It is far easier to throw in the towel and give up when times are hard and challenging. Why bother arranging for prayer meetings when most folks are not interested to join in? When family members are reluctant to sit down together to participate in an online mass? What then would you rather be doing?In today’s first reading we hear how hard the early diciples had it. They were being hunted down and persecuted but still that did not deter them from going place to place preaching the Good News! How then can we likewise have that burning fire they had within them that could not be extinguished?Well we can see clearly through scripture that they lived their lives in the light of our Lord’s resurrection through the power of the Holy Spirit. They prayed the Word and dwelt in His presence. They held on to the promise that not one of them will be lost, and will rise to eternal life with Jesus on the last day. Alleluia!Lord Jesus I trust in You. Keep the fire of Your love burning in my heart. Amen
First reading
Acts 8:1-8
They went from place to place, preaching the Good NewsThat day a bitter persecution started against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles fled to the country districts of Judaea and Samaria.
There were some devout people, however, who buried Stephen and made great mourning for him.
Saul then worked for the total destruction of the Church; he went from house to house arresting both men and women and sending them to prison.
Those who had escaped went from place to place preaching the Good News. One of them was Philip who went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them. The people united in welcoming the message Philip preached, either because they had heard of the miracles he worked or because they saw them for themselves. There were, for example, unclean spirits that came shrieking out of many who were possessed, and several paralytics and cripples were cured. As a result there was great rejoicing in that town.
Gospel
John 6:35-40
It is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son should have eternal lifeJesus said to the crowd:‘I am the bread of life.
He who comes to me will never be hungry;
he who believes in me will never thirst.
But, as I have told you, you can see me and still you do not believe.
All that the Father gives me will come to me,
and whoever comes to me I shall not turn him away; because I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of the one who sent me.
Now the will of him who sent me is that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day.
Yes, it is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and that I shall raise him up on the last day.’
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