1.Acts28:16-20,30-31(Paul is imprisoned in
Rome waiting his trial)
2.John21:20-25(John concludes: The
world could not contain all that could be said about Jesus)
Meditations and reflection
The readings today are the final verses of the acts of the
Apostles and St.John's Gospel.As it is well known that the book of the acts of
the apostles is an extension of St. Luke's Gospel.Luke's theological purpose in
his gospel moves from old testament(chs 1-2) via the Jordan river and John the
Baptist(ch.3),ministry of preaching and healing back again to Jerusalem
where Jesus was crucified and glorified and where the disciples are back
again in the temple praising God.
Acts of the Apostles too begins in Jerusalem and its central
section (chs 13-28) explains Paul's Journey narrative, his travels
through the Greek speaking world, founding churches and bringing people into
Christian communities.
The Journey which is the dominating theme in the gospel and
acts of apostles according to St.Luke the evangelist has got something to speak
in our lives. Every moment of our experience be good experience or bad
experience all of these are making each one of us to arrive to new
Jerusalem. What is this new Jerusalem?this new Jerusalem is the place believed
to be the World center a point where by Paul's preaching reached its climax
through spreading of faith concerning the risen Jesus.The New Jerusalem is the
point where prophecy is fulfilled is place where God
is praised for His wonderful deeds in our lives.As we have been
reading Paul's missionary Journey in the acts of the apostles we learn a
lesson that in our Christian calling more especially in the journey of faith,
like St Paul and the apostles, we have to expect going forward and backward,
and we have to encounter barriers.Our Experiences be negative one or positive
one can be turned by Jesus into a new stage we do not expect towards the
realization of our spiritual destination,the heavenly Jerusalem.
Peter and the beloved Disciple
In today's Gospel there are three
characters, Jesus, Peter, and the beloved disciple. Peter was given a
responsibility by Jesus of feeding his flock, yet Peter was looking
backward out of curiosity to know what was exactly the fate and the role
did Jesus assign to the beloved disciple.Jesus in reply says "look I have
another plan for him" It is an invitation to us all that God has got plan
for each one of us.The ministry of Jesus is wider mission ministry whereby each
one of us has been called in a very special way to use his/her talents for the
sake of serving God.Thus in Jesus mission each has got a role to play,ones role
should not be interfered by others. Peter gave his life in Rome as martyr,
while the beloved disciple was responsible for writing the fourth
gospel and he seems to have live long.In today's gospel we have been given a
call that each one of us has to discern his/her calling in the mission Jesus is
calling g each one of us to accomplish
.
Hakuna maoni:
Chapisha Maoni