"TAKE, THIS IS MY BODY..."

Readings for Sunday, June 2, 2024 

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Corpus Christi

Lectionary: 168

Is-Solennità tal-Ġisem u d-Demm Imqaddes ta’ Kristu

Reading 1                 EXODUS 24:3-8

When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, "We will do everything that the LORD has told us." Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD, Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do." Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his."

QARI 1                   mill-Ktieb tal-Eżodu 24:3-8

F’dak iż-żmien, Mosè niżel jgħid lill-poplu kulma qallu l-Mulej u kulma ordnalu. Il-poplu wieġeb b’leħen wieħed u qal: “Kulma qalilna l-Mulej nagħmluh”. Mosè kiteb il-kliem kollu tal-Mulej, u filgħodu qam, bena altar taħt il-muntanja, u waqqaf tnax-il plier għat-tnax-il tribù ta’ Iżrael.  Imbagħad bagħat xi żgħażagħ minn ulied Iżrael biex joffru sagrifiċċji u joqtlu għoġiela bħala sagrifiċċji tas-sliem lill-Mulej. Mosè ħa nofs id-demm u qiegħdu fi bwieqi, u xerred in-nofs l-ieħor fuq l-altar. Imbagħad ħa l-ktieb tal-patt, u qara minnu hekk li seta’ jisimgħu l-poplu. U huma qalu: “Kulma qalilna l-Mulej nagħmluh, u nisimgħu minnu”.  Mosè mbagħad ħa d-demm u, hu u jroxxu fuq il-poplu, qal: “Hawn hu d-demm tal-patt li l-Mulej għamel magħkom skont dan il-kliem kollu”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18

How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
or:    R. Alleluia.

Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
or: R. Alleluia. 

and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
or: R. Alleluia.

SALM RESPONSORJALI               Salm 115(116):12-13,15,16bċ,17-18

R/. (13): Ngħolli l-kalċi tas-salvazzjoni,
u isem il-Mulej insejjaħ.

Xi rrodd lill-Mulej
għall-ġid kollu li għamel miegħi?
Ngħolli l-kalċi tas-salvazzjoni,
u isem il-Mulej insejjaħ. R/.

Għażiża f’għajnejn il-Mulej
hi l-mewt tal-ħbieb tiegħu.
Jien qaddej tiegħek, bin il-qaddejja tiegħek.
Int ħallejtli l-irbit tiegħi. R/.

Lilek noffri sagrifiċċju ta’ radd il-ħajr,
u isem il-Mulej insejjaħ.
Intemm lill-Mulej il-wegħdiet tiegħi,
quddiem il-poplu tiegħu kollu. R/.

Reading 2                 HEBREWS 9:11-15

Brothers and sisters: When Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.  For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

QARI 2                  mill-Ittra lil-Lhud 9: 11-15

Ħuti, Kristu ġie bħala l-qassis il-kbir tal-ġid li diġà ġie. Hu daħal minn tinda aqwa u aktar perfetta li mhijiex maħduma b’idejn il-bnedmin, jiġifieri mhijiex ħolqien ta’ din l-art; hu daħal darba għal dejjem fis-Santwarju, mhux bis-saħħa tad-demm tal-mogħoż u tal-għoġiela, imma bis-saħħa ta’ demmu stess, u hekk kiseb fidwa għal dejjem. Jekk id-demm tal-mogħoż u tal-gniedes u l-irmied tal-għoġla mraxxax fuq dawk li huma mniġġsa jista’ jqaddishom billi jagħtihom l-indafa tal-ġisem, kemm aktar id-demm ta’ Kristu, li bl-Ispirtu ta’ dejjem offra lilu nnifsu vittma safja lil Alla, jista’ jnaddaf il-kuxjenza tagħkom mill-għemil mejjet biex taqdu lil Alla ħaj! U għalhekk hu medjatur ta’ patt ġdid, testment ġdid, biex, wara li seħħet il-mewt għall-fidwa tal-ħtijiet li saru fi żmien il-patt ta’ qabel, dawk li huma msejħa minn Alla jiksbu l-wirt ta’ dejjem li hu wegħedhom. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Sequence - LAUDA SION 

Lo! the angel’s food is given
To the pilgrim who has striven;
see the children’s bread from heaven,
which on dogs may not be spent.

Truth the ancient types fulfilling,
Isaac bound, a victim willing,
Paschal lamb, its lifeblood spilling,
manna to the fathers sent.

Very bread, good shepherd, tend us,
Jesu, of your love befriend us,
You refresh us, you defend us,
Your eternal goodness send us
In the land of life to see.

You who all things can and know,
Who on earth such food bestow,
Grant us with your saints, though lowest,
Where the heav’nly feast you show,
Fellow heirs and guests to be. Amen. Alleluia.

SEKWENZA

Dan ħobż l-anġli, magħmul ikel
għall-bnedmin fit-triq tal-ħajja,
ikel bnin għall-ulied kollha,
li m’għandux fix-xejn jintrema.

Bi xbihat kien ilu mħabbar,
f’dik l-offerta ta’ Iżakk,
fil-ħaruf li nqatel fl-Għid,
u fil-manna tad-deżert.

Int ragħaj tajjeb, ħobż tassew,
Ġesù tagħna, ħenn għalina;
int itmagħna u ħarisna:
inti lilna l-ġid urina
fl-art imbierka tal-ħajjin.

Int li taf u tista’ kollox,
li titmagħna hawn f’dil-ħajja,
hemm agħmilna lkoll imsieħba,
f’għaqda waħda lkoll werrieta
mal-qtajjiet tal-qaddisin.
Amen. Hallelujah.

Gospel                 MARK 14:12-16, 22-26

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there." The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

EVANĠELJU     Qari skond San Mark  14:12-16,22-26

Fl-ewwel jum tal-Ażżmi, meta kienu jissagrifikaw il-ħaruf tal-Għid, id-dixxipli tiegħu qalu lil Ġesù: “Fejn tridna mmorru nħejju biex tiekol l-ikla tal-Għid?”. Imbagħad hu bagħat tnejn mid-dixxipli tiegħu u qalilhom: “Morru l-belt, u tiltaqgħu ma’ raġel iġorr ġarra ilma. Morru warajh, u għidu lil sid id-dar ta’ fejn tarawh dieħel: ‘Qallek l-Imgħallem: Fejn hi l-kamra tiegħi li fiha nista’ niekol l-ikla tal-Għid mad-dixxipli tiegħi?’. U hu jurikom kamra kbira fuq, imgħammra u lesta. Ħejjulna hemmhekk”. U d-dixxipli marru u daħlu fil-belt, u sabu kollox kif kien qalilhom hu; u ħejjew l-ikla tal-Għid. Huma u jieklu, ħa l-ħobż f’idejh, qal il-barka, qasmu, newwilhulhom u qal: “Ħudu, dan hu ġismi”. Imbagħad ħa kalċi f’idejh, radd il-ħajr, u newwilhulhom, u lkoll xorbu minnu. U qalilhom: “Dan huwa demmi, id-demm tal-patt, li jixxerred għal ħafna. Tassew ngħidilkom, li ma nixrobx iżjed mill-frott tad-dielja sa dakinhar li nixrob inbid ġdid fis-Saltna ta’ Alla”. Imbagħad kantaw is-salmi u ħarġu lejn l-Għolja taż-Żebbuġ.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus

Importance: 

1) The last two precious gifts given to us by Jesus are the Holy Eucharist as our spiritual food on Holy Thursday and Jesus’ mother Mary as our spiritual mother on Good Friday 

2) Corpus Christi is the celebration of the abiding presence of a loving God as Emmanuel – God with us – in order to give collective thanks to our Lord for his living with us in the Eucharist. 

3) The feast also gives us an occasion to learn more about the importance and value of the “Real Presence” so that we may appreciate the Sacrament better and receive maximum benefit from the Eucharist

We believe in the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist because

1) Jesus promised it after miraculously feeding the 5000. 

2) Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist during his Last Supper. 

3) Jesus commanded his disciples to repeat it in his memory. 

4) “Nothing is impossible with God.”

We explain the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist by “transubstantiation” which means that the substance of the consecrated bread and wine is changed to the substance of the risen Jesus’ glorified Body and Blood by the action of the Holy Spirit, and its accidents (like color, shape, taste etc.), remain the same.

Scripture lessons: 

This year’s readings for the Feast emphasize the theme of Covenant blood because the ancient peoples sealed Covenants with the blood of ritually sacrificed animals, and Jesus sealed his New Covenant with his own Blood shed on Calvary. Sunday’s first reading describes how Moses, by sprinkling the blood of a sacrificed animal on the altar and on the people, accepted the Covenant Yahweh proposed and made with His People. In the second reading, St. Paul affirms that Jesus sealed the New Covenant with his own Blood, thereby putting an end to animal sacrifices. Today’s Gospel details how Jesus converted this ancient ritual into a Sacrament and sacrifice. Instead of the lamb’s blood, Jesus offered his own Divine/human Body and Blood, and instead of sprinkling us with blood, Jesus put It into our hands as food and drink: “Take … eat … this IS my Body which will be given up for you” (He did not say “This represents my body”), and “Take … drink …This IS … my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal Covenant, which will be poured out for you many (nor did He say,“This represents my blood…”) for the forgiveness of sins”.

A Sacrament and a sacrifice: 

Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist both as a sacramental banquet and a sacrificial offering.   

As a Sacrament, 

a) the Eucharist is a visible sign that gives us God’s grace and God’s life and, 

b) as a Meal, The Eucharist nourishes our souls. 

As a Sacrifice, it is

a) the Eucharistic celebration is a re-presentation or re-enactment of Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary, completed in His Resurrection and Ascension. 

b) We offer Jesus’ sacrifice to God the Father for the remission of our sins, using signs and symbols.

Life messages: 

1) Let us appreciate the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, by receiving Him with true repentance for our sins, due preparation and reverence. 

2) Let us be Christ-bearers and conveyers: By receiving Holy Communion, we become Christ-bearers as Mary was, with the duty of conveying Christ to others at home, in the workplace, and everywhere else, through love, mercy, forgiveness, and humble, self-giving, sacrificial service.

3) Let us offer our lives on the altar along with Jesus’ sacrifice, asking pardon for our sins, expressing gratitude for the blessings we have received and presenting our needs and petitions on the altar.

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In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit

Readings for Sunday, May 26, 2024 

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Lectionary: 165

Is-Solennita tal Trinita` Mqaddsa


Reading 1                 Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40

Moses said to the people: "Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of? Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live? Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors, all of which the LORD, your God, did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other. You must keep his statutes and commandments that I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever."

QARI 1                   mill-Ktieb tad-Dewteronomju 4:32-34,39-40

Mosè kellem lill-poplu u qal: “Staqsi liż-żminijiet tal-imgħoddi, iż-żminijiet ta’ qabel, sa minn mindu Alla ħalaq il-bniedem fuq l-art, fittex minn tarf għall-ieħor tas-sema, u ara kienx hemm ġrajja hekk kbira bħal din, jew qattx instemgħet oħra bħalha. Qatt kien hemm poplu li sama’ leħen Alla jitkellem minn ġon-nar – bħalma smajt int – u baqa’ ħaj?   Jew qatt xi alla fittex li jagħżel għalih poplu minn fost poplu ieħor b’tiġrib, b’sinjali, b’għeġubijiet, b’taqbid, b’id qawwija u bi driegħ merfugħ, b’għemejjel kbar tal-biża’, bħalma għamel għalik quddiem għajnejk fl-Eġittu l-Mulej, Alla tiegħek?  Mela, kun af illum, u żommha f’moħħok, li l-Mulej hu tassew Alla, kemm fl-għoli tas-sema kemm hawn isfel fuq l-art, u li ma hawnx ieħor għajru. Ħares, għalhekk, l-ordnijiet u l-kmandamenti tiegħu li se nagħtik illum biex ikollok riżq, int u wliedek warajk, ħalli tgħix żmien twil fuq l-art li l-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, se jagħtik għal dejjem”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22

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. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made;
by the breath of his mouth all their host.
For he spoke, and it was made;
he commanded, and it stood forth.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

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. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                 Salm 32(33):4-5,6,9,18-19,20,22

R/. (12b): Hieni l-poplu li l-Mulej għażel b’wirtu.

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/.

Bil-kelma tal-Mulej saru s-smewwiet,
u b’nifs fommu t-tiżjin kollu tagħhom.
Għax hu tkellem, u kollox sar;
hu ordna, u kollox seħħ. 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/.

Ruħna tixxennaq għall-Mulej,
hu l-għajnuna u t-tarka tagħna.
Ħa tkun, Mulej, it-tjieba tiegħek fuqna,
kif fik hi t-tama tagħna. R/.

Reading 2                ROMANS 8:14-17

Brothers and sisters:  For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption, through whom we cry, "Abba, Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 

QARI 2                  mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl Appostlu lir-Rumani 8:14-17

Ħuti, dawk kollha li jmexxihom l-Ispirtu ta’ Alla huma wlied Alla. Għax intom ma rċevejtux l-ispirtu li jwassalkom għall-jasar biex terġgħu taqgħu fil-biża’, imma rċevejtu l-Ispirtu li jagħmel minnkom ulied adottivi; u li bih aħna nistgħu ngħajtu: “Abbà! Missier!”. Dan l-Ispirtu jixhed flimkien mal-ispirtu tagħna li aħna wlied Alla. Jekk aħna wlied, aħna wkoll werrieta, werrieta ta’ Alla, werrieta ma’ Kristu: ladarba aħna nbatu miegħu, biex miegħu nkunu gglorifikati.  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 all 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 skont 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, sal-aħħar taż-żmien”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY - Understanding it only with our hearts!

Introduction: 

The mystery of the most Holy Trinity is a basic doctrine of Faith in Christianity, understandable not with our heads but with our hearts. It teaches us that there are three distinct Persons in one God, sharing the same Divine Nature, co-equal and co-eternal. Our mind cannot grasp this doctrine which teaches that 1+1+1 = 1 and not 3. But we believe in this Mystery because Jesus, Who is God, taught it clearly, the Evangelists recorded it, the Fathers of the Church tried to explain it, and the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople defined it as a dogma of Christian Faith. 

Importance in Christian life: 

1) All prayers in the Church begin in the Name of the Holy Trinity and end glorifying the Trinity. 

2) All Sacraments are administered (we are baptized, confirmed, anointed, our sins are forgiven, our marriages are blessed, and our Bishops, priests and deacons are ordained) in the name of the Holy Trinity. 

3) When Church bells ring thrice daily, they remind us to give glory to the Holy Trinity for the Incarnation of Jesus and His Redemption of all of us. 4) We bless ourselves, and the priest blesses us, in the Name of the Holy Trinity.

Biblical basis: 

There are only vague and hidden references to the Trinity in the Old Testament. But the New Testament gives clear teachings on the Holy Trinity.

1) At the Annunciation, God the Father sent His angel to Mary, God the Holy Spirit came upon her, the Power of the Most High overshadowed her, and God the Son became Incarnate in her womb.

2) At the baptism of Jesus, when the Son received the baptism of repentance from John the Baptist, the Father’s Voice was heard, and the Holy Spirit appeared as a Dove and descended upon Jesus.

3) At the Ascension, Jesus commissioned his disciples to baptize those who believed, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 

4) John’s account:  In John’s Gospel, chapters 15–18, we have a detailed account of Jesus’ teaching of the role of each Person of the Holy Trinity: 

a) God the Father creates and provides for His creatures. 

b) God the Son redeems us and reconciles us with God. 

c) God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, strengthens us, teaches us, and guides us to God.

Life messages: 

1) Let us respect ourselves and others because everyone is the temple of the Holy Spirit where all Three Persons of the Holy Trinity abide.

2) Let us have the firm conviction that the Trinitarian God abides in us, that He is the Source of our hope, courage, and strength, and that He is our final destination.

3) Let us practice the Trinitarian relationship of love and unity in the family relationships of father, mother, and children because by Baptism we become children of God and members of God’s Trinitarian family.

4) Let us practice the I–God–my neighbour vertical and horizontal Trinitarian relationships in this life by loving God and our neighbours

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Readings for Sunday, May 19, 2024 

Pentecost Sunday 

Mass during the Day
Lectionary: 63

Is-Solennità ta’ Għid il-Ħamsin
Quddiesa tal-Jum

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. Mibluhin 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.
or:  R. Alleluia.

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.
or: R. Alleluia.

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.
or: R. Alleluia.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                 Salm 103(104):1ab,24aċ,29bċ-30,31,34

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

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                 GALATIANS 5:16-25

Brothers and sisters, live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. 

QARI 2                 mill-Ittra lill-Galatin 5:16-25

Ħuti, jien ngħidilkom, imxu fl-Ispirtu u taqgħux għall-passjonijiet tal-ġisem. Il-passjonijiet tal-ġisem huma kontra l-Ispirtu, u l-Ispirtu hu kontra l-ġisem; dawn it-tnejn huma kontra xulxin, biex ma jħallukomx tagħmlu dak li tixtiequ. Jekk lilkom imexxikom l-Ispirtu, m’intomx taħt il-liġi. L-għemejjel tal-ġisem huma magħrufa: żína, faħx, nuqqas ta’ rażan, idolatrija, seħer, mibegħda, ġlied, għira, korla, ambizzjoni, firda, partiti, invidja, sokor, tbahrid, u ħwejjeġ bħal dawn. Inwissikom, bħalma wissejtkom qabel, min jagħmel dawn il-ħwejjeġ ma jiritx is-saltna ta’ Alla. Il-frott tal-Ispirtu huma: l-imħabba, l-hena, is-sliem, is-sabar, il-ħniena, it-tjieba, il-fidi, il-ħlewwa, ir-rażan. Kontra dawn ma hemmx liġi. Dawk li huma ta’ Kristu Ġesù sallbu l-ġisem bil-ġibdiet u l-passjonijiet tiegħu. Jekk ngħixu bl-Ispirtu, ħalli nimxu bl-Ispirtu. 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 labor, 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.

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 fil-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 15:26-27; 16:12-15

Jesus said to his disciples: "When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and de
clare it to you."

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skont San Ġwann 15:26-27; 16:12-15

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Meta jiġi d-Difensur, li se nibagħtilkom mingħand il-Missier, l-Ispirtu tal-verità, li ġej mill-Missier, huwa jixhed għalija. U intom ukoll tixhdu, għax intom kontu miegħi sa mill-bidu. Baqagħli ħafna ħwejjeġ x’ngħidilkom, imma għalissa ma tifilħux għalihom. Meta jiġi hu, l-Ispirtu tal-verità, iwassalkom għall-verità kollha; għaliex hu ma jgħid xejn minn tiegħu, imma jgħid dak li jisma’, u jħabbrilkom il-ġejjieni. Hu jagħtini glorja, għaliex jieħu minn dak li hu tiegħi u jħabbru lilkom. Dak kollu li għandu l-Missier huwa tiegħi. Għalhekk għedt li jieħu minn dak li hu tiegħi u jħabbru lilkom”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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A Reflection on 

Sunday's Readings  
by 

Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa ofm cap

PENTECOST   ACTUALLY                             PRE-EXISTED

 PENTECOST!

Everyone has on some occasion seen people pushing a stalled car trying to get it going fast enough to start. There are one or two people pushing from behind and another person at the wheel. If it does not get going after the first try, they stop, wipe away the sweat, take a breath and try again. ...  Then suddenly there is a noise, the engine starts to work, the car moves on its own and the people who were pushing it straighten themselves up and breathe a sigh of relief.

This is an image of what happens in Christian life. One goes forward with much effort, without great progress. But we have a very powerful engine ("the power from above!") that only needs to be set working. The feast of Pentecost should help us to find this engine and and see how to get it going.

The account from the Acts of the Apostles begins thus: "When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all together in the same place."  From these words, we see that Pentecost pre-existed Pentecost. In other words, there was already a feast of Pentecost in Judaism and it was during this feast that the Holy Spirit descended. One cannot understand the Christian Pentecost without taking into account the Jewish Pentecost that prepared it.

In the Old Testament there were two interpretations of the feast of Pentecost. At the beginning there was the feast of the seven weeks, the feast of the harvest, when the first fruits of grain were offered to God, but then, and certainly during Jesus' time, the feast was enriched with a new meaning: It was the feast of the conferral of the law and of the covenant on Mount Sinai.

If the Holy Spirit descends upon the Church precisely on the day in which Israel celebrated the feast of the law and the covenant, this indicates that the Holy Spirit is the new law, the spiritual law that sealed the new and eternal covenant. A law that is no longer written on stone tablets but on tablets of flesh, on the hearts of men.

These considerations immediately provoke a question:  Do we live under the old law or the new law? Do we fulfill our religious duties by constraint, by fear and habit, or rather by an intimate conviction and almost by attraction? Do we experience God as a father or a boss?

I conclude with a story. At the beginning of the last century a family from southern Italy emigrated to the United States. Not having enough money to pay for meals at restaurants, they took bread and cheese with them for the trip. As the days and weeks passed the bread became stale and the cheese moody; at a certain point their child could not take it anymore and could do nothing but cry.

The parents took the last bit of money that they had and gave it to him so that he could have a nice meal at a restaurant. The child went, ate and came back to his parents in tears. The parents asked: "We have spent all the money we had left to buy you a nice meal and you are still crying?"

"I am crying because I found out that one meal a day was included in the price and this whole time we have been eating bread and cheese!"

Many Christians go through life with only "bread and cheese," without joy, without enthusiasm, when they could, spiritually speaking, every day enjoy every good thing of God, it all being included in the price of being Christians. The secret for experiencing that which John XXIII called "a new Pentecost" is called prayer. That is where we find the "spark" that starts the engine!  

Jesus promised that the heavenly Father would give the Holy Spirit to those who asked for him (Luke 11:13). Ask then! The liturgy of Pentecost offers us magnificent words to do this:  

"Come, Holy Spirit ...
Come, O Father of the poor,
Ever bounteous of Thy store,
Come, our heart's unfailing light.
Come, Consoler, kindest, best,
Come, our bosom's dearest guest,
Sweet refreshment, sweet repose.
Rest in labor, coolness sweet,
Tempering the burning heat,
Truest comfort of our woes!"
Come Holy Spirit!

[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]

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WHOEVER BELIEVES AND IS BAPTISED WILL BE SAVED

Readings for Sunday, May 12, 2024 

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Lectionary: 58

Qari tas-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 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: “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. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:  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. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:  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. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or: R. Alleluia.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                 Salm 46(47):2-3,6-7,8-9

R/.(6): Tela’ Alla b’għajat ta’ ferħ.   // jew... 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’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.

OR:       EPHESIANS 4:1-13 

Brothers and sisters, I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  Therefore, it says:     He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;    he gave gifts to men. What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth? The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature to manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ. 

QARI 2                  mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl Appostlu lill-Efesin 4:1-13

Ħuti, inħeġġiġkom jien, il-priġunier tal-Mulej, biex timxu sewwa skont is-sejħa li biha kontu msejħin; billi bl-umiltà kollha, bil-ħlewwa u bis-sabar, taħmlu u tħobbu ’l xulxin. Ħabirku biex iżżommu spirtu wieħed bir-rabta tas-sliem; ġisem wieħed u ruħ waħda, l-istess kif kontu msejħa għal tama waħda; Mulej wieħed, fidi waħda, magħmudija waħda; Alla wieħed u Missier ta’ kulħadd, li hu fuq kulħadd, b’kulħadd u f’kulħadd. Lil kull wieħed minna Alla tana l-grazzja skont il-qies tad-don ta’ Kristu. Hu għalhekk li tgħid l-Iskrittura: “Tela’”: xi jfisser dan għajr li hu niżel ukoll fl-inħawi l-aktar t’isfel tal-art? Dak li niżel huwa dak li tela’ fuq is-smewwiet kollha, biex jimla kollox. U huwa dak li ta lil xi wħud li jkunu appostli, lil xi wħud profeti, lil xi wħud evanġelisti, lil xi wħud ragħajja u mgħallmin. Hekk jitrawmu l-qaddisin għax-xogħol tal-ħidma tagħhom għall-bini tal-Ġisem ta’ Kristu, sakemm aħna lkoll naslu biex insiru ħaġa waħda fil-fidi u fl-għarfien tal-Iben ta’ Alla; insiru raġel magħmul, fl-aħjar ta’ żmienu. U hekk isseħħ il-milja ta’ Kristu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                 MARK 16:15-20 

Jesus said to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

EVANĠELJU                  Qari skont San Mark 16:15-20

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù wera ruħu lill-Ħdax u qalilhom: “Morru fid-dinja kollha, xandru l-Evanġelju lill-ħolqien kollu. Min jemmen u jitgħammed, isalva; iżda min ma jemminx, ikun ikkundannat. U dawn huma s-sinjali li jsieħbu lil dawk li jemmnu: f’ismi jkeċċu x-xjaten, jitkellmu b’ilsna ġodda, jaqbdu s-sriep b’idejhom, u jekk jixorbu xi xorb li jġib il-mewt ma jagħmlilhomx ħsara; iqiegħdu jdejhom fuq il-morda u dawn ifiqu”. U hekk il-Mulej Ġesù, wara li kellimhom, kien imtella’ fis-sema u qagħad in-naħa tal-lemin ta’ Alla. Huma mbagħad marru jipprietkaw kullimkien; il-Mulej kien jaħdem magħhom u jwettaq il-kelma bil-mirakli li kienu jsiru magħha. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

HE WENT ... TO BE ALWAYS WITH US...

Introduction: 

Next Sunday’s readings describe the Ascension of the Lord Jesus into his Heavenly glory after promising his disciples the Holy Spirit as their source of Heavenly power and commanding them to bear witness to him throughout the world by their lives and preaching. But the ascended Jesus is still with us through his indwelling Holy Spirit as he has promised, “I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.” Today’s feast is a celebration of Jesus’ final glorification after his suffering, death, and Resurrection – a glory in which we, too, hope to share.

The Scripture lessons:

The first reading gives an account of the event of the Ascension as recorded in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. First, Jesus instructedhis apostlesto remain in Jerusalem and wait for the baptism by the Holy Spiritso that they might become his “witnesses to the ends of the earth” by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then a cloud took Jesus from the sight of the disciples and two Heavenly messengers in white garments gave them the assurance of Jesus’ “second coming” or return in glory. The Refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 47) suggests that by his Ascension, the risen Lord “mounts his throne” in glory. In the second reading, Paul explains the theological meaning of Jesus’ exaltation, giving us the assurance that one day, we, too, will be ascending to Heavenly Glory, provided we fulfill the mission entrusted to us by the ascending Lord.

Today’s Gospel describes how Jesus ascended to Heaven after giving his final blessing and missionary command to his disciples. The command was to “proclaim the Good News to the whole creation,” “to be his witnesses,” and “to make disciples of all nations.” (Mt 28:16-20, Mk 16:15-20, Lk 24:46-53, Acts 1:1-11).

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 Holy Spirit, as we 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 preaching and gave as we have experienced our Lord and Savior. 3) The ascended Jesus is our source of strength and encouragement: 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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LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Readings for Sunday, May 5, 2024 

Sixth Sunday of Easter
Lectionary: 56 

Is-Sitt Ħadd tal-Għid


Reading 1                 Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. Peter, however, raised him up, saying, "Get up. I myself am also a human being." Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, "In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him."  While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word. The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?" He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

QARI 1                 mill-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-Appostli 10:25-26,34-35,44-48

Xħin daħal Pietru fid-dar ta’ Kornelju, dan mar jilqgħu u ntefa’ f’riġlejh jagħtih qima. Imma Pietru qajmu u qallu: “Qum. Jien bniedem ukoll”. Pietru qabad jitkellem u qal: “Issa tassew qiegħed nifhem li Alla ma jħares lejn wiċċ ħadd, imma jilqa’ lil kull min għandu l-biża’ tiegħu u jagħmel is-sewwa, ikun minn liema poplu jkun”. Meta Pietru kien għadu qiegħed jgħid dan, l-Ispirtu s-Santu niżel fuq dawk kollha li kienu jisimgħuh. Dawk li kienu marru ma’ Pietru, Lhud li kienu emmnu, stagħġbu kif Alla sawwab id-don tal-Ispirtu s-Santu fuq il-pagani wkoll. Għax semgħuhom jitkellmu bl-ilsna u jfaħħru l-kobor ta’ Alla. Imbagħad Pietru qal: “Jista’ xi ħadd jiċħad l-ilma tal-magħmudija lil dawn in-nies, li ħadu l-Ispirtu s-Santu bħalma ħadnieh aħna wkoll?”. U ordna li jitgħammdu fl-isem ta’ Kristu. Imbagħad huma talbuh jibqa’ għal ftit jiem magħhom. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or: R. Alleluia.

The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or: R. Alleluia.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:  R. Alleluia.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                  Salm 97(98):1,2-3ab,3ċd-4

R/. (ara 2b): Il-Mulej wera l-ġustizzja tiegħu lill-ġnus.
jew -  R/. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Għannu lill-Mulej għanja ġdida,
għax għamel ħwejjeġ tal-għaġeb.
Ġibitlu r-rebħa l-leminija tiegħu,
u d-driegħ imqaddes tiegħu. R/.

Għarraf il-Mulej is-salvazzjoni tiegħu,
f’għajnejn il-ġnus wera l-ġustizzja tiegħu.
Ftakar fit-tjieba u l-fedeltà tiegħu
mal-poplu ta’ Iżrael. R/.

L-art kollha, minn tarf għall-ieħor,
rat is-salvazzjoni ta’ Alla tagħna.
Għajtu bil-ferħ lill-Mulej fl-art kollha,
infexxu fil-hena, ifirħu u għannu! R/.

Reading 2                 1 JOHN 4:7-10

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

QARI 2                  mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Ġwann Appostlu 4:7-10

Għeżież, ejjew inħobbu ’l xulxin, għax l-imħabba ġejja minn Alla, u kull min iħobb hu mwieled minn Alla u jagħraf lil Alla. Dak li ma jħobbx ma għarafx lil Alla, għax Alla hu mħabba. B’dan dehret l-imħabba ta’ Alla fina, għax Alla bagħat lil Ibnu l-waħdieni fid-dinja, biex ngħixu bih. U hawn qiegħda l-imħabba; mhux għax aħna ħabbejna ’l Alla, imma għax ħabbna hu u bagħat lil Ibnu biex ikun ta’ tpattija għal dnubietna.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                 JOHN 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples:  "As the Father loves me, so I also love you.  Remain in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.  "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.  This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.   No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command you.  I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing.  I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another."

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skont San Ġwann 15:9-17

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Kif ħabbni Missieri, hekk ħabbejtkom jiena. Ibqgħu fl-imħabba tiegħi. Jekk tħarsu l-kmandamenti tiegħi, intom tibqgħu fi mħabbti, kif jiena ħarist il-kmandamenti ta’ Missieri u qiegħed fi mħabbtu. Għedtilkom dan biex il-ferħ tiegħi jkun fikom, u biex il-ferħ tagħkom ikun sħiħ.  Dan hu l-kmandament tiegħi: li tħobbu lil xulxin kif ħabbejtkom jien. Ħadd ma għandu mħabba akbar minn din: li wieħed jagħti ħajtu għal ħbiebu. Intom ħbiebi, jekk tagħmlu dak li jiena nikkmandakom. Ma nsejħilkomx aktar qaddejja, għax il-qaddej ma jafx x’jagħmel sidu; sejjaħtilkom ħbieb, għaliex kulma smajt mingħand Missieri jiena għarrafthulkom.  Mhux intom għażiltu lili, imma jien għażilt lilkom, u ħtartkom biex tmorru tagħmlu l-frott u l-frott tagħkom jibqa’, ħalli kulma titolbu lill-Missier f’ismi, huwa jagħtihulkom. Dan hu li qiegħed nikkmandakom: li tħobbu lil xulxin”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

HERE FOR OTHERS!

Introduction: 

Sunday’s Scripture passages declare the profound truth that those who believe in Christ are to obey his commandment of love – “Love one another as I have loved you.” When we celebrate Mother’s Day, let us remember with gratitude that it is generally our mothers who practice the agápe love of Jesus.

Scripture Lessons summarized: 

In the first reading, Peter teaches us that God shows no partiality in His love and that there are no boundaries to abiding in love. God loves everyone, both the Jews and the Gentiles, and He wants everyone to be saved through His son, Jesus. That is why God welcomed the Roman centurion Cornelius as the first non-Jew to become a Christian. 

The reading tells us how God also allowed the Gentiles who heard Peter’s speech to receive the same Holy Spirit and His gifts that Peter’s Jewish audience had received on the day of Pentecost. Today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 98) also directs our attention toward God’s marvellous love and kindness in offering salvation to the whole world. 

In the second reading, John defines God as love and explains that He expressed His love for mankind by sending His son to die for us humans “as expiation for our sins.” This Divine love gives us the command, and so the duty, to love one another as we have been loved by God. Since God has loved us first, we can and should love God in return, love ourselves properly, and love one another. 

After telling the parable of the vine and branches, Jesus, in Sunday’s Gospel, teaches the disciples that they are to obey his commandment of love just as Jesus has obeyed his Heavenly Father’s will by fulfilling His commandments and remaining inseparably bonded with his Father. Jesus’ unconditional, forgiving, selfless, sacrificial love for us must be the criterion of our love for others. 

The highest expression of this love is our willingness to lay down our lives as Jesus did, for people who don’t deserve it. The goal and result of our abiding in love, in God, will be perfect joy. Jesus no longer calls us slaves but now calls us “friends.” He tells us that he has chosen us, and that, if we use Jesus’ name, we can ask the Father for anything.

Life messages: 

# 1: We need to cultivate an abiding and loving friendship with Jesus. We need to express this love in our relationships with others by loving them and offering them trust, faithfulness, equality, forgiveness, joy, and sacrifice.

 #2: We need to be persons for others: Jesus demonstrated the love of God, his Father, for us by living for us and dying for us. Hence, as Jesus’ disciples, we are to be persons for others, sacrificing our time, talents, and lives for others. This is what parents spontaneously do, sacrificing themselves, their time, talents, health, and wealth for their children, or in other words, by spending themselves for their children. 

The most effective way of communicating God’s love to others is by treating everyone as a friend, giving everyone the respect he or she deserves. Let us remember that Christ’s own love was not limited to the people he liked and, hence, that we should close our minds to thoughts of revenge.

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