FAUSTI - He does not leave us alone: if we love Him, we carry Him in our hearts and He dwells within us. This is his definitive return to us. With His departure, the new presence begins, the new and eternal Covenant that the prophets have promised. The Theme of the Covenant forms the background to Jesus' farewell speech. Never mentioned explicitly, it is described through its characteristics. Love and observance of the Word, reciprocal presence and immanence, gift of the Spirit and of a new heart. These words of Jesus are difficult to explain, because they are as simple as water and bread: those who enjoy of them, know them. They refer to what constitutes any positive relationship between people: loving and observing the Word, dwelling with/near/in and seeing, living and knowing, manifesting and saying, remembering and teaching, peace and joy.The terms are linked together. In fact, those who love ,observe the word of the beloved, dwell with / near him / her, then see him / her, live with him / her and recognize him / her The word that manifests it, taught and remembered, is for him a source of peace and joy. To love is a matter of heart and will, who desires what he sees and knows. Loving thus becomes the highest form of knowledge and source of ever new knowledge. Love for Jesus makes us enter into the new covenant, establishing a relationship with God based on His Fatherly Love, which the Son came to communicate to us. But only he who loves the Son and observes His commands, has the Son within himself and experiences the Father's Love for him. Accepting the Father's gratuitous Love is the act of freedom that makes us what we are: children who love because they are loved. Those who do not love Jesus do not observe His words. For this reason, he ignores the Son sent by the Father to reveal His Love for us. The period in which He has lived with us is the centre and summit of time. Through the proclamation of the Gospel, each time enters that time, in which God reveals Himself in a definitive and normative way. The Spirit of Love will teach us and imprint the Son in our hearts. God, who was with us first in the Law and then with us in the flesh of the Son, will be in us with His Spirit. The Holy Spirit, who is Love, will make us understand all that the Son has told us. Love, as it makes us understand, thus makes us re-corporate, carry in our hearts, all that Jesus said, because we can live by it.
Acts of the Apostles 14,5-18. There was an attempt in Iconium by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas. they realized it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside, where they continued to proclaim the good news. At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth, who had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him, saw that he had the faith to be healed, and called out in a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet." He jumped up and began to walk about. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in human form." They called Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes," because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice. The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, "Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, 'who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.' In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways; yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts." Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
Psalms 115(113B) 1-2.3-4.15-16. Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name give glory, because of your mercy, because of your truth. Why should the pagans say, "Where is their God?"
Our God is in heaven; whatever he wills, he does. Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of men.
May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Heaven is the heaven of the LORD, but the earth he has given to the children of men.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 14,21-26.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, "Master, (then) what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you."
Paul and Barnabas go to Antioch, they go first to the Jews, but they do not want to listen to the voice of the Lord, and so they begin to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world, to the pagans. They set out, as we know, for this great mission. Saint Paul comes to Rome, where he eventually carries it out. Another example of the testimony of a good shepherd. But in that example there is also a very special invitation to all of us. I say it also in a very personal way: to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world.
Courage! Without fear! Many times Jesus says in the Gospel: “Do not be afraid!”. We must be courageous in the testimony that we give, with our words and above all with our lives: giving our lives, serving, sometimes with great sacrifices, to live this very mission. (Pope Leo XIV - Homily in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, 11 May 2025)
FAUSTI - He does not leave us alone: if we love Him, we carry Him in our hearts and He dwells within us. This is his definitive return to us. With His departure, the new presence begins, the new and eternal Covenant that the prophets have promised. The Theme of the Covenant forms the background to Jesus' farewell speech. Never mentioned explicitly, it is described through its characteristics. Love and observance of the Word, reciprocal presence and immanence, gift of the Spirit and of a new heart.
RispondiEliminaThese words of Jesus are difficult to explain, because they are as simple as water and bread: those who enjoy of them, know them. They refer to what constitutes any positive relationship between people: loving and observing the Word, dwelling with/near/in and seeing, living and knowing, manifesting and saying, remembering and teaching, peace and joy.The terms are linked together. In fact, those who love ,observe the word of the beloved, dwell with / near him / her, then see him / her, live with him / her and recognize him / her
The word that manifests it, taught and remembered, is for him a source of peace and joy.
To love is a matter of heart and will, who desires what he sees and knows. Loving thus becomes the highest form of knowledge and source of ever new knowledge. Love for Jesus makes us enter into the new covenant, establishing a relationship with God based on His Fatherly Love, which the Son came to communicate to us.
But only he who loves the Son and observes His commands, has the Son within himself and
experiences the Father's Love for him.
Accepting the Father's gratuitous Love is the act of freedom that makes us what we are:
children who love because they are loved. Those who do not love Jesus do not observe His words.
For this reason, he ignores the Son sent by the Father to reveal His Love for us.
The period in which He has lived with us is the centre and summit of time.
Through the proclamation of the Gospel, each time enters that time, in which God reveals Himself in a definitive and normative way.
The Spirit of Love will teach us and imprint the Son in our hearts.
God, who was with us first in the Law and then with us in the flesh of the Son, will be in us with His Spirit.
The Holy Spirit, who is Love, will make us understand all that the Son has told us.
Love, as it makes us understand, thus makes us re-corporate, carry in our hearts, all that Jesus said,
because we can live by it.
Acts of the Apostles
RispondiElimina14,5-18.
There was an attempt in Iconium by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.
they realized it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside,
where they continued to proclaim the good news.
At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth, who had never walked.
He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him, saw that he had the faith to be healed,
and called out in a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet." He jumped up and began to walk about.
When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in human form."
They called Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes," because he was the chief speaker.
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.
The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,
"Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, 'who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.'
In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;
yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts."
Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
Psalms 115(113B)
1-2.3-4.15-16.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory,
because of your mercy, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say,
"Where is their God?"
Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,
but the earth he has given to the children of men.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint John 14,21-26.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, "Master, (then) what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?"
Jesus answered and said to him, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.
I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you."
Words of the Popes
EliminaPaul and Barnabas go to Antioch, they go first to the Jews, but they do not want to listen to the voice of the Lord, and so they begin to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world, to the pagans. They set out, as we know, for this great mission. Saint Paul comes to Rome, where he eventually carries it out. Another example of the testimony of a good shepherd. But in that example there is also a very special invitation to all of us. I say it also in a very personal way: to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world.
Courage! Without fear! Many times Jesus says in the Gospel: “Do not be afraid!”. We must be courageous in the testimony that we give, with our words and above all with our lives: giving our lives, serving, sometimes with great sacrifices, to live this very mission. (Pope Leo XIV - Homily in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, 11 May 2025)