Wednesday 24 May
Wednesday of the 7th week of Eastertide First reading - Acts 20:28-38 “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.” Paul says this as words of the Lord Jesus. This is the essence of our faith. This passage shows how we should take care of one another. Paul is setting us the example. “…how night and day for three years I never failed to keep you right, shedding tears over each one of you”. Day and night keeping them in the right path and by shedding tears over each one of you. Such a personal care. Shedding tears over each one. Everyone is important. Paul was protecting them from the danger which comes with a travesty of the truth. We also must protect each other from the lies which pretends as truth. He then entrusts them to the word of the grace of God that has power to make us holy. So, this is also our task. To protect each other from the mockery of truth and to entrust each other to the grace of God. This we can do by giving more than receiving. Let’s reflect: Am I happier in giving than in receiving?
Tuesday 23 May
Tuesday of the 7th week of Eastertide First reading - Acts 20:17-27 “I have not hesitated to do anything that would be helpful to you”. This is the attitude of a true Christian. Not hesitating in doing good. Again, not hesitating in doing anything. This is also very important. This is not about thing which I like but being ready to do anything without hesitation. Also, another element which is important is that, not hesitating in doing anything that would be helpful to the other. Not in doing, which is useful for me, which suits my purpose. But which is helpful for the other. Paul explains this, “I have served the Lord in all humility, with all the sorrows and trials that came to me”. Not hesitating to do anything that would be helpful to you is serving the Lord in all humility, accepting the sorrows and trials that come to you because of this service. It means to carry out the mission the Lord Jesus gives us: “to bear witness to the Good News of God’s grace”. In humility we serve the Lord by doing anything that would help the other so that we can bear witness to the Good News of God’s grace. Let’s reflect: Do I hesitate in doing good that would help the other?
Monday 22 May
Monday of the 7th week of Eastertide Saint Rita of Cascia First reading - Acts 19:1-8 We see in this reading the effect of the coming of the Holy Spirit. “When they heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus, and the moment Paul had laid hands on them the Holy Spirit came down on them, and they began to speak with tongues and to prophesy”. When the Holy Spirit came, they began to speak with tongues and to prophesy. In other words, they became instruments of God. They were no more for themselves. They became instruments for the kingdom of God. Immediately we read what Paul is doing. “He began by going to the synagogue, where he spoke out boldly and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God”. Speaking boldly and arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. It’s passion for the kingdom of God. When we don’t feel that passion, it means that somewhere we lost to be the instruments of the Holy Spirit. Try to regain it back. Be an instrument of the kingdom of God. Let’s reflect: Do I feel the passion of being an instrument of the kingdom of God?
Sunday 21 May
7th Sunday of Easter First reading - Acts 1:12-14 “All these joined in continuous prayer, together with several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers”. These are days of prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Apostles, disciples joined the Mother Mary in continuous prayer. This is the model of the Church which awaits the Holy Spirit. Being united together and being in continuous prayer. For the Holy Spirit to come we must have unity among ourselves and then we must engage in continuous prayer. The continuous prayer calls for continuous unity. It’s not like coming together and then praying together and going away. Holy Spirit is welcomed into the unity celebrated in continuous prayer. These days, we are also praying for the Holy Spirit. Let’s make sure that we are in unity with my community members, and we are in continuous prayer. Let’s reflect: am I praying for the Holy Spirit in unity and continuously?