Daily Readings
Wishing to determine the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews, the commander freed him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.
Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three. A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, “We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst and take him into the compound. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”
RESPONSORIAL Psalm:
PS 16:1-2A AND 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
Response <R> : Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.” O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. <R>
I bless the LORD who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. <R>
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. <R>
You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. <R>
SECOND READING:: Ephesians 1:17-23
Brothers and sisters:
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might: which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
GOSPEL: John 17:20-26
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
DAILY REFLECTION - 05 June 2025
Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
A leak that springs in the front of a boat is of equal concern to the people at the back of that boat. Paul knew that the Pharisees and the Sadducees were divided in their belief concerning ‘the resurrection of the dead’. He used this to his advantage when he was brought before the Roman tribune, in the presence of his accusers. Rather than specifically refer to the resurrection of Jesus, Paul declared that he was on trial for preaching about the resurrection from the dead, which he knew the Pharisees also believed in. And this began an argument between the Sadducees and Pharisees, who forgot the real reason why Paul was on trial!
Unity among people professing the same faith is fundamental, especially if the believers are made up of people of diverse cultures and orientation. This is why, in today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus praying passionately for unity among all believers… that the world may know Christians by the unity and love they profess.
Jesus’ prayer is for us too. Can the world, today, recognize us by our love and unity?