26th May 2019 - Fr. Luke McNamara OSB on The Acts of the Apostles

On this week's programme Fr. Luke McNamara OSB gives us an overview of The Acts of the Apostles. We also have our regular reflection on the Sunday Gospel as well as some liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this week's full programme HERE.

The Acts of the Apostles

Fr. Luke McNamara OSB from Glenstal shares an overview of The Acts of the Apostles, beginning by highlighting it's intrinsic connection with the Gospel of St. Luke and why it is separated from St. Luke's Gospel in the arrangement of the books of the New Testament. Fr. Luke recommends that we read The Acts of the Apostles in one sitting or perhaps over two days so that we don't miss the connections between the various parts. Once we have a sense of the whole story of Acts, we will be able to have a better understanding of how the various accounts in Acts fit together. Fr. Luke then very helpfully unpacks The Acts of the Apostles for us, noting the work of the Holy Spirit so that one could suggest that that The Acts of the Apostles be known as The Acts of the Holy Spirit. Fr. Luke especially highlights the relevance of The Acts of the Apostles to our lives today.

You can listen to a podcast of this reflection excerpted from the programme HERE.

Gospel - John 14:23-29

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him and make our home with him.

Those who do not love me do not keep my words.
And my word is not my own:
it is the word of the one who sent me.

I have said these things to you while still with you;
but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.

Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you,
a peace the world cannot give,
this is my gift to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me say: I am going away, and shall return.

If you loved me you would have been glad to know that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

I have told you this now before it happens,
so that when it does happen you may believe.’

Reflections on this week's gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter Week 2
First Saturday - June 1st

Pope's Intention for June 2019
Evangelisation – Priests: That priests, through the modesty and humility of their lives, commit themselves actively to a solidarity with those who are the most poor.

Saints of the Week
May 27th – St. Augustine of Canterbury
May 28th – Blessed Margaret Pole
May 29th – St. Paul VI
May 30th – St. Joan of Arc
May 31st – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
June 1st – St. Justin Martyr

‘Who Leads the Church? - Extracts from the Acts of the Apostles - Limerick Diocesan Synod 2016

As part of the on going preparations for Synod 2016, Bishop Brendan Leahy has written to us all with an invitation:

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ 

I write to invite you to be part of a Diocese-wide project of reading extracts from the Acts of the Apostles. The context for this is our journey towards the Diocesan Synod in April next year.

 

I have put together a small booklet entitled Who Leads the Church? – Noticing the Holy Spirit at Work. It contains not all the Acts of the Apostles but rather various extracts and a brief commentary on each extract.

 

 

As I wrote in my pastoral letter last year announcing the Synod, the Word of God is always at the heart of any renewal in the life of the Church. So please take away a copy of this booklet and, where possible, together with others, read the chapters contained in it.

 

The idea is to try and promote its reading as widely as possible through the Diocese. I suggest a copy be taken for each household. But perhaps there are others, especially young people, you know who might like to have a copy of it so please bring it to them too.

 

While everyone is free to read it at his or her own pace, as a Diocese we will be focussing on one chapter every two weeks. A number of video-clip resources will be available on the Synod website and the Diocesan Facebook. As well as a very short clip where I introduce the text, every two weeks I will also offer a one-minute video-clip commentary on each of the chapters of the booklet. There will also be a video recording of a group demonstrating how a group might use the text. We also hope to provide an introductory video-clip designed for young people.

 

Let’s pray that the initiative will bear fruit. If you have any further suggestions, please let me know.

 

Let’s remember one another in prayer.

With kind regards,

 

+ Bishop Brendan



Resources for using the reflection on the Acts of the Apostles are available HERE including guidance on how to use the reflections for a group and a pdf version of the book available to download.

The weekly video reflections on the Acts of the Apostles will be available at the bottom of the page HERE.

As a diocese we are going to follow a timetable of reading and reflection:

• November 9th to November 22nd - Getting Reading for the Coming of the Spirit - Acts 1: 3-5; 8-14
• November 23rd to December 6th - Pentecost – The Church’s “Big Bang” - Acts 2: 1-18; 22-24; 32-39
• December 7th to December 20th - What kind of Community is the Church? - Acts 2: 41-Acts 3: 1-10
• December 21st to January 3rd - A New Model of Life that is contested - Acts 4: 1-23; 31-32
• January 4th to January 17th - Could this Solidarity be for real? - Acts 4:32-37
• January 18th to January 31st - God is in charge, not us - Acts 6:1-13; 7:1-2; 54-8:3
• February 1st to February 14th - Paul’s Conversion Story - Acts 9:1—31
• February 15th to February 28th - Working out what God wants isn’t always easy! - Acts 15: 1-35
• February 29th to March 13th - Lydia’s Story – An Example of how we come to faith - Acts 16:6-15
• March 14th to March 27th - A Lesson in “inculturating” the Gospel - Acts 17:16-32
• March 28th to April 10th - A Married Couple making a Difference - Acts 18:1-4; 18-19, 24-26
• April 11th to April 24th - Words of Advice for the Future - Acts 20: 17-38
• April 25th to May 8th -  At Last – The Word of God reaches Rome - Acts 28: 16-30