TODAY'S WORD

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Acts: 6:2 "And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the Word of God in order to wait on tables."


REFLECTION ON THE WORD OF GOD FOR TODAY

FIRST READING REFLECTION

The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles shows some tension in the church of Jerusalem. 

Something of a storm was brewing in this young church, which became the mother church, because it was from the church in Jerusalem that the other churches were founded. 

The Hellenists, Greek speaking believers, were complaining about the Hebrews, Aramaic speaking believers, because the Hellenists felt that their widows were not being as well provided for as the widows of the Hebrews. 

The leaders of the Jerusalem church, the Twelve, realized that this problem would not be resolved unless they drew other members of the church into this ministry of providing for all the widows and the other vulnerable people in the church. 

The Twelve could not do everything; they had to prioritize. 

They declared to the other members of the church that as the leaders they should be devoting themselves to prayer and to the service of God’s word. 

As a result, they invited the members of the church to choose people of wisdom and of the Spirit who could attend to this important work of providing for the most vulnerable. 

Seven suitable people were chosen, allowing the Twelve to focus on what was important in their calling. 

Here at the very early days of the church we have a good example of how the church must function in every age. 

No one group within the church can do everything. 

There is a need for different groups of people to take responsibility for different ministries. 

This is how the Spirit continues to shape the life of the church. 

There will always be the kind of tensions or storms within the church that we find in today’s first reading. 

However, such stormy moments can be times of grace, opportunities for the Spirit in work in new ways in the church. 


GOSPEL REFLECTION

In today’s gospel reading, the Lord came to his disciples as they were struggling with a strong wind and a rough sea and brought them to a safe haven. 

The Lord is always with his church in the various storms that will assail it. 

His presence at the heart of the storm can help to ensure that moments of crisis in the church can also be times of new life.


RESOLUTION

If you have concerns for yourself or a loved one, take heart. 

Remember the disciples in the boat. Commit to memory this line from today’s responsorial psalm: “The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear Him, upon those who hope for His kindness” (33:18). 

He sees you. He has you in the palm of His hand. 

And He will act at just the right time.

HAVE A FABULOUS DAY AND A  FRUITFUL WEEKEND.

LETS CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE WHOLE WORLD THATS UNDER THE GRIP OF THE PANDEMIC THAT THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF THE LORD MAY WASH THE VIRUS FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH