives: One way the Church celebrates God’s mercy throughout the year is through the Holy Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Finding time for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is another good way to receive and give thanks for Divine Mercy. But it is mainly through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy that we practice in our daily lives the Mercy we have already received and become eligible for God’s merciful judgment.

2) Let us ask God for the Faith that culminates in self-surrender to God and leads us to serve those we encounter with agape love. Living Faith enables us to see the risen Lord in everyone and gives us the willingness to render to each other our loving service. The Spiritual Fathers prescribe the following traditional means to grow in the living, dynamic Faith of St. Thomas the Apostle: a) First, we must come to know Jesus personally and intimately by our daily and meditative reading of the Bible. b) Next, we must strengthen our Faith through our personal and communal prayer. c) Third, we must share in the Divine Life of Jesus by frequenting the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist. St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) presents it this way: “If we pray, we will believe; if we believe, we will love; if we love, we will serve. Only then we put our love of God into action.”

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