GPS Works

Greetings on this the Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Readings: Acts 16:1-10; PS 100:1b-2, 3, 5; Jn 15:18-21
Note: First Holy Communion today for our youngsters.

First Reading
These days we have GPS Global Positioning Satellite to tell us our exact position overlaid upon a map of the location. GPS has saved me many, many times from lost hours driving without good guidance. I still use paper maps when on hiking trails, for instance, but GPS is great.

Consider Paul and his travels. Alwys guided by the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Jesus to go to ‘this place’ and avoid ‘that place’. Divine GPS.

Paul went to:

• Derbe
• Lystra
• Iconium
• Phrygian and Galatian territories
• Troas
• Macedonia

Paul avoided:

• Guided by the Holy Spirit to avoid provinces of Asia.
• Guided by the Spirit of Jesus in the region of Mysia to avoid Bithynia.

Responsorial Psalm
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Region to region, Province to Province, City to City that God has called them/us to proclaim the Good News to the people there.

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Gospel Portion
Preaching the Good News can be hazardous.

The world hates Jesus and therefore will hate you too. The world isn’t humans seeking righteousness. Rather the world is those people and spiritual forces wanting to dominate and subject creation to their will/appetites and not for the well-being of the other.

Following the divine GPS is the surest way that the dangers you face are the right ones and at the right time such that you are never feckless and without purpose.

Don’t worry. Many will kept my word, says Jesus, and they will also keep yours.

Be a voice of reason in a world without purpose or reason.

Reason reaches its fullness in love.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry