Third Week of Easter
24th April 2023 (Monday) Readings and Reflection
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Acts 6:8-15
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30
R/. Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord Or: Alleluia.
Gospel : John 6:22-29
22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Not for the perishable!
Indicative: There is always a contrast between people of God and people of the world{alertSuccess}
1. The people of God are always filled with the Spirit of the Lord. So they believe in the Lord. They are filled with wisdom. It is a wisdom that speaks the truth that no others can contest or defeat. The people of God are also filled with the power of the Spirit that emboldens them against all resistance and persecution.
2. Stephen represents these people of God. They cling to Jesus. They remain loyal and committed to him. They seek and work for food that is imperishable and conduces to eternal life. This food symbolises all that nourishes and strengthens us. It implies grace, God’s word and the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
3. On the other hand, people of the world are marked by many negative features. They do not tolerate the truth spoken with the wisdom of the Spirit. They resent and resist it. They distort the truth as blasphemy, anti-religion, anti-law and revolting.
4. Consequently, they instigate the simple people, stir up false emotions, accost, seize and bring before the Sanhedrin and present false witnesses. And in the gospel, these people of the world look for Jesus with shallow motives. They search for him, not for the food that endures for eternal life but for the food that perishes, that gives only temporary satisfaction.
5. As human beings belonging to the world, we too may be pulled and at times driven by temporary and worldly interests. We may not be able to completely eliminate all the worldliness. However, like those people, we must be open to know what we are doing, and what is wrong with what we are doing, so that we can know what we can do and change for the better.
Imperative: Faith is a matter of a relationship with God and an entire life of loyalty. If we believe truly, we must persevere and strive for the higher and lasting things{alertSuccess}