May 18, 2026 Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter Optional Memorial of Saint John I, Pope, Martyr Gospel: John 16:29-33
Today is Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter. The Church celebrates the memorial of the martyrdom of Pope Saint John I. The passage from the Gospel of John continues the words of Jesus’ farewell discourse to His disciples before His Passion. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.
The disciples said to Jesus, “Now You are speaking plainly, without figures of speech. Now we know that You know all things and do not need anyone to question You. Because of this, we believe that You came from God” (cf. John 16:29-30). They spoke these words because they believed Jesus knew everything—and even expected Him to meet their needs by fighting for them and conquering the Romans.
We can be the same way. Many brothers and sisters living in our parishes often tell non-believers: “Believe in Jesus and you will receive eternal life; if you do not believe in Him, God will punish you severely.” Because God is all-knowing, they present the Church founded by God as one that harshly demands strict adherence to divine law. This is absolutely not the God revealed by Jesus. Rather, it is a god we have created based on our own interests—a god identical to the one imagined by the Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests, Herodians, scribes, and elders of the people in Jesus’ time.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to His disciples, “Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and you will leave Me alone” (cf. John 16:32). Jesus speaks of this “hour” with two meanings. The first refers to the time of His arrest. As recorded in Matthew’s Gospel, when Judas betrayed Jesus and led the men sent by the chief priests and elders to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, all the apostles fled and deserted Him (cf. Matt 26:47-56). The second meaning points to every time we sin against Him. Whenever we sin and offend Him, we act like those disciples—turning away from Him and fleeing back to what we consider a place of safety.
Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of the martyrdom of Pope Saint John I. When he saw the people of God being persecuted by an heretical king, Pope Saint John I faithfully fulfilled his mission as the Successor of Peter, bearing witness to Christ. Even while imprisoned in a dungeon, he remained faithful to God and ultimately died there on May 18, 526. Let us imitate the example of this holy Pope: to be faithful to Christ and to fulfill our own vocation in a manner worthy of it.
May the power of the Holy Spirit come to us, we pray, O Lord, that we may keep your will faithfully in mind and express it in a devout way of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
May 17, 2026 Seventh Sunday of Easter Gospel: John 17:1-11A
Today is the Seventh Sunday of Easter. The passage from the Gospel of John presents the first part of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, offered to the Father before His Passion.
Jesus raised His eyes to heaven and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on earth by finishing the work You gave Me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.” (cf. John 17:1-5)
The “hour” mentioned by Jesus carries a twofold meaning. First, it refers to the hour of His arrest, as recorded in Matthew’s Gospel, when Judas betrayed Jesus, leading the chief priests and elders to seize Him in Gethsemane, and the disciples fled. (cf. Matt 26:47-56) The second meaning points to His departure from this world, as we reflected upon during the recent celebration of the Ascension.
The “glory” Jesus speaks of also holds two dimensions. First, He asks the Father to glorify Him through His victory over death in the Resurrection, manifesting His divine nature in radiant splendor. Second, there is the glory “before the world began”—the glory He shared with the Father from eternity. This glory is none other than the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God who hovered over the waters at creation, proceeding from the Father and the Son.
The Holy Spirit abides continually in the Church, accompanying her and bestowing diverse graces. When we are in need of healing, He grants us comfort through the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. When we seek reconciliation with God, He enlightens us, guiding our examination of conscience, that we may be well-disposed to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, restoring our relationship with God and neighbor, and granting true peace and joy. He does not speak on His own authority, but teaches us, reminding us of all that Jesus has spoken.
Graciously hear our supplications, O Lord, so that we, who believe that the Savior of the human race is with you in your glory, may experience, as he promised, until the end of the world, his abiding presence among us. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
May 16, 2026 Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter Gospel: John 16:23b-28
Today is Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter. The passage from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John continues Our Lord’s discourse—His Farewell Discourse—delivered to His disciples before His Passion.
At times, we become timid and may even fall into despair. This often occurs because we frequently present our petitions to God yet seem to receive nothing, or we fail to perceive His presence. In such moments, we may feel abandoned by God, or even presume that He does not exist; consequently, our faith grows tepid. This inclination is rooted in the dispositions of the flesh, which drive us away from God and gradually lead us toward perdition.
In the Gospel, Jesus often speaks to us in parables concerning the Father who sent Him into this world (cf. John 14:24). However, when we adhere to the Savior’s instructions, embrace His teachings, and present our prayers to the Father in a manner pleasing to Him (cf. Matt 6:7-13; Luke 11:1-4), following always the guidance of the Holy Spirit whom the Father sends in the name of Christ (cf. John 14:26), and relying on the Holy Ghost to mortify the deeds of the flesh—only then can we become true children of God (cf. Rom 8:13-14). Thus are we enabled to understand the Sacred Will of God and to put into practice all that Christ has commanded us in our daily lives.
In these final days of the Easter season, I invite everyone to recall: the Risen Lord Christ “came forth from the Father and came into the world” (cf. John 16:28a) to “do the will of Him who sent [Him]” (cf. John 6:38), guiding us into all life and peace. When He offered Himself on the Cross, sacrificing Himself that the world might have life, He vanquished the ruler of this world and his minions by His death, thereby destroying death for us and opening wide the gates of Heaven. When He “leaves the world and goes to the Father” (cf. John 16:28b)—”to prepare a place for us”—He promises to return and take us to Himself, that where He is, we may be also (cf. John 14:3). Thus shall we truly come to understand all that Christ teaches us and, with the aid of His grace, attain the blessedness of eternal life.
Constantly shape our minds, we pray, O Lord, by the practice of good works, that, trying always for what is better, we may strive to hold ever fast to the Paschal Mystery. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
全属于祢 
您必须登录才能发表评论。