First reading Acts 6:1-7
They elected seven men full of the Holy Spirit
About this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews: in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked. So the Twelve called a full meeting of the disciples and addressed them, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food; you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them, and continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.’ The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
The word of the Lord continued to spread: the number of disciples in Jerusalem was greatly increased, and a large group of priests made their submission to the faith.
Responsorial Psalm 32(33):1-2,4-5,18-19
May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.
Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;
for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.
Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp,
with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs.
For the word of the Lord is faithful
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.
The Lord looks on those who revere him,
on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine.
Gospel John 6:16-21
They saw Jesus walking on the lake
In the evening the disciples went down to the shore of the lake and got into a boat to make for Capernaum on the other side of the lake. It was getting dark by now and Jesus had still not rejoined them. The wind was strong, and the sea was getting rough. They had rowed three or four miles when they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming towards the boat. This frightened them, but he said, ‘It is I. Do not be afraid.’ They were for taking him into the boat, but in no time it reached the shore at the place they were making for.
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Jesus in our storms
In today’s gospel, the disciples face a storm with rough sea and strong winds, and Jesus is not with them. It is a scene many of us can identify with, especially at times when life feels overwhelming. In the midst of the storm, Jesus comes toward them, walking on the water. At first, they are terrified. Even though what they need is right before them, they do not recognise Him. Fear often clouds our vision in the same way, and we fail to see that God is already near.
Jesus tells His disciples, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” These words still comfort us when we face tough times. Jesus does not promise that life will always be calm, but He assures us that He is with us. When the disciples take Jesus into the boat, they reach the shore safely. This shows us that His presence makes a difference. He does not always take away the storm right away, but He helps us through it.
Reflective questions:
Am I ready to recognise that Jesus is with me in the storms I am facing now? Will I invite Him into my “boat” and trust that He will guide me to safety?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
