Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter

Daily Mass Readings for Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter

• First Reading - Acts 18:23-28: Apollos' preached fervently, but with an incomplete understanding of the way of God. Aquila and Priscilla, recognizing his potential, instruct him more accurately, enabling him to become a powerful teacher of the faith.
• Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 47: Let us rejoice and give praise to God, for He is the King of all the earth, deserving our heartfelt worship. May we recognize that God safeguards the earth and unites all peoples who belong to Him, inspiring us to offer hymns of praise and honor.
• Gospel - John 16:23b-28: Jesus teaches His disciples about the power of prayer in His name. He assures them that the Father will grant whatever they ask in His name, emphasizing the unity between the Father, Himself, and the disciples as they approach God with their prayers.

Themes for the Daily Mass Readings for Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter

• Divine Guidance: The Gospel passage focuses on Jesus' teachings about prayer and the promise that whatever we ask in His name, the Father will grant. It highlights the role of prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we seek a deeper relationship with God.
• Openness to Learning: The first reading presents Apollos, who was an eloquent speaker, being instructed by Aquila and Priscilla about the way of God more accurately. This theme emphasizes the importance of humility and openness to learning from others who may have deeper insights or understanding of the faith.
• Unity in Christ: The Gospel passage emphasizes the unity between the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. This theme reminds us of the central role of Jesus in our faith and the importance of unity and communion with God and one another.
• Growth in Faith: The first reading illustrates the growth and development of Apollos as a disciple and teacher of the faith. It encourages us to continue growing in our own faith journey, seeking to deepen our understanding and practice of the teachings of Christ.
• Effective Evangelization: Both readings provide examples of effective evangelization. The first reading highlights the impact of Apollos' preaching, while the Gospel passage emphasizes the power of prayer in our mission to bring others closer to Christ. These passages inspire us to reflect on our own role in spreading the Gospel and evangelizing through our words and actions.

Thoughts for Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter

As we reflect on the Daily Mass Readings for Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter, we are invited to deepen our relationship with God and strengthen our faith. We see openness to learning, exemplified by Apollos in the first reading, and growth in faith, illustrated by his own journey of development as a disciple. In the gospel, we see the importance of unity in Christ.

Openness to learning is beautifully portrayed through the encounter between Apollos and Aquila and Priscilla. Apollos, known for his eloquent speaking skills and zeal for the Lord, humbly accepted instruction from Aquila and Priscilla about the way of God more accurately. This narrative reminds us of the importance of humility and the willingness to learn from others who may possess deeper insights or understanding of the faith.

In our own spiritual journey, it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we have all the answers or that our understanding of God's ways is complete. However, the example of Apollos teaches us the virtue of openness to learning. It invites us to recognize that no matter how knowledgeable or experienced we may be, there is always room for growth. There are always individuals or situations that can offer us fresh perspectives and opportunities to deepen our understanding of God's truth.

The growth in faith demonstrated by Apollos in the first reading serves as an encouragement for us to continue our own faith journey. Apollos, although already fervent in his zeal, was open to growth and development. His encounter with Aquila and Priscilla led him to a deeper understanding of the faith and a more accurate proclamation of God's message.

Unity in Christ is highlighted in the Gospel passage for Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter. Jesus speaks of the profound unity between the Father, Himself, and the Holy Spirit. This unity reveals the central role of Jesus in our faith and the importance of unity and communion with God and one another.

Unity in Christ calls us to recognize that we are not solitary believers but part of a larger body, the Church. We are interconnected, and our faith is meant to be lived in communion with others. Through our baptism, we have become members of the mystical body of Christ. As such, we are called to embrace unity and harmony, to support and uplift one another on our journey of faith.

Moreover, the unity we find in Christ extends beyond the confines of our immediate faith community. It encompasses all believers, transcending denominational boundaries. In a world often divided by differences, this theme reminds us of the need to foster unity and work towards reconciliation, guided by the example of Christ's love.

In conclusion, the themes of openness to learning, unity in Christ, and growth in faith presented in the readings for Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter inspire us to embrace humility, seek unity and communion with God and others, and actively pursue growth in our faith. May we approach our spiritual journey with openness, recognizing that we are all lifelong learners, and may we strive for unity and love within the body of Christ, while continually growing in our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter

Heavenly Father, grant us the humility and openness to learn from others, that we may deepen our understanding of your truth and grow in faith. May we embrace unity in Christ, fostering love and harmony within the Church and working towards reconciliation in a world divided, as we continue our journey of spiritual growth. Amen.

Word on Fire: Why Even Ask?

A reflection for Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter from Bishop Robert Barron. "Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us this assurance about answered prayer: 'Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.' If God cannot change, what is the point of asking him for anything?" Continue reading.

USCCB Reflection: God's Work

A video reflection from USCCB for Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter. We know about war, murder, and all that is evil. But we cultivate the field of God.