Jesus instructs his disciples about how to be a witness of Christ. It involves tolerance for those who are not members of the Church: “whoever is not against us is for us” (v.40).

The time for His Passion is near. Jesus dedicates whatever time left to teach his apostles. He again predicts his death and resurrection. He instructs his students on the need for humility when serving each other. He raises the dignity of all those whom the apostles shall serve.

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it.”

If you meet Jesus today, how do you answer his question: “Who do you say I am? In what areas of your life (relationships, priorities, family, career…) does “your way” still conflict with “Jesus’ way”?

And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Eph’phatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

More than 180 students from 36 congregations and religious institutes of which some are of international institutions have joined in the Holy Mass in honor of the Holy Spirit presided by Fr. Vincent Pham Xuan Hung, O.P.,

Jesus demonstrates that the Pharisees and scribes annul God’s word with their human traditions.

Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”