Thursday 11 May
Thursday of the 5th week of Eastertide First reading - Acts 15:7-21 “Remember, we believe that we are saved in the same way as they are: through the grace of the Lord Jesus”. Each one of us is saved by the grace of Lord Jesus. This is what unites us all. There is no distinction with the other because he and me are saved by the Grace of God. The attitude that we are special always creates a distinction of us from the others. This is not good. Because all are saved by the Grace of God. From the attitude of being special, come the attitude to impose on others the way you are. St. Peter says, “It would only provoke God’s anger” to impose burden on others so that others become like you. This is also something we do often. We want that others become like us or do things as we want. The Apostles are recognizing this as a burden to those who want to turn to God. We should help in all way possible those who want to come to God. Let’s reflect: Am I creating burden to those who want to turn to God?
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?