Thursday of the 7th week of Eastertide
or Saint Gregory VII, Pope
or Saint Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi, Virgin
or Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest, Doctor
First reading – Acts 22:30,23:6-11
“Next night, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem, now you must do the same in Rome”. In night the Lord appears and says, ‘courage’. When night comes in our lives, Lord appears. The night comes with challenges, with problems, and with complicated situations. And in the face of challenges, with problems and complicated situations, the Lord appears and says, “courage”. It’s about witnessing. The challenges are occasions for witnessing for Jesus. We have the word of the Lord, “courage”. Lord Jesus encourages us. His encouragement is our strength to witness His love, His message, His Person. Let’s reflect: Is the encouragement of Jesus is my strength in witnessing Him?