Today, May 9
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
Readings of the Day
Acts of the Apostles 16,1-10.
Paul reached (also) Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him, and Paul wanted him to come along with him. On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled from city to city, they handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem. Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number. They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them, so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas. During (the) night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
Psalms 100(99),1-2.3.5.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song. Know that the LORD is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. The LORD is good: his kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 15,18-21.
Jesus said to his disciples: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me."
Daily Reflection
If, in passing from being non-believers to faith, we “passed from death to life” (Jn 5:24), let us not be surprised that the world hates us. For all who have not passed from death to life but who remain in death, cannot love those who have passed from the dark dwelling place of death… to the “edifice built of living stones” (cf. 1 Pet 2:5), where the light of life reigns… Behold, for us Christians the time has come to boast, for it is written: “We even boast of our afflictions! We know that affliction makes for endurance, and endurance for tested virtue, and tested virtue for hope. And this hope will not leave us disappointed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” (Rom 5:3-5)… “As we have shared much in the suffering of Christ, so through Christ do we share abundantly in his consolation.” (2 Cor 1:5) So let us welcome the sufferings of Christ with great fervor. May they be granted us in abundance, if we want to be abundantly consoled, since all “who are sorrowing will be consoled.” (Mt 5:4) … Those who share in the sufferings will also share in the consolation, in proportion with the sufferings which let them have a part with Christ. Learn this from the apostle, who said with confidence: “Our hope for you is firm because we know that just as you share in the sufferings, so you will share in the consolation.” (2 Cor 1:7)