Here is the reflection that I gave at the nursing home last Wednesday. One note on these is that while I write them out, I tend to add or take stuff out depending on how it goes, and it is tough to go back and put it just like that... but this is close.
As I normally do, the readings for the day are attached below.
Peace,
Adam
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As Christians our first priority should be to do God’s will. This is what Christ did, as he said, “I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” Our will should be God’s will.
In the first reading we heard of a tough time for the early Church. Stephen had just died, Saul was trying to destroy the Church. Believers who hadn’t been killed were either scattering or hiding.
These believers were doing God’s will too. The ones who were scattered throughout the known world were doing God’s will through preaching the Gospel to those that they encountered there. The believers who were in hiding were doing God’s will by not denying Him and by strengthening their own faith. It is said elsewhere in the Bible that God wills all to be saved… so by strengthening their own faith that is indeed doing God’s will.
How can you do God’s will? You probably aren’t going to be asked to die for your faith. You probably won’t be sent to the corners of the world to preach God’s Word. But there are plenty of little things that we can do. We can comfort the sick or sorrowful. We can rejoice with those who are rejoicing. We can open a door for someone, or just spend time with them.
These are the little things, but they are also God’s will. I forget who said it, but there was a Saint who said, “We sanctify the things that we should be doing when we do them for God’s will.” It is an attitude with which you do things.
One more thing that we can do for God’s will is what we will be doing in a few minutes. Receiving the Eucharist. Christ said that when you see Him you see the Father. He said that He is the bread of life. He also said to Do this in memory of Me. Christ is God, His will is God’s will. So when we receive communion here, or at Mass, or any time do it because it is what God wills.
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Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter
Reading 1
Acts 8:1b-8
There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,
and all were scattered
throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,
except the Apostles.
Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.
Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;
entering house after house and dragging out men and women,
he handed them over for imprisonment.
Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria
and proclaimed the Christ to them.
With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip
when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,
came out of many possessed people,
and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city.
Ps 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a
Responsorial Psalm
R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!”
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Jn 6:35-40
Gospel
Jesus said to the crowds,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day.”
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