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M
ONDAY OF
THE
F
IFTH WEEK OF
E
ASTER
1 Acts 14:5-18
Psalm 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16
John 14:21-26
S
UMMARY
Paul and Barnabas fled from Iconium where the
populace was planning to attack and stone them.
At Lystra, Paul encountered a crippled man who had
the faith to be healed and was told to stand up
straight and walk. At this, the crowds began to refer
to Barnabas and Paul as gods. Paul explained that they were human, and
had come to tell the good news of the living God.
R
EFLECTION
Paul is one of the most interesting people in all of human history. He al-
ways appears larger than life. In some of the most familiar stories about
Paul, he is at the center of conflict. Today, we read of Paul’s quick retreat
from a hostile community in order to carry the “good news of the living
God” to a more receptive audience.
Paul was once the greatest adversary of the early Church, well known for
his ferocious persecution of early Christians. Following his conversion, he
preached about the living God to many communities with the same zeal
he had demonstrated in his earlier days as a tormentor of the Church. In
today’s reading, Paul reminds us of the goodness of God to all humankind,
whether Jew or Gentile. He points out that it is through God that we have
“the rains from heaven and fruitful seasons.” He tells the all those who
would listen that God has filled us with nourishment and gladness for our
hearts.
Today is the Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the
Church, who lived in the years 1347-1380. She began having mystical ex-
periences at a very young age. She continued to experience visions after
becoming a Dominican tertiary at age 16. Despite her lack of formal edu-