Memorial of the Saints Addai and Mari, founders of the Chaldean church. Prayer for Christians in Iraq.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Whoever lives and believes in me
will never die.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Acts 18,23-28

where he spent a short time before continuing his journey through the Galatian country and then through Phrygia, encouraging all the followers. An Alexandrian Jew named Apollos now arrived in Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, with a sound knowledge of the scriptures, and yet, though he had been given instruction in the Way of the Lord and preached with great spiritual fervour and was accurate in all the details he taught about Jesus, he had experienced only the baptism of John. He began to teach fearlessly in the synagogue and, when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they attached themselves to him and gave him more detailed instruction about the Way. When Apollos thought of crossing over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote asking the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived there he was able by God's grace to help the believers considerably by the energetic way he refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating from the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

If you believe, you will see the glory of God,
thus says the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

This is the only time in Acts that Apollos is mentioned. Paul speaks of him in his first letter to the Corinthians, which was written in Ephesus during his third voyage, after the time Apollos spent among the Christians in Corinth. The judgment Paul gives of him in the Letter goes along the same lines as what is affirmed in this passage Acts: Apollos is "an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures," and his apostolic efforts are accomplished "through grace." Nonetheless, we know that Apollos gave the Apostle cause for concern because of the two factions that had been formed among the Christians in Corinth, of which one sided with Paul and the other Apollos. It is important to notice Paul's passion for the unity of the Christian community. In his letter he even praises Apollos' preaching, but he warns Christians that pride, which is always lurking in the hearts of believers, becomes a poison that divides the community and can even destroy it. The actions of Priscilla and Aquila, who welcome Apollos into their home and help him better understand the Gospel message, are important. The quarrels, the divisions that arise within the Christian community must find a solution within communion, in the horizon of fraternity, having the primary objective of the unity of the community. Perseverance in the life of the community, even with the inevitable misunderstandings and tensions, and the preservation of unity is the condition for understanding the profound truth of the Gospel. Mere doctrine or dialectical skill is not enough to be truly evangelical. It is significant that Luke, in this passage, mentions Priscilla, before Aquila, as if to underline the pastoral action that women carried out in the Pauline communities. This is a precious indication also for today's Christian communities, which require a greater presence of women in the life of the Church.