First Reading - Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 “Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry. … 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘His office let another take.’ 21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.1.) “Then they prayed.” Do you pray before you make important choices? Would you feel comfortable “casting lots,” throwing dice, or flipping a coin after you pray? How would you make a final choice like the one the disciples had to make in choosing someone to take the place of Judas?
2.) What provisions by Jesus for the on-going development of his Church do you see in these passages?
Second Reading - 1 John 4:11-16
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No man has ever seen God; if we love one
another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us,
because he has given us of his own Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the
Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we
know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in
him.
1.) Discuss the implications of this reading’s last sentence:
God is love, and whoever remains in loveCan you think of examples from daily life of the fulfillment of this sentence? Are there scandalous exceptions to such an important revelation?
remains in God and God in him.
2. Explain what you think it means to “abide” in God, and to have God “abide” in us?
Gospel Reading - John 17:11-19
11 And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to thee. Holy Father, keep them in
thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept
them in thy name, which thou hast given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition,
that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they
may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they
are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but
that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.17 Sanctify
them in the truth; thy word is truth. 18 As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth
1. Meditate on the implications of this passage by replacing the pronouns that refer to Jesus’ followers with your
name. What are your reflections after doing this?
2. What sense of mission, and conflict do you see?
3. How are the statements “sanctify them in the truth” and “consecrated in truth” similar? How are they different?
4. How would you describe someone who is consecrated?
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