Peaceful

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042015.cfm) reminds that God can give peace amidst all the chaos in life.

According to Peter Pan, we can fly when we think of happy thoughts. This is similar with Happy Gilmore – he thinks of happy thoughts before making a tough shot. In the first reading, we see someone who probably had this also, but his is not only happy thoughts, but thoughts of God.

Stephen was being accused of false things, and he was in trouble. However, he did not panic, nor did he get mad and defended himself. Instead, people saw that his face was like the face of an angel. He had peace, because his focus is on God. He did not let anything distract and disturb him.

We can only have peace like Stephen if we focus on God. We can only be calm amidst all life’s distractions and concerns when our eyes are set on God. When we focus on Him, things would be placed in the proper perspective. We would realize that this world is not where we belong, that this is not our final destination. When we focus on Him, we would be assured that God would always be there to help and strengthen us.  This would give us peace, and when we have peace amidst all the problems and concerns, then people will see God working in our lives. They would know that there is someone who keeps us sane, who gives us incredible peace.

May we do our best to focus on God, and allow him to fill us with peace that only He can give.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another week. Thank you for the inspiration. Lord, there are a lot of things that are bothering me. There are a lot of problems, concerns and worries in my life right now. Sometimes I feel weighed down. Sometimes, or a lot of times, it is overwhelming. Lord, I ask you to help me carry me cross. Give me strength to just go on. Help me to focus on what is most important – you. As I focus on you, I know you will give me peace amidst everything. May your peace be evident in my life, and may others see you working in me. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 20, 2015

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 Ps 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 Mt 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 Jn 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.”