We live in a world of quick fixes. We eat what we like and often more than we need. Lots shop and shop some more, to fill the void or watch TV serial after serial. Many pray, but refuse to go beyond devotionals or set prayers. If they do it is out of desperation for an urgent need! How then are we to grow in our faith and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. How then shall we look beyond ourselves to see the needs of others! This is what it means to resist the Holy Spirit.
For if we are living our lives in the Spirit then we have the bread of life within us. We are nourished by His Word and we are living not for ourselves, but in service of our brethren. Seeking always to proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ. We bring the Gospel to life by demonstrating His love through acts of healing, deliverance and into an encounter with the Risen Lord.
Lord Jesus now and forever more, into Your hands I commit my spirit. Amen Alleluia
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First reading
Acts 7:51-8:1
‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’
Stephen said to the people, the elders and the scribes: ‘You stubborn people, with your pagan hearts and pagan ears. You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Can you name a single prophet your ancestors never persecuted? In the past they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, and now you have become his betrayers, his murderers. You who had the Law brought to you by angels are the very ones who have not kept it.’
They were infuriated when they heard this, and ground their teeth at him.
But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘I can see heaven thrown open’ he said ‘and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they all rushed at him, sent him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses put down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and said aloud, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’; and with these words he fell asleep. Saul entirely approved of the killing.
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Gospel
John 6:30-35
It is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven
The people said to Jesus, ‘What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers had manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’
Jesus answered:
‘I tell you most solemnly,
it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven,
it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven,
the true bread;
for the bread of God
is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.’
‘Sir,’ they said ‘give us that bread always.’ Jesus answered:
‘I am the bread of life.
He who comes to me will never be hungry;
he who believes in me will never thirst.’
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