Wednesday 10 May
Wednesday of the 5th week of Eastertide Saint John of Ávila, Priest, Doctor First reading - Acts 15:1-6 The disagreement came in the Early Church. But they are trying to resolve it by talking. And they are talking for a long time. But they couldn’t arrive at a conclusion. They are referring to the Mother Church of Jerusalem where the Apostles especially Peter is. They went to discuss the problem with the apostles and elders. First of all they recognised the problem, they tried to solve by themselves and then when they found out that they cannot resolve it by themselves they are turning towards the Apostles and elders. Here we see the qualities of assuming responsibilities and having humility to resort to Church in Jerusalem. We must learn from Paul and Barnabas to follow their example of recognizing problems, of assuming the responsibility to solve it and of the humility to ask for help to solve it when necessary. Let’s reflect: Do I have the courage to recognize the problem and do I have the humility to ask for help to resolve it?
Tuesday 9 May
Tuesday of the 5th week of Eastertide First reading - Acts 14:19-28 “They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead. The disciples came crowding round him but, as they did so, he stood up and went back to the town…. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith.” This is a beautiful passage which is very symbolic. Paul was stoned and was dragged outside the town, thinking he was dead. He got stoned because he was preaching the Gospel. Then we see this beautiful gesture. The disciples came crowding around Paul. This is an ecclesial gesture. Gathering around the stoned Paul worked a miracle. The stoned Paul got up and went back to the town. We see the challenges in preaching the Gospel. We see the strength of the gathering of the disciples around Paul. He goes back to the town where he was stoned. This is the life of a missionary. Even when one has difficulties he or she moves forward. Then he or she is down with problems or challenges, the whole community must gather around him or her to make him or her get up. And back again to the town to preach. Each one of us has a missionary role in this process. Let’s reflect: Am I doing my missionary part in the process of preaching the Gospel?
Monday 8 May
Monday of the 5th week of Eastertide First reading - Acts 14:5-18 “We have come with good news to make you turn from these empty idols to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that these hold”. Also, in this verse of today, we can find out the mission of the Church. The mission of the Church is to go with the good news. The good news of the salvation brought by Jesus Christ. And the goal of this good news is to make people turn from the empty idols to the living God. The good news is that living God loves us. And in the love of the living God, we can turn from the empty idols. The empty idols are those things which we hold close to our heart but cannot give us life. Paul and Barnabas cured the man who never walked in his life. The people in Lycaonia thought that Paul and Barnabas are gods Zeus and Hermes. This happened because they did not know the living God. When we don’t know the living God, we identify anything which pleases us as God. When we don’t know the living God, we think any empty idol as living God. So, it’s important to understand the living God. Let’s reflect: Do I understand the living God or am I satisfied with empty idols that please me?
Sunday 7 May
5th Sunday of Easter Second reading 1 Peter 2:4-9 “The Lord is the living stone”. How can a stone be alive? Stone is alive because it’s chosen by God and precious to him because He is going to build on that stone. The living stone is the holy priesthood in Jesus Christ. The priesthood that offers the spiritual sacrifices. The priesthood that makes the spiritual house. For those who are believers, as the Scripture says, it is precious. The priesthood is the living stone as it is chosen and consecrated and set apart to sing the praises of God so that those who are in darkness can be called out into the wonderful light of God. When we see priesthood as a living stone chosen by God and precious to hem, we can trust on it and will not be disappointed. Our relationship to God is to be built on this living stone. This living stone helps us to come out of the darkness into the wonderful light of God who chose this living God. The priesthood of Jesus Christ is the living stone upon which we build our relationship with God. The priests participate in this priesthood of Christ so that this process is carried forward. Let’s reflect: Am I constructing my life upon the living stone which is Jesus Christ?