First reading Acts 8:1-8
They went from place to place, preaching the Good News
That day a bitter persecution started against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles fled to the country districts of Judaea and Samaria.
There were some devout people, however, who buried Stephen and made great mourning for him.
Saul then worked for the total destruction of the Church; he went from house to house arresting both men and women and sending them to prison.
Those who had escaped went from place to place preaching the Good News. One of them was Philip who went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them. The people united in welcoming the message Philip preached, either because they had heard of the miracles he worked or because they saw them for themselves. There were, for example, unclean spirits that came shrieking out of many who were possessed, and several paralytics and cripples were cured. As a result there was great rejoicing in that town.
Responsorial Psalm 65(66):1-7
Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.
or
Alleluia!
Cry out with joy to God all the earth,
O sing to the glory of his name.
O render him glorious praise.
Say to God: ‘How tremendous your deeds!
Because of the greatness of your strength
your enemies cringe before you.
Before you all the earth shall bow;
shall sing to you, sing to your name!’
Come and see the works of God,
tremendous his deeds among men.
He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the river dry-shod.
Let our joy then be in him;
he rules for ever by his might.
His eyes keep watch over the nations:
let rebels not rise against him.
Gospel John 6:35-40
It is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son should have eternal life
Jesus said to the crowd:
‘I am the bread of life.
He who comes to me will never be hungry;
he who believes in me will never thirst.
But, as I have told you,
you can see me and still you do not believe.
All that the Father gives me will come to me,
and whoever comes to me I shall not turn him away;
because I have come from heaven, not to do my own will,
but to do the will of the one who sent me.
Now the will of him who sent me
is that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me,
and that I should raise it up on the last day.
Yes, it is my Father’s will
that whoever sees the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life,
and that I shall raise him up on the last day.’
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The Father’s gifts
“…the will of him who sent me is that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me….” Indeed, this is precisely what Jesus did in the resurrection accounts. He went personally to find each disciple lost in their fear and disappointment because He saw each person as a gift given to Him by the Father. In Jesus’ love, all were found and received new life. As such, the Father’s will was fulfilled.
We have been given concrete persons in our care, from those we know to strangers we meet. Do we recognise that each person is a gift God has entrusted us? Do we realise that we are doing God’s will when we lead them to experience Him and find themselves loved by Him? At times when it is challenging to perceive the other as a gift, let us remember that Jesus is always at our side. May we receive from Jesus the patience, sensitivity and creativity we need in caring for those around us, especially those “lost” in stress and disappointment of life.
Reflective question:
Do I consider the people entrusted to me as gifts from God?
Do I consider the people entrusted to me as gifts from God?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
