Fifth Week of Easter
07th May 2023 (Sunday) Readings and Reflection
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Acts 6. 1-7
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
R/. May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you O Lord. Or: Alleluia.
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2: 4-9
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Gospel : John 14. 1-12
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Know and Walk!
Indicative: The journey of faith is a constant unfolding of our knowledge and experience of the Lord, leading to the deepening of relationship and commitment to Him{alertSuccess}
1. Who the Lord is makes us who we are. In his identity we discover our identity. The Lord is "the Way, the Truth and the Life". He is the "Living Stone" that builds the spiritual house of God.
2. If this is the identity of the Lord, it has radical implications for our own identity and mission. If the Lord is the Way, then we are to be those who know, and walk the way and also show the way to others and accompany and assist them to walk the way.
3. If he is the truth, then know the truth of him.. Love and adhere to the truth. Shun all the pressures of falsity. Be truthful to Him.
4. If he is the life, accept and receive the life of him. Banish all the forces of death in its manifold forms of disrespect for life, violence, aggression, retorsion and destruction. Also overcome all the suffocation of life seen in dissipation and depression and loss of beauty and joy of life.
5. Instead, constantly try to be lifeful, discovering and recapturing its charm and value. Live the vitality and energy of life in enthusiasm and altruism. Be containers and transmitters of the new life of the risen Lord. Spread life all around. Be promoters of life.
6. Further, in the light of the second reading, we are reminded that we are the living stones of the spiritual house of God. We are chosen and precious. We are not by- chance or despicable people. We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a people for God's own possession.
7. All these solemn expressions indicate our collective identity, marked by nobility, intimacy, and sanctity. This is not a matter that becomes the cause for boast and pride. But it is the cause for a total reorientation of life. This radically summons us to live our life in deep belonging to God, dignified holiness, unfailing loyalty and noble benevolence.
8. Still moving ahead, the living of our radical identity comprises one essential feature, and that is wisdom. This is intensely evident in the case of the apostles in the first reading. This wisdom is manifest in the clarity of priorities.
9. What a sense of clarity of priorities the Apostles had! They knew what was their priority. Prayer and ministry of the Word are more important than serving at the table. We do not undermine the value of serving at table because it is a concrete expression of fraternal communion and sharing. However, it should not lead to neglecting the word of God.
10. Perhaps, this is one main thing lacking in the present-day Church. There is an acute lack of clarity of priorities. Whether it is the lay faithful or consecrated ministers of God, often there is a lot of confusion and distortion of concerns and priorities.
11. Consequently, often secular interests, worldly preoccupations, and organisational and administrative concerns take the upper hand over spiritual concerns and animation of faith and communities.
12. That is why a great amount of time, money and energy is spent on organising different activities, conducting monetary transactions and supervising material tasks, rather than building, renewing and reinforcing the interior spirit, faith and family relationships.
13. The wisdom of the Apostles must dawn on each one, saying, “It is not right to neglect the word of God and prayer to serve at the table”.
14. It is also a call for living a synodal church. The Apostles do not monopolise the whole authority by themselves. They are not scared to “decentralise” and “delegate” their authority. Instead, they happily appoint seven deacons to serve at the table.
15. What is notable is: though serving at the table is subservient to the higher priority of the Ministry of the Word, it is not of less value. It is also a great “spiritual” ministry. That is why, it too needed men of the Spirit, faith and wisdom.
16. This indicates that every ministry in the church is spiritual and valuable. There is nothing strictly material and spiritual. All are sacred. There should not be any despising and dominating attitude. Instead, there should be an atmosphere of mutual respect and collaboration.
Imperative: We must constantly realise our authentic identity and live it in effective mission. Let our troubled hearts take courage and strength from the Lord who is always with us{alertSuccess}