I chose you from the world
to go out and bear fruit,
fruit that will last,
says the Lord. JN 15:16
ACTS 1:15-17,20-26
My Soul's Beloved,
It is particularly comforting in these gracious and joyful days given to the Church as we celebrate a new successor of St. Peter, that we have the Petrine Office. We have a visible head to guide and navigate the Bark of St. Peter through the troubled waters of life, the current culture that promotes hedonism, and the very real evil at work in all areas of life, especially family life.
It is wondrous to see the power of the Holy Spirit at work in St. Peter, who understands Scripture well and knows how to interpret and apply it. You appointed 12 Apostles, and now there were 11. According to Scripture, another had to take the place that Judas had left vacant. Peter, the head of the Apostles, decides who is eligible and how it will be done. We are grateful for Peter's leadership as the visible head of the Church You founded. The Church is not a democracy; if it were, chaos would reign and the devil would have no trouble destroying it by sowing division and dissension.
Thank You, Lord, for the Church You established, the Pope You have given us, the hierarchy, and the laity who work together to further the Kingdom of God on earth. Thank You, Lord, for Your assurance that You will remain with her until the end of time, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her.
One day Peter stood up to speak to the brothers –
One day Peter stood up to speak to the brothers –
Now in the Book of Psalms it says:
Let his camp be reduced to ruin,
Let there be no one to live in it.
And again:
Let someone else take his office.
‘We must therefore choose someone who has been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was travelling round with us, someone who was with us right from the time when John was baptising until the day when he was taken up from us – and he can act with us as a witness to his resurrection.’
Having nominated two candidates, Joseph known as Barsabbas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias, they prayed, ‘Lord, you can read everyone’s heart; show us therefore which of these two you have chosen to take over this ministry and apostolate, which Judas abandoned to go to his proper place.’ They then drew lots for them, and as the lot fell to Matthias, he was listed as one of the twelve apostles.
PSALM 112(113):1-8
The Lord sets him in the company of the princes of his people.
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting
praised be the name of the Lord!
High above all nations is the Lord,
above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God,
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down,
to look down upon heaven and earth?
From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the dungheap he raises the poor
to set him in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
Let there be no one to live in it.
And again:
Let someone else take his office.
‘We must therefore choose someone who has been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was travelling round with us, someone who was with us right from the time when John was baptising until the day when he was taken up from us – and he can act with us as a witness to his resurrection.’
Having nominated two candidates, Joseph known as Barsabbas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias, they prayed, ‘Lord, you can read everyone’s heart; show us therefore which of these two you have chosen to take over this ministry and apostolate, which Judas abandoned to go to his proper place.’ They then drew lots for them, and as the lot fell to Matthias, he was listed as one of the twelve apostles.
PSALM 112(113):1-8
The Lord sets him in the company of the princes of his people.
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting
praised be the name of the Lord!
High above all nations is the Lord,
above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God,
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down,
to look down upon heaven and earth?
From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the dungheap he raises the poor
to set him in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
The Lord sets him in the company of the princes of his people.
JOHN 15:9-17
JOHN 15:9-17
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