Monday, April 27, 2015
TUESDAY, 4th Week of Easter
April 28, 2015 TUESDAY, 4th Week of Easter
St. Peter Chanel, Priest and Martyr;
St. Louis Mary de Montfort, Priest
White
Acts 11:19 – 26 / Jn 10:22 - 30
[St. Peter Chanel (1803 – 1841), a French priest of the Society of Mary (Marists), was the Apostle to Oceania and its first martyr.]
[St. Louis Mary de Montfort (1673 – 1716), born in Brittany, founded the Company of Mary (for priests), the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Wisdom (for women devoted to the poor) and the Brothers of St. Gabriel. He had a special devotion to Our Lady and promoted the praying of the holy Rosary.]
Reading: Acts 11:19 – 26
Those who had been scattered because of the persecution over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message, but only to the Jews. But there were some natives of Cyprus and Cyrene among them who, on coming into Antioch, spoke also to the Greeks, giving them the good news of the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them so that a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
News of this reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the manifest signs of God's favor, he rejoiced and urged them all to remain firmly faithful to the Lord; for he himself was a good man filled with Holy Spirit and faith. Thus large crowds came to know the Lord.
Then Barnabas went off to Tarsus to look for Saul and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they had meetings with the Church and instructed many people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
Gospel: John 10: 22 – 30
The time came for the feast of the Dedication. It was winter and Jesus walked back and forth in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in doubt? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I have already told you but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name proclaim who I am, but you don't believe because, as I said, you are not my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice and I know them; they follow me and I give them eternal life. They shall never perish and no one will ever steal them from me. What the Father has given me is above everything else and no one can snatch it from the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
Reflection:
Sometimes we wonder about the faith that is expected of us by Jesus. He expects us to believe in him based on what he says and the works he has done. Yet we at times want "proof."
Maybe we should believe as children do, with blind trust. Children are taught early in their lives that their parents will "catch" them every time they "jump." Maybe we should believe in Jesus in the same child-like manner. Why is it so difficult to just believe?
God gave us a mind to think with, a heart to feel with and freedom to choose and decide. Faith has become more difficult because we expect to see proof, especially when we have doubts.
Faith does not work that way. Faith precisely is believing because God who knows and is credible has told us so. As the risen Christ told the doubting apostle Thomas, "You believe because you see me, do you not? Happy are those who have not seen and believe." (Jn 20: 29)
In the classic film, Miracle on 34th Street, someone says, "Faith is believing in something when common sense tells you not to." This is what we should try to strive for, to overcome our common sense and still believe in Jesus and the Father. Because, faith, even if it is akin to blind trust, is still a choice made every day, every minute of our lives. Faith is a grace freely and generously given us by God.
Today, with all that is going on in your life, what do you choose to believe? And why?
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:
BIRTHDAY
EDWIN MARTELINO
FR. JOSEPH Y. HAW, S.J.
JAIME YSMAEL
RINA JANE R. HERRERA
IN MEMORIAM (+)
GREGORIO T. BASILIO
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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