13th May. Wednesday in Week 6 of Easter
Growing in insight
There is only so much that people can learn at each stage of their lives. The great life-truths take a long time to absorb. This is certainly the case with the elements of our faith. We enter into those truths gradually, over time, with the unfolding experience of life. Jesus seems to acknowledge this in today’s gospel.
12th May. Tuesday in Week 6 of Easter
A Happy Outcome
We can sympathize with Paul’s annoyance in today’s story, but may wonder if some more patience could have saved him a lot of trouble! Perhaps he was stirred with pity for the unfortunate girl being exploited for profit by her boss. In any case, after his protest the situation changed dramatically and Paul and Silas were flogged and thrown in prison. The flogging could not normally be inflicted upon a Roman citizen, so Paul would later demand and receive a public apology..
11th May. Monday in Week 6 of Easter
Reciprocating favour
Three reflective points leap out from today’s readings. 1. “The Lord takes delight in his people” 2. In our times of need we can rely on the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. 3. We see in the example of Lydia how God blesses and helps us through one another..
10th May. Sixth Sunday of Easter
God loved us first
It is said that St. John lived to a great age, and as an old man was carried each Sunday to where the Christians at Ephesus were celebrating the Eucharist. Invariably he was asked to address the little congregation, and always he spoke about the love of God, until even these devout people grew a little weary of the same recurring theme. The old man would not change his subject but persisted in speaking about love, because for him the central theme of Jesus’ message was the overwhelming love of God. “We believe in love,” was the motto of those who were in full agreement with John.
9th May. Saturday in Week 5 of Easter
Getting on with the work
Adversity played big part in Paul’s apostolate; and perhaps in ours too. Local conditions threw road-blocks in Paul’s way keeping him from preaching as he had intended; and St Luke offers this explanation, “They were prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching the message.” This allows that even human intrigues, jealousy and misunderstanding such as later happened to Paul in Corinth, can be part of God’s providential plan for apostolic workers.
8th May. Friday in Week 5 of Easter
Holy compromise
Some people regard all compromise as tainted and as opposed to fidelity. Yet the message of the Jerusalem Council was: “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and ours too, not to lay any burden beyond that which is strictly necessary.” The word strictly indicates some relaxing of the rules; but it was a Spirit-inspired compromise that resolved one of the sharpest threats ever faced by the church.
7th May. Thursday in Week 5 of Easter
The power of enthusiasm
A spirit of love and enthusiasm was found to exist among non-baptized gentiles by both Peter and Paul. What Jesus had prayed for among his disciples was found among foreigners even before their baptism. Peter recognised a second Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the household of the Roman, Cornelius, just as when the Spirit came to the disciples in the upper room. So he let these people be baptized at once in the name of Jesus Christ. They were not required to be circumcised first, or..
6th May. Wednesday in Week 5 of Easter
Why circumcision was dropped
Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth (Luke 2). So were Peter, Andrew, James, John and Paul and indeed all boys from Jewish religious families, as a sign of submission to the Mosaic law. Then Paul came forward with a new idea about the practice of circumcision. True, spiritual circumcision, he maintained, is of the heart, where bonds of love and loyalty bind the people to their God.
5th May. Tuesday in Week 5 of Easter
Following our Leader
Jesus speaks of going away, of returning to the Father. He directs his mind toward the cross, resurrection and ascension. After his sacrifice he will be with the Father and the Spirit, in heaven. Earlier, Philip requested, “Show us the Father and that will be enough for us;” and earlier still, Thomas argued with Jesus: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” In one sense, we cannot follow Jesus into the realm of God. Yet in some real way we must walk in his footsteps, for he said “I am the way.”
Presider’s Page for 10 May (Easter 6)
We gather in the love of God this Sunday, redeemed in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are people with a mission, challenged to grow in love each day. We ask God for divine help with this mission, today and during the coming week.
4th May. Monday in Week 5 of Easter
Letting the Spirit guide us
If led by the Holy Spirit, we can be instruments of healing power, like Paul and Barnabas. We may find faith strong enough to help and heal them, as they did. Today’s Scriptures suggest this healing frame of mind…
Presider’s Page for 3 May (Easter 5)
Like branches of one tree, we are held together by our faith in Christ. Because we are all part of this one living plant, we come together in thanksgiving and praise.