The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/041116.cfm)
reminds me that God's peace will enable me to become calm amidst the
storm.
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.
Only God's
peace can make you calm amidst the storms in life.
St
Stephen was being accused of false things, and he was in trouble. He was
brought to the Sanhedrin and false witnesses testified against him. However, he
did not panic. He did not defend himself. He did not get mad. Instead, he
was calm. He was at peace. The people saw his face was like the face of an
angel. He had this peace, because his focus is on God. He trusted 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.
How great it would be to be
like that. It must be so cool to have that inner peace that no matter what
happens, God is still in control. It must be great to have that intimate
relationship with God, having faith that no matter what lies other people say
about you, or how helpless you may seem, God will not abandon you and will
always, always take care of you.
In times of storm and
challenges in life, may we be inspired by St Stephen. God can calm the storm in
our lives. May we live our lives at peace and with calmness in our hearts. May
Christ in us calm the storm and not let it affect us.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to
experience your peace. Thank you for the storms and challenges in my life that
enable me to strengthen my faith, that enable me to magnify you in my life.
Lord, I pray that I be like St Stephen in the first reading, whose calmness and
faith in you was made evident by his appearance. May other people see you in
me, especially in the storms and challenges in life. As people see you in me,
may it also lead them to you. Amen.
Blessed
week!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflections:
Memorial of Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr
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.
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.
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.
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
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,
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.”
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