Monday of the Third Week of Easter
Lectionary: 273
Reading 1
Acts 6:8-15
Stephen, filled with grace and power,
was working great wonders and signs among the people.
Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,
Cyreneans, and Alexandrians,
and people from Cilicia and Asia,
came forward and debated with Stephen,
but they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.
Then they instigated some men to say,
“We have heard him speaking blasphemous words
against Moses and God.”
They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes,
accosted him, seized him,
and brought him before the Sanhedrin.
They presented false witnesses who testified,
“This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law.
For we have heard him claim
that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place
and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”
All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him
and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Responsorial Psalm
119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30
R. (1ab) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Though princes meet and talk against me,
your servant meditates on your statutes.
Yes, your decrees are my delight;
they are my counselors.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
or:
R. Alleluia.
I declared my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your statutes.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia
Matthew 4:4b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
John 6:22-29
[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.]
The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea
saw that there had been only one boat there,
and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat,
but only his disciples had left.
Other boats came from Tiberias
near the place where they had eaten the bread
when the Lord gave thanks.
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,
they themselves got into boats
and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
And when they found him across the sea they said to him,
“Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered them and said,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me
not because you saw signs
but because you ate the loaves and were filled.
Do not work for food that perishes
but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”
So they said to him,
“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”
Reflection 1
Catholic Daily Reflections
Food for Eternity
“Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” John 6:25–27
What do you work for in life? That which ultimately perishes? Or that which is eternal? This is an important question to sincerely answer. Too often we spend most of our lives putting most of our time and energy into those things that have little value for eternity.
The day before the above quoted conversation, Jesus had multiplied the loaves and fishes and fed five thousand households. The people were so impressed that the next day, when they were hungry again, they came looking for Jesus and found Him on the other side of the lake. Jesus, of course, immediately understands the situation. He realizes that the crowd of people who found Him were more interested in another meal than they were in the spiritual food that is eternal. So Jesus gently uses the opportunity to give them this short lesson about what is most important. The “food that endures for eternal life” is ultimately faith in Jesus.
Imagine if you were one of those people who witnessed, first hand, the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. What sort of an impact would that have had on you? Would it have drawn you into a deep faith in Jesus, the Son of God? Or would you have been more impressed with the free and miraculous food? What’s interesting is that Jesus feeds the five thousand when they are not expecting it and not desiring it. But when they do come expecting it and desiring it the next day, He refuses. Jesus refuses another miracle because He wants the people to look deeper to the eternal reality.
In our own lives, living primarily for the deeper and eternal reality is often hard to do. It’s easy to keep our eyes on the superficial and less important aspects of life. How do I make more money? Or buy a new car? Or have a fancier meal? How can I better entertain myself? What new piece of clothing should I buy? And the list goes on. Of course none of these things are evil, but they are all passing and will not have an effect upon our eternal soul. And, in fact, if we give too much attention to the superficial and least important aspects of life, they will have the effect of distracting us from that which is most important.
Reflect, today, upon this challenge from Jesus. Do not work for that which perishes; work for that which is eternal. Look at your priorities in life. Where is your focus? What concerns you the most every day? Hopefully your greatest concern is to grow deeper in faith in the Son of God. Hopefully it is to live the charity that is eternal. If you honestly look at your life and the goals you have and see yourself overly concerned with the things of this world, then allow these words of our Lord to speak to you directly so that you are storing up riches for eternal life.
Reflection 2
One Bread, One Body
THE TRUTH IS NOT NEGOTIABLE
“The way of truth I have chosen.” —Psalm 119:30
Jesus, the Truth (Jn 14:6), stood for the truth. He paid for this stand with His life, as His opponents used deceit, lies, and intimidation of witnesses to condemn Him to death. St. Stephen stood for the truth (Acts 6:8ff). He paid for this stand with his life, as his opponents likewise used similar tactics to condemn him to death.
The Catholic Church stands for the truth, regardless of whether or not the truth is “politically correct.” The Church proclaims the truths that Jesus is really present in the Holy Eucharist, that marriage is only between one man and one woman, that homosexual acts and fornication are always sinful, that abortion is murder, that the poor have a special dignity and must be defended, that contraception is sinful and contrary to God’s plan, and other unpopular truths.
In this culture of death and throughout human history, those dedicated to a cause contrary to the truth have generally refused to repent and humbly submit themselves to the truth. These opponents of the truth instead change the language to “call evil good, and good evil” (Is 5:20). These people try to intimidate others into exchanging “the truth of God for a lie” (Rm 1:25).
People of God, imitate Jesus and St. Stephen. “Even to the death fight for truth, and the Lord your God will battle for you” (Sir 4:28). The truth is not negotiable. Speak the truth in love (see Eph 4:15). “The truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32).
Prayer: Father, “we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth” (2 Cor 13:8). Give Your Church and its members Your very own strength.
Promise: “This is the work of God: have faith in the One Whom He sent.” —Jn 6:29
Praise: Antonio gave up a lucrative pension, retired early, sold his home and possessions, and moved out of state so that he and his wife could minister full-time with a Christian community.
Reflection 3
Shared from God's Word
The crowd went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. They had already witnessed Jesus feeding the five thousand with five loaves. Jesus understands their motivation for seeking him. They are looking for material benefits. But Jesus uses this occasion to teach them to yearn for food that endures to eternal life. He wants them to believe that he was sent by the Father. Very often we too find ourselves in the same way as the crowd. We visit different shrines and pilgrim centres desiring to get some material benefits like healing from sickness, gift of a child, a good job for our children, etc. It is important to purify our motives. Do I believe in Jesus that he was sent by God to redeem me and the world from sin?
Prayers
My most glorious Lord, You are the Food that is eternal. You are the Food for everlasting life. Give me the wisdom I need, dear Lord, to turn my eyes from the passing and least important things of this world and to turn, instead, to that which is eternal. May I keep my eyes upon You and be nourished by my faith in You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Lord Jesus, you alone can satisfy the deepest longing and hunger in our hearts. May I always hunger for the imperishable bread, that I may be satisfied in you alone as the True Bread of Heaven. Nourish and strengthen me that I may serve you with great joy, generosity, and zeal all the days of my life
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy
Reflection 105: The Effects of God’s Indwelling
What would you experience if God were to fully dwell in the depths of your soul? Peace, joy and amazement! And from these gifts, and from the indwelling of the Trinity, you would have courage in the face of hardship, strength to cast out fear and an impenetrable defense against the evil one, against his lies and his snares. You will not be free from temptation and suffering, but you will overcome them since God alone dwells within you, and He will be your protection and joy (See Diary #480).
Has the Most Holy Trinity taken possession of your soul? If so, there will be no room for sin or fear. You will see the fruits of this indwelling in your daily life and you will be at peace. If you do not see God at work in your life in this way, invite Him to enter. This is not a one time invitation; rather, it must become your daily habit and sincere desire. Do not tire of inviting God to dwell within you.
Lord, Your presence in my life is the greatest Mercy I could ever receive. There is nothing greater than You living in me. I thank You that You desire to be one with me and to take possession of my life. I give myself to You freely and without reserve, for You are my God and my all. Jesus, I trust in You.
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